Lohri
13th January
Lohri marks the end of the harvest in Northern India, and is characterised by the worship of fire. Bonfires are lit in the evening, whether in individual households or in communities, and grain- in the form of peanuts, popcorn, puffed rice and similar goodies- is ceremonially `fed’ to the fire. What follows, of course, is plenty of feeding of everybody around as well! Lohri celebrations are never complete without music and dancing, and the feasting is invariably
rounded off with a vigorous bit of shake-a-leg.
Makar Sankranti
14th January
Makar Sankranti marks the end of winter, when the sun moves into the northern hemisphere- thus symbolising regeneration and the start of a new period. Besides being a significant date in the zodiac, Makar Sankranti is also a harvest festival and is celebrated throughout the region as the end of one agrarian cycle.
Traditionally, Makar Sankranti is observed by a ritual bath- in Uttarakhand, in fact, there’s a local belief that anybody who doesn’t bathe on Makar Sankranti will end up being born a donkey in his or her next incarnation! The sacred ‘sangam’ at Allahabad- the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna- is especially an important place for ritual baths, and is the venue for a local fair. All across North and West India, flying kites and feasting on rice and sweets made from sesame seeds is an integral part of the festivities.
Pongal Festival
When : 14th January
In southern India the end of the harvest is observed as a three-day festival called Pongal, when newly harvested rice is brought home, and farmers feed their cattle a rice dish called pongal- hence the name. The first day of Pongal is devoted to the worship of the deity Indra, while the second day is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God. The third day is marked by the worship of the Goddess Parvati and her son, the elephant-headed Lord Ganesh. This is also the day when cattle- an indispensable part of life in all villages- are bathed and decorated, then paraded through the villages. The procession is followed by cattle races, and in some instances, bullfights which are locally known as ‘jallikattu’- bags full of money are tied to the horns of bulls, and young men endeavour to wrestle with the bulls to get the bags off (and keep the change for themselves, of course!)
Desert Festival
16th – 18th February 2011
If you thought Bikaner’s camel festival was the ultimate in exotic Indian festivals, wait till you see the fiesta at Jaisalmer. A three-day long extravaganza of dances, music, handicraft fairs and interesting competitions- including really unusual ones like a ‘Mr Desert’ pageant, a ‘turban-tying’ contest and a ‘best moustache’ contest- the Jaisalmer Desert Festival is organised by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. It’s a fantastic showcase of all things Rajasthani, and is justifiably popular with tourists, both Indian and foreign. Besides the food, the music and the cultural performances, there are camel rides, processions, camel polo, and even a camel tug-of-war. All of it is held against the backdrop of the awesome Jaisalmer fort. Fireworks displays at night light up the area, and the fort is illuminated too.
Holi
Holi, Festival of Colors
20th March 2011
Florid yellows and lurid purple heaps in roadside stalls, folks dunked in indigo pools, dippy on bhang parties and simmering under a bright spring sun. If India is about colour, cannabis and catharsis (!), then it is the festival of Holi that has given it the reputation! Myth and religion mingle with the urge to have a great time; and Holi is a celebration as much of the ‘triumph of good over evil’ as of the coming of spring and the passing of winter.
Holi always occurs in spring when the countryside is bathed in a riot of colours in any case. Matching the yellow-gold of mustard fields, the loud magenta of bougainvillea blooms and the blazing orange of the flame of the forest, Indians take on every colour available in this festival of the spring. The festival is also a ritual of renewal; old relationships are pulled out of mothball preservation and aired in the sparkling sun.
Ammo for Holi includes water pistols, gulaal – coloured powder, coloured water – Flame of the Forest dye or water-soluble chemical nonsense…and the rest we leave to your imagination!
Marwar Festival 2011
6th – 8th April 2011
The blue city of Jodhpur comes alive in April with the art and culture of Rajasthan being showcased in all its glory. The imposing Mehrangarh Fort transforms into one big stage where cultural performances and music and dance are the order of the day. This is festive time and the performances take on a romantic and ethereal hue as it is full moon on those days. Besides the song and dances that are the hallmarks of the Marwar Festival, the audience is regaled with Rajasthani folklore that keep the myths and beliefs of yester years alive. Competitions and activities like horse riding and polo complete the scintillating event.
