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Festivals of India
Festivals of India
Cultural
Background
 India is a land of festivals and festivities. These festivals are
basically meant to express gratitude to the forces of nature that help the
human beings to produce wealth of food from tilling the land, to procreate
and bring to life best offspring, to harness energy resources from water,
air, and sun energy. Thus sun, air, water (rivers, seas, and ocean) trees
and forest (that give us wood and herbs and roots as medicines) became
objects of worship.
Thus festivals became not only the personal, family, and social occasions
of fun and merriment, but also prayer and worship of various gods and
goddesses.
Thus to supplement this spiritual drive, various functions at family and
social level are organized that gave variety and entertainment in life. It
was not possible for householders to meditate and worship the Self for
whole day. Most people were engaged in some or the other activity to earn
their bread. These activities till recent times, before the advent of
scientific and technological revolution, were restricted and related to
agriculture, food processing and cottage industries. Farmers were
supported by carpenters, veterinary specialist, and market men dealing
with purchase and sell of farm produce. [Still 70% of India lives in
villages.]
Thus social festivals were organized at the beginning and end of farming
activities. At the beginning, unsure of vagaries of nature, it used to be
mostly prayers and worship of village and personal deity, austerities and
simple life. This was to propitiate gods of rains, weather, etc. and to
pray to them to shower their grace in the form of good rain fall and
saving their crop from pests and other catastrophes.
At the end of harvesting, however, once their prayers were rewarded with
bountiful grains, cereals and lentils, maize and oilseeds, their joy knew
no bounds. Spontaneously, the young and elderly, men and women, boys and
girls, all were jubilant. To express their joy, to express their gratitude
to mother earth, to express social solidarity the folks spontaneously
organized wonderful festivals at the end of harvesting season. With the
sell of produce they had money in their pocket. The profit was enough to
send them into rapture of dance and merriment. Drums and trumpets, flutes
and sirens filled the air with enthusiasm and gaiety. Feet restless to
dance rhythmically to the tune of music. Piety, love, and happiness shone
over the faces as contentment and smile.
Baisakhi and Holi in the north-west, Dasera and Diwali in mainland, Pongal
and Onam in south, and in north-eastern states of India are common
festivals of this kind related with prosperity and fertility.
Baisakhi Festival
To inaugurate the New year and to celebrate the success of farming, April
13th when Sun enters into Aries (Mesha) to augment the new cycle,
festival of Baisakhi is celebrated predominantly in North India.
Every village is decorated with banners, garlands of flowers and grain
tops. Aroma of sweet and curry dishes fills every house from one street to
another. Children and all put on new new clothes, girls and ladies enjoy
the silk and fine material in particular. Parties are arranged and family
members and friends are invited to celebrate the joy of good harvest.
Family deity is worshipped and blessings are showered on young ones. The
festival is celebrated with gusto particularly in Punjab. The Sikhs
celebrate it with overtones of their own religious reasons as Guru Gobind
Singh had established the Khalsa Panth on this day.
In Hindu culture supreme love between Radha and Krishna forms the focus of
attention. Plays and dramas, dances and puppet shows are arranged
depicting the spiritual level of love. Fairs and bazaars are full of
enthusiastic gathering of people from many villages and places.
Muslim and British rule of last few centuries has had its sobering
influence these activities. The social aspect was down played, but
celebrations were alive at family and personal level all throughout that
somewhat difficult period of Indian history.
Of late, with independence in 1947 and subsequent success of 'green
revolution' interest and expression of these festivals at social level has
again picked up. Hundreds of foreigners visit and participate in such
festivals in Rajasthan, Kerala, Gujarat, and north-eastern states. This
interaction along with globalization of economy is helping to spread
Indian culture and belief systems all over the world.
We invite people from various countries to visit us, to study and enjoy
these phenomena which are as ancient as history of India itself. The
spiritual, moral, and social upliftment through such festivals is good for
humanity to foster bonds of brotherhood, friendship, and solidarity.
– Dr.
CS Shah
March 2000
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