Mahashivratri
The birth anniversary of Shiva, the Lord of Destruction in the Hindu pantheon, is celebrated in March. Shiva devotees fast through the day and stay awake through the night, praying. They offer up special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables and coconut. Special celebrations are held in the major Shiva temples at Varanasi , Kalahasti (Andhra Pradesh) and Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu).
Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira (the founder of Jainism) is observed on the first day of the month of Bhadrapad in April. It is the main festival of the Jain community, and Jain temples dedicated to Lord Mahavira are decorated with flags for the occasion.
In the morning the idol of Lord Mahavira is given abhishek (a ceremonial bath). It is then placed in a cradle and taken in a procession around the neighbourhood. Drummers, boys with silver staves and aarti lamps, bhajan singers, musicians, horses, elephants and tableaux depicting scenes from the life of Lord Mahavira form part of the pageant. The procession concludes with ceremonial prayers and meditation at a temple or huge ground reserved for the purpose .
Moharram
Shias Muslims observe Moharram to commemorate the s hahadat (martyrdom) of Iman Hussein (Prophet Mohammed's grandson), who died at Karbala , while fighting for the cause of Islam. It is a day of mourning, observed on the 10th and 11th day of the month of Muharram, after sighting the moon. Tazias , glittering replicas of the Martyr's tomb, are carried in grand processions through the streets. The Tazias of Lucknow and Hyderabad are noted for their splendour. Devotees mourn by beating their chests. Some even inflict wounds on themselves in the process.
Nag Panchami
On this day in August, snakes are worshipped in West Bengal and Maharashtra , as symbols of energy, prosperity and virility. Milk and cooked rice are offered to snakes carried by snake charmers. Clay snakes are brought home, worshipped and immersed in the sea or river in the evening.
In South India , particularly in Kerala, snake temples are crowded on this day and prayers are offered to the stone or metal icons of the eternal cosmic serpent Ananta or Shesha.
Navaratri
“Navaratri” means 9 nights, and Navaratri, celebrated in the month of Ashwin ( September / October), is the longest Hindu festival. Different regions have different themes for celebrating Navaratri, but the underlying commonality is the victory of good over evil.
In North India , the 9 days are filled with continuous chanting from the great epic, “Ramayana”, which tells the story of Rama, Prince of Ayodhya. Here, Navaratri culminates in Dussehra or Vijayadashami, the day Rama kills Ravana, the evil king of Lanka who abducted Rama's wife, Sita. Evenings see the enactment of Ramlila, dance dramas on the life of Rama.
In Bengal , Navaratri is celebrated as Pujo, a celebration of Durga, goddess of power and vitality who is believed to take a new form on each of the nine days. Durga is believed to have slain the demon, Mahishasura, on Dussehra. Rama is also said to have worshipped the goddess, seeking her blessings in order overpower Ravana.
In Gujarat , Navaratri is a cultural festival. Every night men and women of all ages dress up in all their festive finery, and gather in courtyards to do the Garba and Dandiya Raas community dances. Many a romance has sparked off at Navaratri garbas . |
