JANMASHTAMI
Janmashtami marks the birth of Krishna, a human
incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Adorned flamboyantly, the temples of
Vrindavan, celebrate this festival with grandeur. Raslila, a tableaux depicting scenes
from Krishna's life especially the love for Radha, is performed. At midnight, Krishna's
infant image is bathed and placed in a cradle. In Northern India, the festival is
celebrated by singing devotional songs and dances.The religious festival is celebrated in
Maharashtra with great fervour too. People enact with great zeal and enthusiasm,
God's earnest attempt to steal butter and curd from earthen pots, beyond his reach during
his childhood
NAVRATRI
The Navaratri (nine nights) festival which marks the onset
of autumn is celebrated in different ways all over the country. It is a festival of
worship, dance and music and is celebrated from the first to ninth date of Ashwin Shukla
Paksha of the Hindu Calendar for the worship of Goddess Durga. The festival signifies
Rama's victory over Ravana in North and Central India. On open fair grounds the 'Ram
Lila', a drama depicting the important events in the epic Ramayana is performed by local
and professional artists. On Vijay Dasmi day, i.e. on the ninth and last day on, the
sprawling Ramleela grounds in Delhi huge effigies of the ten-headed demon king Ravana,
Meghanath, his son, and Kumbhakarna, his brother, stuffed with crackers are torched by an
arrow to symbolize the ultimate triumph of good over evil while the crowds cheer on.
In southern India, Navratri celebrations are in honor of the three Divine spouses, Sakthi,
Lakshmi and Saraswati. The ninth day is especially called Saraswati puja. The last day,
Vijay Dashmi is considered very auspicious to start new venture both in business and
academics. In every house, beautiful idols of Gods and Goddesses made of colored clay or
wood are displayed in gallery like arrangements called "kolu". Special prasad is
offered everyday to the deities.
In Gujarat, people celebrate Navratri by dancing to the traditional garba and dandia
dances. Because of the inherent element of fun and gaiety in these dances they have no
longer remained confined to Gujarat alone but have spread to other cities too. Clad in
dazzling dresses and jewellery, young and old people dance to religious and folk music
late into the night. The presiding deity of the celebration is Goddess Amba and every
evening a special Arti is offered to her to invoke her blessings.
DIWALI
The festival of lights, Diwali or Deepawali symbolizes the
victory of good over evil and the lifting of the spiritual darkness that envelops
the soul. The festival commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom, Adyodhya after
completing his 14 years of exile.
The word Deepawali which means rows of lighted diyas (earthern lamps), brings a glow to
the humblest home or the grandest houses. The festival is celebrated after Dussehra on the
13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asvin (Oct - Nov).
The whole country displays a twinkling glow of the oil lamps, inviting the Goddess of
Prosperity, Lakshmi, to enter their homes and bring them good fortune, happiness and
wealth. The festive occasion also marks the beginning of the Hindu new year. Lord Ganesha
( symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom is also worshipped on this day).
Deepawali is also meant to celebrate the destruction of the arrogant tyrant Bali at the
hands of Vishnu when the latter appeared in his Vamana (dwarf) avatar. For the occasion
of Diwali houses are spring cleaned, and decorated, new clothes are bought. Houses
are adorned with beautifully designed and vividly coloured rangolis, which are designs
created on the outside of the doorways with rice powder and coloured powder, a time for
family members, relatives and friends to meet, exchange sweets and offer prayers.
Fireworks light up the night sky and render the cities and towns with a beautiful
afterglow.
DEEP DEWALI
The festival is observed as a tribute to Lord Mahavira,
the 24th Teertahankar. He was finally liberated from the cycle of life on this
day at the age of 75, at Pawapuri in Bihar. The festival is also observed as a tribute to
Jain deities.
This day is celebrated with much zeal in Girnar, in Gujarat. Sweets are distributed when
devotees gather in large crowds at Pawapuri. Houses are splendidly illuminated and sacred
scriptures are recited.
GUDHI PADWA
Gudhi Padwa is celebrated on a wide scale in Maharashtra
in March/April, on the first day of Chaitra (first month according to the Marathi
calendar). It denotes the New Year of the Maharashtrians. This day forms a very colourful
one because of the lovely multi-coloured gudhis that adorn the front of the homes. On this
day, people get up early and clean their homes.Decorative rangoli designs are drawn. The
'Gudhi' is a bamboo staff, to which, a colourful silk cloth is tied. A garlanded goblet or
a kalash, also stands prominently atop this gudhi, adding to its beauty. This goblet marks
victory or achievement and is supposed to drive out the evil from the house. Neem stalks
are also tied to the Gudhis along with sweet candy garland. They stand for all the bitter
and the sweet moments of life.
The gudhis are erected on the Padwa, the first day of the Hindu New Year. This day is
welcomed with gudhi worship. Tender neem leaves form the prasad. Along with the leaves,
gram-pulse and jaggery are also offered. It is generally believed that any venture started
on this day gives nothing but success. Hence the day is very auspicious for the people of
Maharashtra
HOLI
Holi is the festival of colours that brings the message of
the onset of spring. It is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March every
year. People all over celebrate this colourful festival b smearing each other with
coloured water and spraying everyone with water from water pistons.
Holi is a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land. Some legends are
also associated with the origin of this spring festival. The most popular among these
involves Prince Prahlad, the god-fearing son of the evil King Hiranyakasipu. The King and
his sister, Holika devised many a plan to persuade Prahlad to give up worshipping the God,
Vishnu. They went to the extent of planning to kill young Prahlad. But, Prahlad was
undeterred in his devotion for Vishnu. Holika, who was immune to death by fire, took
Prahlad and entered a blazing furnace built specially for his destruction but she was
burnt to ashes by divine intervention. Prahlad came out unharmed. Before Holika's death
she realised her mistake and asked Prahlad to forgive her. As his gesture of forgiveness,
Prahlad declared that her name would be remembered at least one day in the year.
Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are lit on the eve of Holi
as its symbolic representation. This exciting festival is also associated with the
immortal love of Krishna and Radha. The young Krishna would complain to his mother Yashoda
about Radha being so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply colour on Radha's
face and see how her complexion would change.
Holi is celebrated with remarkable enthusiasm in the villages around Mathura, the
birth-place of Krishna. The festival of Holi is being celebrated since centuries with the
same zeal and zest. Holi is incomplete without 'bhang' (Indian hemp, narcotic and
intoxicant ), consumed by many in the form of laddoos (sweet dish) and ghols (liquid
form). Processions accompanied by folk songs & dances are taken out on this day.
Special water tanks are built filled to the brim with coloured water into which people are
given a good dunking. A fun time is had by all.
NAG PANCHAMI
On the fifth day of the bright half of Shravan people
worship the snake, or as snakes in India are known, the "nag". The day is known
as "Nag Panchami". The festival falls during the onset of the monsoons and is
believed to counter the increased possibility of a snake bite during this time, especially
since the rivers are in spate.
People visit temples specially dedicated to snakes and worship them. Shiva temples are
also favoured places for veneration as snakes are considered dear to him. In South India,
people sculpt images of snakes using cow dung, which are then placed on either side of the
entrance to the house. This is done to welcome the snake god. In some other parts of
southern India, figures of snakes are drawn with red sandalwood paste on wooden boards, or
clay images of snakes coloured yellow or black are purchased. These are then worshipped
and offered milk since snakes are believed to like milk. Some go to worship the snake
which is believed to be hiding in the holes of anthills. Or else a five hooded snake is
made by mixing "gandh" (a fragrant pigment), "halad-kumkum" (turmeric
powder), "chandan" (sandal) and "keshar" (saffron) and placed on a
metal plate and worshipped.
On this day, devotees pour milk into all the holes in the ground around the house or near
the temple to propitiate them. Sometimes, a small pot of milk with some flowers is placed
near the holes so that the snakes may drink it. If a snake actually drinks the milk, it is
considered to be extremely lucky for the devotee. Legend has it that the serpents are
believed to have the capability to change their shape at will. When in human form, they
are depicted as beautiful women and handsome men. The victory of Krishna over the Kaliya
snake is commemorated on this day. For this reason Krishna is known as "Kaliya
Mardan.
Naga Panchami is observed indifferent ways in different parts of India. One of the oldest
festivals, many women fast on this day and in fact it even finds mention in the Puranas.
It is believed to be one of the most auspicious days of the entire year. According to the
Bhavishya Purana, when men bathe the snakes called Vasuki, Takshaka, Kaliya, Manibhadra,
Airavata, Dhritarashtra, Karkotaka and Dhananjaya with milk on the fifth day of the bright
fortnight of Shravan, they ensure freedom from danger for their families.
These are then worshipped and offered milk. Snake charmers wander about with all sorts of
snakes, to which people offer milk. The snake charmers are paid some money for allowing
this Serpent worship developed gradually from the fear of serpents that must have taken a
heavy toll on life, particularly at the beginning of the rainy season. In the Ashvalayana
Grihyasutra, the Paraskara Grihyasutra and other Grihyasutras, a rite called Sarpabali or
'offerings to serpents' was performed on the full moon night of Shriven. However the
reason that it was moved from the full moon night to that of the fifth night of the bright
fortnight is not apparent. It may be due to the slight change in the time of the onset of
the rains
RAKSHA BANDHAN
Raksha Bandhan is a day celebrating the love of a brother
for his sister. As a mark of affection, the sisters tie rakhi (a silken thread or a
decorative bracelet), on the wrist of their brothers to protect him from evil. In return
the brother gives a gift to her. On this day the Brahmins change the sacred thread they
wear . The festival is celebrated in honour of the Sea God Varuna, in some parts of India.
Coconuts are offered to the sea in Mumbai.
According to the legends, during wars between Gods and the demons, the consort of Indra
(the Puranic king of the heavens ) tied a rakhi around his wrist. It is said that it was
because of the power of goodness of this rakhi that the God won back his celestial abode
from his enemies.
RATHA SAPTAMI
Ratha Saptami is a festival celebrated on the seventh day
of the bright half of the Magh month, when the Sun God is worshipped. The Sun God is
presumed to be arriving in a chariot drawn by seven horses, which represent the seven
colours of the rainbow.
On this day some people go to take bath in the river before dawn carrying a lamp on their
head. The Sun God is then worshipped in the courtyard in the front of the house, where an
image of the God with the chariot is drawn on the ground surrounded by a rangoli. Cow dung
is burnt in the centre. Earthern vessels, facing the Sun, are used to boil milk on the
stove, which is believed to reach the Sun.
The lord is then offered "kheer" and twelve heaps of grain placed in the
traditional "sup". The heaps represent the constellations through which the sun
goes. Brahmins are offered grains too. The new season begins with this day, when the Sun
God, sitting on his chariot sets out on his journey.
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when nationalists sought to harness the appeal of a Hindu festival. The festival was given momentum by Bal Gangadhar Tilak to spread the message of the freedom struggle and to challenge the British who had banned public assemblies. Lord Ganesha is worshipped with immense passion and devotion for the 10 days that the festival lasts. This 10 day Hindu festival in August / September reaches a climax when large idols of Ganesha are immersed in the sea.
