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Diwali: A festival of Lights
On this day people light up their houses and shops by lights which are called "diya" as it is believed that Lord Rama had come back to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana on this very day. This day commemorates the victory of good over evil.
This festival symbolises the unity in diversity as every state celebrates in its own special ways. The celebration of the four-day festival commences on Aswayuja Bahula Chaturdasi and would conclude on Kartika Shudda Vijiya. |
The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. According to puranas Naraka, the son of Bhudevi,acquired immense power as a blessing from Lord Brahma after a severe penance. He soon unleashed a reign of terror in the kingdom of Kamarupa, harassing the celestial beings with his invincible might. Unable to bear the tyranny of the demon, the celestial beings pleaded with Lord Krishna to save them from his torture. But Naraka could not be easily killed as he had a boon that he could face death only at the hands of his mother Bhudevi. So, Krishna asks his wife Satyabhama, the reincarnation of Bhudevi, to be his charioteer in the battle with Naraka. When Krishna feigns unconciousness after being hit by an arrow of Naraka, Satyabhama takes the bow and aims the arrow at Naraka and kills him instantly. Later Lord Krishna reminds her of the boon she had sought as Bhudevi. The slaying of the Naraka by Sathyabhama could also be taken to interpret that parents should not hesitate to punish their children when they stray on to the wrong path. The message of Naraka Chaturdasi is that the good of the society should always prevail over one's own personal bonds.
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The second day is Amavasya when Lakshmi puja is performed . On this day Goddess Lakshmi would be in her benevolant mood and would fulfill all the wishes of her devotees. One version says that it was on this day Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagara when the Gods and demons were churning the sagara for Amrutha Bhandam.
Another version is that when Lord Vishnu in the guise of Vamana, sought three feet of land from the very generous king Bali Chakravarthy, Bali had to surrender his head as Vamana had conquered the earth and the sky in His two strides. Lord Vishnu banishes Bali into the Pathala Loka by keeping his third stride on Bali's head. Later, pleased by his generosity, Lord Vishnu grants him a boon
and he inturn requests the Lord to guard his palace at Patha Loka.
Meanwhile, the Goddess is unable to bear the separation and her grief affects the functioning of the entire universe. Brahma and Lord Shiva offer themselves as guards and plead with Bali to relieve Vishnu. So, on the Amavasya day Lord Vishnu returns to his abode and Goddess Lakshmi is delighted. That is the reason it is believed that those who worship Goddess Lakshmi on this day would be bestowed with all the riches.
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The third day is "Kartika Shudda Padyami" or "Pareva"and it is only on this day that Bali would come out of Pathala Loka and rule Bhuloka as per the boon given by Lord Vishnu. Hence, it is also known as "Bali Padyami".
The fourth day is referred to as "Yama Dvitiya" or "Bhaiya Dooij" it falls on Dooj, the second day after the new moon. This day Yamaraj goes to his sister's house who puts an auspicious mark on his forehead for his welfare.
Another version is after killing Narakasur, Lord Krishna, on his "Dooj Day' goes to his sister Subhadra who welcomes him in the traditional way by showing him a light and putting on his forehead a tilak of her sisterly protection.
Another myth behind this begins as when Bhagawaan Mahavir found nirvana, his brother Raja Nandivardhan was distressed because he missed him and was comforted by his sister Sudarshana. Since then, women have been revered during this festival.
This day all sisters show their sisterly love for their brother by giving them their traditional and loving
welcome by putting this tilak on the forehead of their brothers for their safety and well being. They are
given gifts from their brothers and held in the highest respect.
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However, in the northern part of India Diwali is celebrated as the return of Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana from his 14 years of exile after killing Ravana. To commemorate his return to Ayodhya, his subjects illuminated the kingdom and bursted crackers. For the Gujaratis, Marwaris and other business community Diwali marks the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and also the begining of the new financial year.
Ramayana in "Amar Chitra Katha" |
Holi: A festival of colour
On this day people play with colour called "Abeer" and "Gulal". They rub this color on clothes and face.
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The festival of Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March every year. Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi is now a symbolic commemmoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story centres around an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son but fails each time. Finally, the king's sister Holika who is said to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges unscathed, while his aunt burns to death. Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation.
