RATHA
YATRA
On
the second day of the bright half of Ashadha(June- July), Ratha Yatra
is celebrated throughout the country, and chariot processions of Sri Jagannath
are taken out through the main streets in many cities, but the main festival
is held at Puri in Odisha.
This is famous throughout the world and many
foreigners also participate in this spectacular event. The 12th century
Jagannath shrine is situated on the Nilchala Mountains, 60 kms from Bhubaneshwar.
It is one of the four great holy places of the Hindus. The other three
being, Badrinath, Dwaraka and Rameshwaram.
It
is believed that a three days and nights sojourn to Puri will free a pilgrim
from future births and deaths. On this day, the idol of Lord Jagannath
is taken on an enormous chariot, which is 45 feet high, and 35 feet square
and has sixteen wheels, which are seven feet in
diameter.
The
chariot is drawn by hundreds of thousands of devotees. Another two chariots
for Jagannath's sister and brother are also drawn. While that of Balbhadra is
44 feet high and has 14 wheels, Subhadra, his sister's chariot is 43 feet high
and has12 wheels. Krishna's journey to Mathura from Gokul at Kansa's invitation
is the legend behind this great Car festival. The procession goes along Broad
Avenue to Gundicha Mandir, the Lord's summer Garden House, where they stay for
seven days and then they are brought back to the temple. Once the ceremonies
are over, the chariots are broken down to make religious relics. Every year
new chariots are made. The deities are made of wood and they are renewed at
certain intervals. An important feature of this temple is that there are no
caste distinctions and all are equal to enter the temple and worship the Lord.
The
legend of Lord Jagannath is quite interesting. A hunter killed Krishna accidentally
and some pious people found his body and stored the bones. Later Vishnu directed
a King called Indrayumna to make an image of Jagannath and place Krishna's bones
inside it. Vishwakarma was assigned this job and he asked for privacy till the
work was complete. But the King impatiently went to the architect and so Vishwakarma
left the images undone. That is why the deities have no hands and feet.
The
king of Puri, the descendant of king Anantavarman Chodaganga, and the original
founder alone has the right to carry the Lord's umbrella and other paraphernalia.
Over 6000 males are at the Lord's service, headed by the king. Some 20,000 people
are said to be dependant on the temple for their livelihood.
TEEJ
Teej,
purely a festival of girls and ladies is sacred to the Goddess Parvati, the
consort of Lord Shiva. It was on this auspicious day that Parvati was reunited
with Lord Shiva after a long separation. It is annually celebrated in most parts
on India, and especially in the state of Rajasthan, on the third day of the
bright fortnight of the month of Shrawan. Processions bearing the images of
Parvathi are taken out escorted by caparisoned elephants, camels and horses.
On
the occasion of Teej, young girls of the house who dress up in sarees, lehangas
and Chunris perform Dandia dances. Basically Teej is a festival of Rajasthan
and Gujarat. On the day of Teej, it is a must for the girls to receive clothes
from their parents. Newly married girls get special costly attires from their
parents.
Swings
are hung on trees and in the houses and the women amuse themselves. Fairs are
also arranged on this occasion and people enjoy themselves. This festival seems
to welcome the coming monsoon season.
RAKSHA
BANDHAN
Sravani,
the sacred thread tying ceremony, and Raksha Bandhan are celebrated on the full
moon day of the month of Shravan (July- august). Sravani is a specifically Brahmin
festival, referred in the ancient Sanskrit scripts and it is regarded as an
important day in Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat and some Southern states.
The
origin of Raksha Bandhan has a legend behind. Once there was a fierce battle
between the Gods and the demons and the Demons were about to triumph. The next
day was the full moon night of the month of shravan. Indrani, the wife of Lord
Indra, prepared a chasm according to the rules prescribed in the sacred texts
and tied it on her husband's wrist. And it happened that when Indra entered
the war-front with the chasm in his wrist, the demons lost and fled away. Probably,
Raksha Bandhan appeared from this belief.
Now,
it has come to be a sitter's day, symbolizing the love that binds them to their
bothers. Once a girl ties a "rakhi", as the sacred thread is called, in any
man's wrist, he becomes closer to the girl than other blood relations. During
this season, all stops are found stacked with colorful and glittering wristlets
of all hues and colors and to fit every pocket, with values from a rupee to
a few thousand rupees. On the day, the girls and boys dress in their best and
girls take the rakhi to their brothers and daub his forehead with vermilion
and saffron and then tie the rakhi. They also give sweetmeats to their brothers.
The boy in return gives some money to his sister as a mark of affection. When
a girl ties a rakhi on her brother's wrist, she makes fervent wishes for her
prosperity, happiness and success in all he undertakes. In return, the guy renews
his pledge to guard her honor and self-respect. In some places Raksha Bandhan
is also called Rakhi, Rakhri and Saluno.
There
are several mentions about this Raksha Bandhan in our history. Maharani Karmvathi's
kingdom was once besieged by Governor Bahadur shah. She did not know what to
do and so she sent a rakhi to the emperor humayun who immediately accepted it
and came to fight with Bahadur shah, and routed his army, despite he being a
Muslim ruler and the Maharani being a Hindu. Rajasthan has many tales from history
regarding this Rakhi tying custom. During the freedom movement, many women tied
rachis on men's wrist and made them pledge their lives for the liberation of
India. The great leader of Bengal, surendranath banerjee, even tried to elevate
this Raksha Bandhan to the status of a national festival.