Nag Panchami
4th August 2011
The festival of Nag Panchami is dedicated to the worship of snakes. It’s celebrated all across India at the peak of the monsoon- the time when snakes are most likely to be around- and takes the form of prayers to the snake god for protection from snakebite. Specific pujas differ from one part of the country to another; in some places, live snakes are worshipped; in others, an image or a dough effigy of a snake is revered. The worship generally includes bathing a snake (or its idol) with milk, to the accompaniment of the music played by a snakecharmer. Needless to say this is one day when snakecharmers are in great demand!
Simultaneously, the god Shiva, who is believed to be very fond of snakes- so much so that he is depicted with a snake around his neck- is also worshipped. The festivities for Nag Panchami continue throughout the day, with fairs, music and dance, magic shows and gymnastic feats being among the major highlights.
Independence Day of India
15th August 2011
“At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom,” said Jawaharlal Nehru about this, one of the most important days in the history of the Indian nation. On August 15, 1947, India won its independence from British rule, and that independence is celebrated every year, although in a much more subdued form than on Republic Day. There are no parades or extravagant processions on Independence Day, but most institutions, both academic and governmental, hold a low-profile celebration in which the hoisting of the national flag is the key element. At New Delhi’s Red Fort, too, a large public gathering, mainly of dignitaries, is held. It’s addressed by the Prime Minister, who also hoists the tricolour.
Raksha Bandhan Festival
13th August 2011
Wild, weird, wacky, wicked…….witty, wonderful, one of a kind brothers!
Irritating, infuriating, aggravating, exasperating…….dopey, delightful darling sisters!
What do we do with them……. and what would we do without them?
Celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters is the Hindu festival of Rakshabandhan. On a full moon day in the month of Sravana (August), sisters tie thread amulets on their brothers’ wrists, praying for their longevity and happiness. Brothers, in turn are bound by the delicate threads to cherish and safeguard their sisters. The fragile threads symbolize a deep abiding relationship – loving, tender, devoted, protective and indulgent.
Eid ul Fitr
Hari Raya Eid
30th August 2011
One of Islam’s most important festivals, Eid ul Fitr is the culmination of the month-long period of fasting and austerity known as Ramzan. It is believed that the Holy Quran was revealed during the month of Ramzan, and in commemoration of that sacred revelation, Eid is celebrated on the day following the sighting of the new moon. On the day of Eid, namaz at mosques is followed by the giving of fitr (alms). Family gatherings, fireworks and much feasting round off the festivities. The highlight of banquet tables is the sweet milk-and-vermicelli pudding known as ‘seviyan’- because of which many people refer to Eid ul Fitr as ‘meethi’ or ‘sweet’ Eid. In predominantly Muslim neighbourhoods, special Eid fairs appear, where trinkets, clothing and a whole lot of other bric-a-brac is available.
Janmashtami
2 September 2011
Janmashtami, or, as it’s sometimes known, Krishna Janmashtami, celebrates the birth of perhaps one of Hindusim’s most popular deities- the well-loved Krishna. According to Hindu belief, Krishna was born at midnight on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapad. The day before Janmashtami is one of prayer and fasting, which continues till midnight and beyond, when an idol of the god is placed in a cradle and rocked. On Janmashtami itself, Krishna temples are decorated and the idol of the god is ceremonially bathed in a mixture of milk, honey, yoghurt, dry fruit and tulsi leaves- all of which is then distributed as prasad. Hymns, the chanting of devotional mantras, and processional tableaux are accompanied by the enactment of incidents from the life of the god. These are performed by small Brahmin boys, who, for the day, are regarded virtually as incarnations of Krishna himself. In some areas, a staging of the Raslila- which celebrates Krishna’s love for the cowgirls of Vrindavan- is an integral part of Janmashtami celebrations.
