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Author Topic: The Most Famous Hindu Festivals in India  (Read 1345 times)

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Offline khurram

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Regional Names of Durga Puja
« Reply #20 on: December 04, 2010, 04:02:28 AM »
Regional Names of Durga Puja


The traditional Durga pooja is known by many different names. Read about some of them.


The festival of Dassera celebrates the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasur. It also celebrates the return of the goddess, to her birth home. The ten days of the festival are considered to be a very auspicious time. Any new venture undertaken during this time is sure to be successful. The Durga pooja is an integral part of Dassera celebrations. It is known by different names in different regions of the country. The name may be a local one or it may be an indication of a particular ritual associated with the pooja.


Durga pooja

The pooja is called as Durga pooja in the states of West Bengal, Delhi, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Idols of the goddess are kept in 'pandals' (temporary tents), which are open to the public. The idol is worshipped for the nine days of Navratri, during which time devotees visit the pandals and pay their respects. On the tenth day, the idol is taken out for a procession, which culminates in the immersion of the idol in a water body. This procession is called as 'visarjan'.

In many parts of northern India, 'ram-leela' is performed. This is a play that is staged depicting the victory of Lord Ram over Ravan. The play is mostly performed in villages as a form of entertainment for the local people. Besides the ram-leela, there is also singing and dancing, based on the festival. In addition, sports competitions may also be held, which all people are encouraged to attend.


Navratri pooja

Navratri pooja is referred to the pooja performed in Punjab, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. It is named largely due to the festivities that are held in the region during the Navratri period. A pooja is performed for each of the nine days in most households.

A unique feature of the celebrations in this region is the traditional Gujarati dances of garba and dandiya ras. Garba is usually performed by women and consists of the women dancing in a circle, while singing traditional songs. Dandiya ras is a dance performed by men and women with the aid of wooden sticks called dandiyas.


Kullu Dassera

These celebrations are specific to the Kullu valley, in Himachal Pradesh. This place is also known as the valley of the living gods. In this area, a 'Rath Yatra' is taken out, which involves a procession with the idol of Lord Ram as well as other village deities. This happens on the tenth day of Dassera itself. The week following the rath yatra is dedicated to socialising between the people. A variety of religious and cultural activities are conducted during this week. Stalls are set up, offering locally made wares. The International Folk Festival is also held here during this week.


Mysore Dassera

This is the name given to the celebrations in Karnataka. The festival is celebrated on a very grand scale here. On the tenth day of the festivities, a procession of elephants is taken around the city of Mysore. The elephants are adorned with ornaments and they carry a statue of the goddess Chamundi.

After walking through the city, the procession ends at the base of the Chamundi Hill. From there, the idol is transferred to chariots, which ascend the hill and undertake another procession. This one is around the temple located on top of the hill. In addition to these processions, there are also many cultural activities and performances taking place in the great Durbar hall of the Maharaja's palace.


Bommai Kolu

This is the name given to the celebrations in Tamil Nadu. Bommai Kolu is purely a woman's festival. Women set up brightly decorated boards in the house. On it, they place dolls, which depict Gods, villagers, or wedding scenarios. The dolls are worshipped as symbols of art and divinity. A woman invites her friends to come and see the dolls and eat some snacks. A traditional sweet called Sundal is also prepared at this time. It comprises of coconut and bean sprouts.
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Offline khurram

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Ahoi Ashtami
« Reply #21 on: December 04, 2010, 04:02:56 AM »
Ahoi Ashtami


Celebrated in autumn on the Ashtami day, the Ahoi festival or Ahoi Ashtami is a fast observed by mothers for the well-being of their sons. The Ahoi Ashtami is usually celebrated in the months of October-November or the Karthik month (specifically the 8th day after full moon) in the Hindu calendar. Very similar to Karwa Chauth, although not as popular, the Ahoi Ashtami is performed mostly by people living in the North of India.


The story behind Ahoi Ashtami

The story of Ahoi Ashtami relates to a woman who lived in a village with her seven sons. During the process of renovating and painting her house, she went to the forest to bring soil. This was during the month of Karthik just before the Diwali festival. While digging the soil, the axe accidentally falls and hurts a cub in a nearby den. Subsequently, the cub dies and the woman feels sorry and responsible for what happened to the cub. However, she takes the soil from the forest and returns home.

Over the next year, her seven sons die and she feels it is a fallout of what happened with the cub in the forest. Unable to bear her guilt, she confesses her sin to some of her neighbors in the village. The neighbors tell her that by confessing her sin she has almost negated the effect of her sin. As atonement for her sin, they also suggest that she offer prayers to the goddess Ashtami Bhagawati by sketching the face of the cub.

