Hinduism For All - Festivals

Hinduism For All

Festivals

Some very important festivals that the Hindus celebrate all over are –

Ugaadi (Yugaadi), Ganesha Chaturthi, Krishna Janmaashtami, Navaraatri, Deepaavali, Makara Sankraanti (Pongal) etc. These festivities are marked with religious fervour along with social get-together.

Akshaya Tritiya :

The Shukla Paksha tritiya (third day of the bright fortnight) of Chaitra month is celebrated as Akshaya Tritiya. It is considered to be one of the most auspicious days in Hindu Calendar in which any form of charity (daana) made would confer multitude of benefits. Any start of new studies too is considered fulfilling.

Raama Navami & Hanumat Jayanti :

The nineth day of the Chaitra month on which Raama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born is celebrated as Raama Navami.

The full moon day in the month of March - April (Chaitra, Shukla Poornima) is celebrated as Hanumat Jayanti commemorating the birth day of Hanumaan. In South, Hanumat Jayanti is celebrated during the month of Maargashirsha.

Raksha Bandhan :

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the Shraavan month (July - August). On this day Brothers and Sisters pray for the welfare of each other. Sisters tie a thread known as Raakhi around the wrist of their brothers who inturn offer gifts to their sisters. This is more a cultural phenomenon than religious.

Gokulaashtami (Sri Krishna Janmaashtami) :

It marks the birth of Lord Krishna in the earth to uplift Dharma and to destroy the evil. One of the early childhood favourite prank of Lord Krishna was that he would wait for an opportunity when mother Yasoda would be away from home. He would then invite all his friends, and they would all make a ladder of themselves with one group standing over the other and Lord Krishna would climb over all of them and reach the pot containing butter, hung at a height from the ceiling, break open the pot and all the friends together would eat away all the butter.

Marking this, ‘The Dahi - Handi’ breaking ceremony is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm all over the country.

Ganesha (Vinaayaka) Chaturthi :

Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the Lord dearest to all, is honoured on this day of Ganesha Chaturthi. Week – long celebrations mark the occasion (at times upto 11 days). It is believed that Lord Ganesha comes to escort his mother Svarna Gauri back to Kailaasa Mount; hence on that day earthern image of Ganesha is immersed along with the sand ball (or) a clay Idol of Gauri in which Goddess Gauri is invoked.

Onam :

This festival marks the harvest season and also the day on which Mahaabali (the Devout Demon King) visits his folks from the nether realm (Paataalaloka) every year. This is a special festival of people of Kerala in Southern India and is celebrated by them with lot of fun and amidst a number of cultural dance, music elaborate floral decorations.

Navaraatri :

The festival extending upto nine days in honour of Goddess Durgaa is called Navaraatri, falling in the Hindu month of Ashvini. It is also called Sharad (or) Sharada – Navaraatri (i.e. Navaraatri is the month of autumn) contrasting it from the Vasanta Navaraatri (commencing in the month of Chaitra (April) which is in honour of Goddess Lalita.

It is a great festivity throughout India especially in Bengal area where it is celebrated as Durgaa Pooja, and in Gujarat they have a tradition of Garbha Dance throughout the night on all these nine days. In South India Dolls are arranged in steps (arrangement is called as kolu in Tamil) and the women folk honour each other. It is believed that the battle between Durgaa and Mahishaasura raged for nine days, hence the nine days and nights are held sacred.

The last three days i.e. Mahaasaptami, Durgaashtami and Mahaanavami are of great importance.

Vijayadashami :

The tenth day in the Sharad – Navaraatri festival is the day of triumph over Mahishaasura. This victory of Divinity over the evil is marked with celebrations and auspicious beginnings. This is also termed as Dussera and is considered to be the day, Raama completed his successful venture in Lanka, by killing Raavana. Since any new beginning on this day would result in victory, people commence new business ventures, studies any streaming arts etc. on this day. Aksharabhyaasa i.e. starting the formal learning process for 3 or 4 years old children is performed on this day.

Deepaavali :

The festival of lights (Deepa – light, Aavali – Row) is Deepaavali festival celebrated with great fanfare all over India. The reason to celebrate Deepaavali varies from region to region but the common factor being early morning bath, bursting crackers and sharing sweets with friends and like.

In Puraanic times, it was known by the name Ulkamukha and it marked a farewell day to the manes who are supposed to be visiting us during the mahaalaya fortnight by lighting torches (ulka) in the early morning.

Later, the day came to be marked as the day of triumph of Raama against Raavana and his return to Ayodhya, the day Krishna killed Narakaasura (Naraka Caturdashi) etc.

Dhana-trayodashi (Dhanteras) is another important feature wherein Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped by the Vaishya (traders) community and they mark it with beginning of new accounts.

Makara Sankaraanti & Pongal:

This is a thanks giving festival to the forces of nature, especially Sun, Indra, the bullocks etc., who contribute to the success of agriculture. It is celebrated as Pongal (harvest festival) in Tamil Nadu.

Farmers gather together and cook a sweet recipe with rice and jaggery (Pongal) and offer along with

sugarcane and other harvested produce, who is the benefactor of the farmers.

It also marks the transit of Sun into Makara Raashi and the commencement of Uttaraayana (summer solistcle).

Mahaa Shivaraatri:

Mahaa Shivaraatri falls normally in the month of February. Devotees observe a fast the whole day and night. They also keep awake throughout the night and Lord Shiva is worshipped with Bilva leaves and Ganga water. It’s believed that Lord Shiva blesses a devotee who observes this Austerity with devotion.

It is also believed to be the wedding night of Shiva and Paarvati.

Ugaadi (Gudi Paadvaa):

The term Ugaadi means Yuga – Era, Adi – Beginning i.e. the day on which the Era was created by Lord Brahma. It is considered to be one of the three most auspicious days in Hindu calendar, the other two being Akshaya Tritiya and Vijayadashami.

It is celebrated as a new year by Andrites, Kannadigas, Maharashtrians, Punjabis termed as (Baisakhi) and by almost all people in North India.

Tulsi Vivaaha :

Tulsi Plant is considered holy and sacred and is worshipped in all temples. Tulsi is known as Vishnu Priya (loved by Vishnu) and their marriage (Tulsi Vivaaha) is celebrated on the Kaartika Shukla Ekaadashi day (October - November).

This article is a snippet from the Book Hinduism For All, Authored by TS Srinivasan and Edited By Dr Ramchandrashekar. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.

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