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Winter Festival
Rajasthan, an Indian state rich in
culture and tradition and known for its various vibrant fairs and festivals,
hosts annually one of its charming festivals in Mount Abu. The festival is
winter Festival organized in last week of December every year at Mount Abu, the
only hill station of Rajasthan. The festival is jointly organized by Rajasthantourism and Municipal Board of Mount Abu. The festival was started to provide
people a break from their boredom of everyday life. The event of festival also
provides an occasion to commemorate the rich tradition and cultures of the
state of Rajasthan. Mount Abu provides offers a
perfect venue for such
celebration as the place draws millions of tourist round the year from across
the world to witness the exquisite natural surroundings and other attractions
like famous Delwara Jain temples.
Winter festival of Mount Abu is a
three day festival hosting myriads of cultural, fun and sports events.
Procession organized by local authorities marks the inauguration of the
festival. A number of artists would be seen performing there. Traditional folk songs and various folk
dance forms of not only Rajasthan but of other states are seen providing a
charming look to the festival. Hospitality of the land, joyous and cheerful ambience
of the festival, cultural galas and picturesque location draws thousands of
tourists from across the world to witness the fascinating events of Winter
Festival
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Yamunostav
Yamunostav is annual event organized in New Delhi. Yamunostav
is held to highlight the environmental problems the river of Yamuna is facing.
Yamunostav is organized by Swechha (we for Yamuna) association in collaboration
with the British council, India. Yamunostav is held every year on 5th
June and thus also marks the world environment day. Fascinating musical program is organized on
the eve of Yamunostav. Through the entertaining programs attention of the
people is drawn to the environmental crisis the Yamuna River is facing. The event is gaining popularity as many
people from different parts of the country are seen visiting the Yamunostav.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Yatra
Yatra is a part of Indian tradition.
The term does not refer to any particular festival. But, it can be a part of
any festivals. ‘Yatra’ refers to fair, a
journey to a pilgrimage site (Tirtha yatra) and also a procession held during
the celebrations of any festivals. In the Hindu tradition ‘Yatra’ would be
observed as a part of ritual to be followed, but it is not an obligatory
ritual.
It is said that by accomplishing a Yatra
one would feel ‘full filled’. The Yatra consists of visiting holy shrines, and performing
due rituals at the holy site (such as visiting holy rivers, confluences etc. Epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana
state the desirable ‘yatras’ one should accomplish in his life time. However
none are obligatory. A Yatra is a journey to be accomplished. It involves
hardships, sufferings and arriving at the destination fulfills one’s desires.
Some Yatras are:
· Char
Dham Yatra: This includes a journey to four holy cities. They are, Badarinath, Dwarka,
Jagannath Puri and Rameshwaram. It
should be accomplished in one’s life time. Sometimes the cluster would be expanded by
adding few more cities (Sath Dham Yatra for instance).
Manas
Sarovar Yatra: This Yatra consists of visiting the Manas Sarovar Lake near
Mount Kailash.
Amarnath
Yatra: This Yatra consists of visiting the Amarnath Linga in the State of Jammu
and Kashmir. This takes place every
year.
Ratha
Yatra at Puri Jagannath: This Yatra will be accomplished by dragging the
Chariot till the Gundecha Mata temple. This takes place in Jagannath Puri,
Orissa.
Tirtha
Yatra: This Yatra consists of visiting all the holy shrines (pilgrimage sites)
at least once in our lifetime. Sometimes
devotees of a particular deity undertake a journey by walk (bhajans, devotional
songs involved) towards the shrines belonging to their particular deity during
specific times. They go in groups. For
instance, the ‘Warkaris’ in Maharashtra (devotees of Vithoba –the deity of
Pandharpur ) undertake such Yatra in June and July. Their destination would be
Pandharpur.
Fairs: These fairs are called ‘Jatra’ in India. These
‘jatras’ have significance at the regional level. They will be held once in a
year or sometimes once in two years depending upon the tradition of the temple.
Processions will take place including the chariot procession (Rath Yatra of the
particular deity) by the communities.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Ardha Kumbha Mela
Ardha Kumbha Mela and Maha Kumbha
Mela are the main river festivals of India. Maha Kumbha Mela occurs once in
every twelve years where as the Ardha Kumbha Mela occurs once in every six
years. The venue for these Kumbha Melas keeps changing depending upon the
zodiac positions.
