Holi, March 24, 1997: A north Indian festival of colour, Holi
is marked by feverish hedonistic pursuits -- eating, drinking
(the traditional drink of the day, bhang, is a cold beverage made from
marijuana!), gambling and throwing coloured powder or coloured
water. Legend has it that Holi honours Kama, the god of pleasure
and desire. Holi is also said to mark the bloom of spring. The
evening before special green gram is roasted and bonfires are
lit that are said to symbolise the end of winter and the end of evil.
In mythological terms this translates into the death of demon
goddess Holika, who burnt to death in a fire. In Rajasthan Holi
is celebrated over a period of our-five days. Dancing and drums
are important element of the celebrations there, especially at
the town of Churu. In Bengal, Holi is called Dol Purnima.
Rang Gulal Festival, March 25 to 27, 1997: At Brindavan, Barsana,
Gokul, and Baldeo there is a special celebration of Holi with
a cultural festival put up by the Uttar Pradesh tourism office.
Shigmo: A Konkani version of Holi: almost a Portuguese Holi! Dancing,
bands, drums and floats are de rigueur during Shigmo revelry in
Goa.
Arratu in Meenam: It is a temple festival of Kerala that occurs
during the Meenam months (Tamil calendar). At the Shri Padmanabhswamy 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.
Chandanakuamat: A ten-day Muslim feast that takes place at the
Beemapalli mosque in Trivandrum, Kerala, marks the death anniversary
of Muslim woman saint, Beema Beevi. Music, dance, Hindu-style
processions, fireworks are customary.
Gangaur Mela: This colourful festival of Rajasthan honours the goddess
Parvati, Lord Shiv's consort. Celebrations at Jaisalmer are the most
interesting to watch. Young girls
pray for a husband. And wives pray for their husbands. The ultimate
couple - Shiv and Parvati - are feted and their images are carried
through the streets as part of a procession. Camels, royalty,
signing, flowers, pots of rice are all part of the melee. Gangaur
is also celebrated in other parts of north India.
Ellora Festival of Classical Dance: The rock-cut caves outside
Aurangabad are the site of a few days of dance performances by
famous Indian danseuses.
Elephant Festival: Processions of caparisoned elephants weave
their way through the streets of Jaipur in Rajasthan, all the
way to the City palace, on this day, accompanied by much fanfare,
drums and trumpets.
Khajuaraho Dance Festival: Madhya Pradesh's famous temples of
erotic sculpture form a sparkling background to this festival
of dance.
Ashokashtami: The famous Lingraja, an image of Lord Shiv, of the
Lingraja Temple, Bhubaneshwar pays a four day visit to the Rameshvar
Temple on Asokashtami and for this purpose is borne on a chariot
through the city.
Assam Tea Festival: The tea harvest is celebrated throughout Assam
with a variety of events.
Aoling: In Nagaland the arrival of spring and completion of sowing
the crops is time for a six-day fiesta.
Mewar Festival: It is a festival to honour royalty in Rajasthan.
The Shiv Niwas Palace Hotel, Udaipur, once the palace of the House
or Mewar, is the site of feasting, music and dances to honour
the Ranas of Udaipur, one of India's important royal families.
Good Friday, March 28, 1997: This day is an important festival
in churches all over India and a day of mourning for Indian Christians.
Easter, March 30, 1997: A moveable feast that honours the resurrection
of Christ. It is a special day for the
Christian community and celebrated with widespread feasting
in Christian pockets like Goa and Kerala.
