Festivals of India (Part 2)

Although normally the Indian calendars are based on the moon and the New Year begins sometime around March – April,  we shall see the festivals from January.

The month of January is very cold in the northern region of India where the temperatures vary from 10 degree Celsius to 10 degrees below the freezing level. But the rest of the India enjoys the most pleasant climate during this time of the year.

SANKRANTI:

 

Probably the only Hindu festival that falls on the stipulated date, that is January 14^th ,  every year. This is the time when the Sun changes its course and comes into the northern hemisphere. This is known as the Uttarayan of the Sun in the sun sign of Capricorn or Makar. This day is celebrated in various ways all around the country. Just the names are different. It is known as Pongal in the south, when the people celebrate the harvest and make puddings out of the first paddy that is cut. In the north the previous day is celebrated as Lohri, when the people light huge bon – fires and sing and dance around it. All around India, sweets made of jaggery and various nuts made and eaten as they help the body fight the cold winter. People in the western part of the country fly kites on this day. The city of Ahemedabad in Gujarat holds a big Kite festival on this occasion for which people from various countries come and participate.

REPUBLIC DAY: 

India was formed as a republic country on January 26^th 1950. This day is celebrated as the Republic day and is a National Holiday. It is celebrated all over the country where the Governors of the state hoist the National Flag and take the honour of Guards. It is celebrated in an exuberant and grand scale in the Capital, Delhi. The President hoists the national flag and takes the guard of honour from all the  three forces. There is a spectacular show of all the armed forces, with tableaus of various states and dances and songs performed on the Rajpath. The grand finale is performed by the spectacular show of the fighter planes. This beautiful ceremony is attended by dignitaries and commoners too and is telecasted live on television. People are honoured for their distinguished job on this day.

The month of February brings along with the on setting of spring and crisp air. Other than the places near the Himalayas the whole country gets ready to welcome the spring. Practically, the best month to tour, the whole of India.

MAHASHIVARATRI:

This festival dedicated to Lord Shiva is celebrated all over India. There are many legends in the Indian mythology which gives the reason behind celebrating this festival. People not only pray the Lord on this day but also keep a fast and refrain from sleeping in the night. Especially the married ladies pray for a long life for their husbands. Legends say that Lord Shiva married Parvati on this day. Another story goes that it was this day when the Lord assumed a form of Lingam. Some say this was the day when he consumed the poison from the ocean, while others say that it was on this day that he asked Ganga to come down and purify the earth.

BAKRI ID or ID UL ZUHA:

Although the Muslim festivals follow their own calendar, the Bakri Id as it is popularly known is celebrated around February or March every year. It celebrates the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of God. To celebrate the event, Muslims sacrifice one animal per family or group of families. There are prayers in mosques, feasting, and rejoicing. New clothes are worn and visits and greetings are exchanged.

The month March brings in the spring season in the north when the days are pleasant and nights are cool, while it gives a hint of approaching summer in the south. It is supposed to be the last month in the Hindu calendar.

MUHARRAM:

Another Muslim festival that falls around March is the Muharram. It is not a festival to celebrate but a day is remembered and mourned as the martyr’s day of Imam Hussein. People take out big taziyas or processions on this day crying and mourning for Hussein. In some places people hit themselves and hurt themselves trying to remember the sufferings of Hussein.

HOLI:

One of the biggest festivals celebrated all over India. Holi is the last festival in the Hindu calendar and is celebrated by young and old, rich and poor and people from all the religions alike. It is the festival to welcome the spring and summer. People smear colours and splash water on each other and have fun. Sweets are prepared and people play with water and colours till late in the afternoon. Myriad colors of the blossoming flowers coupled with the tender green leaves, the melodious chirping of the birds, and an aura of romance and merriment marks the advent of the season of spring or Vasant. Holi enhances the romance of this season with its splurge of colors.

Keep reading for more...

