INDIAN FESTIVALS (APRIL TO AUGUST)

 

                              

                                                  FESTIVALS IN INDIA (APRIL)

 

                        GOOD FRIDAY (ALL OVER INDIA) IS OBSERVED ALL OVER BY THE CHRISTIANS. THIS IS THE DAY WHEN LORD CHRIST CRUCIFIED. THE CHRISTIANS OFFER SPECIAL PRAYER SERVICES IN THE CHURCHES.

                      EASTER (ALL OVER INDIA) IS A FESTIVAL OF REJUNCTION OF LIFE AND LIVING. ON THIS DAY, LORD CHRIST ROSE AGAIN AFTER HIS DEATH. CHOCOLATE EGGS, SMALL CHICKS OF COTTON WOOL AND ALMOND SWEETS ARE BOUGHT FOR CHILDREN, SYMBOLISING NEW LIFE. PRAYER SERVICES ARE HELD IN THE CHURCHES TO END THE MOURNING PERIOD.

                     BAISAKHI (PUNJAB) IS CELEBRATED IN PUNJAB WITH GREAT FERVOUR. IT WAS ON THIS DAY THAT GURU GOBIND SINGH FOUNDED THE KHALSA (SIKH BROTHERHOOD). THE HOLY BOOK OF THE SIKHS, GRANTH SAHIB IS TAKEN IN A PROCESSION, LED BY THE PANJ PYARAS (FIVE SENIOR SIKHS) WHO ARE SYMBOLIC OF THE ORIGINAL LEADERS. THE OCCASION IS MARKED BY LOT OF FEASTING AND MERRY MAKING. ALL NIGHT REVELRIES TERMED BAISAKHI DI RAAT (NIGHT OF FEASTING) OR BAISAKHI DA MELA (BAISAKHI FAIRS) ARE HELD, WHERE MEN AND WOMEN DANCE TO THE RHYTHMIC BEAT OF DRUMS.

                IN KERALA THE FESTIVALS IS KNOW AS VISHNU. A DISPLAY OF GRAIN, FRUITS, FLOWERS, GOLD, NEW CLOTH AND MONEY, IS VIEWED AS VISHNU. A DISPLAY OF GRAIN, FRUITS, FLOWERS, GOLD, NEW CLOTH AND MONEY, IS VIEWED EARLY IN THE MORNING TO ENSURE A PROSPEROUS YEAR AHEAD. KNOWN AS BIHU IN ASSAM, THE FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED WITH LIVELY DANCES, MUSIC AND FEASTING.

                        GUDI PADVA OR UGADI (MAHARASHTRA, ANDHRA PRADESH AND KARNATAKA): MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR IN MAHARASHTRA,  ANDHRA PRADESH AND PARTS OF KARNATAKA. GUDI PADVA IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FOUR MOST AUSPICIOUS DAYS IN THE YEAR WHEN PEOPLE START NEW VENTURES. IT IS BELIEVED THAT LORD BRAHMA CREATED THE WORLD ON THIS DAY AND SO HE IS WORSHIPPED SPECIALLY AT THIS TIME.

               LORD VISHNU TOO IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN INCARNATED AS MATSYA, THE FISH, ON THIS DAY. A GUDI (BANNER) WITH A SWASTIKA-MARKED POT AND SILK CLOTH IS RAISED TO ANNOUNCE VICTORY AND JOY. IT IS REMINISCENT OF THE VALIANT MARATHAS RETURNING HOME FROM THEIR SUCCESSFUL CONQUERING EXPEDITIONS OF WAR.

 

                       POORAM (TRICHUR, KERAL) AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL, THE PEOPLE OF KERAL BEGIN THEIR SEARCH FOR THE BEST ELEPHANTS TO TRICHUR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POORAM FESTIVAL. THE DECORATED ELEPHANT GROUPS FACE EACH OTHER WHILE DRUMS AND NADASWARAMS CREATE A CRESCENDO OF MUSIC. THE FESTIVAL ENDS WITH A SPECTACULAR DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS.

                     MUHARRAM (ALL OVER INDIA) COMMEMORATES THE MARTYRDOM OF IMAM HUSSAIN, THE GRANDSON OF THE HOLY PROPHET MOHAMMED, AND IS OBSERVED BY THE SHI'ITE MUSLIMS, WHO TAKE OUT PROCESSIONS OF COLOUFULLY DECORATED 'TAZIAS'. WHICH ARE PAPER AND BAMBOO REPLICAS OF THE MARTYRE' TOMB AT KARBALA IN IRAQ. THE PROCESSIONS ARE SPECIALLY IMPRESSIVE AT LUCKNOW. IN PARTS OF THE SOUTH, TIGER DANCERS - MEN PAINTED OVER WITH STIPES AND WEARING TIGER MASKS, LEAD THE PROCESSION.

 

                   BUDDHA PURNIMA (NORTH INDIA) THIS FESTIVAL WHICH FALLS ON THE FULL MOON DAY, COMMEMORATES THE BIRTH OF LORD BUDDHA. ALSO IT WAS ON THIS DAY LORD BUDDHA ACHIEVED NIRVANA  OR THE EXTINCTION OF SELF AND FREEDOM FROM THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH.

