Indian Festivals

Hindu Festivals

• In Hindu religion, there is a tradition of celebrating almost everything.

• It is a well known fact that India is a land of fairs and festivals.

• we have hundreds of festivals and fairs in Hindu Calendar every year.

Diwali• Diwali is regarded as one of the

most important festival of the Hindu calendar.

• The festival is mainly associated with lights as it is called the festival of light.

• The literal meaning of Deepavali in Sanskrit is 'a row of lamps.'

• Diwali festival is the one Hindu festival that unites the whole of India.

History of Diwali

• History tells us that the festival is celebrated mainly for four days commences on Aswayuja Bahula Chaturdasi and concludes on Kartika Shudda Vijiya.

• And each day has a significance and history behind its celebration.

• The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasi marks the killing of the demon king Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama.

• The second day is Amavasya. This very day Lord Vishnu rescued Goddess Lakshmi from the prison of Demon king bali and for that reason Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on the day of Diwali.

• The third day is "Kartika Shudda Padyami." On this day Bali would come out of Pathala Loka and rule Bhuloka as per the boon given by Lord Vishnu. Hence, it is also known as "Bali Padyami".

• The fourth day is referred to as "Yama Dvitiya.“ On this day, Lord Rama returned from exile to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile.

When is Diwali

• Normally according to the Hindu calendar the festival of Diwali, which is celebration of truth and light is celebrated on a nation-wide scale on Amavasya, the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin (Aasho), which is usually the month of October or November every year.

Dussehra

• Dussehra is also called as Navaratri Pooja or Durga Pooja.

• Navratri, or 'The Festival of Nine Nights', is celebrated during the first nine days of the Hindu month of Ashvin (September-October).

• The festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Goddess or Shakti and her nine forms.

History of Durga Puja

• We all celebrate Durga puja but hardly anyone knows the history or origin behind the celebration.

• There are various legends associated with its origin but the most important and prevalent among them is the legend of Lord Rama.

• Lord Rama decided to seek blessings of Godess Durga during the time of war with Ravan. . For that puja, which lord Ram was performing 108 blue lotus were needed for the worship of Goddess Durga but Rama could manage only 107. But without that one lotus his puja would be incomplete

so he was on the verge of laying one of his eyes that was lotus-shaped and blue in color at the Goddess's feet when Goddess Durga appeared and satisfied with his devotion, granted her blessing and eventually he won the battle against Ravana. The time he worshipped was Spring season so from that time onwards Durga puja is celebrated.

• Another legend, which is associated with the celebration of Durga puja is the story of the defeat of the demon king, Mahishasura at the hands of Goddess Durga, the incarnation of Shakti (the power). This demon was almost invincible because of a boon granted by Lord Shiva whereby no male could defeat him.

Dussehra Celebration

• The festival is celebrated for nine days.

• People sow seeds on the first day, consecrate the planets, watch the sprouting and worship Goddess Durga during this festival.

• The last three days are especially considered most important. The nine-day is equally divided in worshiping three goddesses.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GkuQDScRKGc/SOy-w5nlOyI/AAAAAAAAD3Q/3wr7g93BsZI/s1600-h/durga_puja.jpg

Ganesh Chaturthi

• Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth of Lord Ganesha.

• Lord Ganesh is the symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

• He is regarded as the destroyer of all problems and obstacles.

• Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on Shukla Chaturthi of the Hindu month of Bhadra (generally falls between August and September).

• The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Ananta Chaturdashi, and is traditionally celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha.

• The idol is kept and offered pujas for 10 days.

• After 10 days The murti is submerged on 'Parivartini' i.e. 'Jal Zilani' Ekadashi. Devotees observe a waterless fast.

• Five pujas and arti are offered, together with a boat ride after each arti before Ganeshji's 'Visarjan' - submergence.

History of Ganesh Chaturthi…

• Ganesh Chaturthi was being celebraeted as public event by Peshwas in Pune since the times of Shiivaji Maharaj .

• With the fall of Peshwas , Ganesh Chaturthi lost state patronage and became a private family celebration .

• Indian freedom fighter and social reformer Lokmanya Tilak introduced a new way of celebrating the Ganesh Chaturthi as collective community worship (1893) .

Place Where Ganesh Chaturthi is Celebrated…

• Today, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and many other parts of India .

