It is the nine days festival, which signifies
the victory of Good over Evil. As diverse as India is, it is but natural
that Good and Evil take various forms in different parts of the country.
Central and North India celebrate Lord Rama’s victory over the
ten-headed Ravana. In the East, in west Bengal, this festival marks
the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. In the state
of Himachal, a week long fair at Kullu is a part of the Dussehra celebrations.
From the little temples in the hills, deities are brought in procession
to the Kullu Fair ground with a lot of gaiety, music and colour. Down
South in the city of Mysore, the exotic and colourful celebration
of Dussehra leaves many a visitor enthralled.
Literally meaning an array of lamps, it is
the Festival of Lights and perhaps the only festival that is celebrated
along the length and breadth of the country without any diversity
as well as amongst Indians all over the world. This is an occasion
for the young and old, men and women, rich and poor-for every one,
irrespective of their religious and economic backgrounds. This festival
is celebrated throughout the country to ward off the darkness and
welcome the light to their lives. This festival is celebrated to mark
the return of Lord Rama, his consort Sita and brother Lakshmana, to
their kingdom after 14 years of exile. To celebrate their return,
the people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit up their houses and
streets with lamps and the tradition is followed till date. People
also conduct Lakshmi Puja to please the Goddess of Wealth.
The festival of Holi symbolizes the victory
of good over evil. It also marks the advent of spring and people celebrate
it joyously with a splash of color. It is the most boisterous of all
Hindu festivals, observed all over India, especially the North. It
heralds the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The night before
the full moon, crowds of people gather together and light huge bonfires
to burn the residual dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People
throw colored water with pichkaari (a traditional device to spray
coloured water), gubbare (balloons filled with coloured water) and
gulal (colour powder) at each other and make merry. Singing and dancing
add to the gaiety of the occasion. In the northern, western and eastern
regions, Holi celebrates the joyful Raasleela (dance) of Lord Krishna
and the Gopis. Holi, also known as phag, is a joyous celebration of
the rejuvenation of nature and renewed hope of happiness and peaceful
coexistence. Especially famous is the lathmaar Holi of Barsana and
Nandgaon. In Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, Sikhs celebrate a special festival
called Hola Mohalla on the day after Holi. It marks a display of ancient
martial arts and mock battles. Holi is also an occasion for the celebration
of the burning of Lord Kama, the Hindu equivalent of Cupid, with the
fire that emanated from Lord Shiva's third eye and also symbolizes
the burning of demoness Holika. Till date people burn effigies of
Holika.
The festival of Maha Shivratri falls on the
13th (or 14th) day of the month of Phalguna (February–March)
of the Indian calendar. The weather remains pleasant throughout India
during this time of the year. The word Shivratri literally translates
into "the night of Shiva.” This is because the ceremonies
take place chiefly at night. A daylong fast, a nightlong vigil, and
the reverberating rhythm of sacred chants mark the day. This is a
festival observed in honor of Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva
married Goddess Parvati on this auspicious day. The Shiva Lingam is
worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with
milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting of the Mantra
“Om Namah Shivaya” continues. Offerings of bael leaves
are made to the Shiva Linga. Bael leaves are very sacred, for it is
believed that Goddess Lakshmi resides in them.
This festival associated with Lord Krishna’s
birthday and is a combination of religion and celebration together.
This festival is celebrated all over India especially among Hindus.
Mathura, the ancient north Indian town, is Krishna’s birthplace,
and it is one of the most sacred places in the entire country. People
celebrate this festival with fun, frolic, and merrymaking. The raasleelas,
bhajan, kirtan, and various local functions are the special attractions
of the place. The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated during the
month of August or September depending on the Indian calendar. The
celebration of this festival is followed according to the Indian calendar
and hence the month in the English calendar varies every year. This
day also falls on the day of Shravan Poornima when the monsoon season
is at its high in most of the part of India.