                MEWAR FESTIVAL (RAJASTHAN) : IS CELEBRATED IN UDAIPUR TO WELCOME SPRING. THE MAIN HIGHLIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL IS THE PROCESSION OF COLOURFULLY ATTIRED WOMEN CARRYING IMAGES OF THE GODDESS GAURI TO LAKE PICHOLA. FESTIVITIES INCLUDE JOYOUS SINGING, DANCING, DEVOTIONAL MUSIC CONCERTS AND FIREWORK DISPLAYS.

                                         THE FESTIVALS IN (MAY-JUNE)

 

                  URS (AJMER, RAJASTHAN) : THE URS ARE HELD EVERY YEAR AT THED DARGAH OF THE SUFI SAINT KHWAJA MOINUDDIN CHISTI, COMMEMORATING HIS SYMBOLIC UNION WITH GOD. PILGRIMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD GATHER HERE TO PAY THEIR HOMAGE. QAWAALIS  (POEMS) ARE SUNG IN THE SAINT'S HONOUR.

                GANGA DUSSEHRA (UTTAR PRADESH) : IN THIS FESTIVAL TEN DAYS ARE DEVOTED TO THE WORSHIP OF THE RIVER GANGA. ACCORDING TO THE LEGENDS, GANGAVATARAM OR THE DESCENT OF THE GANGA, HAPPENED AT THIS TIME. DEVOTEES TOUCH THE RIVER WATER, BATHE IN IT, AND TAKE THE RIVER CLAY HOME TO VENERATE. IN HARIDWAR, ARATIS ARE PERFORMED AT TWILIGHT AND A LARGE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES MEDITATE ON HER SERENE BANKS.

                 HEMIS FESTIVAL (JAMMU & KASHMIR) : IS CELEBRATED AT HEMIS, THE BIGGEST BUDDHIST MONASTERY IN LADAKH TO MARK THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF GURU PADMASAMBHAVA. SPLENDID MASKED DANCES ARE PERFORMED TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SYMBOLS, DRUMS AND LONG HORNS. A COLOUFUL FAIR, DISPLAYING SOME BEAUTIFUL HANDICRAFTS, IS THE SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL.

                                                        

                                             FESTIVALS IN JULY - AUGUST

                     RATHYATRA (ORISSA) - THIS SPECTACULAR CHARIOT FESTIVAL IS HELD AT THE FAMOUS JAGANNATH TEMPLE AT PURI. IMAGES OF LORD JAGANNATH, HIS SISTER SUBHADRA AND BROTHER BALBHADRA ARE TAKEN OUT IN PROCESSION IN THREE CHARIOTS TO THEIR SUMMER TEMPLE FOR A WEEK. THE MAIN CHARIOTS IS 14 METERS HIGH AND 10 METERS SQUARE WITH 16 WHEELS. THE ROPES OF THE HUGE CHARIOTS ARE PULLED BY MILLIONS OF DEVOTEES WHO ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS ACT BESTOWS SALVATION UPON THEM.

                   GURU PURNIMA (ALL OVER INDIA) 16TH JULY :  A SPECIAL WORSHIP IS PERFORMED ON THIS DAY TO ALL TEACHERS GREAT EPIC, MAHABHARATA, IS A PART OF THE CELEBRATION . ON THIS DAY STUDENTS VISIT THEIR ELDERS, TEACHERS AND GUIDES IN ORDER TO SHOW RESPECT TO THEM WITH GIFTS OF COCONUTS, CLOTHES AND SWEETS. THESE GIFTS ARE CALLED GURUDAKSHINA. DISCOURSES ARE HELD IN COMMUNITY GATHERINGS TO HEAR THE READINGS OF THE HOLY BOOKS, BHAGWAD GITA.

                                                                AUGUST

                    JANMASHTAMI (ALL OVER INDIA) 23RD AUGUST : THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF LORD KRISHNA, THE INCARNATION OF VISHNU IS OBSERVED ALL OVER INDIA. IT IS CELEBRATED WITH GREAT FERVOUR AT MATHURA AND BRINDAVAN WHERE LORD KRISHNA SPEND HIS CHILDHOOD. NIGHT LONG PRAYERS ARE OFFERED AND RELIGIOUS HYMS ARE SUNG IN TEMPLES. SCENES ARE ENACTED FROM LORD KRISHNA'S EARLY LIFE.

   

                    IN MAHARASHTRA, EARTHEN POTS OF CURD AND BUTTER ARE HUNG HIGH UP OVER THE STREETS. YOUNG MEN ENACTING AN EPISODE FROM KRISHNA'S CHILDHOOD FORM HUMAN PYRAMIDS BY CLIMBING ON EACH OTHER'S SHOULDERS AND TRY TO BREAK THESE POTS.

