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Indian Festivals
The Navratri Bommai Kollu Festival is almost held
in every South Indian Tamilian house. It commences on the Amavasya day of the
month of Bhadrapada, the last day of Pitripaksha.
On the Amavasya day after finishing the rituals, like offering `tarpana etc. the custom is, as my friend told me, to keep the Kalash filled with rice, toor dal haldi sticks, betel leaves and nuts or mango leaves with a coconut on it. The most important thing is to keep two wooden dolls specially brought from Tirupathy. The wooden dolls are anointed with oil and bathed and decorated as bride and groom. The right muhurtam is chosen before placing the Kalash and the dolls for worship, with which the Kollu festival begins. The dolls are given to the girl from her parents during her marriage and are called "Marapachi Bommai". From this day she starts the ceremony of Kollu going on adding Bommais from South. Curiosity made me ask my friend the meaning of `Marapachi' to which she explained that Marapachi meant a special kind of wood which has medicinal value too and Bommai meant dolls.
Bommai means dolls and Kollu means displaying. This is done by constructing wide tiers or steps in any number, maximum being seven. The number of tiers or steps should be in even numbers, like, one, three, five and so on. One can erect nine steps too if space and time permits. Variety of dolls are displayed artistically and arranged beautifully on the steps.
From the day the married girl gets the Marapachi Bommai she starts collecting dolls and observes the ceremony annually. The clay dolls displayed are mostly from mythological characters. All Gods and Goddesses of our Epics and Puranas are displayed on the tiers which are beautifully decorated and look spectacular and colourful. for example, `Garuda Vahana' i.e. God Narayan taken in Garuda Vahan or vehicle is kept. One of the items exhibited is the Marriage Set called `Malam Talam' i.e. the marriage procession of relations and friends led by musical players of clarionet (malam) and mridangam (talam). Then there, is the `Dashavatar' set episodes from Ramayana and Krishna Leela. I was told, one can add more dolls but should not decrease the number. The festival lasts for nine days with arti, prayers Prasad daily mornings and evenings. My friend quipped with a gleam in her eyes "This is a must for a married lady and, especially if one has a daughter you do it more elaborately and with enthusiasm so that you can dress her up gorgeously!"
During these nine days ladies are invited and offered haldi kumku with betel leaves with huts and fruits. In the morning sweets and evening `chundals' i.e. different chanas are offered to the ladies. Kollu festival days are for rejoicing when ladies dress up in their finery and ornaments and find an opt occasion to dress up specially their daughters.
On
the ninth day, the day before the Vijay Dasami day, the tenth day of the Dussera,
falls the Saraswati Puja. Goddess Saraswati is the Goddess of Learning and as
such books musical instruments etc., are decorated with flowers and worshipped.
Vijay Dasami or the Dussera Day, the last tenth day is the auspicious day when
all fine arts like, dance, music, or any new venture in learning is begun. It is
the `Learners' Day. A child beginning his first lessons of alphabets begins it
today ceremoniously. Prayers are offered to Goddess Saraswati and her blessings
sought. Token of Guru Dakshinas are also given to the respective Gurus. During
Kollu, old traditional women observe "Valluku Anaya" Valluku meaning
lamp and Anaya meaning not going up. That is the lamp or diya once lit is
continuously kept burning for twenty-four hours for ten days. Some people
observe it even today.
On the tenth night after the ceremonial arti and prayers the, `Marapachi' are put to sleep. And, the next day the exhibits are packed carefully in cloth or paper and preserved for use the next year. Vijay Dasami and Navratri are also the auspicious time for buying new clothes and feasting. Unlike other Vrats, there is no custom of fasting during Navratri Kollu. As my friend admits, Navratri Bommai Kollu is celebrated more out of enthusiasm, according to one's space, time and purse, and more for meeting each other and purse, and more for meeting each other and keeping good relationship of all.
Hanuman Jayanti
| Hanuman Chalisa |
Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the monkey god widely venerated throughout India. It is celebrated during Chaitra and is especially important to Brahmacharis, wrestlers and bodybuilders.
