A Rainbow of Feasts

A chronicle of the festivals of India

When you travel across India from east to west or traipse from north to south it is possible to find some festival going on in some little corner of the country that is not being celebrated elsewhere. The meaning of each festival varies from community to community, from street to street, even from person to person. Some of these feasts are small affairs that involve a special prayer in front of the shrine at home. Others are gigantic, ear splitting pageants disrupting normal life and brimming with colour, pomp, gaiety… and chaos.

In a continuing series, Rediff on the NeT highlights the festivals that colour India.

October November December

Important Festivals in October, November, and December
Chhat, Christmas, Diwali, Durga Puja, Dasshera, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Kali Puja, Pushkar Fair.

October

Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday, October 2, 1996: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2 in Porbunder, Gujarat on this day. Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated with commemorative events in the memory of the Father of the Nation.

Durga Puja, October 12 to 20, 1996: In Bengal and parts of Bihar, the nine days leading upto Dasshera are devoted to the worship of Durga, an avatar of Parvati, Shiva's consort. The festival rejoices her victory over the buffalo-headed demon, Mahishasura, after a nine day battle.

Every street corner or tiny village puts up their own clay idol of Durga riding a tiger. It is the most important festival of Bengal with much feasting and merriment. The beautiful idols put up in every neighbourhood of Calcutta are famous. The festival reaches its high point in Calcutta on the tenth day when the images are taken to the Hooghly river for immersion.

Navratri, October 13, 1996: In Gujarat and among Gujaratis in Bombay, this is the festival of nights. Beginning October 13, it is celebrated during the nine days preceding Dasshera and is the occasion for folk dances or dandiya raas or garba dances. There are many variations of these dances, and today many are done in accompaniment to Hindi disco music and laser images. Navratri honours the goddess of strength, Amba among other goddesses. This festival is celebrated in south India, as well, with puja and fasting and night vigil.It lasts for nine days during which puja devoted to the goddesses of strength, wealth and knowledge are conducted.

Dasshera, October 21, 1996: This is a day of rejoicing the victory of good over evil, when Ram, hero of the mythological epic, Ramayan, defeated and killed the demon king Ravan with the aid of the monkey king, Hanuman. It is celebrated by burning paper and wood statues of Ravan. Ram Lila performances or plays depict the life of Ram. Special celebrations occur at Mysore, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Kulu. At Ramnagar, Varanasi, the festivities are sponsored by the local maharaja. There is a unique Dasshera Mela in Kota, Rajasthan.

Ganga Festival, October 21 to 25, 1996: This is a time for festivity along the banks of the Ganga in Banaras or Varanasi, the city said to be 'perched on the edge of time'. It is a cultural event hosted by the Uttar Pradesh tourism office. The main UP tourism office is located at 3, Naval Kishore Road in Lucknow, phone: (0522) 228349. However for further information contact the UP Tourism office in New Delhi at (011) 3322251; Bombay (022) 2185458; Madras (044) 8283276 and Calcutta at (033) 2207855.

Vrindavan Sharadotsav, October 24 to 26, 1996: A festival that celebrates Lord Krishna lore occurs at Brajbhoomi. The revelry revolves around the mythological tales associated with Krishna and his homeland. It is arranged by the Uttar Pradesh tourism office. The main UP tourism office is located at 3, Naval Kishore Road in Lucknow, phone: (0522) 228349. However for further information also contact the UP Tourism office in New Delhi at (011) 3322251; Bombay (022) 2185458; Madras (044) 8283276 and Calcutta (033) 2207855.

Arratu in the month of Thulam: This is a temple festival of Kerala. At the Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum the ceremony is particularly colourful and the Maharajah of Travancore, as the kshatriya or servant of god participates in the procession that carries the deity to sea. Fireworks and gun salutes mark the occasion.

Nongkrem Dances: This is a harvest festival. In western Meghalaya the harvest festival is called Wangala and is a 100 drum festival by the local tribal people. Eastern Meghalaya celebrates the harvest with special Laho dances.

Kadalekaye Parishe: A peanut and harvest fair is held at the Bull Temple in Bangalore, Karnataka. Peanuts are offered to Nandi, the bull god. A peanut eating contest is organised.

Naini Devi: A handicrafts fair occurs at Kumaon, Uttar Pradesh, accompanied by plenty of singing and dancing.

November

Lucknow Festival, November 1 to 10, 1996: A fortnight of cultural events, food festivals and handicraft bazaars that highlight the splendour of Lucknow and is organised by the Uttar Pradesh tourism office. The main UP tourism office is located at 3, Naval Kishore Road in Lucknow, phone: (0522) 228349. However for further information also contact the UP Tourism office in New Delhi at (011) 3322251; Bombay (022) 2185458: Madras (044) 8283276 and Calcutta (033) 2207855.