                 ONAM (KERALA)  : ONAM IS KERALA'S MOST POPULAR FESTIVALS, CELEBRATED WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. IT IS PRIMILARILY A HARVEST FESTIVAL CELEBRATED WITH GREAT ENTHUSIAM. IS IS PRIMARILY A HARVEST FESTIVAL CELEBRATED TO WELCOME THE SPIRIT OF THE PIOUS KING MAHABALI FROM ETERNAL EXILE AND TO ASSURE HIM THAT HIS PEOPLE ARE HAPPY AND WISH HIM WELL. AT TRICHUR, CAPARISONED ELEPHANTS TAKE PART IN A SPECTACULAR PROCESSION. THERE IS ALSO A MAGNIFICIENT DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS. AT SHORANUR, APPRECIATIVE CROWDS GATHER ON THE GREEN WHERE COLOURFULLY DRESSED KATHAKALI DANCERS RE-ENACT THE WELL-LOVED STORIES OF THE EPIC HEROES AND VIRTUOUS WOMEN. ON THE SECOND DAY OF FESTIVAL, EVERY HOME IS LIT BRIGHT AND DECORATED IN PREPARATION FOR THE VISIT OF KING MAHABALI. GREETINGS ARE EXCHANGED AND LENGTHS OF AUSPICIOUS SAFFRON CLOTH ARE PRESENTED BY FRIENDS  TO ONE ANOTHER.

                   THE VALLUMKALI (BOAT RACE) IS ONE OF THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF ONAM, AND IS BEST SEEN AT ARANMULAI AND KOTTYAM. ABOUT A HUNDRED OARSMEN ROW HUGE AND GRACEFUL ODEE (BOATS). OARS DIP AND FLASH TO THE RHYTHM OF DRUMS AND CYMBALS IN EACH BOAT. THE SONGS ARE GENERALLY TOPICAL IN CHARACTER AND CONCERN PEOPLE WELL KNOWN IN MALABAR. ABOVE EACH BOAT GLEAM SCARLET SILK UMBRELLAS, THEIR NUMBER DENOTES THE AFFLUENCE OF THE FAMILY OWNING THE BOAT. GOLD COINS AND TASSELS HANG FROM THE UMBRELLAS.

                IN THE EVENINGS, GIRLS PERFORM THE KYEKOTTIKALI (THE CLAPPING DANCE) IN THE OPEN, DANCING AROUND THE TRADITIONAL BRASS LAMP. INTRICATE PATTERNS OF FLOWER PETALS ARE MADE ON THE GRASS FORMING A FLOWER CARPET FOR THE DANCE.

                NAG PANCHAMI (WEST BENGAL, MAHARASHTRA AND SOUTH INDIA) (SUDH) 4 TH AUGUST

                 NAG PANCHAMI IS THE FESTIVAL WHEN SNAKES, THE SYMBOLS OF ENERGY AND PROSPERITY ARE WORSHIPPED. IN MAHARASTRA, SNAKE CHARMERS GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE WITH DORMANT COBRAS ENSCONCED IN CANE BASKETS, ASKING FOR ALMS AND CLOTHING.  WOMEN OFFER MILK AND COOKED RICE TO THE SNAKES AND GATHER AROUND TO SEE THE SNAKES SPREAD THEIR HOODS TO THE TUNE OF THE PUNGI. CLAY SNAKES ARE BROUGHT HOME TO BE WORSHIPPED BY DAY AND IMMERSED IN THE SEA IN THE EVENING.

                  IN SOUTHERN INDIA, PARTICULARLY IN KERALA, SNAKE TEMPLES ARE CROWED ON THIS DAY AND WORSHIP IS OFFERED TO STONE OR METAL ICONS OF THE COSMIC SERPENT ANANTA OR SHESHA.

           

                   RAKSHABANDHAN (NORTH INDIA) 15TH AUGUST : THIS IS A HINDU SISTER'S DAY WHEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS REAFFIRM THEIR BONDS OF AFFECTIONS. SISTERS TIE COLOUFUL THREADS RO RAKHIS ON THEIR BROTHER'S WRISTS. THE BROTHERS IN TURN PROMISE TO PROTECT THEIR SISTERS AND GIVE THEM GIFTS.

 

                GANESH CHATURTHI (MAHARASHTRA, TAMIL NADU, ANDHRA PRADESH, KARNATAKA)

. GANESHA CHATURTHI IS AN IMPORTANT FESTIVAL IN INDIA, ESPECIALLY IN MAHARASHTRA DEDICATED TO LORD GANESHA, THE ELEPHANT HEADED GOD OF ALL GOOD BEGGININGS AND SUCCESS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT LORD GANESHA WAS BORN ON THIS DAY AND EVERY CHATURTHI IS CONSIDERED AUSPICIOUS. THOUSANDS OF CLAY IDOLS OF LORD GANESHA ARE MADE IN EVERY SIZE, POSE, FORM AND COLOUR AND WORSHIPPED AT COMMUNITY OR FAMILY FESTIVALS WHICH LAST BETWEEN ONE TO TEN DAYS. THESE IMAGES ARE THEN TAKEN IN LARGE PROCESSIONS, AMIDST THE RHYTHMS OF BELLS AND DRUMS AND IMMERSED IN FLOWING WATER.

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