Introduction to Indian Festivals

ಮೈಸೂರು ದಸರಾ - ಹಲವು ಮಜಲುಗಳು

ಮೈಸೂರು ದಸರಾ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಇಂದು ಎರಡು ವಾಕ್ಯಗಳ ಒಂದು ಗುಚ್ಚು ಎಂದು ಕಂಡು ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅದು ಒಂದೇ ಪದ ಎನ್ನುವಂತಾಗಿದೆ. ಮೈಸೂರು ಹಾಗೂ ದಸರಾ ಎರಡೂ ಬೇರೆಯಾಗಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಅಚಿತಹ ತಾದ್ಯಾತ್ಮತೆ ದಸರಾ ಹಾಗೂ ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ನಡುವೆ ಇದೆ.

ನಮ್ಮ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಗೂ ದೇಶದ ವಿವಿದೆಡೆ ದಸರಾ ಬೇರೆ ಬೇರೆ ರೀತಿಯ ಆಚರಣೆಯಾಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರು ಸಹ ಮೈಸೂರ್ ದಸರಾಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ್ಯಪೂರ್ಣವಾದ ಸ್ಥಾನವಿದೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿಯ ಆಚರಣಾ ಪಧ್ಧತಿ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟವಾದುದು.

MAKARA SANKRANTHI

Pongal is the only festival of Hindu that follows a solar calendar and is celebrated on the fourteenth of January every year. Pongal has astronomical significance: it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun’s movement northward for a six month period. In Hinduism, Uttarayana is considered auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or the southern movement of the sun. All important events are scheduled during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn.

In Hindu temples bells, drums, clarinets and conch shells herald the joyous occasion of Pongal. To symbolize a bountiful harvest, rice is cooked in new pots until they boil over. Some of the rituals performed in the temple include the preparation of rice, the chanting of prayers and the offering of vegetables, sugar cane and spices to the gods. Devotees then consume the offerings to exonerate themselves of past sins.

Pongal signals the end of the traditional farming season, giving farmers a break from their monotonous routine. Farmers also perform puja to some crops, signaling the end of the traditional farming season. It also sets the pace for a series of festivals to follow in a calendar year. In fact, four festivals are celebrated for four consecutive days in that week. ‘Bogi’ is celebrated on January 13, ‘Pongal’ on Jan 14, ‘Maattuppongal’ on Jan 15, and ‘Thiruvalluvar Day’ on Jan 16.

Thus, the harvest festival of Pongal symbolizes the veneration of the first fruit. The crop is harvested only after a certain time of the year, and cutting the crop before that time is strictly prohibited. Even though Pongal was originally a festival for the farming community, today it is celebrated by all. In south India, all three days of Pongal are considered important. However, those south Indians who have settled in the north usually celebrate only the second day. Coinciding with Makara Sankranti and Lohri of the north, it is also called Pongal Sankranti.

UGADI

Ugadi is the beginning of Hindu New Year.It marks the onset of spring, of new life and new beginning. Hindus celebrate Ugadi in the month of March/April with great joy by wishing each other and performing pooja and customary rituals.
It is believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day - “Chaitra Suddha Padhyami” or the Ugadi day. Also the calculations of the great Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya proclaim the Ugadi day as the beginning of the New Year, New month and New day. The onset of spring also marks a beginning of new life with plants acquiring new life, shoots and leaves. The vibrancy of life and verdant fields, meadows full of colourful blossoms signify growth, prosperity and well-being.
On Ugadi day, people wake up before the break of dawn and take a head bath after which they decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves. People wear new clothes and eat neem and jaggery (bevu-bella) which signifies that life is a mixture of good and bad, joy and sorrow and all of them have to be treated alike. Preparations such as puliogare and holige are made.

RAM NAVAMI
Ram Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating of the birth of Lord Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, and a divine figure in Hinduism believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu .The day also known as Sri Rama Navami, falls on the Navami, ninth day of the Chaitra month of Hindu lunar year in ‘Shukla paksha’ or waxing moon, thus named Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami, and marks the end of nine-day Chaitra-Navratri celebrations.
At some places the festival lasts, the whole nine days of the Navratras, thus the period is called ‘Rama Navratra’. In South India, the day is also celebrated as the wedding anniversary of Rama and his consort Sita, thus ceremonial wedding ceremonies, Sitarama Kalyanam, of the celestial couple are held at temples throughout the region, with great fanfare and accompanied by group chanting of name of Rama, Rama nama smaranam.
Lord Ram is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who takes birth on earth when Adharma over rules Dharma. He protects all his devotees by vanquishing the roots of Adharma. Lord Ram was born on earth to destroy the demon named Ravana.
Celebration
Hindus normally perform Kalyanotsavam (marriage celebration) with small murtis of Rama and Sita in their houses, and at the end of the day the deity is taken to a procession on the streets. This day also marks the end of the nine-day utsavam called Vasanthothsava (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu).
Some highlights of this day include
Kalyanam, a ceremonial wedding performed by temple priests
Panakam, a sweet drink prepared on this day with jaggery.
Procession of murtis in the evening, accompanied by playing with water and colours.
For the occasion, Hindus are supposed to fast, or restrict themselves to a specific diet. Temples are decorated and readings of the Ramayana take place. Along with Shri Ram, people also worship Sita, Rama’s wife; Lakshman, Rama’s brother; and Hanuman, an ardent devotee of Ram and the leader of Rama’s army in battle.

