Rath Saptami On the seventh day of the bright half of the Magh month the Sun is worshipped. The sun is imagined to be a chariot drawn by seven horses, which represent the seven colours of the rainbow. The charioteer, Arun, has his feet deformed. Arunoday means the dawn. On this day some people go to take bath in the river before dawn carrying a lamp on their head. Then in the courtyard in front of the house the sun is worshipped. A picture of the chariot and the seven horses is drawn on the ground. On the four sides "rangoli" is made (designs made with powders) and in the centre cow dung is burnt. Then on the stove milk is boiled in earthen vessels while facing the sun. When the milk boils it is believed it reaches the sun. Then an offering of "khir" made of wheat is shown to the sun. In the "sup" (basket for sifting corn) twelve heaps of grain are offered to the sun, the number corresponding to the twelve constellations through which the sun goes. Grain is offered to the brahmins. Some people show their respect to the sun by bowing twelve times every day to the sun, repeating every time one of the twelve names of the sun. These twelve names are: Mitra, Ravi, Surya, Ahanu, Khag, Pushan, Hirnyagarbha, Marichi, Aditya, Savita, Arka, and Bhaskar. On this day a new season begins, the sun sitting on his chariot sets out on his journey.
Vasant Panchami Vasant Panchami, the Festival of Kites, falls on Panchami of the Sukal Paksh ( Waxing moon) towards the close of winter in the month of January-February. The weather circle seems to be changing otherwise Vasant used to bring a message of softness in the weather in place of the hard cold season. Vasant is the time when mustard fields are yellow with it the spring is ushered in. So Punjabis welcome the change and celebrate the day by wearing yellow clothes, holding feasts and by organising kite flying. Vasant Panchami day puja is devoted to Saraswati, the godess of learning and wife of Brahma. She bestows the greatest wealth to humanity i.e. the wealth of Knowledge.
Baisakhi In April, this day marks the beginning of the Hindu solar new year. In fact this day is celebrated all over the country as new year day under different names. It is also the time when the harvest is ready to cut and store or sell. For the Sikh community Baisakhi has a very special meaning. It was on this day that the last Guru Gobind Singh organised the sikhs into Khalsa or the pure ones. By doing so, he eliminated the differences of high and low and established that all human beings were equal
SHIVRATRI Place :All over India Month: March Significance: Worship of Lord Shiva
All over the country, Shivratri is observed on the 13th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. This is the night, when Lord Shiva danced the 'Tandava'-his cosmic dance.
ID - UL-FITR (RAMZAN) Celebrated by: Muslims all over India Time: January or first day of the tenth lunar month of the Islamic Calendar
Significance: Breaking of the fast of the holy month of Ramadan
RAMNAVAMI Place: All over India Time: March
Significance: Birth day of Sri Rama, seventh incarnation of Vishnu
The birthday of Lord Rama, the celebrated hero of the famous epic, 'Ramayana', is enthusiastically celebrated all over India. Lord Vishnu is worshipped in his human incarnation as Rama, the divine ruler of Ayodhya
Id-ul-Zuha (Bakr-Id) Place : All over India Month: July
Significance: Muslim Festival of sacrifice This Muslim festival of sacrifice, Id-ul-Zuha (Arabic) or Bakrid in India is celebrated all over the country. On this day Muslims sacrifice a goat or Bakr (Urdu) to commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of God.
Muharram Place : All over India Month: October Significance: Martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussein
This Muslim festival of mourning is observed in the first month of the Hijra year, Muharram. The festival commemorates the martyrdom of the prophet Mohammed's grandson- Hazrat Imam Hussein. It is celebrated with great fervour by the Muslims especially the Shia community.
DURGA PUJA Place: West Bengal Time : October Significance: Veneration to Goddess Durga
Durga puja is performed during the nine days of Navaratri. According to the Hindu calender it falls on the first nine days of the month of Ashwin (october). It is celebrated all over India, but with great zeal in the eastern part of India especially West Bengal.
KUMBHA MELA Place: Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh Time: December
Significance: Religious Festival The Kumbh Mela, believed to be the largest religious gathering on earth is held every 12 years on the banks of the 'Sangam'- the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswathi. The Mela alternates between Nasik, Allahabad, Ujjain and Haridwar every three years. The one celebrated at the Holy Sangam in Allahabad is the largest and holiest of them. The Mela is attended by millions of devotees including Sadhus. A holy dip in the sacred waters is believed to cleanse the soul. The Sangam comes alive during Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh with an enormous temporary township springing up on the vacant land on the Allahabad side of the river. The legend goes thus- the gods and the demons fight for a pot of nectar (Amrit Kumbh): the nectar of immortality. Lord Vishnu, disguising himself as an enchantress (Mohini), seized the nectar from the demons. While fleeing from the evil ones, Lord Vishnu passed the nectar on to his winged mount, Garuda. The demons finally caught up with Garuda and in the ensuing struggle, a few drops of the precious nectar fell on Allahabad, Nasik, Haridwar and Ujjain. Since then, the Kumbh Mela has been held in all these places, alternatively, every 12 years.
PONGAL Place: Tamilnadu Month : Mid January Significance: End of the harvest season.
Pongal is celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month 'Thai'. The word Pongal which literally means 'boiling over' refers to rice cooked in milk and jaggery. 'Pongal' is a celebration of spring on the occasion of the 'ascent' of the sun to the north. It is the celebration of the harvest season
PUSHKAR FAIR lace : Pushkar, Rajasthan Month : November
Significance: Cultural and trade cum religious fair This fair is held at Pushkar town, 11 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan for twelve days annually during October- November. This cultural and trade cum religious fair is an attractive and lively spectacle with its colourful tribal crowds, saffron-robed and ash smeared Sadhus (holy men) and thousands of bulls, cows, sheep, goats and camels in richly decorated saddles
KA POMBLANG NONGKREM Place: Meghalaya Month: November
Significance: Harvest Festival Ka Pomblang Nongkrem or Shad Nongkrem is the most important and elaborate festival of the Khasis in Meghalaya. This five day long colourful festival, is held annually in November at Smit, the capital of the Khyrem Syiemship near Shillong. It is an occasion for thanksgiving to the all powerful Gddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich harvest and prosperity of the people.
HAMPI FESTIVAL Place : Hampi, Karnataka Month: November Significance: Tourist Festival
The magnificent ruined city of Hampi, 353 kilometers from Bangalore, Karnataka once the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire (One of the greatest empires in the history of India), comes alive during the lively festival of dance and music, held in the first week of November.
VASANT PANCHAMI Place: North India Time: January-February
Significance: Spring festival Vasant Panchami is the 'Spring Festival' in North India falling on the 5th day of Phalguna. This day is specially dedicated to Saraswathi the goddess of learning, wisdom, fine arts and refinement. It is the ceremonial welcome to spring when first change in the departing winter is noticed.