Festivals of India (Part 1)

India will amaze you. This has been said too often but not without a reason. The Vast oceans and great rivers in the plains; the enchanting sea beaches and the calm back waters of the south; the Jungles and the snow capped mountains of the north; the ancient Temples, Churches, Mosques and Gurudwaras; a melting pot of nearly all the religions and various cultures; rich with flora and fauna and technically forward country, India is a traveller’s dream come true. A visit to India will change your life. 

The Indian calendar is full of festivals starting form the birthdays of Deities, saints and prophets to celebration of various seasons and mythological stories. Some of the festivals are celebrated as national days.

The huge subcontinent has ancient civilization and is an inheritor to a rich and diverse cultural tradition. Festivals and Fairs play a definite role to add to the enchantment, and help exploring the rich 4000 year old culture of India. The Fairs and Festivals celebrated across the length and breadth of the land present a fascinating pageant and showcase the resplendence of its arts and crafts tradition. Some festivals are of religious nature, others are linked with the lives of the people, change of seasons and harvesting. Each festival is unique in style and is characterized by color, gaiety, enthusiasm, feasts and heterogeneity of prayers and rituals. And although each religion celebrates their own festivals, they also participate in the other festivals with equal enthusiasm and fervor making the festivals typically Indian. Last but not the least, although most of the Indian festivals carry legends behind them, there is some scientific reason attached to them. Like Holi, which marks the end of winter and therefore splash of water is necessary. Diwali, which is the darkest and the coldest night, is lighted up with innumerous lamps all over, so on and so forth. Each festival in the Indian calendar carries a legend and a reason behind the celebration, which also includes the food that is eaten during the particular festival.

India is a vast country with different demography hence every region and state have their own ways of celebrating their festivals. Some of them are celebrated in a common way while some are very regional festivals.

1. Common festivals:

Although normally the Indian calendars are based on the moon and the New Year begins sometime around March – April,  we shall see the festivals from January.

The month of January is very cold in the northern region of India where the temperatures vary from 10 degree Celsius to 10 degrees below the freezing level. But the rest of the India enjoys the most pleasant climate during this time of the year.

Keep reading more to come on my next post....

Diwali : The Festival of Lights

The most famous and also the most awaited festival of the Indians falling in late October and early November is the festival of lights, Diwali or Deepavali. This festival of lights means triumph of the good over the evil. It falls in late October or early November every year and is celebrated by all with great enthusiasm. People specially buy new clothes, renovate or colour their houses. A variety of dishes, sweet and spicy, both are made. People burn crackers and hang lanterns in front of their doors. According to legends after killing the demon King Ravana, Ram, came back home after an exile of 14years. That was the time during Diwali. It is also said that Krishna also killed Narak, the demon on this day. 

The Goddess of wealth is worshiped on this day. This festival falls on the darkest night of the year; therefore in-numerous lamps are lit all around India to wipe out the darkness. Two days later falls the festival of Bhai Duj, Bhai phota, or Bhau bij. The sisters worship Gods and pray for their brothers’ well being on this day. A celebration of lights, sweets and colours is what Diwali is all about. 

Dewali is celebrated as Kalipuja in West Bengal, Kali Pooja is one of the major festivals for people in West Bengal and they celebrate the occasion with much funfair and enthusiasm. Just as people in North India light lamps to honor Lakshmi Ma during Lakshmi Puja, people in West Bengal celebrate Kali Pooja by lighting lamps in honor of Goddess Kali. Houses are decorated and elaborate lighting is done throughout the house. Elaborate Kali Pooja is carried out during the evening. As Goddess Kali is regarded as the Goddess to be feared Bengalis leave no stone unturned in carrying out a special Pooja for her. The Kali pooja is said to be one of the symbols of great power. This pooja is always performed in the evening. Due to its perception as being a source of power, many sadhus (holy men) perform this pooja just before midnight. This is to ask the goddess for supernatural powers so that they might be able to help humanity. Through Puja people seek happiness, prosperity and protection against hardships.