This exuberant festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha, and hence, Holi is spread over 16 days in Vrindavan as well as Mathura - the two cities with which Lord Krishna shared a deep affiliation. Apart from the usual fun with coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality.
Today Holi is an excuse for Indians to shed inhibitions and caste differences for a day of spring fever and Big Fun. Teenagers spend the day flirting and misbehaving in the streets, adults extend the hand of peace, and everyone chases everyone else around, throwing brightly colored powder (gulal) and water over each other. The festival's preamble begins on the night of the full moon. Bonfires are lit on street corners to cleanse the air of evil spirits and bad vibes, and to symbolize the destruction of the wicked Holika, for whom the festival was named. The following morning, the streets fill with people running, shouting, giggling and splashing. Marijuana-based bhang and thandai add to the uninhibited atmosphere.
Promptly at noon, the craziness comes to an end and everyone heads to either the river or the bathtub, then inside to relax the dayaway and partake of candies. In the afternoon an exhausted and contented silence falls over India. Although Holi is observed all over the north, it's celebrated with special joy and zest at Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, and Barsnar. These towns once housed the divine Krishna.
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Maha Shivratri
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The night of Shiva, or Shivratri is celebrated on a moonless night in February every year. Shiva
is the destroyer and is a part of the Holy trinity of Hindus. Devotees of Shiva fast during the day and maintain a long vigil during the night. Stories of Shiva are narrated and hymns and songs are recited in the honour of Shiva. In temples all across the country, bells ring, sacred texts are chanted and traditional offerings of leaves and milk are made to the Shiva lingam, the phallic symbol of the god. According to ancient scriptures, Shiva manifests himself in the form of a huge flaming lingam known as Jyotirlinga on Shivratri. It is the duty of every worshipper to worship this lingam with at least one bilwa leaf. Offerings of the intoxicant Bhang and the poisonous Dhatura fruit is also made to Shiva.
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Vasant Panchami
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This festival is celebrated to honour Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning, Wisdom and the Fine Arts. It is more popular in the eastern Indian states were it forms an important part of the religious traditions. Vasant Panchami is celebrated with great pomp and show and the idol of the Goddess is worshipped and after the festivities are over the idol is immersed in a holy river or pond. People wear yellow and white clothes and keep their books and work tools near the feet of the goddess to be blessed. Ganesh, Vishnu, Shiva and Surya are also worshipped.
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Makar Sankranti
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Makar Sankranti means the beginning of the sun's journey into the Northern Hemisphere and is celebrated all over the country in one form or the other. People take a dip in the holy rivers and ponds and offer prayer to the sun. The river Hooghly, near Calcutta, is a major centre for this festival, as people come from different parts of the country for a ceremonial cleansing in the river. This is known as the Gangasagar Mela. In Gujarat, a kite festival is held and brightly coloured kites dot the skies. On this day people eat “Khichadi” made of rice and dal.
Makara Sankranti is also celebrated throughout India as a harvest festival. It is a way of giving thanks to the elements of nature that help man. This is the period when the winter recedes, paving the way for the summer. It is the time the farmers bring home their harvest. In the coast al regions, it is a harvest festival dedicated to Indra. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, it is celebrated as a three-day harvest festival Pongal. In Assam, the festival is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu, and in Punjab it is called Lohri.
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Pongal
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Pongal is celebrated in South India and is a major harvest festival. The festival gets its name from pongal, a sweet dish made out of fresh rice and jaggery. The festivities go on for three days and are different each day.
Bhogi Pongal is the first day of celebrations and the whole family gets together to celebrate it. Surya Pongal is the
second day of festivities and the people worship Surya, the sun god on this day. Boiled milk and jaggery are
offered to the Sun God, and friends greet each other asking, "Is it boiled?" The answer: "Yes, it is."
The third day is Mattu Pongal, and cattle are worshipped on this day (cattle known as matu). Cattle are bathed,
their horns polished and painted in bright colours, and garlands of flowers are placed around their necks. The
pongal that has been offered to the Gods is then given to cattle and birds to eat.
Pongal is a time for spring-cleaning and burning of rubbish, symbolising the destruction of evil. Kolam, an intricate
geometric or floral design is drawn on the floor in the front of each house. The freshly harvested grain is cooked for a
community meal where the entire village feasts. In Madras, a chariot procession (rath yatra) is taken out
from the Kandaswamy Temple. In Madurai, Tanjore and Tiruchirrapalli, Pongal is known as Jellikattu, and bundles
of money are tied to the horns of bulls, and village youth try to get the money at the risk of being gored in order to
show off.
