Hindu Festivals
June 26, 2008
Hinduism is often described as a religion of fasts, feasts and festivals. In India, Hindu festivals are celebrated as wondrous, joyful events that mark the rites of passage between birth, death and renewal. With a celebration for every religious occasion, change of season and for every harvest, no wonder it is said that there are more festivals in India than days in the year. Hindu festivals based on mythological tales of gods and goddesses play an important role in bringing people sharing common social and religious beliefs together, as vibrant colours, music and festivities make the country come alive all year round.
Characterised by colour, gay enthusiasm, prayers and rituals, India’s Hindu festivals remember and commemorate the birthdays and great deeds of gods, goddesses, hero’s, heroine’s, gurus, prophet’s and saints. With a rumoured 33-crores gods and goddesses, Hinduism is rich in unique festivals and customs which have been celebrated through centuries.
From Dusherra celebrated with the burning of Ravana and his brothers to Diwali, when millions of diyas light up houses, to Holi which is a joyous riot of colour, to Rakshabandhan, a special festival for brothers and sisters, Hindu festivals are colourful, fun despite having deep social and religious significance.
Hindus are known to celebrate everything from the birth of gods, death of asuras, victory of the gods, marriage of the gods, the New Year, new months, full moons, new moons, harvests, birthdays, initiations, marriages, deaths, anniversaries. Any event and it becomes reason enough for music, dance, processions. This may be due to the fact that Hinduism is an organic religion and those who believe in it consider everything animate or inanimate, to be sacred with aspects of divinity. Which is why, even secular events like harvests take on religious overtones, with the patron deity presiding over the festivities. In India, something just has to happen, and it becomes an occasion for thanksgiving to the divine.
The profusion of legends in India, including contradictions about them is reflected in Hindu festivals, as well. Travel around the country, you will hear a variety of legends involving different gods and goddesses behind every single festival. This adds a facet of never ending novelty and constant change to the strikingly colourful kaleidoscope that is India. In India, it is also obvious that the more things change, the more they remain the same, which is the reason behind the sub-continent’s magical agelessness.
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