• Outside India, it is celebrated in Nepal by the Newars.

• In the 21st century, with the world turning fast into a global village, Ganesh Chaturthi is now celebrated all over the world, wherever there is a presence of a Hindu community.

Celebration At Home…

• Ganesh Idol is Brought & Ceremoniously installed by the Head of the House Hold in the Home Mandir .

• Decorated with Rangoli .• Pujas and Aarti are performed every

Morning and Evening . • Modak as prasad is distributed amongst the

devotees .

Ganeshotsav In Mumbai..

• Mumbai has its own importances in ganeshotsav .

• The Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals play a major role in that .

• The message of Social Awareness : Traffic rules , water conservation pollution control are taken up for festival themes , awarness of need to eradicate courruption .

• Social and charitable .

• The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. Jallikattu, a violent taming the bull contest, marks this day.

• On the last day, Kanum Pongal, people go out to picnic.

• 'Ponga' literally means overflowing and is named so because of the tradition of cooking the new rice in pots until they overflow, which is symbolic if abundance and prosperity.

Ram Navami• ninth day of the Hindu Lunar year

(March)• birthday of Rama • Starts off with prey to the Sun• perform Kalyanotsavam (marriage

celebration) for images of Rama and Sita

• end of the day the Rama is taken to a procession on the street

• Hindus are supposed to fast • Temples are decorated and readings

of the Ramayana take place

Onam

• The festival of Onam portrays the rich cultural heritage of Kerala, its golden past, rich traditions and prosperous present.

• The festival is celebrated for a period of ten days, starting from the first day Atham and continuing till tenth and the biggest day called Thiru Onam.

• Atham - Day OneFirst day is an important one and is considered holy and auspicious by the people of Kerala.

• Chithira - Day TwoOn the second day of Onam, people add to the size of the Pookalam with different flowers.

• Chodhi - Day ThreeSize of the Attha Poo gets further increased with an addition of design with different flowers.

• Visakam - Day FourBrisk activities in the market and households can be witnessed on the day of Visakam.

• Anizham - Day FiveHigh point of the day is the grand boat race event called Vallamkali.

• Thriketa - Day SixPeople, who may be staying away from their homes, start coming to their homes as the main day approaches.

• Moolam - Day SevenWith just two days left for the festival now, enthusiasm grips the state of Kerala.

• Pooradam - Day EightThe day holds significance in Onam festivities. Devotees create clay idols in the shape of small pyramids.

• Uthradam - Day NineIt is a day prior to Thiruvonam. Some people begin festivities on a large scale on this day.

• Thiruvonam - Day TenThe biggest day of all, is the tenth day called Thiruvon.

• Thiru Onam is a big day. The best part of the festival is that it is a secular festival so people from all community and religion can take part. There are various morning rituals.

• Onasadya is the most important and elaborate lunch after completing the morning rituals.

Onam Legends

• The legend of King Mahabali

• The Legend of Vanishing Boy

• The Legend of Boat Palliodam

Muslim Festivals

• There are a number of Muslim festivals.

• The Muslim festivals do not correspond to any particular date or month of the Gregorian Calendar as they are based on the Hijra which follows pure lunar reckoning.

• The names of the 12 months that comprise the Islamic year are as follows: 1. Muharram 2. Safar 3. Rabi' al-awwal (Rabi' I) 4. Rabi' al-thani (Rabi' II) 5. Jumada al-awwal (Jumada I) 6. Jumada al-thani (Jumada II) 7. Rajab8. Sha'ban9. Ramadan10. Shawwal11. Dhu al-Qi'dah12. Dhu al-Hijjah

Id-ul-Fitr

• Id Ul Fitr is a festival that marks the end of the Ramzan period, and usually falls on a new moon night, in the month of September or October.

• Ramzan is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar. According to legend, the Holy Koran was revealed in this month

Id-Ul-Zuha or Id-Ul-Adha • Bakriid or Id-ul-Zuha is one of the

most celebrated festivals among Muslims all over the world. It is a day of sacrifice for the Muslims.

• According to legends. It all started with a dream in which Allah directed the patriarch Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail.

• It was Ibrahim's faith in Allah and his son's faith in his father that were on test.

Id-e-Milad• Id-e-Milad is a festival of both

rejoicing and mourning.• The day commemorates the birth and

also the death anniversary of Prophet Mohammed.

