FESTIVALS

Dates for most of the Hindu festivals vary from year to year, as the as Hindus follow the lunar calendar. Listed below are festivals for the Year 2004

January 14 -Makar Sankranti Sankranti is the colourful kite festival, where the sky is enveloped in kites of an amazing hue of colours. It is a celebration of spring, on the occasion of the ascent of the sun into the north(uttarayana). Sesame and jaggary 'laddoos' or round sweets are made and distributed, as a symbol of goodwill towards all.

January 15-Pongal Pongal, the harvest festival of the South, is celebrated with prayers and rituals including the famous boat rave which takes place on the backwaters of Kerala.

January 26 -Republic day Republic Day is celebrated with pomp and ceremony to mark the day the Indian Constituition was formed in 1950. A colourful parade is held in New Delhi, which showcases everything from folk dances, march pasts to the impressive air show by the India Air force.

February 02-Id-ul Zuha Bakri Id- Celebrates the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of God. To celebrate the event, Muslims sacrifice one animal per family or group of families. There are prayers in mosques, feasting, and rejoicing. New clothes are worn and visits and greetings are exchanged. September

February 4-6 Desert Festival Once a year in winters and on the middle of the continually rising and falling stark yellow sands of the great Thar Desert, the empty sands around Jaisalmer come alive with the brilliant colour, music and laughter of the Desert Festival. The festival is organised by the tourist authorities as tourist entertainment around January-February. The very rich and colourful Rajasthani folk culture is on show here for a few days. Rajasthani men and tall beautiful women dressed in their brightly costumes dance and sing lingering ballads of valour, romance and tragedy. Traditional musicians attempt to outdo each other in their musical superiority

February -Vasant Panchami Vasant Panchami heralds the arrival of spring in the North. Hindus worship Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning, Shiva- Durga and Lakshmi-Vishnu.

February 18- Mahashivratri Mahashivratri marks the festival of Lord Shiva. Thousands of devotees flock to the Shiva temples all over India and celebrations go on all night long. Shiva is the destroyer in the Hindu trinity of Gods. When almost all other festivals are celebrated in day time, Mahashivaratri is celebrated in the night. Shiv it is saved the world from Tamogun (darkness and ignorance). Shiv is known as Har because he defleced the submersion of the universe into complete darkness. Snakes, lions, peacocks and bulls shown along with Shiva?s images symbolize freedom from evil exhibiting fearlessness. So on the night prior to Amavasya, Shiv is specially worshipped to drive away the dark evil.

February -Floating Festival The Floating Festival in Madurai, the temple town in Tamil Nadu, South India is celebrated on the night of the full moon. Beautifully decorated idols from the temples are taken in a floating procession from the Meenakshi temple. Devotees dance in the procession while the onlookers spray coloured water on them.

March 02-Muharram Commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the holy Prophet Mohammed, and observed by the Shi'ite Muslims, who take out processions of colourfully decorated 'Tazias', which are paper and bamboo replicas of the martyr's tomb at Karbala in Iraq. The processions are specially impressive at Lucknow. In parts of the South, tiger dancers -- men painted over with stripes and wearing tiger masks -- lead the procession.

March 06-Holi Holi is one of the most exuberant Hindu festivals in the north of India. It marks the end of winter and is celebrated by people throwing coloured water and powder on each other. The night before, people gather together and light bonfires to burn the twigs and dried leaves of winter.

March 06-Elephant Festival Jaipur The Elephant Festival is an inimitable event held annually in Jaipur. Groomed flawlessly, rows of elephants do a catwalk before an enthralled audience liked best fashion models to make this festival an amazing one. The elephants move with poise in pageant, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time with elephants typically celebrated one day before the Holi, Indian festival of colours.

March 14 onwards Meenakshi Kalyanam Meenaskhi Kalyanam, the wedding festival of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwara is celebrated for twelve days from the second day of the lunar month (i.e. two days after the new moon). This is a spectacular festival celebrated at Madurai?s Meenakshi temple in the month of Chaitra (April-May). The festival is characterized with royal decorated umbrellas, fans and traditional instrumental music. Scenes from mythology are enacted and the deities of Lord Siva, Goddess Shakti and Goddess Meenakshi are taken out in a colorful procession.

