Our Festivals
Festivals provide much needed break from the drudgery of the routine life. Through the festivals we celebrate life. They-renew our zest for living and boost our spirits. The realities of our lives are harsh and we need occasional cheering up through festivities. That fact has made India the lands of colours and festivals.
Indian society is a vast pool of different cultures, sub-cultures, sub-nationalities, religions, sects, languages, diverse regional and racial backgrounds. Every segment has its own calendar of festivals. Hence it is said that in our country a week has only seven days but nine festivals. The most of our festivals are related to religions or harvests. Our family celebrations are also like mini-festivals.
The festivals are celebrated with gay abandon. Big preparations are made in advance for the oncoming festival. There is excitement and feverish activities. A festival is an n occasion for ‘family gatherings, exchanges of sweets and greetings, singing, traditional dancing, praying, fasting and feasting.
Women, men and children in their best visit temples, bazaars, holy places, worship deities to seek their blessings for happiness and prosperity. The children are transformed into bundles of joy and excitement. Every festival adds its own brand of colour, gaiety and spice to the life.
The festivals, fairs and celebration periods are the high points of Indian life. We celebrate the births of our great men, religious events, myths, changes of seasons, harvesting, national events, traditions, customs and social movements. The great mass recreational appeal of the festivals is irresistible. They have considerable social, cultural and national value. The festivals inspire people to come together to forge greater and stronger national and cultural ties with one another. To some they are the keys to India’s unity in diversity.
Different sections of people participate in one another’s festivities to cultivate emotional ties. Holi, Diwali, Dussehra, Janamashtami, Christmas, Eid, Moharram, Hazrat Mohammad’s birthday, Guru Parvas, Buddha Jayanti, Onam, Pongal, Bihu or Baisakhi and Lohri are celebrated and enjoyed by all the sections. Independence and Republic days are our national festivals. Modern day additions to our-festivals are—New Year Eve, Valentine Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Children’s Day and Vana Mahotsava. Even fashion shows and beauty pageants held in India carry the traditional festival spirit.
The onset of spring and ripening of the crops is celebrated with Holi, the most outrageously colourful festival. It sets people in boisterous mood. On the eve of Holi, bonefires are made amidst great rejoicing. The next day involves a lot of singing, dancing, playful throwing of colours at one another, eating of sweets and cannabis concoction drinking. The kids throw water balloons from houses on the passersby. Sometimes it degenerates into mud-slinging and abusing. This hooliganism needs to be curbed. Generally, all classes of people mix together freely and enjoy the occasion. Mathura and Barsana are famous for the traditional celebration of Holi.
Durga Pooja or Dussehra is celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil. It was on this day that Lord Rama vanquished the ten headed demon Ravana. On this occasion, tenth day street dramas depicting the story of Ramayana called Ramlila staged in the colonies come to the conclusion. On Dussehra day huge effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnada are set to fire with great celebration. Bengalis celebrate it as Durga Pooja worshiping big idols of Durga in gaily decorated pandals for nine days. On Dussehra day the idols are taken ceremoniously to the river or sea shore and consigned to the waters.
Diwali or Deepawali is a festival of lights and mass fireworks. Large packages of sweets are exchanged on this occasion. Deepawali falls exactly 20 days after Dussehra on moonless night. It is believed that on this day Rama had returned to his own capital Ayodhya. The Deepawali night becomes all aglow with oil lamps, candles and lately electric twinkle works.
The businessmen close their old accounts and open new ones on Diwali day. Goddess Laxmi is worshiped on this occasion seeking prosperity. This is the night of boom-boom as kids fire rockets, all kinds of bombs, crackers and sparkles. Some people feel that it is sheer waste of money. For many it is the right of gambling. That is not good. Houses get a face lift for Deepawali. It is time for house repairs and painting. Housewives buy new utensils as a sign of good luck.
Eid is another most celebrated festival. Mainly it is a Muslim festival but entire country gets into Eid mood and everyone rejoices. There is remarkable goodwill among various communities generated by the occasion. Eid comes after a months of fasting and praying of Ramzan. Muslims visit mosques and Eidgahs to offer prayers attired in their best and the newest. The people embrace one another, exchange Eid greetings and share sweets. Alms are given to the poor. Then, it is feasting and celebration time.
Christmas is a festival that delights the people of all the sections. During Christmas it is all Santa Clause, lighted Christmas trees, carols, greeting cards, exchange of gifts and shopping sprees. Christmas generates a great spirit of love, care, kindness and goodwill among the people. Christians attend Special masses and prayers held, in the churches on this occasion. In India the people of other faiths also go to churches. New year now-a-days is celebrated with great jest, joy and enthusiasm. On the Valentine Day the boys and the girls exchange Valentine cards of innovative designs. The other important traditional festivals of India are Bihu or Baisakhi, Rakhi, Pongal, Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Buddha Purnima, Chhat etc.
The Republic day is celebrated on 26th January. On this day, the centre of attraction is the military parade, spectacular tableaus, flypast by Air force planes and folk dances that go past along Rajpath of New Delhi. On this day, India became a republic under a new Constitution after gaining independence. Independence day is celebrated on 15th August on which day, the national flag is ceremoniously hoisted in state capitals and educational institutions. The main function is held in Delhi. The Prime Minister hoists flag on the Red Fort and delivers a message to the nation. The children enjoy the clay by kite flying.
The festivals of our country will keep us united as one celebrating spirit.