Kumaon Festival, November 4 to 6, 1996 at Almora:A folk song and dance celebration, it takes place in the hilly tiger country of Kumaon in the town of Almora. It is another Uttar Pradesh tourism office effort. The main UP tourism office is located at 3, Naval Kishore Road in Lucknow, phone: (0522) 228349. However for further information also contact the UP Tourism office in New Delhi at (011) 3322251; Bombay (022) 2185458; Madras at (044) 8283276 and Calcutta (033) 2207855.

Dhanteras, November 8, 1996: In north India, two days before Diwali, it is obligatory to buy a metal dish for the house. Bazaars everywhere are crammed with exotic brassware or steel dishes that one can buy.

Diwali, November 10, 1996: Diwali or Deepavali signifies deepa or lights and avali or row and hence a 'rowof lights'. In north India, it is the day mythological hero Ram returned with his queen, Sita from vanvaas or forest exile to rule Hastinapur, after slaying demon god Ravan. It is an extravagant and lavish pageant of lights and firecrackers, worth fitting into a travel itinerary, especially if one is in Rajasthan, Delhi or Gujarat. Every home is lit up with oil lamps, in the manner that Hastinapur was lit up for the return of Lord Ram. Lakshmi puja (worship of goddess of wealth and consort of Lord Vishnu), feasting, gambling and decorating the home with rangoli, is the order of the day.

In south India Diwali is a celebration of the death of demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna. Mythological demon-king Narakasura had managed to wangle out of Brahma and Shiva because of the boons he received and had grown powerfully evil. The devas or the god people requested Lord Krishna to annihilate him, which he did at Dwarka.

Jain New Year, November 10, 1996: Diwali is celebrated by the Jain community of India as their new year. Chronologically, according to the Hindu calendar, their new year always falls on the same day as Diwali.

New Year, November 11, 1996: For the business community in northern and western India, the Hindu new year starts the day after Diwali. A special puja is performed in offices across the country and financial records begin anew on this day.

Bhaiduj, November 12, 1996: It is another festival for brothers and sisters marked by exchange of sweets and gifts.

Govardhan Puja: This is a special day, particularly in North India, to honour the cow- India's holiest animal. Cows are decorated, worshipped and given a special treat.

Children's Day, November 14, 1996: The birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister. A great fan of kids, his birthday is a day to honour children all over India. In New Delhi, there is a special fair for children at the India Gate and programmes are organised at the Dolls Museum, Bal Bhavan and at Teen Murti Bhavan, Nehru's home.

Chhath, November 16, 1996: This holiday is one of the biggest in the state of Bihar, and is a festival for married women. It entails worship of the sun and is also called Surya Puja. Women gather before dawn and wade waist deep in rivers across Bihar, with sweets, grain, fruit and puja paraphernalia like incense and holy water, to fete the sun. The process is repeated again in the evening.

Kali Puja, October 23, 1996: In Bengal and Bihar, Diwali coincides with worship of the goddess Kali, another avatar of Parvati.

Sanghi Samaroh: A festival of dance and music animates Indore in Madhya Pradesh at this time of the year.

Garhwal Festival, November 19 to 21, 1996: It is a cultural affair that toasts the culture of the Garhwal hill people, held at Uttarkashi. It is yet another Uttar Pradesh tourism office production. The main UP tourism office is located at 3, Naval Kishore Road in Lucknow, phone: (0522) 228349. However for further information also contact the UP Tourism office in New Delhi at (011) 3322251; Bombay (022) 2185458; Madras (044) 8283276 and Calcutta (033) 2207855.

Maha Kandha Chasti Utsavam: This festival is celebrated in the six temples or abodes of Lord Muruga, son of Lord Shiv in Tamil Nadu. Devotees fast for six days and nights. They break their fast on the sixth day in the evening. Legend has it that Lord Muruga fasted those six days and obtained weapons from Goddess Kali to kill Narakasura. Lengthy bouts of bursting fire-crackers, feasting, dances make this one of the largest festivals in this southern state.

Mandir Festival: A festival of dance and music at Indore in Madhya Pradesh; much of it centres around the Kathak and Dhrupad schools of music and dance.

Nagnathaiya: In the state of Uttar Pradesh, at Varanasi's Tulsi ghat, celebrations enact Lord Krishna's tussle with Kalija, the king of serpents.

Nakkataiya: At Chetganj in Varanasi, a fair commemorate the episode from the Ramayan, when Ram's brother, Lakshman cut off the nose of demon king, Ravan's sister, a persistent suitor.