So, the woman fasts on the Karthik Krishna Ashtami by praying and observing a fast regularly. She eventually gets back all her seven sons by the power of her prayer and ever since it becomes a ritual to worship the goddess Ahoi Ashtami Bhagawati every year. This story became popular and even today mothers fast and pray to Ahoi Mata for the well-being and bright future of their sons.


The procedure

The Ahoi Ashtami fast and prayer are almost similar to that of Karwa Chauth. People from different parts of North India celebrate the fast with a few variations. But broadly the following method is followed to observe the fast and prayer.

Mothers fast all day and offer prayers to Ahoi Mata. They wake up before sunrise, have some refreshments and proceed to the temple to offer prayers for their children. The fast ends in the evening when the moon appears. Some families also break their fast once they see the stars in the sky.

The picture of Ahoi Mata is painted on a wall and a bowl of water is placed on it. Printed calendars, posters and pictures of Ahoi Mata are now available and can be used in place of the wall painting. An untwisted red colored thread is wrapped around the bowl of water and the edges are smeared with turmeric powder and placed on the left of the picture. Then the story of Ahoi Mata is read out by an elderly lady in the household. All the other women sit down to listen to the story.

The other essentials required for the prayer include grains that are placed in a plate and positioned in the center of the picture. The food offerings include puris, halwa, boiled channa and jowar, etc. Of late, people have been offering sweets that their children like to eat. Money offerings are also placed before the Mata's picture. Once the reading of the story is done, the sweets and money are distributed among children and elders of the family. Some families also have the tradition of making a garland with silver coins or keepsakes. They keep adding to this garland when a child is born in the family or a son gets married. Every year the Ahoi Mata picture is adorned with this garland and this tradition is passed on to future generations.
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Offline khurram

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Diwali
« Reply #22 on: December 04, 2010, 04:03:40 AM »
Diwali


One of the most joyful and beautiful festivals to be celebrated on the Indian subcontinent is Diwali, the festival of lights.  The very word Diwali conjures up the image of winking lights and flickering diyas. Not to forget the gorgeous array of sparkling colours emitted by the firecrackers that seem to awaken the night sky.

Coming close on the heels of Dussehra, Diwali is celebrated on the last day of the Gujarati calendar year, and generally comes in the months of October or November, on the English calendar. It is one of the most important Indian festivals and is celebrated on a mass scale by Indians not only in India, but also all over the world.
 

The story behind diwali

It is believed that on this day Lord Rama, along with his consort Sita and loyal brother Lakshman was returning to his hometown Ayodhya after 14 long years of exile in the forest. He had just finished battling and overcoming the fierce demon king of Ceylon, Ravana, who had abducted Sita. In this battle he was ably helped by Lord Hanuman and his army of monkeys as well as an army of courageous bears.

The people of Ayodhya lit lamps in every home to welcome their true King as well as celebrate his victory over Ravana and also the safe return of their Queen Sita. They danced and made merry and lit firecrackers to express their joy over his return. And as a mark of respect and worship the festivities continue every year till this today.

As another lesser-known story goes, Lord Krishna had battled a demon called Narakasura and emerged victorious. The people of the city were overjoyed and welcomed Krishna back with lamps in their hands.

Since Rama and Krishna are two of the most popular gods in the Hindu lore, it is only logical that Diwali is celebrated with such pomp and glory.
 

How is diwali celebrated?

According to an ancient myth, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth travels through all our homes on Diwali night and stops to bless the homes that are shiny and sparkling clean. So as this festival approaches, all houses go through a thorough spring-cleaning in anticipation of her wealth and blessings. She will be greeted by a beautiful gaily painted Rangoli on the threshold of each home while inside too she is welcomed by an array of sparklers and little earthen lamps that light up and considerably brighten the atmosphere. 

The actual festivities start from Dhanteras, which is celebrated two days before Diwali. Everybody goes out of their way to make big purchases and buy new clothes and jewellery. This is because this day is considered auspicious for wealth, and it is said that if you buy any silver or gold on this day, you will be lucky throughout the year. The goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on this day through a Lakshmipujan, which is performed not only in the homes but in shops and offices as well.

But what would Diwali be without a burst of firecrackers and lights? The sound and light show starts at least a week prior to the actual festival and continues way into the New Year. Of course it reaches a crescendo on the day of Diwali itself, a day when people dress up in their best new clothes and go visiting each other, their relatives and friends with boxes of dry fruits and sweets and loads of love in their huge generous hearts.
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