March 18-Mewar Festival Jaipur The Mewar Festival is celebrated to welcome the advent of spring. It coincides with the festival of Gangaur in Udaipur, and has a unique charm about it. The women folk gather to dress the images of Isar and Gangaur and then carry them in a ceremonial procession through different parts of the city. The procession winds its way to the Gangaur Ghat at Lake Pichhola. Here, the images are transferred to special boats amidst much singing and festivity.

March 21-Gudi Padwa (New Year)  The Hindu Year begins on the first day of the month of Chaitra, Shuddha Pratipada.New Year is celebrated in different states of India under various names, for e.g. Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Gudi Padava in Maharashtra. The Sindhis celebrate it as Cheti chand.  Ugadi and Gudi Padava share the same legends and customs. The Prasad of neem leaves and jaggery is common to all the three. Read on to have a brief insight on the common factor that binds all these festivals.

March 30-Ram Navmi Ramnavmi celebrates the birth of Rama, the celebarted hero of the epic Ramayana. Temples are decorated and prayers are offered. Chariot processions of Ram, Seeta and Lakshman are taken out from mant temples

April 03-Mahavir Jayanti The birth anniversary of the jain Tirthankara, Mahavir, is celebrated by Jains all over India. People meditate and offer prayers.

April 05- Hanuman Jayanti The full moon day of Chaitra is celebrated as Hanuman Jayanti. Hanuman is known for his valour, courage, deep devotion and dedication towards Lord Rama. Images of Hanuman are usually made of red stone, painted with vermilion. Hanuman also symbolises supreme physical strength. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in all the temples of Rama.

April 09-Good Friday This Christian festival marks the memory of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Christians fast and pray.

April 13-Baisakhi This Sikh spring festival commemorates the day Guru Gobind Singh organised the order of the Khalsa

April 14-Ambedkar Jayanti Birthday of Dr Ambedkar celebrated. Born in a class considered low and outcast, Dr. Ambedkar fought untiringly for the downtrodden. The boy who suffered bitter humiliation became the first Minister for Law in free India, and shaped the country’s Constitution. A determined fighter, a deep scholar, human to the tips of his fingers.

April -23-25 Gangaur Fair Gangaur Fair takes place in Rajasthan. Amidst much singing and dancing, the women worship the Goddess Parvati, or Gauri as she is called, and pray for a good husband. The festival lasts for 18 days.

May 1-Pooram In the quaint town of Trichur in Kerala, this magnificent temple festival is celebrated with richly caprisioned elephants, trumpets and fireworks, and is one of the most spectacular festivals in India. Two rows of elephants face each other, and while the nadaswarams create a cresendo of music, each side displays a mind boggling array of richly ornamented parasols.

May 04-Buddha Purnima This is the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, and is celebrated by Buddhists all over India.

June 19-Ratha Yatra The spectacle of the Rath Yatra in Puri involves the gigantic temple car of Lord Jagannath making its annual journey, pulled by thousands of eager devotees. Images of the god and his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra are placed in giant large yellow chariots or raths which are then drawn by pilgrims. The procession or rath yatra draws huge crowds from all over the country.

August 20 Parsi New Year It is the New Year's Day for the Parsi community. They celebrate the day with feasting. It goes back to the time of ancient Persia and describes how the kings of Persia celebrated their own glory and nature's glory and springtime on this day. Parsi's decorate their homes with flowers and rangoli patterns. They don their traditional kustis and caps made of gold and silver brocade and visit the fire temple(agiary), to perform a thanksgiving or Jashan. Then they visit friends and family and share special sweets.

August 19-20-Teej Teej is the festival of swings. It marks the advent of the monsoon month of Shravan (August). The monsoon rains fall on the parched land and the pleasing scent of the wet soil rises into the air. Swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Young girls and women dressed in green clothes sing songs in celebration of the advent of the monsoon. This festival is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, commemorating her union with Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati is worshipped by seekers of conjugal bliss and happiness. An elaborate procession is taken out in Jaipur for two consecutive days on the festive occasion which is watched by people in large numbers. The teej idol is richly decorated with ornaments and gaudy dresses. The Teej idol is covered with a canopy whereas the Gangaur idol is open.

August 15- Independence Day On this day in 1947, India became independent from the British Empire. The occasion is celebrated with flag hoisting ceremonies all over the country.

August 21-Nagpanchami This snake festival is celebrate din honour of the cosmic thousand headed snake belonging to Lord Visnu, called Shesha. There is a colourful fair in Jodhpur where huge cloth effigies of the serpent are displayed. Women offer cooked rice and milk to snakes. Clay snakes are worshipped during the day and immersed into the sea in the evening.