One of the most lively customs connected with Janmashtami is the breaking of the `dahi-handi’, a pot of milk, yoghurt, butter, honey and dry fruits which is suspended high above a street. Teams of young men and boys compete with each other to build human pyramids high enough to reach the dahi-handi and break it. The act is symbolic of Krishna’s love for milk and butter, and his plundering of the local cowgirls’ handis.
Ganesh Utsav 2011
Ganesh Chaturthi
1st September 2011
The countdown to the birth of the elephant God has begun
Ganpati-worshippers all over the Deccan and South India are bringing home brilliantly crafted idols of the God. And there he will sit in state till Ganesh Chaturthi on September 1, when he is lovingly immersed in water – the sea, a river or lake.
This is the time for a grand procession; the much-adored God is hoisted on willing shoulders, or rides in open trucks and carriages. His huge fan following, dancing and singing loudly, urges him to return post haste the next year.
“Ganpati bapa, mouriya! Pudcha varshi, laukar ya!”
The vigorous dancing is a great way of working off all those sugary modaks and laddoos that have done the rounds for ten days!
Gandhi Jayanti
Mahatma Gandhi – The Father of the Nation
2nd October 2011
October 2nd, 1869, was the date when Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi- undoubtedly modern India’s most well-known statesman- was born in Porbandar, Gujarat. Nearly a century and a half after his birth, Mahatma’s Gandhi birthday is still an important national event- in fact, one of the three national holidays in the Indian calendar. It is not a day for exuberant celebrations, but rather one for repose and religious discourse. National leaders and ministers pay homage to The Father of the Nation at his memorial (at Raj Ghat, in Delhi). This is followed by public assemblies where verses are read from religious scriptures and hymns are sung.
Durga Puja
October 2011
The Bengali version of Dussehra, Durga Puja is, as its name suggests, dedicated to the worship of West Bengal’s most beloved deity- the goddess Durga, the embodiment of all feminine virtues. Durga Puja festivities continue for a period of nine days, although the preparations and the excitement begin long before that! In all neighbourhoods, gorgeously decorated idols of the goddess are created- often in the form of large tableaux which depict her in the act of destroying the demon Mahishasura. Installed in specially erected pavilions known as ‘pandals’, the idols attract huge crowds who come to admire the tableaux and their decorations. Stalls selling a variety of foods and other wares, including household appliances, clothing and the like, come up around pandals, and that, combined with the loud music played at each pandal, makes this a very noisy (but enjoyable!) period. The festivities reach fever pitch by the ninth day, following which, on the day of Vijayadashami, the idols of the goddess are ritually immersed in a river or sea. The immersion (known as ‘visarjan’) symbolises the return of Durga to her husband after her ten-day sojourn in her parent’s home.
Dussehra
17 October
Sizzle and scorch, blaze and burn- and then the grand finale of fireworks and crackers, a shower of lights and a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. No, not some pyromaniac’s dream come true; just one of India’s best-loved festivals: Dussehra. A ten-day extravaganza culminating in Vijayadashami, the Hindu festival of Dussehra marks the God Rama’s victory and subsequent rescue of his consort Sita from the clutches of the wicked king Ravana after a long and bloody battle. The pageants and processions of Dussehra celebrations end in an explosive display of pyrotechnics as giant wood-and-paper effigies of the ten-headed demon King Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhkaran are set alight.
But that’s not all there is to Dussehra, for this extremely popular festival wears a different garb in different parts of India. Over much of northern India, amateur theatre groups don paint and costumes to re-enact the Dussehra story at Ramlilas in every neighbourhood, while in Mumbai and Ahmedabad, feasting and fasting, whirling garba and click-clacking dandiya are an integral part of the festivities. In the stunningly beautiful Kullu Valley, Dussehra is celebrated with a procession of idols, a ritual sacrifice of animals- and plenty of locally-brewed liquor to keep the revellers’ spirits high!
Whether it’s a solemn pooja dedicated to Lakshmi, Saraswati and Shakti – as is the custom down south- or a ten-day whirl of pooja pandals, music and feasting- as is the norm in Bengal and Assam- Dussehra remains one of India’s most exuberant festivals. A time for rejoicing, a time for fun- and a time to celebrate the victory of good over bad, right over wrong.