Kumbha Melas have a significant role
to play in the Indian continent. They are part of Indian rituals related to rivers.
Earliest mention of these Kumbha Melas would be seen in the accounts of the
Chinese traveler Hsuan-Tsang.
The traveler mentions about these Kumbha melas as
these were held during Harshavardhana’s rule. As the legends describe during the ‘Samudra
Manthan’ (the great churning of ocean) drops of nectar spilled over different
part of India including rivers. So, it is said that by taking dip in the rivers
on a particular zodiac event one would accomplish the salvation. He would get
rid of the follies committed so far by him. The cities where these Kumbha Melas
would be held are: Ujjain, Prayag, Allahabad and Nashik. Millions of devotees
would witness this event. Sometimes stampedes occur. The rituals consist of
taking ritual bath in the river, mass feeding, Shayya daan (gifting beds-a
Buddhist ritual) and taking part in the discourses upon scriptures. There is not
much difference between Maha Kumbha Mela and the Ardha (Half) Kumbha Mela
except the time span involved between two Kumbha Melas. Apart from ritual bathing these Melas provide
for intra-religious modifications.
Last Ardha Kumbha Mela was held at Prayag
in the year 2007. Venue for the next Ardha Kumbha is at Nashik.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Ananya Festival
Ananya festival is a cultural fest of
Indian classical dance and music. The festival would be held in Delhi every
year at the Purana Quila. Usually the
date of the festival falls in the month of October. This is a five day event.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Chhath
Chhath is a festival of the Sun deity
celebrated mainly in Bihar. It is the most popular festival of Bihar. It is
celebrated on the sixth day of Kartik month according to Hindu (lunar) calendar.
The day usually falls in the month of October. The festival runs for four
consecutive days followed by ritual bath, fast and by giving ‘arghya’
(ablutions) to the Sun.
The details about how and when did
the festival begin in India are not clear. Some accounts state that the Maga
Purohits (Shakya Dwipi Brahmins) started observing this ritual on a request
made by the local rulers of those times. As usual people quote anecdotes from
the Mahabharatha. According those
sources Draupadi was the first person to observe this ritual. Whatever may be
the origin people do follow the tradition of Chhath even today with great
fervor.
It is a four day festival. On the
first day the observers take ritual bath, preferably on a river bank and carry
the water to their homes. The day would be spend by purifying the household
surroundings and eat a special meal consisting of rice, dal (lentils) and kaddu
(pumpkin). On the second day observe fast for the whole day and break it at the
sunset. On the third day the observer will keep a strict fast, (without food
and water) and in the evening gives ablutions (arghya) to the Sun. The whole
family would be involved in the process. ‘Arghya’ (ablution) is given to the
setting sun. On the fourth day, again, ablutions would be given, but to the
rising Sun this time. The main day (Chhath, or Shashti) is observed on the
third day of the course actually. People say, by observing this ritual
(standing inside the water facing the sun) one would get positive energy. Rays
of sun at a point of the day have an energizing effect upon human bodies they
say.
The Chhat festival has gained wide
popularity all across the country. Lakhs of people observe the ritual. There
are many Sun temples in Bihar itself. Deo and Surajkund (near Patna) are the
main cities which would be crowded during the festival time.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Bonalu
Bonalu is a Hindu festival dedicated to Mahakali, Goddess of
Power. The festival is mostly celebrated in some parts of Andhra Pradesh like
Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Rayalaseema etc. The festival comes in the month of
Ashadh (July- August). The festival is also regarded as event of thanksgiving
to the Goddess for fulfilling wishes. On the occasion of the festival a meal,
called as Bonam, is offered to the Goddess. Bonam contains cooked rice with
milk, sugar kept in a brass or earthen pot which also contains neem branches,
vermilion, turmeric, Kadi (white Chalk). Women with these pots containing Bonam
are seen going to the temple of goddess to offer the meal. They are accompanied
by drummers and men dancing to the tune of drums.