August 28-Onam Onam is celebrated in Kerala to mark the harvest time, and involves lots of singing and fasting. The famous snake boat races take place at this time.

August 30-Raksha Bandhan On this day sisters tie a ‘rakhee ’or decorated coloured thread on the brother’s wrist, as a symbol of love and protection.

September 06-Janmashtami  The birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated with prayers and enactment of stories of his childhood. Krishna was one of the Avataars of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver in the Hindu Trinity.

September 18- Ganesh Chaturthi This extremely popular festival is dedicated to the much loved elephant-headed god Ganesh. It's celebrated widely, but with particular enthusiasm in Maharashtra. Ganesh is the God of good omens and is worshiped by most Hindus. Clay models of the deity are worshiped and taken out in grand procession accompanied by the sound of cymbals and drums.

October 02-Gandhi Jayanti The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, known as the father of the nation, is celebrated with prayer meetings.

October  15  - 23 Navratri  the festival of nine nights is celebrated with great zest  in all parts of the country. Garba & Dandiya-Raas dance is performed by people wearing colourful dresses and by dancing in a circle, singing 'Garbas' or traditional songs. Dandiya-Raas is played with wooden sticks (dandiyas). Described in the following pages is more about this festival of whirling ghagras, traditional music and colourful dandiyas.

October  15- Begining of Ramazan Ramzan is a holy month for Muslims. They fast during the day throughout that month. They do not even drink water. Pious, men among them spend the day time during the month in prayer andreading the Koran. They have their meal only at night. Some of the Muslims spend the twenty-first and twenty-second days of this month in mourning. It is in memory of Ali, the Prophet's son-in-law, who died inthe cause of their religion.

October 18-Durga Pooja Durga, the fiery Goddess seated on the back of a tiger, is worshipped, and large models are taken out in colourful and crowded processions, and immersed in the sea amidst lots of rejoicing and singing.

October 22-Dussehra Dussehra marks the end of Navratri, the nine day period of fasting and dancing. On the tenth day, which is Dussehra, huge effigies of the demon king Ravana are burnt, and plays are enacted about the slaying of Ravana by Rama.

November 12-Diwali This festival is celebrated with lights and fireworks to commemorate the return of Rama from exile. Every Hindu home is lit with oil lams and decorated with coulourful pattern on the floor, to welcome the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi.

November 14-Bhai Dooj The fifth and final day of the Diwali Festival is known by the name of "Bhai Duj" in the Hindi-speaking belt "Bhau-Bij" in the Marathi-speaking communities and in Nepal by the name of "Bhai-Tika". On Bhai Duja sisters apply tilak to their brothers and pray for their long and happy life. In all likelihood, this ritual was originally intended only for married women. Since they celebrated Diwali with their in-laws, this festival allowed them to come to their parent's home during this auspicious time. Nowadays however, among many communities Bhai Duja is observed by both married and unmarried sisters.

Novenber 15 -Id -ul-Fitr The Holy Koran was revealed this month according to the Muslim belief. Muslims fast every day during this month, which are called Roza. Food is taken once after sun down during this whole month. Friends and families join the Iftar (the breaking of fast) and share the meal irrespective of religion. On the completion of the period, which depends on the appearance of the new moon, Id-ul-Fitr is celebrated with great fervour. Community prayers are offered in mosques and Idgahs and it is celebrated as a joyous occasion. People visit friends and greet them. New clothes, good food and fireworks all form an important part of merrymaking.

November18-26 Pushkar The famous Pushkar Fair is a great tourist attraction. People from around the globe come to the ancient religious town of Pushkar which is transformed into a spectacular fair ground in the month of Kartik. People bathe, worship and delight in the dazzling wares of roadside stalls. Camels are bought, sold, beautified, raced and parade. Most unusual are the small groups of men and women seen busy tattooing their hands and other parts of the body.
The fair is predominantly a rural gathering. Villagers come from different parts of the state and bring their cattle with them. On spectacular sanddunes camel, horse and bullock races are great crowd pullers. All roads lead to the lake, which is flooded with pilgrims. The movement of the crowd is like a tide of colour with currents of crimson, yellow and turquoise.

November 26-Guru Nanak Jayanti The birth of anniversary of Guru Nanak is celebrated by the Siks with the recitation of verses from the Akhand Path.

December 25- Christmas Christians from all over India celebrate with midnight mass, hymms and feasting.