Holi is associated with the romantic frolicking of the cowherd God Krishna. Many exquisite Mughal miniatures depict the celebration of Holi with Radha and Krishna in the leading roles. From folk music and dance of Raas to the austerely classical Dhrupad style of vocal music and the elegant Kathak, Holi continues to inspire artistes in different genres.
There is a lot of informal feasting, some people enjoy the heady effect of an almond flavoured milk drink Thandai spiked with Cannabis. The sweetmeat popularly exchanged on this occasion is Gujiya - a half moon pastry filled with condensed milk, dried fruits and nuts.
In Punjab Hola-Mohalla is celebrated the day after the Holi. On this day the blue and saffron dressed Nihangs regale the onlookers with a breathtaking display of fencing and archery, acrobatic riding and mock combat.
DIWALI
Diwali, literally a garland of lamps, is an apt description of this festival of lights. Tradition maintains that lamps are lit to keep alive the memory of Prince Rama's return to Ayodhya after conquering the tyrant Ravana, the ruler of Lanka, who had abducted his consort Sita. The heroic deeds of Rama are recounted in the Hindu epic Ramayan and Diwali symbolizes the victory of virtue over vice. Rama, we are told had gladly accepted an exile in the forest to keep his step-mother happy and save his father from embarassment. He is considered the epitome of a dutiful son and a responsible ruler. Another myth traces the origins of the festival to the annual 'inspection tours' of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. The faithful believe that on this day Lakshmi goes around visiting her devotees and sets up residence in the house she finds best spruced up and most hospitable. Diwali is an occasion for spring cleaning, painting the walls, decorating the floor with attractive designs wrought in
coloured powder or paste made with rice.
The ritual traditionally associated with Diwali is gambling. Friends get together to indulge in games of chance, dice or cards. The 'addicts' seek legitimacy for their unusual pastime by referring to the celestial game of dice played by the great lord Shiva with his companion Parvati - a scene superbly sculpted at Kailash temple, Ellora. Others rationalise that this is just to remind oneself of the fickleness of lady luck and to inculcate a sense of balance in our pursuit of material success.
The children can be seen bursting fire crackers and lighting candles or earthen lamps. This is a time of generously exchanging sweets with neighbours and friends. Puffed rice and sugar candy are the favourite fares.
DUSSEHRA
The festival of Dussehra is the principle celebration in many parts of the country. It is celebrated with great fanfare in Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Mysore in Karnataka and slightly differently as Durga puja in West Bengal. It is the climax of nine day long festivities during the Navaratri.
The highlight of Dussehra in Kullu is a colourful procession in which idols of local deities are carried round the town to the accompaniment of joyous music. If here the flavour is distinctly rural and rustic, in Mysore this day is reserved for display of resplendent regalia. A caparisoned elephant is the mount of the Goddess Chamunda, the protector deity of Karnataka who rides atop a golden howdah - ornate mount with a seat. The palace in Mysore is so well lit up that it outshines the moon. In Varanasi the burning of huge images of ten-headed Ravana provide the finale of perhaps the most spectacular re-telling of the Rama legend.
Dussehra also commemorates the annihilation of the Buffalo demon Mahishasur by the warrior goddess Durga. In West Bengal, the run-up to the Dussehra is marked by community worship dedicated to the mother goddess - the supreme female principle. Beautifully decorated pandals - stalls - are set up to showcase scenes from mythology and even depict slices of life of contemporary celebrities! Different stalls, vie with one another in providing spellbinding tableaus and mouth watering delicacies. This is a time for leaving all the cares behind and to express the dormant creativity. The whole of province of Bengal is gripped with a cultural fever. Contests of song and dance provide lively entertainment in all localities.
Baisakhi and other Harvest Festivals
The first day of the Hindu new year is marked by Baisakhi, primarily a harvest festival. This is celebrated with great gusto in Punjab where Bhangara dancers, energetic and vigorous country youths enhant everybody with their ebullience.
When the sun moves into the northern constellation the Hindu almanac marks the passage with Makar Sankranti. In north India this is the day prescribed for ritual bathing which is considered particularly auspicious. In the south, the festival of Pongal coincides with Makar Sankranti and marks the reaping of the harvest and the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon.
On Pongal, rice is ritually cooked and allowed to boil over symbolizing the ushering in of plenty. The day after, the cattle are bathed, fed and decorated before being paraded down the village streets.
In Assam, conclusion of harvest time, brings with it the Bihu. Prayers are offered for a plentiful harvest and for the health of the livestock. Bihu dances are remarkable for their sensual lyricism while the drum beats seem to resonate the pulsation of a romantic heart.
The Goa carnival inspires the residents to an uninhibited spell of festive feasting, music and dance. The spirit of the season reflects the mood of Mardi Gras - the ritual parade led by Momo, the king of the Underworld.
ONAM
Onam is the principle festival of Kerala and is linked with the legend of the mythological king Mahabali. Lord Vishnu manifested himself in the incarnation of a dwarf Vamana, and requested the powerful king for a grant of land streching three steps. When the grant was made Vishnu assumed the form of a titan and in three giant strides measured the three realms that Mahabali ruled. The generous king was ousted from his kingdom but was permitted to visit his country and subjects once a year. On Onam day the houses are cleaned, decorated and lit to welcome the benevolent ruler of yore. This is the time for the fantastic boat races at Alapuzha. Snake shaped boats rowed by almost a hundred strapping ores-men try to speed past one another egged on by cheering partisan spectators accompanied by a symphony of cymbals and drums. At Thrissur a colourful procession of caparisoned elephants is taken out.
EID
The most important festivals for Muslims are the Eids. These are celebrated to commemorate the ritual sacrifice (Id-ul-Zuha - Bakr-id), conclusion of the month of fasting (Id-ul-Fitr - Ramzan-id) and the birth of the prophet (Id-e-Milad - Milad-un-Nabi). Eid is celebrated with a ritual Namaz - prayer - offering in a mosque, festive eating, exchange of gifts, donning of new clothes and dabbing of attar - rose essence.
The sweetmeat most commonly associated with the Eid is Sevai or Semolina bands. These strands, boiled in sweetened milk and garnished with nuts. They are served dry as well as with milk.
Urs is the name given to festivals annually held at the memorial shrines dedicated to Sufi saints. These are marked by devotional singing that is known to induce a mystic trance. The most famous Urs are held at the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya at Delhi and Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer.
Maha-Mastakabhishek
Once every twelve years the giant statue of the Tirthankar Gomateshwar at Shravanbelagola in Karnataka is ceremonially bathed with milk. This ritual homage is called Maha-Mastakabhishek, the grand anointing.
Guru Purnima
On the full moon day in the month of Kartika (November), the Sikhs celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak the founder of their faith. Lamps are lit and meals and sherbats are served to one and all.
Regional Festivals
In Maharashtra, Ganesh Chaturthi is the most popular festival. Ganesh, the elephant faced deity is the son of Shiva and Parvati and the lord of all auspicious beginnings. He is the remover of all obstacles and is to be propitiated before any other deity. Colossal images of Ganesh are built and carried all round the city before they are finally submerged in water. The city of Mumbai remains in a feverish pitch of excitement throughout this period.
The Buddhists in Ladakh and in the north-east, celebrate the birth of the mystic master with supernatural powers, Guru Rimpoche Padmasambhava (Lotus Born) with frenzied mask dances - Chaams, and ritual display of painted scrolls (Tangkhas). The monasteries of Hemis in Ladakh, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and Rumtek in Sikkim, are particularly renowned for these performances. These ritual dances illustrate the incorporation of pre-Buddhist Shamanistic beliefs into the Buddhist faith.