HANUMAN JAYANTHI
Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the monkey god widely venerated throughout India. It is celebrated during the month of Chaitra.
Hanuman was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, and is worshipped for his unflinching devotion to the God. From early morning, devotees flock Hanuman temples to worship him.
Hanuman Jayanthi is an important festival of Hindus. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. Hanuman is said to be able to assume any form at will, wield rocks, move mountains, dart through the air, seize the clouds and rival Garuda in swiftness of flight. He is worshipped in folk tradition as a deity with magical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits.

GURU PURNIMA
Hindus attach paramount importance to spiritual gurus. Gurus are often equated with God and always regarded as a link between the individual and the Immortal.
The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus.
Significance of Guru Purnima
On this day, all spiritual aspirants and devotees worship Vyasa in honor of his divine personage and all disciples perform a ‘puja’ of their respective spiritual preceptor or ‘Gurudevs’.
This day is of deep significance to the farmers, for it heralds the setting in of the much-needed rains, as the advent of cool showers usher in fresh life in the fields. It is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons. Traditionally, spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual ’sadhana’ from this day.
The period ‘Chaturmas’ (”four months”) begins from this day. In the past, wandering spiritual masters and their disciples used to settle down at a place to study and discourse on the Brahma Sutras composed by Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic discussions.

KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI
Krishna Janmashtami , also known as “Krishnashtami”,”Gokulashtami”, is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, an avatar of god Vishnu.[1]
In Karnataka in particular, Madhwas (Vaishnavas) (followers of Sri Madhwacharyaru) and Iyengars or the Srivaishnavas, (followers of their guru Ramanujacharya) make elaborate preparations for the festival. The idol of Lord Krishna is placed in a decorated mandapam (Wooden, square and open stand) with a checkered wooden ceiling on which the Bhakshanam (snacks and sweets in Tamil) that are specially prepared for the festival are suspended along with fruits considered the favourites of Lord Krishna. The pooja is performed late in the evening,[Particualrly time when Moon rises this time will differ for different places this time will mentioned in hindu calendar (Panchanga)] as Krishna was born at midnight. Generally, most of the sweets and savouries are prepared on that day only. Normally, a kolam (rice flour drawings on ground) drawn specially for the occasion, called ezhakoolam, decorates the front yard.Kolam in Tamil, also called Rangoli in the rest of India, is drawn using soaked rice ground to a fine paste and mixed with lot of water. A white cloth is used to soak the paste and make the drawing. Krishna’s feet are drawn from the front yard to the pooja room, indicating that the lord is entering the devotees’ home.
Vaishnavas perform pooja as usual in the morning. And In the evening when moon rises (time) the Main pooja starts meanig upto evening all vaishnavas fast (no one takes a single drop of water). And only after the pooja to Lord Krishna, food is taken.

