All
about
Festivals
1)
Raksha Bandhan 2)
HOLI 4)
DUSSEHRA 3)
MAHA SHIVRATRI 4)
DEEPAWALI 5)
ONAM 6)
PONGAL
Festivals
Hinduism takes many
forms from serene private prayers to public festivals. There
are festivals and ceremonies associated not only with Gods
and Goddesses but also with the sun, moon, planets , rivers,
trees, animals etc. The innumerable festive occasions lend
Hinduism its amazing popular appeal and the Indian tradition
rich and colourful.
Many of our festivals, we are told, owe their origin to acts
of the Gods; the birth of Lord Rama (Ramnavami), his
return from exile (Diwali), the birth of Lord Krishna
(Krishnastami or Janmastami) and so on. But, two
aspects about festivals that are evident are that they are
occasions for rejoicing, and that they are social in
character.
Festivals arose
out of some necessity of day-to-day life of the hazy past
and were later transformed into customs, due to which they
obtained a changeless character What began as at habit was
transformed into a custom. This way, different customs
and traditions came to be associated with different
festivals. And once, habits arising out of necessity of the
environment were transformed into customs, they obtained a
changeless character. It was this character that was
responsible for perpetuating the existence of customs even
after the environment that had given birth to them no longer
existed. What had begun as a social necessity, changed into
a custom, had now become a ritual. A ritual that was
continued to be performed not because the way of life or the
natural environment demand it, but because it had been
performed so far and had been handed down from generation to
generation, till human memory could recollect.
Raksha Bandhan
This festival
falls during the month of Sawan on Purnima
(full moon) It heralds the arrival of monsoon. Raksha
Bandhan or Saluno represents one of the most
sentimental festivals of India. It is based on the
emotional ties that bind the brother and sister in a very
close bond. - the most sacred relationship of life,
without any ulterior motive or demand of any kind. - that
nature has bestowed on mankind.To symbolise this profound
relationship, the sisters tie a rakhi on the right hand
wrist of all her brothers on this day and they acknowledge
this relationship by accepting it with grace and love.
With this rakhi , the sister bestows deep affection and
blessings on her brothers so as to guard them against all
harm, and prays to the almighty to give the very best to
them.
The story
goes that a couple wanted a child very much and prayed to
God to give them a son. The son born was called Shravan
Kumar and he was a very dutiful boy, full of love and joy.
With age, his parents grew old and blind and realised that
they wished to go on a pilgrimage at a place where Ganaga
flowed so that they could take a dip in the holy water.
Wanting to fulfill his parents wishes, Shravan built a
baingi - a long pole with two baskets hanging on both
ends for carrying his father and mother. On the way ,
his parents felt thirsty, so Shravan took a pitcher to get
water from a nearby stream. At this very moment, King
Dasarath was out hunting. On hearing the sound near the
stream and presuming it was a deer , he shot an arrow into
the thicket. The arrow pierced Shravan's heart and he fell
down in pain. Unable to speak he barely managed to tell
the King about his blind parents waiting for him to quench
their thirst. Soonafter, Shravan died in the arms of the
King. When the King approached his parents they pushed the
pitcher and cursed him that the King should also die of
agony waiting for his son, so that the King may know how
much pain and agony he had caused to them. So it happened
that Ram was sent to exile and the King died of a broken
heart.
The crux of the
story is that Shravan did not have a sister and no one
ever tied a rakhi to protect him at the time of danger.
The truest protection comes from truest prayers.
Raksha Bandhan
affords a most auspicious occasion to recharge ourselves
every year with the true spirit of service and sacrifice
for the welfare of the society, and find therein the
highest spiritual fulfillment of human life.
HOLI
This festival
falls on the full moon during the month of Phagun.
The festival of Holi begins on Duvadashi , three
days earlier to Puno - on the 12th day of the waxing
moon of Phagun. Holi marks the end of winter season.
The story
dates back to the days of Hiranyakashyapa, when
he ordered his son Prahlad ( the great
bhakt of Lord Narayan) to be burnt alive, because
Hiranyakashyap was an Asur and hated
Lord Narayan. He asked his sister Holika,
to wear the set of clothes she possessed which could not
catch fire. She was told to hold Prahlad in
her lap tightly, so that he could not escape while in
flames. Holika was a very good soul; she quietly
transferred the clothes onto Prahlad and got burnt
herself, thus saving Prahlad to grow up and become the
greatest bhakt of Lord Vishnu.
Holi is
celebrated over two days.To celebrate this great
event , the bonfire is lit and people worship.On the
next day, the fires lighted on the previous night are
extinguished. The ashes left over are considered sacred,
therefore this day is known as Dhulivandan (
dhuli is dust , here it means ashes; vandan means to bow
down).The people throw gulal, a colour powder
and drench each other with water. Holi is the most
colourful festival of India. The second day of Holi is
called Dhuleti or Rangapanchami (Ranga
- colour; Panchami -fifth day). This is so called as
previously this festival used to be celebrated over five
days.
