Come, Let's celebrate the festivals together

Festivals in India are an integral part of people's life. Festivals of

India portray the rich cultural heritage of the country. Here is a
spectrum of Indian festivals/fairs and their significance.

Introduction

India is the land of myths, stories and legends. Every religion,

community, caste or creed adds a piece or two to the
kaleidoscopic cultural mosaic of India. It is a land of
thousands of Gods, Goddesses, Kings, Queens and Gurus. Every
occasion in the lives of these Gods and Gurus becomes an
occasion to celebrate. India, a vast land, proud of its rich
culture and heritage, puts in loads of joy in its every festival.
The fine fabric of rich culture and tradition is decorated by
the Fairs and Festivals celebrated in India with lots of zest
and joy. Although, on the special occasion of festivals, certain
traditional ceremonies and rituals are performed but there
are some common aspects like sweets, flowers, songs, dance,
lights, hymns, fasts and feasts which are an integral part of
the festivals in India.

Diwali
Diwali is regarded as one of the most important festival of the
Hindu calendar. It is celebrated across the nation with great
pomp and excitement. The festival is mainly associated with lights
as it is called the festival of light. On the day of the festival
diyas are lit in everybody's home irrespective of their social
status. The name Diwali signifies 'rows of lighted lamps'. Diwali is
a five-day festival, beginning on the 15th day of the Hindu
calendar month of Kartika. Diwali marks the beginning of the
Hindu New Year and is celebrated with the lighting of lamps and
candles, and lots of fireworks. People decorate their home with
beautiful diyas and making rangoli pattern in the courtyard and in
front of the gate. They put flowers and mango leaves on their
doors and windows. On this day, people worship Lord Ganesha, the
foremost of all Hindu Gods and Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of
Wealth and Prosperity. It is time to exchange gifts and sweets
with friends, relatives and neighbors.

Due to India's varied cultural diversity there are many

manifestations of the Diwali festival. The festival begins with
Dhanteras, a day set aside to worship the goddess of prosperity,
Goddess Lakshmi. On this day, homes are cleaned and paintings
are done. There are various legends associated with the
celebration of Diwali. But people mostly associate the celebration
with the legend of Lord Ram returning to his kingdom of Ayodhya
after fourteen years of exile and defeating Ravana, the demon
king. In Bengal, the celebration is marked with the worship of
Goddess Kali. People celebrate Kali puja with great fervor and
enthusiasm. Joy and festivity reins every corner of the nation
during the Diwali season. Diwali festival is the one Hindu festival
that unites the whole of India. The exchange of sweets and the
explosion of fireworks customarily accompany the celebration of
the festival. Diwali is an occasion for cheerfulness and
togetherness. This is that time of the year when people of all age
and all class take part in its celebration.

Dussehra
Every festival in India epitomizes the social, cultural and religious
aspirations of the people. Navratri, or 'The Festival of Nine
Nights', is celebrated during the first nine days of the Hindu
month of Ashvin (September-October). The festival is dedicated
to the worship of Mother Goddess or Shakti and her nine forms.
This season is considered to be an auspicious one as it is generally
associated with the sowing of seeds. People sow seeds on the
first day, consecrate the planets, watch the sprouting and
worship Goddess Durga during this festival. The last three days
are especially considered most important. The nine-day is equally
divided in worshiping three goddesses. The first three days are
dedicated to Goddess Durga. The next three days are spent in
worshipping goddess Lakshmi and the last three days are
dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The day after Navratri the
festival of Dussehra is celebrated.

The festival of Navratri acquires quite a fascinating and colorful

dimension in the region of Gujarat, and in some parts of
Rajasthan and Maharashtra. The highlights of the festival are
the extremely colorful dances of Garbha and Dandiya-Rasa where
men and women of all sects perform. The Rasa has its origin in
the life scenes of Lord Krishna and is associated with the
agricultural rites while Garba is performed only by men and is
related with the fertility cult or the mother aspect of Navratri.
Besides the Garba Dance of Gujarat, the most popular events on
the auspicious occasions of Navratri are Ramlila of Varanasi,
Dussehra of Mysore and Durga Puja of Bengal. All these
celebrations have a special significance according to their region.
The rituals are based according to the culture and traditions of
that particular region.

Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth of Lord Ganesha,
one of the most important Gods of the Hindu Mythology. The
festival is usually celebrated on the 4th day of Bhadarva Shukla-
paksh of Hindu calendar in (August and September). Ganeshji is
the foremost god of the Hindu Pantheon. He is regarded as the
destroyer of all problems and obstacles. On the day of Ganesh
Chaturthi Hindus performs pujas at temples and even in homes.
Fasting, feasting and distribution of sweets mainly ladoos are
offered to him. These are some of the important aspects of
Ganesh Chaturthi rituals in India. After the festival is over they
immerse the idols in the nearby water body, which are sacred.

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi symbolizes Good omen. It also

inspires the devotees to have trust and faith in God all mighty
and obey the commands of God. The celebration begins much
before the festival as people starts preparing by cleaning the
house and whitewashing. During the festival people purchase small
images from shops and brought into home. Larger clay made
images are made by the professional craftsmen and set up in
pandals and pavilions throughout the country. It is a festival,
which is observed through out the country. Especially in
Maharashtra side this festival has a special significance and it is
celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy.

Holi
Holi - the festival of colors is one of the most popular festivals
of the country. It is celebrated during the Spring season. Holi is
the festival of young hearts. Spraying colors, dancing on
traditional Holi songs, rhythmic drum beats and wild processions
are the common scenes. The festival is associated with various
legends but the most popular among them is the tale of Hollika.
According to legends there was a demon-king named
Hiranyakashipu who was very cruel and ordered everybody to
worship him and not God. He was against Lord Vishnu. However,
his little son Prahlad refused to do so and continued to worship
the almighty Lord Vishnu, the Hindu God. He tried hard to kill him
but every time Lord Vishnu saved him. One of the sisters of the
king named Holika had a boon to remain unscathed by fire, so she
followed her brother's wishes. However, with this sinful act
against Lord Narayana's devotee, Holika's boon ended and she
was burnt to ashes, while Prahlad came out safe. From that day
onwards Holi is celebrated as the festival of the victory of good
over evil. Even today, bonfires are lit on the night before Holi in
memory of the event and burning of the evil Holika. It symbolizes
the victory of Good over evil.

It is actually the great festival of Hindus, where farmers and

rural people can celebrate the prosperity and abundance in life
that comes with the harvest season. People smear each other's
faces with colored powder known as 'Gulal' and 'Abeer' and
throw colored water or 'Rang' on each other. The 'Bhaang'
(opium) drinks are very popular among people as it the favorite
festival drink. The festival of Holi has no religion as all
celebrates it. The festival has a secular flavor. The main
significance behind the celebration is fun and enjoyment.

Bakri-Id
There are various festivals in the Muslim calendar. But Bakriid or
Id-ul-Zuha is one of the most celebrated festivals among Muslims
all over the world. It is a day of sacrifice for the Muslims
according to legends. It all started with a dream in which Allah
directed the patriarch Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son
Ismail. It was Ibrahim's faith in Allah and his son's faith in his
father that were on test. Before performing the sacrifice Ismail
tied a cloth around his father's eyes. But when Ibrahim opened
his eyes he found his son safe and sound. In his place lay a dead
dumba or ram. It is in honour of this test of faith that Muslims
around the world sacrifice an animal on the occasion of Id-ul-azha
to show their allegiance, faith and sincerity towards Allah. In
India the Muslims mainly sacrifice the goat, which is why the
occasion is spoken of in Urdu as Bakhr or Bakri-Id.

The festival coincides with the anniversary of the day when

'Quran' was declared complete. It is from when many Muslims
undertake Haj to Mecca and people offer prayers in mosques. On
the day of Id, the pilgrims reach the grounds of Mina where they
sacrifice an animal each. It was here that Ibrahim is believed to
have sacrificed his son. The sacrificial meat is distributed after
the ceremony among friends and family members. Special
delicacies and sweets are prepared on the occasion. The
celebration of Bakri Id starts from the tenth to the twelfth day
in the Islamic month of Dhu'l Hijja. On the Id day people wear
new clothes, offer prayers, and visit each other and exchange
greetings.

Id-ul-Fitr
Id Ul Fitr is a festival that marks the end of the Ramzan period,
and usually falls on a new moon night. Ramzan is the ninth month
in the Muslim calendar. According to legend, the Holy Quran was
revealed in this month. Ramzan is thus regarded as highly
auspicious month and fasting and prayers mark it. Muslims keep a
fast every day during Ramzan. Muslims through out the world and
in India observe fast throughout this month and eat and drink
only in the night. All types of entertainments and ceremonies are
shunned during this period as it is exclusively meant to dedicate
oneself to Allah and show devotion by prayers at all the
prescribed times, reciting Quran and celebrating nights with
feasts and family get-together. On the day of the festival
Muslims gather in large groups at mosques, and offer their
prayers or namaz. Muslim people from all strata (Stratum) of the
society dress up in new clothes to celebrate Id with great
enthusiasm. Everybody greet each other on this day. Special
dishes are prepared on this day to mark the festive occasion.

People also do a lot of charity on this auspicious day as a part of

the festive rituals. Muslims in India give gifts in kind or cash to
the needy and poor. The reason behind keeping fast during
Ramzan refers to the legend of the Prophet Mohammed who left
Mecca and undertook the journey to Medina in 622 AD, to join
the other Muslims who had migrated to Medina to escape
persecution in Mecca. During this period, he fasted for three
days. Many years later, He was to receive a revelation from God,
which stated that all followers of the Islam faith fasted for a
certain number of days. According to Islamic belief fasting helps
to develop self-control and a means of coming closer to Allah. It
purifies one's soul. The festival is a day of joy and thanksgiving.
The Muslims with great fanfare celebrate it. In India even
Hindus also participate in the celebration.

Christmas
The festival of Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ
and conveys his message of love, tolerance and brotherhood. The
first mention of 25th December as the birth date of Jesus
occurred in 336 A.D. in an early Roman calendar. That day
onwards this date is celebrated as the birth date of Jesus. In
India this festival has a special significance since India is known
for its unity in diversity worldwide.

Christmas is the most important festival of Christians. Christians

in India decorate banana or mango trees instead of traditional
pine tree. They also light small oil-burning lamps as Christmas
decorations and fill their churches with red flowers. As a part of
their celebration they give Christmas gifts to their family
members and token of money to poor people as charity. People
decorate their houses and churches with poinsettia flowers for
the midnight mass. In South India, the Christians put small clay
lamps on the rooftops and walls of their houses at Christmas, just
as the Hindus do during their festival called Diwali. In Goa, all
hotels are jampacked during Christmas period and one must plan
well in advance if planning a stay in one of the Goa hotels.
Churches often have an Evening Service on Christmas and are
fabulously decorated with poinsettias and candles. Caroling
processions on streets and thoroughfares can also be seen.