Id–Ul-Zuha
Id-Ul-Zuha, the festival of sacrifice popularly known as Bakr Id, is celebrated by Muslims in April / May. It marks the end of Ramzan, the month of fasting. Bakr Id celebrates the devotion of Prophet Abraham (Hazrat Ibrahim), who was willing to sacrifice his only son Ishmael at the behest of God. On this day Muslims sacrifice a goat ( bakr in Urdu) to commemorate Hazrat Ibrahim's sacrifice. Two-thirds of the meat is kept by the family and one-third is distributed to the poor after Id prayers. The day is marked with family get-togethers, exchange of gifts and feasting on specially prepared delicacies like biryani, kebabs and kulfi. Id coincides with the Haj pilgrimage at Mecca .
Jagannath Rath Yatra
Jagannath is another name for Lord Krishna, and the Jagannath Rath Yatra observed in the month of Ashadha (June-July) celebrates Krishna's annual visit from Gokul, to his birthplace, Mathura . The Jagannath Temple at Puri, Orissa, is the main venue for celebrations, and millions of devotees converge here every year in a spirit of almost hysterical devotion. Images of Lord Krishna, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra, are taken in giant wooden chariots to Gundicha Ghar, a temple about 3 km away. The chariots are pulled by thousands of devotees. Many more accompany, in a procession. The chariots are made anew each year, and their construction starts as early as April. Jagannath's chariot, Nandighosa, is yellow in colour, 14 meters high, 10 meters square, and has 16 wheels. Balabhadra's chariot, Taladhwaja, is blue, and has 14 wheels. Subhadra's chariot, Deviratha or Darpadalana, has 12 wheels.
When two months of Ashadha fall in one year (this happens every 8 or 9 years), Rath Yatra is observed as the festival of 'Nabakalebar'. The old deities are buried within the temple premises and replaced by new deities, carved out of Margosa (Neem) trees.
A similar, but smaller, celebration is held at Mahesh, Bengal .
History has it that when the British first observed the Rathyatra in the 18th century, they were so amazed that they sent home descriptions which gave rise to the term 'juggernaut'.
Jamshed Navroz
Over 3000 years ago, Shah Jamshed of the Peshadian dynasty ascended the throne on the Spring Equinox. His descendants, the Parsi community, celebrate it as the New Year, the dawn of a new day (Navroz literally means “new day”). It is celebrated, even today, with prayers and feasting.
In homes, a special spread, Haft-Sinn - the seven S's - is prepared. Seven is considered to be a lucky number and the spread contains seven items that begin with “s” in farsi: sabzeh (home grown sprouts), samanou (wheat germ), sib (apples), sonbol (hyacinth), senjed (sorb tree berry), seer (garlic), somagh (sumac). The table also holds seven foods beginning with ' sh ' in Persian, sharab (wine), shakka r (sugar), shir (milk), shirinberej (sweet meat), shirin (sweet), shira (syrup) and shahad (honey); a copy of the Gathas (scriptures); a lit lamp; a mirror; a bowl of water with live fish; a shallow earthenware plate with sprouted wheat or beans (for prosperity); flowers (for colour); a gold or silver coin (for wealth); painted eggs (for productivity); and sweets and rosewater in bowls (for sweetness and happiness). These are meant to symbolize creation and to welcome spring.
Visitors to the house are first led to this table. They are asked to smile into the mirror, so that they may smile throughout the year. They are asked to look at the coin, so that they may have wealth the whole year round. They are sprinkled with rosewater so that they stay fragrant and healthy. After that, they are led to another table for a meal.
Janamashtami
Janma means 'birth' and ashtami means 'eighth day'. Janamashtami, celebrated in August / September, commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu (preserver in the Hindu pantheon), born to annihilate Kansa, the evil king of Mathura.
This festival is very popular in North India, especially in Vrindavan and Mathura (the places where Lord Krishna spent his childhood). People observe a daylong fast, which is broken only at midnight, the time when Lord Krishna is believed to have been born. Temples and homes are lit and beautifully decorated. Religious hymns and prayers are offered all night long. Mathura , Lord Krishna's birthplace, has 400 temples dedicated to him, and the celebrations at the Dwarkadhish, Banke Bihari, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balram and Gopinath temples are especially noteworthy. Raslilas (dance dramas) are performed to recreate incidents from the life of Lord Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha.
In Maharashtra, Janmashtami is the time for the exuberant enactment of Lord Krishna's childhood endeavours to steal butter and curd from earthen pots placed beyond his reach by his mother. A matka (earthen pot) containing these (and a monetary prize) is suspended high above the ground and groups of young men and children form human pyramids to try and reach the pot and eventually break it.
In South India , Janmashtami is celebrated with prayers, devotional renditions and offering of fruits and special prasadams to Lord Krishna. In some houses, a typical tableau of 'Gokulam' is laid out, with mud images of Devaki and Vasudeva (Krishna's parents), little Krishna in a basket, a cow, and other things related to Krishna 's legends.
Karva Chauth
Karva Chauth is a Hindu festival celebrated in Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat . On this day, married women fast for the welfare, prosperity, longevity and well being of their husbands. Karva Chauth comes 9 days before Diwali on 'kartik ki chauth', the fourth day of the dark moon.
Early in the morning, before sunrise, women bathe, wear new clothes and eat a meal of select grains and fruit. For the rest of the day, they abstain from food and even water (the stricter practices are not always maintained). They pray to Shiva and Parvati, hoping that their own married lives will be as successful as that of the divine couple. In every neighbourhood, women gather together in the afternoon to do a puja (prayer ceremony) and recite the story of Karva Chauth. Most women are dressed in beautiful red or pink clothes and traditional jewelry. Moonrise is eagerly awaited. Once the moon is sighted, women gather on the terrace and pray for their husband and family's welfare, an elderly woman in the house narrates the story of Karva Chauth, and all the fasting women end their fast with a sip of water.
Kullu Dussehra
This festival is celebrated in the Hill state of Himachal Pradesh, in October, just after Dussehra is celebrated in other parts of the country. Colourful processions of devotees, bearing magnificent images of gods and goddesses, move towards Kullu Valley . Homage is paid to Lord Ragunath on first day. Rituals, graceful Natti dances and folk songs are performed over the remaining nine days. Traders set up stalls to sell woollen shawls, caps, blankets and pillan (traditional footwear made from plant fibre and goat hair). This is the best time to see the carts characteristic to the Kullu Valley . |
