FESTIVAL / FAIRS OF INDIA

FESTIVAL / FAIRS OF INDIA

The festivals in India manifest the living force pulsating in its culture. The Indian mind carved out three categories of festivals. They are Vrata, OParva and Tyohars, the fist being essentially on oocasion to fast, the second being commemoration of the sancitity of notable events; the third as sheer celebration. Mahatma Gandhi divided these over lappings of Indian festivals in two categories as kamya and nitya, the first pre-supposing spcial  desire and the latter having no desires but love and devotion. The festivals of India enshirine and keen alive men and ideals that have left their impress on the historyof the race.A survey of festivals celebrated by various communities on different parts of the country would required a considerable volume. Therefore, the most important festivals, of india, which represent each community and almost every regionof india are being described here.

Holi (February/march) – All over India: Especially in the North

Celebrating the advent of spring men, women and children revel in throwing coloured water and powder on their friends. The most intereresting Holi celebration is the lathmar Holi at Barsana near Mathura. IN the Punjab Particularly at Anandpur Sahib, a sect of the Sikh community observes Holla Mohalla, a day after Holi, and stag mock battles with ancient weapons.

Jamshed navroz (March) – Maharashtra, Gujarat

New Year ’s Day for the parsi followers of the Fasli calendar. The celebrations, which include donning fine clothes, prayers at temples, greetings, alms – giving and feasting at home, data back to Jamshed, the legaendary king of Persia.

Gangaur (March /april) – Rajasthan

The festival is held about a fornight after Holi in Honour of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Gaily attired young girls, gracefully balancing brass pitchers on their heads, wend their way to the temple Gauri (parvati), for the ceremonial bath of the deitywho is the bedecked with flowers. The festivl ends in rejoicing, with the arrival of shiva to escort his bride Gauri home, accompanied by caparisoned horses and elephants. In Bengal, more particularly in Nabadwip and Santipur, and in Orissa a similar ritual, called Doljatrra is observed by followers of the Vishnu cult.

Mahavir jayanti (March / april) – all over India

This festival is dedicated to mahavira the 24^th Tirthankaa of the Jains, who has a large following in Gujarat and other parts of India.

Easter (Matrch/April) – all over India

Good Friday and Easter Sunday conform to the same patternof alternate reverenceand gaiety that exist in the West.

Id – Ui-Zuha (Bakrid) (April / May) – Throughout India

Bakr – ID commemorates the sacrifice of Abraham. Prayers are offered at mosque during the day. Celebrants wear new clothes and there is festing nad rejoicing.

Spring festival (april / ma7 ) – Kashmir

In Srinagar, capital of Jammu & Kashmir, the spring festival actually starts in March, when the first almond blossoms appear. Peple flock to the almond orchards near the picturesque Dal Lake. They take with them Kashmiri Vessels like samovars and make tea under blooming almond.There is muh happy singingof folk songs. On 13^th april, the Baiskhkhi festivalis celebrated in the Mughal Gardens of Kashmir.

Baishkhi (april/ May) – North India

This is the Hindu Solar new year obserzved virutallyall over northern India and in Tamil Nadu. It is a religious festival when people bathe in rivers and go to temoples to worship. The river ganga is believed to have  descernedon earth on thid s day. For trhe sikth community. Baishakhi is of special significance. On this day in 1689,Guru Gobind singh organized the Sikhs into tlhe Khalsa or the pure one.

Pooram (April / May – Kerala

The most spectacular temple festival in Kerala begins as twilight descends on the temple of Vadakkunathan atop of hillock near Trichur. Thirty richy caparisoned elephants carrying ceremonial umbrellllas and fanned by whisks stride out through the gopourram (temple gate). The elephant in the centere carries the processional image of the temple deity Vadakkunathan. To the sound of trumpets and pipes, the elephants go round the temple. A spectacular display of fore words, soon after the midnight, continues till the break of dawn.

Id-UL fitr (Ramzan –id) (April/May) –All over India

Celebrated to mark the end of Ramzan, the Muslim Month of fasting. Idul – fists is an occasion for feasting and rejoicing. The faithful gather in mosques to pray, and friends t\and relatives meet to exchange greetings.

Meenakshi Kalyanam (April / May ) – Madurai

The annual solemnization of the marriage of Meenakshi with lord Shiva is one of the most spectacular temple festivals at Madurai’s amours Meenakshi temple in Tamil Nadu. This mythical m\wedding is the culmination of a ten – day festival in the moth of Chaitra (April / may). The deities are taken out in a resplendent chariot to the accompanishment of traditional devotional music.

Rath Yatra (July) – Varanasi, Serampore and PUri

Of the great temple festivals of India, the one held in Puri in Orissa is the most spectacular. The festival held in honour of Jagannath (Lord of the Universe) attracts thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the country. The most impressive part of the festival is the Chariot procession. Three profusely decorated temple cars, resembling a temple structure, are drawn by thousands of pilgrims along puri’s streets. Similkar elebrations, on much smaller scale, are held at Ramnagar (near Varanasi), Serempore (near Calcutta) and jagannathpur (near Ranchi).