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Raksha bandhan
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6. Raksha Bandhan: It falls on the full moon day in the month of Shrawan (July-August). Two festivals are observed on this day-Shravani and Raksha Bandhan. Shravani enjoins on the performer to clean his body, perform the Pooja as ordained in the scriptures in order to propitiate gods and ancestral spirits so as to be bestowed upon with all the blessings. The preceptor begins the year's academic session on this day. The celebration of Raksha Bandhan is much more popular. On this day, the sister ties a thread on the wrist of her brother(s) as a mark of the unbreakable love of each other and the brother's obligation to guard the sister through
out the life.
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Janam Ashtami
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Janmashtami is the birthday celebration of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated on the 8th Tithi of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapad (August-September). In the night, songs and stories related to Krishna's birth are sung and narrated. As the moment of Krishna's birth arrives, he is devotionally welcomed. His idol is then offered Pooja. There after sweets are distributed as mark of joy since the birth of Krishna denotes the advent of the
annihilator of evils. Feasts are also arranged to celebrated the occasion.
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Ganesh Chaturthi
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Ganesh Chaturthi:- Lord Ganesh occupies the first place in the Pooja system of Hindus. He is believed to be the evil dispelled. Any undertaking began with the worship of Lord Ganesh
is believed to get on safe and reach success. The fourth tithi of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadrapad (August-September) is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi. On this day the idol of Lord Ganesh is installed and worshipped with all the specified rituals and his blessing are sought for wisdom and prosperity and toward of all hurdles. In north India especially in Maharashtra a ten day festivals, staring from Ganesh Chaturthi to the full moon day of the fortnight is celebrated with great gusto and splendor. Idols of Lord Ganesh dot all nooks and corners of the cities, towns and villages and a splendorous show of devotion and enthusiasm is witnessed during this ten day season. On the full moon day the idols are taken out in procession to the accompaniment of songs, music and dance before limmersing them in lakes, rivers or seas with devotional adieu & blessing to be back again next year.
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Ram Navmi
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Ram Navmi:- Ram Navmi is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Ram. It falls on the 9th tithi from the Indian New Year day in Chaitra Shukla. Navaratri Parna is also observed this nine days period (Navaratri), when fasting and austere living are observed to invoke the blessings of goddess Durga. Laghu anushthan during this period by chanting of Gayatri Mantra
24,000 times and performing yagya is considered to be highly beneficial. Lord Ram's birth is looked upon as the beginning of the end of evil era.
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Nav Ratri
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The Navratri is observed during the nine days period from, pratipada (1st tithi)
to Navami (9th tithi) of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashwin (September-October).
During this period Goddess Durga, the embodiment of might and maternal care, is worshipped
with almost devotion. The legend is that two demons Shumbh and Nishumbh, became so powerful that their atrocities made the gods leave their seats of power and flee for life. With no solution in sight all the gods got together and prayed to the primordial power to save them.
They continued to worship & prayer for nine days, where on the primordial power (Aadi Shakti) appeared in the form of Durga and took upon herself the combined might of all the gods and
annihilated the demons. As such it is the worship of divine force to overcome evil forces. During the nine days period, fasting and austere living is adopted. Mother goddess is worshipped with
devotion. Devotees concentrate their worship on the idols or photos of Mother Gayatri as well and perform “Laghu anushthaan” as described under the chapter “Navaratri anushthaan” else
where in this almanac. On the concluding day, the Goddess is given devotional adieu, beseeching to visit again next year. It is believed that the Pooja and Anushthaan performed in this duration is highly propitious, to get over the evil forces and to sail safe through the turbulent life.
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Vijay Dashmi
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Vijaya Dashami or Dassera is celebrated on the tenth tithi of the
bright of fortnight in the month of Ashwin (September-October). It commemorates the day of victory over Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, by Lord Ram. It denotes victory over evil and is
celebrated as National Festivals. The statues of Ravana are brunet as a mark of annihilation of evil forces. Lord Rama along with consort Sita, Laxman, his constant companion brother and the
mighty devotee Hanuman who is ever at the Lord’s service, is worshipped. Joy and enthusiasm prevails all over.
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