Festivals help the community to bond and learn about the culture and pass it on to the next generation to stand them in good stead. Many look forward to celebrate Navratri, Vijaya Dashmi and Diwali as one gets to wear new clothes, eat sweets and it also marks the end of quarterly exams in schools. The festivals are one of the most popular ones and are celebrated with great enthusiasm across the nation and Indians living abroad. It basically marks the victory of good over evil and is celebrated differently according to the regions culture and traditions. It also marks the beginning of launching new ventures.
Navratri begins from the first day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin, which usually marks the end of monsoons. This festival is dedicated to divine mother Goddess Durga and her nine forms and each day signifies a different form. Devouts believe that the mother destroyed the evil force (demon Mahisashura) during this period. In some places, special puja pandals are erected by installing the images of Mother Durga and all temples dedicated to Shakti also make arrangements for special pujas.
In the Eastern states, especially West Bengal, the city of Kolkata comes alive, with the celebration lasting five days beginning from Maha Shashti (the sixth day) and ending with Bijoya Dashami (the tenth day). The first day begins with welcoming Goddess Durga and ends with immersing the idols in the nearby water bodies on the evening of Dashami. According to mythology Goddess Durga descends to the Earth on Shashthi and returns to her abode on Dashmi.
Dusshera, Dasara or Vijaya Dashmi is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. The festival is celebrated with great fanfare in Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Mysore (Karnataka) and West Bengal. It is the culmination of the nine-day long festivities during the Navaratri.
In Mysore, Dusshera, popularly called Dasara dates back its royal celebrations to 300 years, when Raja Wodayar ascended the throne of Mysore. Since then the festival has been celebrated on a grand scale, with a spectacular procession of floats, entertainers, and decorated elephants passing through the main streets of the city, with the erstwhile scion atop an elephant. During the festivities, special religious ceremonies are held at different temples, especially the Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hills.
In Tamil Nadu, the Navratris are equally divided for worshipping the three Goddesses namely Goddess of wealth and prosperity Lakshmi (the first three days), Goddess of learning and arts Saraswati (the next three days) and Mother Goddess Shakti, Durga (the last three days). Women and children also arrange small statues and dolls, known as ‘Bommai Kolu’, decorating it with designs, lamps and flowers.
In Gujarat, the Navratri festival acquires fascinating and colorful dimension. The highlights are the vibrant colourful dances of Garba and Dandiya-Raas where the young and old take part with fervour. It may be recalled that the Raas has its origin in the life of Lord Krishna.
After Kullu king, Jaganand brought an idol of Lord Raghunath from Ayodhya and put it on his throne as a mark of respect in the 17th century, celebrations of Kullu Dussehra began in the region. The week-long festivities come to an end with the sacrifice of a buffalo, rooster, lamb, fish and crab.
In Varanasi, and the entire north, Ramlila’s are enacted on all the 10 days culminating in the burning of the effigies of ten-headed Ravan, his brother Kumbhakarn and his son Meghnad. Scenes as depicted in the Ramayana are enacted by actors and children and many of them dress up as Lord Hanuman and many kids enjoy buying the bow and arrow and gada that are sold at fairs during this part of the time. It is also widely believed that on Vijaya Dashmi day, in Treta Yug, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, Lord Ram killed demon king Ravan for abducting Lord Ram’s wife Devi Sita. Ravan’s ten heads depict the evils - Kama vasana (lust), Krodha (anger), Moha (delusion), Lobha (greed), Mada (over pride), Matsara (jealousy), Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (will) and
Ahankara(ego).
Just like the effigies ending up in smoke, people must also burn the evil within them, and follow the path of virtue and goodness, which is the moral of Vijayadashmi. One must always bear in mind, that despite being very powerful, demon king was destroyed.
On Vijayadashmi, leaves of aapta tree are also exchanged as the legend goes that Pandavas stored their weapons on the Shami tree during their period of agyatvaas (unrecognizable exile). Mythology states that weapons were retrieved by the Pandavas on Vijayadashmi day. All vehicles and machines in factories too are decorated and worshipped.
Diwali
Diwali is a five-day festival, beginning on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartika. It is primarily called the festival of lights and earthen diyas are lit in everybody’s home and rangolis (beautiful designs) are made in the courtyard and entrances. Houses are decorated with flowers, electric lights and candles.
The festival begins with Dhanteras, and special prayers are offered to Goddess Lakshmi, and people buy gold and new vessels for cooking kheer (milk sweet). The second day, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the crushing of demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama is celebrated by the people of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. They have an oil bath and burn up old clothes early in the morning to mark the death of Naraka. Amavasya, the third day of Deepawali/Diwali, marks the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and people burn firecrackers in the evening. Another legend goes that Lord Vishnu, as Vamana (dwarf incarnation) banished King Bali to Patalaloka. The fifth day is celebrated as Bhai Dooj (Yama Dvitiya), when sisters invite brothers to their homes.
It is also believed that Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya on Diwali day after 14 years of exile and defeating Ravana. To augment his return people lit 20 rows of lamps. In Bengal, Goddess Kali is worshipped on this day. Diwali also marks the beginning of the Gujarati New Year and many open new account books. On this day, people worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. Many exchange gifts and sweets with friends, relatives and neighbours. Happy Festivals!
