The celebration of festivals connects the past with the present. Being an ancient civilization, Hindu society has preserved and perpetuated large number of festivals.
DR VASUDHA VC
India’s beauty lies in its colorful culture, enchanting history and variety of traditions which led to numerous celebrations. Fairs and festivals in India are celebrated as a part
of life. Known as the land of 13 festivals in 12 months, the Indian festive calendar is the longest in the world. The colorful Indian culture is defined by several festivals celebrated in the country throughout the year. India is the land of different ethnicity and religious belief that gives rise to important festivals in the country.
In the dull and drab life of the village people, traditional forms of recreation are provided through folk arts, folk theatres, fairs and festivals. This is testified by the fact that, festivals are celebrated by village people as means and an opportunity for relaxation, meeting of relatives, having good food and wearing fine clothes. The drudgery of daily routine is broken by meeting and greeting relatives and friends and have good time. In many villages there are traditional singers or bards who entertain the people through folk songs, verses and folk tales. Sometimes the village might have a group of singers called “Chaupai Mandali” or “Duha Mandali” who compose verses and organize a competition of singing verses and songs. Every year the village observes a few days before “Diwali” as “Durga Puja” or “Nava Ratri” when the traditional cultural programmes are organized and folk dances like “Garba”, “Ras”, etc., are celebrated with gusto.
The celebration of festivals connects the past with the present. Being an ancient civilization, Hindu society has preserved and perpetuated large number of festivals. Some festivals are great, having an all-India character. “Holi”, “Diwali”, “Sankranti”, “Dusshera” are highly auspicious sacred and grand festivals, that are celebrated all over the country from north to south and east to West by different castes and communities.
There are minor festivals which are celebrated locally in certain regions or states, or districts or even by a part of the community.
Many festivals have an immense religious significance and associated with widely held religious beliefs. Navratri is considered as one of the major religious festivals in India. The literal meaning of Navratri is ‘nine nights’, and hence, the festival is observed for a period of nine days. Throughout these days, Goddess Shakti (another form of Goddess Sati) is worshipped and the people keep fast to seek blessings of the deity.
Also known as Vijayadashami, Dussehra
is celebrated the day after the conclusion of Navratri festival. The celebration of the festival goes back to the time of Ramayana. As per Hindu mythology, it is the day when Lord Rama defeated Ravana, and hence, the day celebrates the victory of good over evil. The key attraction of this popular religious festival is the enactment of scenes from the Hindu epic Ramayana which ends with burning the effigies of Ravana and his son Meghanath and brother Kumbhakarna.
Food is often offered to Gods or Brahmins or beggars or relatives and friends. One of the important features in many festivals is group singing by women. Some festivals are utilized for strengthening group solidarity and family ties especially for married daughters who are given gifts and invited for dinners, etc.
Diwali is undoubtedly the most popular religious festival in India. Often referred to
as the festival of lights, Diwali is all about spreading, peace, and happiness. The festival of Diwali marks the arrival of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Lakshman in Ayodhya after 14 years
of exile. As per the beliefs, in order to welcome Lord Rama, the entire city of Ayodhya was lit
up with thousands of earthen lamps. People decorate their homes with earthen lamps, candles, and lights. Exchanging gifts with friends and families is one of the key attractions of the festival. For children, this festival is special as they get to burn crackers on this day along with having various types of sweets.
Considered as the New Year of the North Indians, Makar Sankranti is celebrated the day after another Indian festival of Lohri and marks the end of winter and beginning of the harvest season. The festival is observed in almost all parts of the country with different names and rituals. Unlike other Hindu festivals, the date of Makar Sankranti is fixed and is set according to the solar cycle. On this auspicious occasion, people can be seen flying kites and making a savory dish like Bajre ki Khichdi and sweets like Til ke Ladoo.
Maha Shivaratri is the festival of Lord Shiva and is celebrated on the 14th day of
the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Phalgun (February – March). As per the beliefs, worshipping Lord Shiva on this day cleanses one from all the sins. Keeping a fast on the day of Maha Shivaratri believes to bring marital bliss for women.
Holi is not just a festival but a way to spread love and happiness. It marks the arrival of the spring season. Also, it signifies the victory of good over evil. The celebration begins on the eve of the festival. As a part of the celebration, huge bonfires are lit and people celebrate it
by singing and dancing around it. The ritual
of bonfire signifies the burning of demon – Kamasura. The real fun begins on the day of the festival when people put colours on each other.
Commemorating the birth of Lord Krishna, Janmashtami is yet another popular Hindu festival observed in the month of August. On this day, it is believed that Lord Krishna was born. Varieties of delicacies are offered to the deity in order to please him. Lord Krishna was born in Mathura and his childhood spent in Vrindavan; hence, both the places hold a special status of being must-visit places to celebrate Janmashtami. As a part of the celebration, people fast throughout the day and break it in the evening. Besides, visiting temples, praying, dancing, and singing bhajans are some other rituals of the festival.
An 11-day-long festival which is celebrated with all the devotion, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the highly revered Hindu festivals observed in India. It marks the birth of Lord Ganesha – the son of Lord Shiva. The festival begins with the installation of idols of the deity in homes and special public platforms. For the next ten days, people worship the idol with all fervour and gaiety. On the eleventh day, the idol of
the deity is immersed in the water in order to conclude the festivities.
The holding of fairs on certain days of
the year is welcome to the village people, as
it breaks the monotony of the village life and provides an opportunity for wearing good clothes and going out to river banks or temples to visit the fairs and exchanges their produce with those of other villages. These fairs have important place in the socio- economic life in the rural communities.
Despite being mainly religious events, these festivals and fairs have significant impact on cultural, social and economic aspects of the lives of people in rural and urban India. In addition to helping perpetuation of traditions, customs, rituals and religious practices and promoting cultural identity and social integration, these events have also significant implications for trade, industry and commerce at different levels of economy. For Urban masses it is just a celebration depending on their status to exhibit; but there are many economically backward sections make life out of it for their social existence.
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