Naag panchami (July / August) – Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and North India

Reverence for the Cobra (Naag) is shown by people all over the country during Naag Pancham, usually in late july or early August. This day is dedicated to the great thousand – headed mythical serpent called sesha or Anant Meaning ‘ Infinite’.

Teej (July / August) – Rajasthan, Eastern U.P. and North India

Teej is an important fest tival in Rajasthan. It welcomes the monsoon and is essentially a women’s festival. The presiding deity is the goddess Parvati who, in the form of a bride, leaves her parent’s home for her husband’s. Women of all ages attired in bright green consumers flock to the swing which are hound from trees.

Raksha Bandhan (July / August ) – Throughout northern and Western India

A Hindu festival which falls on poornima or Full Moon Day of the month of Sharavana (July / August). On this day sisters tie Rakhi or amulet around the wrists of their brothers to seek their protection. During the agitation against the partition of Bengal, Rabindra Nath Tagore popularized the “Rakhi Bandhan”, to strengthen the brotherhood and solidarity of the people of Bengal.

Amarnath Yatra (July / August) – Kashmir

Each year, in the Month of Sharavan (July /August), when the moon is full, thousands of devout Hindus gather at the Amarnath cave in the Lidder Valley in Kashmir to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva. It enshrined a naturally formed ice lingam which waxes and wanes with the moon. This is where. Hindus believe, Lord Shiva Explained Secret of Salvation to his cosort Paravati.

Onam (August / September) Kerala

Kerala’s greatest festival is Onam, celebrated with tremendous enthusiasm,. It is primarily a harvest festival observed not only in home but also in the open against the background of lush green tropical vegetation in which the region abounds. The most exciting features of the festival are the snake boat recess held at several places in palm fringed lagoons. Various kinds of boats, beak shaped, take part in these thrilling contests.

Janmashtrami (August / September)- Throughout India

The birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, believed to be the reincarnation of Vishnu and the author of the Bhagavat gita, is observed all over India. It is celebrated with special enthusiasm at Mathura and Vrindaban where Lord Krishna spent his childhood.

Ganesh Chaturthi (August / September) – Maharashtra

Ganesh, the deity with an elephant’s head, is the god of good omen and is worshipped by most Hindus. In Maharashtra, particularly in and around Bombay the festival of Ganesh is celebrated with tremendous enthusiasm. Clay models of the deity are worshipped and taken out in grand procession accompanied by the sound of cymbals and rums. The images, sometimes as much as eight metres high, are finally immerse in a sea or a lake.

Dussehra, Ramma lila, Durga Puja (September / October) – All over India

The most popular of India’s festivals is Dussehra. Every region observes this festival lasting for ten days. It is celebrated in a special way. In north India. It is Ram Lila and consists of plays, recitations and music which recall the life of legendry hero, Rama. All over, Amateur troupes perform plays based on the epic story of Rama. On the tenth day, an elaborate processing is taken to Ram lila grounds where immense effigies of the demon Ravan, his brother and son explode to the cheers of thousands of spectators. In Kulu the celebrations have a different flavor.

In Bengal and other parts of eastern India, dussehra is celebrated as Durga Puja. Devotees don new clothes and entertain themselves with music, dance and drama. On the last day, images of the warrior goddess Durga are taken out in procession and Immensed in a sea or a river.

In Mysore, Dussehra is celebrated with pimp and pageantry reminiscent of grandeur of medieval India. In other parts of south India, the festival is celebrated as Navaratri.

Diwali (October /November) – All over India

The gayest of all Indian festivals, Diwali is an occasion for great excitement and rejoicing. In some parts, Diwali marks the start as the Hindu New Year. Every city, town and village is turned into a fairy – land with thousands of flickering oil lamps and electric light illumination homes and public buildings.

On this night, a great part of India worships lakshmi, the goddess symbolizing prosperity, in eastern India, particularly in Bengal, people worship kali, the goddess symbolizing strength.

Gurupurav (October / November) – Mainly in North India

The birth anniversaries of the ten gurus, spiritual teachers or preceptors of Sikhism are observed as holy days, but those of Nanak and Govind Singh, the first and the last Gurus, are celebrated as festivals. Guru Nanak’s birthday falls in Kartik (October / November) and Guru Govind singh’s birthday falls in December / January. The main celebrations are Akhand Path, the recitation of the Guru’s verses and processions arraying the Guru Grant Sahib, the Holy Book of the Sikhs.

Muharram (November) – all over India

Muslims commemorate the marthrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of prophet Mohammed. In all cities and towns in India there are impressive processions of colorfully decorated tizzies which are made of paper and bamboo and are replicas of martyr’s tomb at Karbala., In many parts of south India, tiger – dancers ( men painted all over with stripes and wearing tiger masks) lead the procession.

Christmas (December 25) – Mainly Bombay, Goa, Delhi & Calcutta

A fine and exhilarating distillation of traditional and local influences, Christmas is observed in much splendor at services in churches and cathedrals. Carol singing, dancing and balls are the high water –marks. Among the most joyous and colourful celebrations are the festivities at Goa which retain the pageantry of the Latin temper brought to a brilliant culmination under an Indian sun.