• It falls on the twelfth day of the third month Rabi-ul-Awwal of the Muslim calendar, which is usually in April.

• The word 'barah' signifies the twelve days of the Prophet's sickness.

Muharram

• The first Muslim month is Muharram and Muharram is observed on the tenth day of this month.

• Muharram is a day of mourning as it commemorates the greatest tragedy in the history of Islam-the martyrdom of the Prophet's grandson Hussain.

Jain Festival: Pajushan• Its the most celebrated festival of

Jains.• It lasts for four months. It varies

from year to year.• This is celebrated to ask forgiveness

for the mistakes we have made knowingly or unknowingly.

• Jaanae anjaanae sey koi galti hui ho toh mann, vachan, kaya sey ‘micchami dukadam.’

Christian Festivals

• India is a land of various religions and muliple cultures. Alongwith Hindu, Mulism and National festivals, Christian festivals are also celebrated with deity and devotion in different parts of India.

Christmas

• The festival of Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and conveys his message of love, tolerance and brotherhood.

• Though Christmas is a primary festival of the Christian calendar but still it has a special significance in everyone's life.

History of Christmas

• The first mention of 25th December as the birth date of Jesus occurred in 336 A.D.

• The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of the Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born.

• Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 AD.

• In 137 AD the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ Child celebrated as a solemn feast.

• In 350 AD another Bishop of Rome, Julius I, choose 25th December as the observance of Christmas since than it is celebrated on this day.

• Fundamentally Christmas celebration is based on the intertwining of two ethnic patterns, Roman transition rites and Germano-Celtic Yule (jiuleis) rites-feasting and mortuary practice.

Good Friday• Good Friday, anniversary of Jesus'

death on the cross.• According to the Gospels, Jesus

was put to death on the Friday before Easter Day.

• Observance include prayer and meditation at the Stations of the Cross, a succession of 14 images, usually on wooden crosses, depicting Christ's crucifixion and the events leading up to it.

Easter

• Easter, also known as Pascha , the Feast of the Resurrection, the Sunday of the Resurrection or the Resurrection Day, is the most important religious feast of the Christian Calendar.

• Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, which occurred after his death by crucifixion.

National Festivals

• Gandhi Jayanti celebrates the birth anniversary of

Mahatma Gandhi. . Born on the 2nd of October 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat.

• Independence Day 15th August the red-letter day in

the Indian calendar is celebrated as the Independence Day of India.

• After more than two hundred years of British rule, India finally won backs its freedom on 15th August, 1947.

• Republic Day of India On 26th of January every year India

celebrates its Republic Day. on this day in 1950 the constitution of India came into force and India became a truly sovereign state.

Holi• Celebrated on the day after the full

moon in early March• Festival to celebrate good harvest • Spring festival• Also called the “Festival of Colors”• Day one = bonfire is lit at night• Day two = people go around and

throw colored powder and water at each other

• End with a feasts at a friends house in the evening

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History of Holi• Hiranyakashipu, who consideration

himself since toward invincible and highest beings; he had receiver of a great contribution of immortality reflection.

• He has a youngster Prahlad who is a big fan of Rama.

• This made him order his sister Holika to kill that child, but the spirit inturn killed her. This led to the celebration of Holi.

Raksha Bandhan

• Raksha = protection• Bandhan = lasting bond• celebrates the relationship

between brothers and sisters • Thread-tying ceremony (rakhi)• sister recognizes the bond between

them• brother vows to look after her• Feed each other sweets

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rakhi_2.jpg

Rakhi Legends

• The legend of Lord Indra and his wife Sachi.

• The legend of Alexander’s wife and King Porus.

• The legend of Rani Karnavati and Humayun.

• The legend of Hindu Rajputs and Mughal Rulers.

Thank You

Done By:Amzad Ali. E (09MBI005)Ashish John Eipe (09MBI006)Amaresh (09MBI004)Aswin (09MBI007)Aditya (09MBI001)

Conclusion

I am glad to be an Indian. Of course everything isn’t shining here. But koi bhi desh perfect nahi hota, usse perfect banana padta hai. ( No country is perfect, one needs to make it perfect)

References:

• www.indiagifts.com• www.indianfestivals.blog.com• www.mycountry.com• www.wikipedia.com