DUSSEHRA
The Dussehra
festival falls during the moonlit fortnight , i.e on the
10th day of the waxing moon in the month of Kwar. This
comes as a finale of the nine day festival called
Navratri. This festival signifies the victory of the
forces of righteousness over those of wickedness.
Navaratri itself means nine nights (Nava = nine,
ratri = night).The term "Dassera" or "Vijayadashmi"
which is the last and tenth day are derived from the word
for number ten i.e. Das (in Hindi) or Dasha (in Sanskrit)
It is on this day
in the Treta Yug, Ram the seventh
incarnation of Vishnu, killed the great demon Ravana who
had abducted Ram's wife Sita to his kingdom of Lanka. Rama
along with his brother Lakshmana , devoted follower
Hanuman and an army of monkeys fought a ten day battle to
rescue his wife Sita. The story of Rama and Sita is
recounted with affection and love in the great epic
Ramayana.
Rama was a great
believer in the powers of Goddess Durga, and he prayed to
her for the ninth days before he himself entered the
battlefield on the tenth day. On this day he killed Ravana,
Meghnad and Kumbhakaran -- signifying the greatest victory
of good over evil. This day became known as Dussehra, also
called Vijayadashami. Songs describing the heroic deeds
and virtues of Rama are sung and effigies of Ravana are
burnt on Dussehra.
In Bengal, the
occasion is celebrated as the day on which Durga Ma
killed the terrible demon Mahishasur. Dussehra puja
is done in the morning, on this day all weapons, tools,
instruments, pens and pencils are worshipped because they
are the means of fighting injustice, ignorance and evil.
The Dussehra
festival is one of the greatest and most important
festivals in India and with it comes the winter.
MAHA SHIVRATRI
This festival is
celebrated on the thirteenth day of the waning moon
in the month of Phalgun. This festival
symbolises the wedding day of Lord Shiva And Goddess
Parvati.
This is the
night when Shiva is said to have performed the
Tandava or the dance of creation, preservation
and destruction
Shivratri is a
very auspicious day. The married and unmarried girls
perform puja with great faith, fervour and feeling,
since Parvati is considered "Gaura" -- the
giver of Suhag. They pray to the Goddess to give
them a good husband,marital bliss and a prosperous
married life.
On this day
every member takes a bath early in the morning and
wears clean clothes.Devotees fast during the day and
maintain a long vigil during the night.The puja room
is cleaned and the images of Ganesh, Shiva and Parvati
are cleaned and placed in the centre of the room.
When going to
the temple, people take a vessel ( usually
made of copper) filled with water with a little
Ganga jal and milk mixed. The other things taken
are leaves of bel tree ( belpatra), a
bel fruit, dhatura , bhang, aak, and bits of flowers,
fruit, aipun, roli and rice , a small katori with oil
and a wick of cotton all nicely set in a thali which
can be carried easily.
In the temple
the devotees bathe the Shivling with water mixed with
milk by pouring the liquid slowly on top of the ling.
The puja is done
then with water, roli, aipun, rice and flowers and
fruits are offered. A small jyoti is lit and arti is
performed by circling with the thali 3 to 4 times in
front of the ling. Parikrama is then performed three
times. In the case of Shivling the parikrama is half
only; one returns from where the water falls away from
the ling. This water is given as charnamrit to the
devotees but the prasad is not eaten as it contains
poisonous substances.
Maha
Shivratri is the most revered festival of the Kashmiri
pundits and is celebrated for full sixteen days.
DEEPAWALI
Deepawali
also called Diwali -- the Festival of Lights
is celebrated
exactly 20 days after Dussehra on Amavas(moonless
night) during the dark fortnight of Kartik. Diwali
means an array of lamps (Deep =lamp. Vali =Array).
Illumination - Deepotsavas - in temples and all sacred
places of worship and on the banks of rivers symbolize
the scattering of spiritual radiance all round from
these holy centres.
It was this
day that Lord Rama , the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in
Treta Yug returned to his capital Ayodhya after an
exile of fourteen years, thrust upon him by his
grandmother Kaikeyi in jealousy because Rama and not
her son Bharata would have become the king. This
festival signifies the victory of divine forces over
those of evil forces and is spread over four days.
Dhanteras
(Dhanatrayodashi) is the first day or rather the eve
of the day on which the festival begins. Dhanteras
( Dhan meaning wealth and teras means the
thirteenth day of dark fortnight). On this day a new
utensil is purchased . Narkachaturdashi which
is also known as Kalichoudas or Bali Pratipada
is the second day. Laxmi Pujan and New year
(Padava) normally occur (depending
on the
Hindu calendar)
simultaneously on the third day and Bhaiya-duj
is the last day.