Guru Nanak Jayanti, November 25, 1996: This is the biggest day for the Sikh community in India. On this day saint Guru Nanak was born. The festival is celebrated by taking out processions and prayer readings from the sacred granth or holy book. Amritsar is a special place to be on this day.

Sikkimese New Year: Called Losoog in the local lingo, it is a celebration of the harvest and the start of the farmer's new year. Various ceremonies are performed in Sikkimese homes.

Bharat Milap: A festival celebrating the meeting of mythological characters from the Ramayan, Ram and Bharat after 14 years. Special celebrations take place in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The maharaja of Varanasi participates in full costume on an elephant.

Konark Festival: A festival of classical Orissa dance -- Odissi -- where top exponents of the school perform. The setting is the glorious Konark Temple.

Kartik Purnima, November 25, 1996: The first full moon after Diwali is special. Midnight feasts of puris and kheer in the open air are obligatory. A month-long fair takes place at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

Sonepur Mela, November 25, 1996: This is the world's largest cattle fair. Sonepur, a town located at the confluence of the Gandak and Ganga rivers in Bihar comes alive during this festival which is timed to coincide with Kartik Purnima or a special full moon. Thousands -- pilgrims, traders and tourists -- converge for the trade of cattle and grain and to witness the drama, music, contests, shows and to shop.

Mythology has it that Sonepur was the historical location of a war between the king of the jungle and the king of the waters -- the elephant and the crocodile. Elephants too are still traded at the fair. For the devout and the non-materialistic, bathing on Kartik Purnima in the river and puja at Hariharnath temple is routine.

Pushkar Camel Fair, November 22 to 25, 1996: Held in Rajasthan, Pushkar is India's most famous camel fair and coincides with Kartik Purnima or a special full moon. Thousands congregate for this gaudy mela, traders and tourists alike. It is an occasion for much singing and dancing, folk style. Camel races, handicraft bazaars, fireworks are the order of the day. Special tent facilities are provided for tourists. Not to be missed.

Chandrabhaga Fair, November 24 to 26, 1996: This fair is a special event in the town of Jhalawar in Rajasthan. Celebrations involve bathing by the devout at full moon or Kartika Purnima in the Chandrabhaga River and puja at the many beautiful ancient temples that line the river.

December

Feast of St Francis Xavier, December 3, 1996: A feast honouring the saint at the Bom Jesus Church in Old Goa.

Hanukkah, December 6, 1996:India's meagre population of Jews celebrates this festival of lights which commemorates the purification of the Temple in 165 BC. The tiny declining locality of Jew Town in Cochin, Kerala has perhaps the most atmospheric celebrations of this feast in India.

Losar Tibetan New Year, December 11, 1997: A special day for the Tibetan community. In Sikkim lama dances take place at Rumtek Monastery in the days leading up to the new year. At the Matho gompa or monastery in Ladakh an oracle festival takes place at this time. Surreal and unmissable if one is ice-bound in Ladakh, the events revolve around electing a lama to be the oracle. To prove that the spirit of the deity has enteredthem -- two are elected - the lamas perform death defying feats, answer questions and make predictions for the new year.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Shahid-din, December 15, 1996:The Sikh community of India honours the birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur with reading the sacred granth or the holy book and visits to the gurudwara. Guru Tegh Bahadur, the father of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th and last Guru, is particularly revered and regarded as a martyr as he was beheaded by Muslim oppressors. Christmas, December 25, 1996: Christmas is the day for Indian Catholics and Protestants. Churches are decked and nativity scenes are set up at street corners in some cities. Midnight mass is de rigueur. Goa, Kerala, Madras, and parts of Bombay and Calcutta are the scene of major festivity as well as the Christian areas of Mizoram and Nagaland. The starred hotels in large metropolises always have something going on - plays, cake sales, banquets -- to honour X' Mas.

Posh Mela, December 27, 1996: This is a unique festival of special Bengali baul music at Shantiniketan, outside Calcutta. Bauls, the music minstrels of Bengal converge for this festivals.

Kagyat Dance Festival: A Sikkimese festival. The major players are the monks who perform dances. Each dance is a skit from Buddhist mythology accompanied by ritual chanting and music. On this day evil spirits are exorcised by burning effigies made from wood, flour or paper.

Tiruvathira: It is a festival for women, especially unmarried girls, and honours Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love. It involves ritual bathing in temple tanks by young women who get specially decked up for the occasion.

New Year's Eve, December 31, 1996: The big cities of India celebrate New Year's Eve with verve. The Gateway of India in Bombay and Park Street in Calcutta, and many parts of Goa are the scene of much merriment. Indian Christians traditionally go for midnight mass. The big city hotels arrange sumptuous functions and balls for the occasion.

Festivals that will take place in 1997 in April, May, June

Festivals that took place in 1996 in January, February, March