GANESHA CHATURTHI
Ganesha Chaturthi or Ganesha Festival is a day on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees. It is celebrated as it is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). Typically, the day usually falls between 20 August and 15 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi . Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is widely worshipped as the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
Lord Ganesha (or Ganapati) (the names mean “Lord [isha] or [pati] of Shiva’s hosts [gana]“) was created by Goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva.
According to the legend, Lord Shiva, the Hindu God of resolution, was away at a war. His wife Parvati, wanted to bathe and having no-one to guard the door to her house, conceived of the idea of creating a son who could guard her. Parvati created Ganesha out of the sandalwood paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into the figure. She then set him to stand guard at her door and instructed him not to let anyone enter.
In the meantime, Lord Shiva returned from the battle but as Ganesha did not know him, stopped Shiva from entering Parvati’s chamber. Shiva, enraged by Ganesh’s impudence, drew his trident and cut off Ganesha’s head. Parvati emerged to find Ganesha decapitated and flew into a rage. She took on the form of the Goddess Kali and threatened destruction to the three worlds of Heaven, Earth and the subterranean earth.
Parvati was still in a dangerous mood. Seeing her in this mood, the other Gods were afraid and Shiva, in an attempt to pacify Parvati, sent out his ganas, or hordes, to find a child whose mother is facing another direction in negligence, cut off his head and bring it quickly. The first living thing they came across was an elephant. That elephant was facing north (the auspicious direction associated with wisdom). So they brought the head of this elephant and Shiva placed it on the trunk of Parvati’s son and breathed life into him. Parvati was overjoyed and embraced her son, the elephant-headed boy whom Shiva named Ganesha, the lord of his ganas. Parvati was still upset so Lord Shiva announced that everyone who worships Ganesha before any other form of God is favored. So Ganesh is worshipped first in all Hindu occasions and festivals.
The main sweet dish during the festival is the modak (modakam in South India). A modak is a dumpling made from rice flour/wheat flour with a stuffing of fresh or dry-grated coconut, jaggery, dry fruits and some other condiments.
Public celebrations of the festival are hugely popular, with local communities (mandalas) vying with each other to put up the biggest statue & the best pandal. The festival is also the time for cultural activities like songs, dramas and orchestra and community activities like free medical checkup, blood donation camps, charity for the poor, etc.

VIJAYADASHAMI
Vijayadashami also known as Dasara (also written Dussehra) is a festival celebrated in varying forms across India. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu autumn month of Ashvin or Ashwayuja, and is the grand culmination of the 10-day annual Navaratri .The underlying tradition and mode of celebration vary vastly by region. However, all festivities celebrate the victory of the forces of Good over Evil. It is considered an auspicious day to begin new ventures in life.
This day marks the triumph of Lord Rama over Demon king Ravana. On this day, Rama killed Ravana.
Rama was asked to go on exile because his stepmother, Queen Kaikeyee was tricked into asking King Dasaratha to exile him for 14 years. Rama’s wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana went with him willingly.
News of Rama staying at an ashram while on exile spread rapidly. A demon, Shoorpanakha found her way there and demanded that Rama or Lakshmana marry her. When both brothers rejected her, she threatened to kill Sita, so that Rama would then be single again. Lakshmana then cut off her ears and nose.
Shoorpanakha’s brother was the demon King Ravana. Ravana was incensed to hear what happened to his sister, and kidnapped Sita to avenge the insult.
In Karnataka, Ayudha Puja, the ninth day of Dasara, is celebrated with the worship of implements used in daily life such as computers, books, vehicles, kitchen tools etc.

LAKSHMI POOJA
Goddess Lakshmi means Good Luck to Hindus. The word ‘Lakshmi’ is derived from the Sanskrit word “Laksya”, meaning ‘aim’ or ‘goal’, and she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual.
Lakshmi is the household goddess of most Hindu families, and a favorite of women. Although she is worshipped daily, the festive month of October is Lakshmi’s special month. Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the full moon night of Kojagari Purnima.
As a female counterpart of Lord Vishnu, Mata Lakshmi is also called ‘Shri’, the female energy of the Supreme Being. She is the goddess of prosperity, wealth, purity, generosity, and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.
The importance attached to the presence of Lakshmi in every household makes her an essentially domestic deity. Householders worship Lakshmi for the well being and prosperity of the family. Businessmen and women also regard her equally and offer her daily prayers.On the full moon night following Dusshera or Durga Puja, Hindus worship Lakshmi ceremonially at home, pray for her blessings, and invite neighbors to attend the puja. It is believed that on this full moon night the goddess herself visits the homes and replenishes the inhabitants with wealth.

DEEPAVALI
Dīwali (or Deepavali) is a significant festival in Hinduism and an official holiday in India. Adherents of these religions celebrate Diwali as the Festival of Lights. They light diyas—cotton-like string wicks inserted in small clay pots filled with coconut oil—to signify victory of good over the evil within an individual.
The five day festival of Diwali occurs on the new moon between October 13 and November 14. On the Hindu calendar it is centered on the new moon day that ends the month of Asvina and begins the month of Kartika, beginning on the 13th day of the dark half of Asvina (Asvina 28th) and ending on the 2nd day of the bright half of Kartika (Kartika 2nd).
In Hinduism, across many parts of India and Nepal, it is the homecoming of Rama after a 14-year exile in the forest and his victory over the Ravana. In the legend, the people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (dĭpa), thus its name: Dipavali.
In Southern India, naraka chaturdashi is the main day, with celebration with firecrackers at dawn after lakshmi puja.
The main festival in North India ,Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka is on Amavasya (No moon day) evening with Lakshmi Puja which is followed by lighting of oil lamps around the house.
The third day is celebreated as Balipadyami as the day of Vamana’s victory over ‘Mahabali’. This festival is greatly celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.