Indian Festivals

One of the reasons I love India is the many different festivals and celebrations throughout India. The festivals celebrate harvests; commemorate historical figures and events, and many express devotion to the deities of different religions. Each celebration is centered around the rituals of prayer, seeking blessings, exchanging goodwill, decorating houses, wearing new clothes, music, dance and feasting. In India every region and relegion has something to celebrate throughout the year. Every celebration has the vigor and life-style of its people. Vibrant colours, music and festivity make the country come alive throughout the year.


Here are some of my favorite celebrations:


Holi – the Festival of Colors, is marked as the opening festival on the Hindu calendar and it falls on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun. Originally Holi was regarded as the festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land. There are several legends and stories behind Holi. A popular legend says that Holi is remembered for the sacrifice of Holika who burnt herself in fire on this day.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad. This festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesh. Lord Ganesha or Ganpati is one of the most popular deities in the Hindu religion. It is worshiped by both Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Even Buddhists and Jains have faith for Ganpati. He is considered to be an avatar of both Shiva and Vishnu.
For the Ganapati festival, a large number of idols are made of clay and other materials in all sizes. Some of them can be up to twenty feet high. People will buy idols and place them in their homes for up to ten days and then the idols are taken ceremoniously taken through the streets of the town and immersed in a river, the ocean or a well. Feasts are prepared, classical dance, and music is performed for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration.

Diwali or Deepawali or Dipawali is one the most important and immensely cherished and celebrated across India and in parts of Nepal. Diwali is popularly known as the "Festival of Lights" and is observed as an official holiday across India. For Hindus it is associated with the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after his 14 years of exile and victory over the demon Ravana. On that day, he was welcomed to the kingdom to Ayodhya with rows of Deep, lightened throughout the kingdom.
And so the tradition of lighring oil lamps came about that symbolize the victory of good over evil and freedom from spiritual darkness. Diwali celebrations last five days with each day having its own significance and set of rituals.
The first day is “Dhanteras”, whe new utensils and silver ware is brought to the house. The second day is “Chhoti Diwali”, which normally involves preparation for the next day and the tradition of playing cards is observed in many families. The third day is the “Badi Diwali”, which involves the worshiping of mother Lakshmi, and the fourth day is the Govardhan Puja and finally the five days end with Bhai Dooj. Diwali brings happiness, togetherness, spiritual enlightment and prosperity for everyone.

 

There are too many celbrations to name all of them. I recently found out about Onam, which is celebrated in Kerala.

It is the largest festival in Kerala and it falls during the first month of the Malayalam calendar which is Chingam (August–September) and marks the homecoming of the legendary King Maveli. The festival lasts for ten days and is linked to many elements of Kerala's culture and tradition. Intricate flower carpets, elaborate banquet lunch, snake boat races, Puli Kali, and the Kaikottikkali dance all play a part in the festival.

According to the legend, Kerala witnessed its golden era during the reign of King Mahabali. Everybody in the state was happy and prosperous and the king was highly regarded by his subjects. He was that much highly regarded among the subjects that even the Gods under Indra became jealous of Mahabali, they approached Mahavishnu claiming that Mahabali is now equivalent to an Indra.

Since a world with two Indras represents imbalance, Mahavishnu assumed the form of a dwarf: the Vamana avatara and tricked him to Pathalam, the Underworld. However, as Mahabali is equal to an Indra, he is to wait until the next Yuga where he would be the Indra. In the meantime, with the grace of Mahavishnu, Mahabali visits his people on an annual basis. Mahavishnu serves Mahabali as a gatekeeper in the world of Pathalam as the Lord himself serves his greatest devotees.

It is this visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. People including children celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well.