Famous Indian Festivals
It is spring time in India, flowers and fields are in bloom and the country goes wild with people running on the streets and smearing each other with brightly hued powders and coloured water. The festival of Holi symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It also marks the advent of spring and people celebrate joyously with a splash of colour. The festival of Holi, celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March every year. As nature blooms in full colour, people of India join the celebrations with the festival of Holi, one of the most boisterous festivals of the Hindus. People celebrate joyously with friends and relatives, putting gulal and throwing coloured water on each other.
Raksha Bandhan
In the days when gods warred with the demons, the consort of Indra (Puranic King of the Heavens) tied a rakhi (a silken amulet) around his wrist, by virtue of which, it is said, and the god won back his celestial abode from his enemies. Raksha Bandhan is festival that belongs to the days of chivalry and valour, when the victorious brothers,after winning the battle, were tied a bracelet of protection on their wrists by their sisters. With the passage of time this metamorphosed in a festival.
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in some parts of India as a festival to honour the sea god Varuna. However, at most places, it celebrates the love of a brother for his sister. On this day, sisters tie rakhi on the wrists of their brothers to protect them against evil influences.
Dussehra
Dussehra (tenth day) is one of the significant Hindu festivals. The sky has lost all its clouds and the atmosphere is turning dry as winters are approaching close on it heels. And then begins the time of Dussehra, it marks the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king, Ravana, the victory of good over evil. Dussehra continues for ten days and heralds a new season for planting seeds. It is one festival that is celebrated for several reasons and many ways all over India. Brilliantly decorated tableaux and processions depicting various facets of Rama's life are taken out. On the tenth day, the Vijayadasmi day, colossal effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnad are placed in vast open spaces. Rama, accompanied by his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana, arrive and shoot arrows of fire at these effigies, which are stuffed with explosive material. The result is a deafening blast, enhanced by the shouts of merriment and triumph from the spectators.
Onam has been part of Malayalee psyche for centuries. Onam has two specific significance. First it is the communal memory and celebration of past history as ennunciated in the Mahabali Legend. A story of how paradise was lost. Second it is the celebration of the harvest tied with the memory of the golden age of prosperity. It is believed that during those days the whole of Chingam was celebrated as Onam season. After the rain drenched month of Karkidakam with its privations, Chingam is a welcome month for people in the state of Kerala. The festival is the harbinger of spring — signalling the start of the harvest season. Onam epitomizes the newfound vigour and enthusiasm of the season, and is celebrated with traditional fervour with visit to temples, family get-togethers, gifting each other clothes called Onakkodi and lots of merry making.
Diwali
Deepawali or Diwali, the most pan-Indian of all Hindu festivals, is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. Diwali is the most interesting and beautiful of all festivals in India. Dedicated to goddess Lakshmi, Diwali is also celebrated to mark Rama's return from fourteen long years of exile. This festive occasion also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshipped in most Hindu homes on this day.
Eid
Besides Hinduism, India is also the home of innumerable other faiths and the religious and cultural diversity of this nation is manifested in the large number of non-Hindu festivals. Eid, that calls the holy month of Ramzan to end with a big celebration and feast. Eid is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country, and one can see Muslims of all age groups and from all stratas of society attired in new clothes, visiting mosques to offer namaaz.
Janmashtami
The birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated through this festival in the month of August or September. The homes are beautifully decorated and lit in this festival. There are five jhankis that are organized to depict the entire succession of events from his birth to his being discovered in Gokul. The main celebrations take place in Brajbhoomi and the twin cities of Mathura Vrindawan wear a festive look.In Maharashtra, Janmashtami witnesses the exuberant enactment of the god's childhood endeavours to steal butter and curd from earthen pots beyond his reach.
Ramnavmi
Lord Rama was born on the ninth day of Chaitra (a month according to Hindu calendar) and hence the name Ram Navmi. On this day, the devotees observe fast and in temples aarti and pooja is performed in the noon, the time of Lord Rama's birth. Those who attend "Pooja" are offered "Prasad".
The Vallamkali (boat race) is one of the main attractions of Onam, and is best seen at Aranmulai and Kottayam. About a hundred oarsmen row huge and graceful odee (boats). Oars dip and flash to the rhythm of drums and cymbals in each boat. The songs are generally typical in character and concern people well known in Malabar. Above each boat gleam scarlet silk umbrellas: their number denoting the affluence of the family owning the boat. Gold coins and tassels hang from these umbrellas.