Lord Ganesha, affectionately called Ganapati,
is commonly depicted in homes and offices throughout India as a
chubby, smiling and a little mischievous God. His devotees scribe
to Ganesha the ability to bestow wisdom and wealth upon us humans,
thus making him probably the most popular deity in the Hindu pantheon.
To repay Ganesha’s bounty, in India, especially in Maharashtra
and nearby areas, the entire population celebrates the ten-day festival
of Lord Ganesha’s birthday. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi
is celebrated all over India with great festivities and zest. It
is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, the God
of wisdom and prosperity. The festival honors Ganesha, the elephant-headed
God of the Hindu pantheon. During the ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi,
the image of the God is worshipped and feted in most homes, temples
and halls, and on the last day the images are taken in a procession
and immersed in water. Fasting, feasting and distribution of sweets
are important aspects of Ganesh Chaturthi rituals in India. Hindus
pray to images of Lord Ganesha, large and small, many of them made
specially for the occasion by cottage industries and street-side
artisans. Even those that do not wish to keep the idols alive by
daily prayers, offerings, and lighting oil lamps, immerse them in
the nearest water body (rivers, lakes and the sea that are sacred
to the Hindus). Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of Bhadrapada
(August/September) month of Indian calendar. The celebration of
this festival is followed according to the Indian calendar and hence
the month in the English calendar varies every year. The festival
is celebrated for as many as ten days in areas like Maharashtra,
Pune, and nearby areas.
Rakshabandhan is an unspoken pledge exchanged
between a brother and sister cementing their fraternal relationship.
This also reinforces their protective bond against all ills and odds.
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the day of Shravan Poornima that falls
in the month of August every year. On this very day, the sisters tie
a delicate, sometimes decorated, thread on the wrist of their brothers
as a symbol of love and affection. This makes the brothers bound to
protect their sisters from any trouble or wound. The chanting of a
holy mantra by the sisters while tying the thread says, “I am
tying a Raksha to you, similar to the one tied to Bali, the powerful
king of the demons. Oh Raksha, be firm, do not waver”. The mantra
recalls how the demon king Bali had become very powerful with the
Rakhi on. The power of the mantra is supposed to protect the wearer
from evil influences. This shows how dependent and secure a sister
feels when she has a brother. Tying this Rakhi or Raksha signifies
the re-strengthening of the bond between the siblings of opposite
sexes. Raksha Bandhan is the most awaited festival of the year for
every girl. It is celebrated in the month of August on the full-moon
day known as the Shravan Poornima in India. The celebration of this
festival is followed according to the Indian calendar, and hence the
month in the English calendar varies every year.
Several Indian festivals coincide with the
harvest time and Baisakhi is one of them. Baisakhi is celebrated by
the people of Punjab with vigor and joy. It is celebrated by different
names and with different rituals almost all over India, when the Rabi
crop is ready for harvesting. Baisakhi is also the day when the tenth
Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa Panth over
three hundred years ago. The Vaishakha period of April and May is
filled with festivals of fun, frolic and merry-making and Baisakhi,
derived from the word Vaishakh, falls in this auspicious period. Based
on the Indian solar calendar, this festival falls on April 13 every
year and on April 14 once every 36 years. Other festivals celebrating
the harvest are Bihu in Assam, Pongal in South India.
Held every year in the month of November, Pushkar
fair is the ideal occasion to witness the charisma of Rajasthan
in full bloom. Every ingredient that makes Rajasthan a distinct place
can be spotted in the fair including men dressed in colorful traditional
clothes, women in mirrored skirts and vivid shawls, embroidered clothes,
exquisitely designed jewelry, pots and ornaments. This four-day long
fair full of fun and frolic falls on the full moon of Kartik Purnima
and offers an unique opportunity for a shopping spree while giving
an edge to the consumer product marketing in rural Rajasthan. Improved
accommodation facilities have made it an International event. A large
camel fair in which traders from all over Rajasthan
participate to parade, race and trade their camels, horses and cattle
give it a fascinating touch. The acrobats, jugglers, snake charmers
and fire-eaters will leave you mesmerized with their skilled performances.
Cruise on a camel safari and get the real flavor
of the fair. Know More
The otherwise sleepy town of Jaisalmer reverberates
with enthusiasm and zeal during the Desert Festival that provides
it with an occasion to parade its exuberant charm to the world. This
colorful spectacle of dance and music showcases the rhythmic dances
like Ghoomar, Gangaur, Gair, Dhap, Moria, Chari and Terahtal. The
fire dancers are the special highlights of the festival. Held in the
month of January-February the major attractions include turban-tying
competition, Gair dancers and fire-dancers presenting enchanting displays
of folk dance and music The various interesting contests including
turban tying and Mr. Desert contest, the Camel races, acrobatics,
dances and camel polo are sure to leave you spellbound. An
awe-inspiring fusion of traditional dances backed by the folk music
of the desert is sure to give you a time of your life. The major attraction
of the festival remains the music and dance performance on the sand
dunes.
Nagaur awakes to the thronging of cattles,
horses and camels during the time of cattle fair, which is reputed
as one of the biggest in the country. The Nagaur bulls are renowned
for their fleet-footedness and attract buyers from all over the world.
Their owners with large moustaches and colorful costumes add a unique
charm to the fair. Renowned for trading in cows, bullocks, camels
and horses Held every year during the month of Magh (Jan-Feb) Provides
an opportunity for a shopping spree to the locals The fair comes to
an end with a series of exciting games including tug of war, camel
races and strains of ballads that create a joyful atmosphere. Mirchi
Bazaar (Red Chilly Market) is the main attraction and wooden items,
iron crafts and leather accessories are also available in abundance
during the fair.
A unique blend of color, rhythm and melody.
The Camel Festival begins with a colourful procession
of bedecked camels, Ships-Of-The-Desert, in the red sandstone backdrop
of the Junagarh Fort. The festivity advances to the open sandspreads
of the Polo Grounds, followed by camel races, camel milking, fur cutting
design, the best breed competition, camel acrobatics, camel bands
and watching all this, are the gaping spectators. The camel display
amazing foot-work, dancing gracefully to the slightest direction of
their riders. Colourful bridles, bejewelled necks, jingling anklets
and long, lanky camel shadows on dusky sands, cast a magic spell.
The jubilant, skirt-swirling Gair dancers, the awe inspiring Fire
dance, and dazzling fire-works light up the fortified desert city
of Bikaner.
The most important local
festival in Rajasthan, Gangaur is held about a fortnight after Holi
and the celebrations go on for eighteen days. The festival is held
in honor of Gauri, a manifestation of goddess Parvati, the wife of
Lord Shiva. The festival is celebrated by girls and married women
throughout Rajasthan. Images of Gauri are ornamented and offerings
are made. This is also an auspicious time for young people to select
their life partners. Colorful processions with the town band, horses,
and elaborate palanquins make it a fascinating spectacle. The Gangaur
festival is celebrated throughout Rajasthan with great enthusiasm
but the celebrations in Jaipur and Udaipur have their
own special charm. The festival is also celebrated with great pomp
and show in Bikaner, Jodhpur, Marathwara and Jaisalmer. Girls worship
the goddess throughout the fortnight. Colorful images of Gauri, beautifully
dressed and bejeweled, are taken out in a procession accompanied by
the town band. A boat procession is taken out on the Pichola Lake
in Udaipur. Women balancing several brass pitchers on their heads
add to the gaiety of the Udaipur celebrations. Thousands of people
from the countryside come to take part in the procession of Gangaur,
which goes around from village to village. Tribal men and women get
the opportunity to meet and interact freely and during this time,
they select partners and elope to marry. An unusual, romantic custom
sanctioned by the community, it helps many young people find their
life partner.
The courtyard of Hemis - the biggest Buddhist
monastery in Ladakh, is the stage of the famous Hemis Festival, that
celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. Splendid masked
dances are performed to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums and long
horns. A colourful fair, displaying some beautiful handicrafts, is
the special highlight of the festival.