Hanuman was an ardent devotee of Rama, and is worshipped for his unflinching devotion to the god. From the early morning, devotees flock Hanuman temples to worship the monkey god.
The officiating priest bathes the idol and offers special prayers to the gods. Then the entire body is smeared with sindoora and oil, a symbol of life and strength.
Legend of Sindoor on Lord Hanuman's Body: According to a popular belief, once when Sita was applying sindoora to her hair, Hanuman asked her the reason for doing so. She replied that by applying sindoora, she ensured a long life for her husband. The more sindoora she applied, the longer Rama's life would be. The devoted Hanuman then smeared his entire body with sindoora, in an effort to ensure Rama's immortality. Hence Hanuman's idol is always daubed with sindoora.
Celebrations:
People offer sweets and fruit, specially bananas, to
the god. Since Hanuman is a monkey god, monkey's in zoos and neighboring areas
are also objects of veneration on this day. Men also fast from morning till
evening. In some parts of the country, especially Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the
festival involves more elaborate celebrations. Huge tents are erected in front
of Hanuman temples where people congregate to listen to recitations of the
Hanuman Chalisa.
Entertainment programmes called the nautanki, are organized on this occasion.
These dramas represent a particular aspect of the life of Hanuman, especially
emphasizing his devotional nature and his bravery. Many people congregate to
watch these programmes.
Games like wrestling are a common part of this festival. Body-builders and wrestlers assemble at a wrestling field in the morning after praying for blessings from the monkey god.
A tilak of orange sindoora from Hanuman's body is applied to their forehead, for it is considered to be auspicious and bestow good luck.
These
events represent the power and strength that Hanuman symbolizes. Most of the
body-builders and wrestlers fast on this day, breaking it only at night.
The cult of Hanuman is fairly strong in India and hence Hanuman Jayanti is an
important festival. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. Hanuman is
said to be able to assume any form at will, wield rocks, move mountains, dart
through the air, seize the clouds and rival Vishnu's bird, Garuda in swiftness
off light. He is worshipped in folk tradition as a deity with magical powers and
the ability to conquer evil spirits.
Ramnavami Festival
Sri-
Ram is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu and Ramnavami is dedicated to the
memory of Lord Rama. It occurs on the ninth day (navami) of the bright fortnight
of the Hindu month of Chaitra. The festival commemorates the birth of Rama who
is remembered for his preperous and righteous reign.
This is an occasion for great rejoicing especially for the Vaishnavas who
celebrate it with due solemnity all over the country.
The ancient
texts lays tress on fasting on this day, and it is believed that anyone who does
not fast will go to the worst hell. It is also said that Rama fulfills the
wishes of all those who pray to him on this day.
The public worship starts with morning ablutions, chanting Vedic mantras
dedicated to Vishnu, and offering flowers and fruit to the god. People keep a
fast throughout the day, breaking it only at midnight with fruit. In some parts
of India, public gatherings called satsangs are organised to commemorate the
birth of Rama.
Excerpts
from the Ramacharitamanas, extolling the glory of Rama, are recited. People of
all castes and creeds participate in these gatherings to listen to the stories
and their explanations offered by the learned.Ramanavami brings together people
of different castes.
Ayodhya is the focus of great celebrations. A huge fair is organized for two
days. Ratha yatras or 'chariot processions' of Rama and his wife Sita, brother
Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman, are taken out from many temples. Hanuman is
worshipped for his unflinching devotion to Rama, and his worship forms an
important part of the Ramanavami celebrations.
Holi Festival
Holi, the festival of colour, falls in the month of Phalgun. The festival marks the end of the year according to the Indian calendar, and the spirit of festivity is alive in every Hindu household. It is celebrated throughout India in early spring with cheer and gaiety. Holi comes when the cold winter months give way to summer.