Diwali Festival Dates
26th October 2011
Strings of deeps and diyas, platefuls of mithai, the crackle of pattakas and the sparkle of phuljharis, the ruffle-shuffle of cards and the bustle of crowded bazaars. Long nights spent gambling and days full of shopping. That’s the festive season of Deepawali – light and bright, all glitter and flash.
It all began one dark, dark night hundreds of years ago. The night that ended a 14-year long and difficult exile for Rama, King of Ayodhya. That night, his people lit up their houses with earthen lamps to illuminate his way home and set off fireworks to welcome home their beloved king. Hindus continue the tradition by lighting up their homes on Deepawali while children express their delight through a host of loud crackers and bright sparklers.
Down the ages, Deepawali has come to be celebrated for a whole host of reasons – for business communities, it heralds the new year – a fresh start when old accounts are settled and new ledgers opened. The goddess of wealth, Lakshmi and the god of auspicious beginnings, Ganesh are assiduously wooed to ensure prosperity and financial success in the coming year. Deepawali marks the new year for the jain community and it also commemorates the death anniversary of their 23rd Tirthankara Mahavira and his attainment of moksha.
Happily, Deepawali transcends religion and is universally celebrated by Indians in a spirit befitting a festival of light and joy.
Bhai Dooj
28th October
The festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated two days after Diwali, and is, like Raksha Bandhan, a day dedicated to the love between a brother and sister. Bhai Dooj is observed primarily in northern India, where it is a day when sisters pray for the wellbeing and prosperity of their brothers. Exactly how Bhai Dooj is celebrated differs from one part of the country to another; in Bengal, for instance, sisters often fast through the morning before putting a ’tilak’ on the brother’s forehead, and the gifting of rice and new grass is part of the ritual. In Uttar Pradesh, the brother is gifted with an ‘aab’- a length of flax, knotted into a circular shape and dotted with sugar batashas.
In Bihar, an interesting variation of Bhai Dooj starts with the sister cursing her brother, before asking for his forgiveness- for the epithets, as well as for past mistakes.
But no matter how Bhai Dooj is celebrated, it’s the spirit of love and togetherness which makes this an important festival.
Muharram
26th November
Unlike Eid, Muharram is not a festive occasion, but a solemn one, which mourns the martyrdom of the revered Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad. The festival is observed on the tenth day of the month of Muharram, which is the first month in the Muslim calendar. Hazrat Imam Hussain died in 61 AH (680 AD) in battle against the forces of Yazid, and his martyrdom is ceremonially observed by long processions, especially amongst the Shi’a Muslims of India. Taziyas (bamboo and paper replicas of the saint’s tomb) and green alams (standards of Imam Hussain’s army, decorated with silver, gold and brass) are ritually carried in the procession, which is accompanied by men who beat their breasts, recite marsiyars (mourning verses) and sometimes resort to self-flagellation to express their sorrow. The processions continue during Muharram, and culminate on the tenth day of the month, which is known as Yaum-al-Ashoora. On Yaum-al-Ashoora, the taziya procession terminates at a local square or a cemetery, where the taziyas and alams are ritually buried.
Merry Christmas Dates
25 December 2010
“A season of good cheer and joy all around”
Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, the Saviour. Born in a little stable in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ gave his life to redeem the sins of others. The celebration of his birth reminds us to give a little more than we get. To forgive as He forgave. To spread His message of brotherly love, goodwill and peace on earth.
The essence of Christmas often gets overtaken by its own special charisma – as marketing blitzes and advertising gimmicks milk the festival for all its worth completely losing its true spirit under reams of wrapping paper, consumer oriented razzmatazz, commercial glitter, credit cards and quick bucks.
Christmas is about more than plum cake and mulled wine, prettily packed presents stacked under perfect trees, an angelic Christmas fairy or a gift bearing Santa Claus. Christmas is certainly about more than tinsel and twinkling lights – it is about goodwill and peace, compassion and harmony as it is about loving and giving.
Therein lies the true meaning: the essence of Christmas is what you can give to others because it celebrates the day God gave His Son to the world.