Festivals
October 3 - Mahasaptami
October 4 - Ashtami
October 5 - Mahanavami
October 6 – Vijaya Dashami
October 26 - Diwali
Navratri begins from the first day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin, which usually marks the end of monsoons. This festival is dedicated to divine mother Goddess Durga and her nine forms and each day signifies a different form. Devouts believe that the mother destroyed the evil force (demon Mahisashura) during this period. In some places, special puja pandals are erected by installing the images of Mother Durga and all temples dedicated to Shakti also make arrangements for special pujas.
In the Eastern states, especially West Bengal, the city of Kolkata comes alive, with the celebration lasting five days beginning from Maha Shashti (the sixth day) and ending with Bijoya Dashami (the tenth day). The first day begins with welcoming Goddess Durga and ends with immersing the idols in the nearby water bodies on the evening of Dashami. According to mythology Goddess Durga descends to the Earth on Shashthi and returns to her abode on Dashmi.
Dusshera, Dasara or Vijaya Dashmi is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. The festival is celebrated with great fanfare in Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Mysore (Karnataka) and West Bengal. It is the culmination of the nine-day long festivities during the Navaratri.
In Mysore, Dusshera, popularly called Dasara dates back its royal celebrations to 300 years, when Raja Wodayar ascended the throne of Mysore. Since then the festival has been celebrated on a grand scale, with a spectacular procession of floats, entertainers, and decorated elephants passing through the main streets of the city, with the erstwhile scion atop an elephant. During the festivities, special religious ceremonies are held at different temples, especially the Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hills.
In Tamil Nadu, the Navratris are equally divided for worshipping the three Goddesses namely Goddess of wealth and prosperity Lakshmi (the first three days), Goddess of learning and arts Saraswati (the next three days) and Mother Goddess Shakti, Durga (the last three days). Women and children also arrange small statues and dolls, known as ‘Bommai Kolu’, decorating it with designs, lamps and flowers.
In Gujarat, the Navratri festival acquires fascinating and colorful dimension. The highlights are the vibrant colourful dances of Garba and Dandiya-Raas where the young and old take part with fervour. It may be recalled that the Raas has its origin in the life of Lord Krishna.
After Kullu king, Jaganand brought an idol of Lord Raghunath from Ayodhya and put it on his throne as a mark of respect in the 17th century, celebrations of Kullu Dussehra began in the region. The week-long festivities come to an end with the sacrifice of a buffalo, rooster, lamb, fish and crab.
In Varanasi, and the entire north, Ramlila’s are enacted on all the 10 days culminating in the burning of the effigies of ten-headed Ravan, his brother Kumbhakarn and his son Meghnad. Scenes as depicted in the Ramayana are enacted by actors and children and many of them dress up as Lord Hanuman and many kids enjoy buying the bow and arrow and gada that are sold at fairs during this part of the time. It is also widely believed that on Vijaya Dashmi day, in Treta Yug, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, Lord Ram killed demon king Ravan for abducting Lord Ram’s wife Devi Sita. Ravan’s ten heads depict the evils - Kama vasana (lust), Krodha (anger), Moha (delusion), Lobha (greed), Mada (over pride), Matsara (jealousy), Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (will) and
Ahankara(ego).
Just like the effigies ending up in smoke, people must also burn the evil within them, and follow the path of virtue and goodness, which is the moral of Vijayadashmi. One must always bear in mind, that despite being very powerful, demon king was destroyed.
On Vijayadashmi, leaves of aapta tree are also exchanged as the legend goes that Pandavas stored their weapons on the Shami tree during their period of agyatvaas (unrecognizable exile). Mythology states that weapons were retrieved by the Pandavas on Vijayadashmi day. All vehicles and machines in factories too are decorated and worshipped.
Diwali
Diwali is a five-day festival, beginning on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartika. It is primarily called the festival of lights and earthen diyas are lit in everybody’s home and rangolis (beautiful designs) are made in the courtyard and entrances. Houses are decorated with flowers, electric lights and candles.
The festival begins with Dhanteras, and special prayers are offered to Goddess Lakshmi, and people buy gold and new vessels for cooking kheer (milk sweet). The second day, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the crushing of demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama is celebrated by the people of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. They have an oil bath and burn up old clothes early in the morning to mark the death of Naraka. Amavasya, the third day of Deepawali/Diwali, marks the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and people burn firecrackers in the evening. Another legend goes that Lord Vishnu, as Vamana (dwarf incarnation) banished King Bali to Patalaloka. The fifth day is celebrated as Bhai Dooj (Yama Dvitiya), when sisters invite brothers to their homes.
It is also believed that Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya on Diwali day after 14 years of exile and defeating Ravana. To augment his return people lit 20 rows of lamps. In Bengal, Goddess Kali is worshipped on this day. Diwali also marks the beginning of the Gujarati New Year and many open new account books. On this day, people worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. Many exchange gifts and sweets with friends, relatives and neighbours. Happy Festivals!
Festivals
October 3 - Mahasaptami
October 4 - Ashtami
October 5 - Mahanavami
October 6 – Vijaya Dashami
October 26 - Diwali
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