The crops have been cut, threshed, and stored or sold away. This festival falls on the full moon during the month of Phagun some time in February or March, which is conducive to getting out and about. Everyone is generally full of cheer.
It is the celebration of Good over Evil. In the northern part of India, Holi is celebrated with zest and with an enthusiasm unparallel to any other festival in India. In most parts of North India the day Holi is celebrated is declared as a 'Holiday and people are seen on the streets throwing colored powder at each other.
People
of all age groups and of both the sexes get involved in this sport of throwing
colored powder and splashing water (with color powder mixed) at each other. It
is celebrated in a very grand scale and is among India's premier festivals.
Pongal in Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh
Pongal is actually a food that is cooked in the south. This name has also been given to the harvest festival. According to the traditional Tamil calendar, three consecutive days in that week are devoted to celebrations.
The first day is Bhogi. On this day, every family cleans and decorates their house with Kolam designs. Their doorways are adorned with strings of Mango leaves and plaited Coconut leaves.
They collect old clothes and waste materials from their houses and make bonfires. It marks the celebration of good and an effort to rid the society of evil. It also brings hope for the next year: the hope that with the harvest festival on the next day will come wealth and happiness.
Pongal is celebrated on the second day. It is a rural festival in the south. People gather in front of their houses and cook ‘Pongal” in clay pots. Their courtyards are decorated with long shalks of sugarcane and under this sweet rice is cooked in milk. A great deal of visiting takes place among friends and neighbors and Pongal and sweets are exchanged among families.
The third day is called Maatu Pongal and this day is dedicated to the cattle, which help to reap the harvest. People offer prayers to the Bulls, Cows and other farm animals. Bull fighting takes place on the day. Farmers take pride in bringing their bulls into the arena and challenging the matching people to bring the bulls under control.
Each
bull has a cloth tied around its neck and the person who takes up the challenge
has to take this cloth away. The deafening noises of drums and whistles and
shouts, infuriates the bull and the exciting and dangerous game begins. So ends
the festival of Pongal which is the most important festival of South India. It
ends with hopes of a fresh new beginning and peace and prosperity for the coming
year.
Bhogali Bihu in Assam :
Practice : Bihu is the Assamese harvest festival, which is celebrated to mark the end of the winter paddy harvest. On the night before the festival, people fast and pray, and thatched pavilions are put up around the countryside. As a sign of the festival having begun, the pavilions are set on fire at dawn. Bull fights and celebrations mark the day.
Makar Sankranti/Pongal
There
is a special significance attached to the celebration of Makar sankranti, the
day when according to the Hindu astronomy the sun enters the rashi (zodiac) of
Makara (Capricorn), is is considered auspicious as it signifies afresh start.It
is also known as Uttarayan. However Makara Sankranti is celebrated in the
month of Magha when the sun passes through the winter solstice, from the Tropic
of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn.
Makara Sankranti
is celebrated throughout India as a harvest festival. It is a way of giving
thanks to the elements of nature that help man. This is the period when the
winter recedes, paving the way for the summer. It is the time the farmers bring
home their harvest. In the coast al regions, it is a harvest festival dedicated
to Indra.
In North India, a ritual bath in the river is important on this day. Khichiri is eaten and given away as charity, and People also distribute rice and lentils to the poor and needy. In Maharashtra, a special dish called tilgul, or laddoos made of jaggery and Sesame seed, the chief crop of the season, is popular.In Gujrat it is celebrated as the Kite flying day.
Call it Lohri, Pongal or Sankranti, the festival
conveys the same message -- the bond of brotherhood and the spirit of oneness
should prevail despite all odds.
After the completion of cutting and gathering of the grains and other food crops everyone is free from the works where they used to toil days and night and it is liked taking relax by enjoying with their traditional folk songs and dances.
Lohri Festival
The Lohri
festival is one of the greatest festivals of Punjab and Haryana. It is
celebrated on the 13th of January during the month of Paush or Magh, a day
before Makar Sankranti.
