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Major Festival of India |
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Pongal Festival, Tamil Nadu (January)
A harvest festival celebrated mainly in Tamil
Nadu. It is a three-day festival. The first day,
known as Bhogi Pongal , is confined to domestic
festivities. On the second day, Surya Pongal,
cooked rice is offered to the sun. greetings on
this day normally follow the pattern of a
question and an answer: "Did the milk boil"?
"Yes , it boiled", referring to the rice cooked
in milk which is offered to the sun. on the
third day, Mattu Pongal cattle are washed, their
horns painted and decorated , and they are red
the rice offered to the sun. festivities involve
bull fights and the snatching of money bags tied
between the horns of ferocious bulls. |
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Kite Festival (January)
Coinciding with Makar Sankranti, the Kite
festival at Ahmedabad is a time when the azure
skies are festooned with multicoloured kites of
all patterns and dimensions. There is a general
air of festivity with the entire city populace
on roof tops flying kites attached to brightly
coloured strings and in a passionate bid to cut
each other's strings. Besides kite flying,
display of Gujarati cuisine, handicrafts and
folk arts are the other attractions of the
festival.
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Desert Festival, Jaisalmer (January -
February)
The exquisite medieval fort of Jaisalmer in
Rajasthan forms the backdrop to a spectacular
Desert festival. Puppeteers, folk artistes and
dancers regale the audience. There is also a
unique sound and light show on the desert sands
on the full moon noght.
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Surajkund Crafts Mela (February)
India's spectacular handloom and handicrafts
fair is origanised in a rural setting at
Surajkund in the vicinity of New Delhi. At this
annual week long mela crafts people from all
over the country meet and bring alove the age
old living crafts tradition. Visitors can see
them at work and shop for some of the world's
most treasured wares.
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Khajuraho Dance Festival (February -
March)
Set against the ancient erotic Chandella temples
of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, a week long
festival of classical dances is held every ear
featuring the best artistes of the country. |
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Holi The Festival of Colours in India
(March)
Popularly known as the 'colour throwing
festival', Holi is a spring festival celebrated
normally over two days. On the evening of the
first day bonfires are lit, to symbolise the
destruction of evil but also seen as the end of
winter in the north, as the text day cold
coloured water is thrown on people. In many
parts of India Koma, the god of pleasure, is the
presiding deity of Holi. Lord Krishna too, is
worshipped by many who celebrate Holi to
commemorate the destruction of the female demon
Putana by the Lord. Legends apart, Holi today is
the time to drop all civility and inhibitions,
smear coloured powder and water on one and all,
sing dance and feast. |
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Gangaur Festival, Rajasthan (March)
This is a popular festival of Rajasthan where
lord Shiva and his consort parvati are
worshipped. One of the most colourful festivals
held anywhere in the country, it is the occasion
for Rajasthani women to don their traditional
costume of 'Lengha' ' Choli' and 'Odhni'. They
congregate around the idols of Shiva and Parvati
, sing, dance and offer prayers.
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The Goa Carnival (March - April)
A boisterous, colourful carnival spread over a
week is held every year in Goa Just before lent.
The festivities include an extravagant parade
consisting of theme-floats. It is generally a
time of great fun and frolic in goa.
Baisakhi Festival, Punjab (April-May)
This is an important day for the Sikhs. It
was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh founded
the Khalsa. At all Gurudwaras the 'Granth' is
read from beginning to end and taken out in a
procession. After this there is a lot of
feasting and in most villages folk dances,
especially the vigorous Bhangra, is performed. |
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Hemis Festival, Leh (June-July)
A big fair is held at Hemis Gompa about 50
kilometres from Leh, to celebrate the birthday
of Padmasambhava, the founder of Lamaism. The
ritual dances by masked dancers are the main
attraction, as are the main attraction, as are
the local handicrafts.
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Muharram (July-August)
This is in reality a day of mourning as it
commemorates the martyrdom of the Prophet's
grandson Hussein. Tazias, gorgeous replicas of
the martyr's tomb, are carried in procession
through the streets while men beat their chests
and wail as an expression of grief and distress.
The tazias of Lucknow and Hyderabad are famous.
Janmashtami Festival in India
(August-September)
This is Lord Krishna's birthday celebrated at
midnight all over the country in temples of
Krishna. The main celebrations are held at
Mathura his birthplace, where at the temple his
birth is symbolically reenacted. At Brindaban,
adjoining Mathura, colourful Raslilas, song and
dance dramas depicting the life of Lord Krishna
are performed all day and night. In Maharashtra
the celebrations include the breaking of earthen
pots, containing curds or butter hung high up
between poles and houses, by men forming human
pyramids. This is an act in imitation of the
lord who when young, ofter stole butter and
curds kept in earthen pots out of his reach.
Ganapati Festival (August-September)
Celebrated in Pune with great pomp and gaiety,
the festival is worth witnessing on the first
three or last three days. |
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Onam Festival, Kerala
(August-September)
This is a unique festival of Kerala in that it
is celebrated in honour of an 'Asura' or demon.
Puranic legendhas it that Vamana, an incarnation
of lord Vishnu, obtained the kingdom of Bali, or
Mahabali as he is known in kerala, and exiled
him. However Mahabali, everfond of his land and
subjects, was allowed to visit the land once a
year, the day of Onam. The folklore of kerala
considers the region of Mahabali as Kerala's
golden age.
Onam celebration commences ten days ahead on
attam and culminates on Thiruvonam. The festival
marks the end of monsoon and heralds the harvest
season. People adorn their homes with colourful
flower carpets, which increase in size as the
festival drawn to an end, wear new clothes and
prepare a sumptuous lunch for Mahabali. A major
attraction of the Onam celebrations in Kerala
are the famed snake boat races Vallam Kalli held
on the picturesque backwaters.
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Dussehra Festival in India
(September-October)
A festival that finds many manifestations all
over the country but in every case celebrating
the triumph of good over evil. Normally a ten
day festival during which nine days are spent in
worship and the tenth day celebration is in
honour of either Lord Rama and his victory over
the demon Ravana, or the goddess Durga and her
destruction of the demon Mahishasura
In North India, the Ramleela, a folk play
depicting the life and times of Lord Rama is
staged in various localities. On the tenth day
effigies of the demon Ravana, his brother and
nephew, are burnt. These effigies are often a
couple of hundred feet high.
In west Bengal exquisitely decorated idols of
the goddess Durga are installed and worshipped.
On the tenth day the idols are taken out in huge
processions and immersed in tanks, rivers or the
sea.
In south India during Dussehra or 'Navratri' as
it is known there, houses are decorated with
displays of dolls, toys and idols.
Mysore witnesses a magnificent procession with
caparisoned elephants and horses, as the
erstwhile Maharaja went from his palace to the
temple. Dussehra Festival, Kulu
(September-October)
This festival at Kulu is traditionally
celebrated during Dussehra and is famed for its
colourful processions. As an idyllic holiday
resort, Kulu provides trekking and water sports
during the festival. |
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Dipawali Festival in India
(October-November)
Dipawali, a contraction of the Sanskrit word 'Deepawali',
means a row or cluster of lights. It is one of
the most widely celebrated festivals of India.
The origin of the festival has many versions but
the most popular one traces itto the Ramayana
and Lord Rama's coronation after his 14 year
exile in the forest. It is said that the people
illuminated their houses and streets with
earthen oil lamps to welcome the Lord. This is
done even today when almost every one
illuminates their houses with oil lamps, candles
and electric lights.
To the business community, especially in western
India, diwali marks the New Year involving the
worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. They
open new books of account on this day. And at
night, along with illuminations, firecrackers
are lit in almost every house, sweets are
distributed, new clothes are worn and games of
chance are played. Diwali is easily the
brightest and noisiest festival of India. |
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Pushkar Camel Fair, Rajasthan
(October-November)
This fair is held annually on the banks of lake
Pushkar in Rajasthan. During the mela, a major
attraction is the camel and cattle fair and
camel races. It has become a major tourist
attraction.
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Christmas in India (December)
The birth of lord Jesus Christ is celebrated by
the Christians in India as elsewhere in the
world. The Christmas spirit pervades all markets
that spruce themselves up and offer attractive
bargains.
Guru Purab Shekhawati Festival in Rajasthan
(December)
The Shekhawati region of Rajasthan known for its
painted havelis celebrates the Shekhawati
festival. One can see Rajasthani folk dances
along with the cuisine and crafts which are on
display.
Kumbh Mela in India
This
is one of Hindu religion's largest festival that
is held once every three years at one of the
four places: Prayag (Allahabad), Hardwar, Nasik,
Ujjain, Millions of pilgrims, including the
heads of most Hindu sects, congregate for the
mela. |
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