The festival usually starts with Mahakali temple situated at
the fort of Golkonda. On the occasion of the festival women adorn themselves
with jewelry and silk saris. Some women spellbound by the devotional environ
are seen dancing to the rhythm of the drums which is played in honor of the
Goddess. Palaharam Bandi (the procession) in honor of the goddess is taken out
to local temple of the goddess. Potharaju, the brother of Goddess, is
represented in the procession by a local man wearing small draped dhoti, bells
on his ankles, and turmeric and vermilion on his body and forehead. He is seen
leading the procession and dancing to the beats of the drum.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Bhiu
Bhiu is a festival celebrated by
the people of Assam, India. It is the most important cultural festival of the
state of Assam and is also regarded as the national festival of it. Though the
origin of the festival goes back to ancient time, the festival has a taken
modern look and become a commercialized event. However the festival still holds
its religious and social significance in Assam and draws people of all cast,
creed, religion together to celebrate the event.
There are three types of Bhiu
festival celebrated in Assam in a year. They are known as Rongaali Bhiu,
Kongaali Bhiu and Bhogaali Bhiu. Rongaali Bhiu is the most important of all
these three Bhiu festivals and it is celebrated in Bhohaag (mid April) month.
Kongaali Bhiu falls in the month of October while Bhogaali Bhiu comes in
January month of the year.
Rongaali Bhiu which is the most
important festival is also known as Bohaag Bhiu as it comes on the first day of
Bhohaag (mid April) month. Bohaag is the first month of the Assamese Calender
and therefore the celebration of the festival also marks the beginning of
Assamese New Year. Rongaali Bhiu also marks advent of spring season in Assam.
The celebration of the festival continues for several days and Bhiu Songs and
Dance are performed during the festival.
Kongaali Bhiu, also known as Kati
Bhiu, does not contain much pomp and show. It is celebrated in Kati (mid October)
month. Silent prayer with lighting of earthen lamps is done in the paddy fields
for the successful growing of the crop. Bhogaali Bhiu is the last Bhiu festival
of the people of Assam. It comes in the month of January and is celebrated
immediately after harvesting the paddy cultivation. An overnight community
function is organized in make shift houses made of thatch in the paddy
fields. These particular house are
called as Bhela Ghar. A community feast is also organized there. The people
celebrate the festival throughout the night in Bhela Ghar and the next morning the
same Bhela Ghar is set on fire by people marking the end of the festival.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Bhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj is an event that celebrates bond between the
brothers and sisters. The festival falls on the fifth day of Diwali, festival of
lights. On the occasion of Bhai Dooj
sisters are seen applying the vermilion marks called as Tilak on foreheads of
their brothers, performing the Arati of them. On the other hand brothers are
seen offering their sisters lots of gifts and sweets. Idea behind celebrating
the festival is that brother should always protect their sisters while sisters
should always pray for their bother’s prosperous life. Celebration of such a
kind which glorifies heavenly bonding of Brother and sisters will be found
nowhere but in India. And this is not the only celebration that marks holy
relation of brothers and sisters. Raksha Bandhan is another festival related
with Brothers & sisters.
The festival of Bhai Dhooj is celebrated in
different parts of the country with different names. It is known as Bhai Phota
in West Bengal while in Maharashtra it called as Bhav Beej. The festival is also known as Bhai Beej in
some parts of the country. You call it
by whatever name, the celebration of the festival and idea behind it will be
the same everywhere.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Bathukamma
Bathukamma is a festival celebrated in an honor of Goddess
Gauri. The festival is mainly celebrated in Telangana region of state of Andhra
Pradesh. The festival of Bathukamma is
also known as Bodemma and is mostly celebrated by the women. It comes in the
month of Ashvin (Sept-Oct) and is celebrated over nine days during the time of
Navratri. The festival starts with Mahalaya Amavasya and ends two days before
Dussera. During the festival women are seen worshipping the goddess. You will
also find them in new silk saris and adorned with jewelry.
In Telgue Bathukamma literally means ‘Come alive mother
goddess’. The goddess Gauri is worshipped in the form of Bathukamma which is
nothing but the beautiful flowers of different colors arranged or rather
stacked on a little-large steel plate or wooden plank with a pumpkin flower
perched on the top of the stack. Women are seen arranging the various flowers,
brought by their men folk, on a plate with utmost devotion to the goddess. This
Bathukamma is seen worshipped by women for the next nine days and at the end of
the festival the same symbolic goddess in the form of Bathukamma is immersed by
women in local water body as per the custom going on for last many centuries.
During the festival women and young girls in their best
attire are seen gathering in large number in local area with their Bathukamma;
placing them on the ground; forming a circle of themselves around it; singing
the spontaneous folk songs praising the goddess and moving their steps in synchronies
while the men folk are seen looking on the amazing event unfolding.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,