GANESH
CHATHURTHI
On this day, a beautiful idol of Lord Ganesh is made
of clay or some metals like silver and it displaced in a high pedestal.
Then the idol is anointed with saffron paste and sandalwood and offerings
are given to it. They include tulsi leaves, white lily flowers, durba
grass twigs, red sandalwood, red vermilion powder, panchamrita (a mixture
of milk, honey, curd, sugar and water), etc. Then the devotees move ceremoniously
around the lord seven times and lie down on the ground face down to salute
him. Then Laddoos are given as prasadam to the lord and later distributed
to the devotees. After the ritual worship, the idol of the Lord is immersed
in nearby waters like a tank, river or sea.
On
this pious day viewing of the moon is strictly prohibited. On the Ganesh chathurthi
day, all women who are desirous of the welfare of their husbands and sons compulsorily
worship him. This is a special function day and the grandest festival of the
state of Maharastra. Almost each locality of every town has its own image of
Ganesh, specially made for this occasion. Though there are many places where
the idols are made, the images made from a village called "Pen" are rated higher
in Maharastra.
The
size of the Ganpathi idols varies from a few inches height to over a hundred
feet. How long the idol is kept a t home depends on family tradition. It may
be thirty-six hours in some houses and it may go unto five, six or seven days
till Anant Chaturdashi. Children decorate the idols with colorful strings and
papers and Arthi is performed daily. It is customary to make offerings of twenty-one
blades of grass, Kewra(Pandanus buds), a lotus flower and twenty-one modaks
as "Prasadam.
The
local community Ganesh images appear bigger in size and it is depicted in a
variety of activities. New forms are invented to depict the current theme and
fashion. It was Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak who made the ritual worship of
Ganesh in Maharastra almost a national festival. The festival is fondly called
"Ganesh-Utsav".
JANMASHTHAMI
On
the eighth day of the black half of bhadra(August-September) was born shri Krishna,
the eight avatar or incarnation of Vishnu. Therefore this day is known as Janmashtami
or Krishna Janmashtami. This auspicious day of the birth of Krishna, the direct
manifestation of Lord Vishnu himself is celebrated with great éclat and enthusiasm
all over the country.
Sri
Krishna was born as the eighth son in a prison cell to Devaki and Vasudeva.
Fearing for the life of his son, Vasudeva flew to Gokula and exchanged him for
a baby girl born to Nanda and Yashoda there. The janmashtami celebrations start
from the early morning bath in the sacred waters with prayers. The climax is
the midnight with the rising moon, which marks the divine birth of Lord Krishna.
On this day the devotees observe strict fast until midnight. Temples and homes
are decorated with scenes of Krishna's birth and his childhood pranks. At night
after the birth, the child image of Krihna is given a bath in Charnamrita.
In Braja Mandala, especially in gokula and Mathura, this festival is celebrated
with greatest fervor and enthusiasm. People from all over the country congregate
at Mathura and Vrindavana for this special occasion. The fast observed on this
day ensures the birth of many good sons and salvation after death. The Bhagavad
Gita and the Geet Govindam are read on this day at houses and in the temples.
ONAM
Onam
is a festival of flowers, a spring festival. It falls on Shravan day in the
month of Shravan or Bhadon (August-September). During this period the harvest
are over and the farmers will be in a festive mood with their granaries full.
Onam has a legend attached to it. In ancient times, an Asura King Mahabali ruled
Kerala. He extended his rules to the heavens and the nether world. So, the King
of gods, Indra hatched a plot to oust him. Disguise as a Brahmin boy, Vamana,
he asked Mahabali to give him as much land he could cover in three steps. As
the King agreed, Vamana grew in size till he was big as the Universe. He took
two steps and covered the earth and the heavens in the two steps and asked for
the King's head for his third step. Then vamana pushed Mahabali into the far
below nether land. But before that, the King sought Vishnu's permission for
visiting the earth once in a year, and it was granted.
The
celebration of Onam is tribute to Mahabali's sacrifice. In memory of the happy
days of Mahabali's rule, a grateful Kerala celebrates his annual homecoming
with all pomp and grandeur. Onam celebrations last for ten days, beginning with
a colorful reception to King Mahabali. Earthen mounds, which like square pyramids,
representing Mahabali and Vishnu are placed in dung-plastered courtyards and
decorated with beautiful flowers. After the traditional prayers, the people
of the house are given new clothes. A lavish feast as to what one's purse can
afford follows this. 
Certain
dances like Kaikottikali take place. The most exciting of all is the Aranmula
Boat Race. Men, women and children come from far and near to watch these snake-shaped
boat races.
Interestingly
during Onam, not only King Mahabali but also Vishnu is also worshipped. The
celebration of Onam became very popular after the establishment of a temple
dedicated to Vamana at Thrikakara nears Cochin. The temple was built in the
8th century. Hindus, Muslims and Christians of Kerala symbolizing the hopes
and aspirations of all of the Keralites now celebrate Onam.
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