FIVE Indian festivals never to be missed
Being home to
scores of festivals of all religions, any visit to India is incomplete without
indulging yourself in the fun and fervor which are a trademark of all Indian
festivals. Based on mythology and refined through the centuries of tradition,
the method of celebration for each festival may differ across the different parts
of the country but the same threads of morality, community, family and
homecoming are woven across the fabric of all festivals of the country.
Below is the list of the 5 most unmissable
festivals to complete your India visit:
1.
Holi : The festival of colors represents India at its best. The night before
the festival, people light huge bonfires to mark the death of Holika by a fire
lit by her own hands (Holika Dahan). Holika was the sister of the evil king
Kansa who commanded everyone in his kingdom to worship him as God. This command
was defied by his own son Prince Prahlad who was a supreme devotee of Lord
Vishnu. Incensed by his defiance and piety, the king commanded his sister who
had been granted a boon of immunity from fire to take his son’s life which
Holika complied by taking the prince on her lap and setting herself ablaze.
However, in a twist of events, Holika herself burns to death and the Prince’s
life is saved. Thus, Holi symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
Image Source :aajtak.intoday.in
The day of the festival (known as Dhulandi), people of all
communities and walks of life gather together to play with dry and wet colors
(and some water balloons!). Holi is a popular attraction for tourists and has
become popular in the west thanks to the band Coldplay depicting it in one of
its videos.
When –Holi is generally celebrated in the month of March, the exact date
is arrived at through the Hindu calendar to mark the beginning of spring.
Where – Holi is celebrated all over the country but with especially more
fervor in North India especially in the cities of Mathura and Vrindavan in the
state of Uttar Pradesh.
2.
Diwali : Another popular festival
amongst tourists, Diwali is celebrated throughout the country to celebrate the
homecoming of Lord Ram after 14 years in exile. As the homecoming fell on a new
moon night, the people of Lord Ram’s kingdom lit lamps all over the path to
guide his way home in the darkness. Thus,
Diwali came to be known as the festival of lights.
Image Source :
1234diwali.com
The modern-day avatar of this
festival is highlighted by the use of firecrackers. The essence of this
festival remains family and homecoming. Households begin preparation for the
festival weeks in advance by cleaning and decorating the house with lights and
lamps, accompanied by preparation of delicacies.
When–Diwali falls between the months of October and November.
Where –It is celebrated all over the country.
3.
Dussehra / Vijayadashmi : This festival
celebrates the victory of good over evil – the victory of Lord Ram over the
demon king Ravana and of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura and the
victory of man’s good nature over his sins and desires.
It is celebrated differently in the northern and the eastern parts
of the country. In the northern parts, it is celebrated as Dussehra which is
marked by burning of effigies of Ravana and is preceded by dramatic enactment
of the story of Lord Ram (Ramayana). In the eastern parts, it marks the end of
Navratri (read below).
When –Dussehra falls between the months of September and October.
Where –Celebrated with great fervor in northern and eastern states of the
country.
4.
Navaratri/ DurgaPuja : The festival of 9
nights is centered around worshiping the different form of Goddess Durga which
on the 10th night culminates into Durga Puja which celebrates the
victory of the goddess over the demon Mahishasura.
Image Source:
indianexpress.com
Every night a different form of the Goddess is worshiped and the
prayers go late into the night. It is celebrated very differently in the
different parts of the country – where the eastern states celebrate with
setting up of temporary stages (Pandal) all over the city while the western
state of Gujarat celebrates through folk dances of Garba and Dandiya.
When – In the month of September usually.
Where – Celebrated with great zeal in the state of West Bengal.
5.
Ganesh Chaturthi: It is a 10-day
festival to mark the birth of Lord Ganesha, one of the most revered Gods in
Hindu mythology. Lord Ganesha is celebrated as the God of auspicious
beginnings, prosperity and wisdom.
Image Source : Google.com
During this festival, idols of Lord Ganesh ranging from a few inches
to 20-feet are installed in households and community sites and daily prayers
are offered to the idols in the mornings and evenings culminating with daily
aarti. At the end of the festival, the idols are brought for immersion into a
body of water (lakes, rivers or the sea) with great fanfare.
When – In the months of August – September.
Where – All over the country but celebrated with the greatest fanfare in the
state of Maharashtra.
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