ONAM
Onam is an
important festival of Kerala. It celebrates the
bounties of nature and a year of good harvest. Ten
days of feasting, boat races, song and dance are a
part of the festivities.
This is
Kerala's most colourful festival. Onam celebrates
the mythical
King Mahabali and his golden rule. It welcomes the
spirit of King Mahabali, and assures him that his
people are happy and wish him well. The story says
that gods feared the wise and good rule of
Mahabali, the asura (demon) king,
thinking that he might become too powerful. They
sought the help of Vishnu or the preserver in
the Hindu trinity, to curb Mahabali's power. Vishnu
took the form of a dwarf called Vamana and
approached Mahabali. Pleased with the dwarf
brahmin's wisdom, Mahabali granted him a wish. The
Vamana asked for three paces of land and the king
agreed to it. Vishnu as the dwarf increased his size
and with the first step covered the sky, blotting
out the stars, and with the second, straddled the
nether world. Realising that Vamana's third step
will destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head as
the last step. He was pushed to the nether world but
as Mahabali was so attached to his kingdom and the
loved by his subjects, he was allowed by the gods to
return once a year. Onam (Thiruonam) is celebrated
on the day when King Mahabali comes from exile to
visit his people.
Practice :
Onam (Thiruonam) is celebrated as the day
of Mahabali return from exile. The festivities begin
ten days in advance and floral decorations (Pookkalam)
adorn every home. Caparisoned elephants in a
spectacular procession, fireworks and the Kathakali
dances, are an integral part of the festivities. The
Vallamkali (boat race) is one of the main
attractions of Onam, and is best seen at Aranmulai
and Kottayam. About a hundred oarsmen row huge and
graceful odee (boats) with scarlet silk umbrellas.
Their number denotes the affluence of the family
owning the boat. Gold coins and tassels hang from
the umbrellas.
Oars dip
and flash to the rhythm of drums and cymbals in each
boat. In the evening girls perform the Kaikottikkali
PONGAL
Pongal is a
harvest festival honouring the Sun God and the God of
Rain , Indra. Pongal means "boiling over" ;
symbolising the boiling over of bounteous crops in the
fields. It is celebrated to mark the withdrawl of
the southeast monsoons as well as the ripening of the
harvest.
Pongal
denotes a sweet preparation made of rice.
This festival is
spread over three days
First day : the Bhogi pongal
Second day : the Surya pongal
Third day : the Mattu pongal
The first day, is a day for the family. This day is
dedicated to Lord Indra who is also called Bhogi
i.e one who enjoys the good things of life. It
is said that on this day Lord Krishna who got
annoyed with the erratic ways of Lord Indra,
directed the people not to pray to him, but to "Lord
Narayan" who was in fact Krishna himself. Indra lost
his temper at this insult and sent down the rains in
torrents. The people got scared and looked towards
Krishna for succour. Krishna then lifted up the
Great Govardhan mountains on one finger and
provided shelter to human beings, animals and beasts
who gathered beneath this mountain. Everyone sang
Krishna's praise and Lord Indra realised that he
could never get the better of Lord Krishna who was
the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, the protector.
Indra apologised to Krishna but also pleaded that he
be also prayed to since, in any case, he had always
looked after the beings on Earth as well. Krishna
relented to this request.
The second day, is dedicated to the worship of Surya,
the Sun God. Boiled milk and jaggery is
offered to the Sun God, and friends greet each other
asking, "Is it boiled?" The answer: "Yes, it is."
The third day of Pongal, Mattu Pongal, is for worship
of the cattle In Tamil maatu means cow or
bull.Cattle are bathed, their horns polished and
painted in bright colours, and garlands of flowers
placed around their necks. The pongal that has been
offered to the Gods is then given to cattle and birds
to eat.
The advent of
Pongal is associated with spring-cleaning and burning
of rubbish, symbolizing the destruction of evil.
Decorative designs or rangolis are traced on
floors and on the day of the Pongal, the newly
harvested rice is cooked in homes to acclaim the
bounty of the gods.
In Madras, a rath yatra procession is taken out
from the Kandaswamy Temple. In Madurai,
Tanjore and Tiruchirrapalli, where Pongal is known
as Jellikattu, bundles of money are tied to the
horns of bulls, and villagers try and wrest the
bundles from them. Community meals are made from the
freshly gathered harvest and enjoyed by the entire
village.
This festival
has become a national festival as it is celebrated not
only in South India, but also in North India. It is
fostering a feeling of togetherness not only within
the family or neighbourhood but also in the whole of
India.
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