Lohri is a festival connected with the solar year.This festival marks the departure of the winter season. Earlier it was celebrated mainly in Punjab but now across the country people celebrated this as a harvest festival like
Pongal- in Tamil Nadu,Bihu in Assam,Bhogi in Andhra pradesh and the Sankranti in Karnataka,Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
It is regarded most important specially by the people of Punjab not only as a festival but also as an example to show their styles and colors of life.The festival is celebrated as a merry-making after the completion of the harvest.
RAKSHABANDHAN
- - NARIAL PURNIMA
Our Hindu festivals are mostly based on legends
and aim at propitiating deities who are believed to be endowed with supernatural
powers. Rakhi Purnima or Raksha Bandhan is one of the most popular festivals in
the country and is celebrated with lot of zest and enthusiasm.
When the grey clouds recede and the tides turn, when the surging waters of the sea calm down, comes the time for thanks-giving to god Varun who rules over the moods and tempers of the vast sea.
The Full Moon day - the Purnima - in the month of July is the day of Narial Purnima. It is the festival for all those who depend on the sea for their livelihood. Therefore, Sea-god Varun, a vedic deity of considerable importance in the Puranic pantheon, is worshiped on this day. Coconuts are thrown into the sea as offerings to Varun. Hence, this day has come to be known as Narial Purnima. Coconut has three eyes and is believed to represent Lord Shiv - the three-eyed god. Coconut plays a prominent role in all religious offerings. When embarking upon any new enterprise, coconut is broken before the family deity, the water is splashed on the idol and pieces of coconut are distributed.
By the time of this festival rains are receding. So people go to the sea-shores or river-banks and offering coconuts to the sea-god invoke his blessings to make their sea-trade fruitful. Hindu married women gather together, play games, sing and dance and put kumkum tilak on each others forehead as symbols of good luck, eat and enjoy together and then bid farewell.
Fisher-folk welcome this day as the heavy rains finally stop. The fury of the waves has fully spent itself and therefore the fishermen can set sail again. They give a new look to their boats and decorate them with colourful flags. Then they take in a procession a beautifully adorned coconut to the sea shore, sing and dance collectively. Finally after praying to the sea-god, they immerse that coconut in the water.
This Full Moon day is also the RAKHI PURNIMA and this is also the day of the ceremony "Shravani" cleansing the mind of all evil for the Brahmins and for people of higher castes. In our ancient texts this Shravani ceremony is referred to as "Rishi-Tarpan" or "Vpa-Karma". It is even to-day observed in Bengal, Orissa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Southern India. The Pandit, chanting the Vedic hymns, following the prescribed religious rituals, hands over the "Yagyopavit" or "Janava" that is to be worn. Janava is a thread of three rounds representing adherence to vedic culture, observance of Hindu traditions and service to humanity. After the ceremony is over sweets made from coconut like coconut-burfi and sweet coconut rice are served.
Raksha-bandhan
symbolises the deep love between brothers and sisters. The sanctity of this
festival is acknowledged right from the vedic times to this our modern times,
when we are living in thoroughly industrialised times in which our age-old and
precious values of life are falling apart. Even if a girl ties Rakhi around the
wrist of a stranger, both of them from the auspicious moment, look upon each
other as brother and sister and become closer in this pure relationship than
other blood relations.
During the Freedom Struggle, many young women tied rakhis around the wrists of young men and made them pledge their lives, their youth, their careers, their ambitions and even their dreams to the struggle for the freedom of their motherland from the shackles of slavery of British imperialism. It is probably for this very season that the great leader of Bengal, Surendranath Bannerji endeavoured to elevate this important festival of Raksha-Bhandhan to the status of a National Festival.
Following is the recipe for preparing Two Coloured Coconut Barfi
Ingredients:
2 fresh coconuts, grated
3 cups milk,
1/2 cup cream (malai)
1 tsp cardamom powder
1/2 tsp saffron, heated, curshed and dissolved in a tbsp.of milk.
400 gms. sugar
some drops of green colour.
Method: