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Fairs
& Festivals Year 2008 |
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Community
Organizations | Community
Events | Religious
Organizations | Priestly
Services| Festivals
of India
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January |
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Pongal
(Jan
15th)
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Makara
literally
means 'Capricorn'
and Sankranti
is the day
when the
sun passes
from one
sign of
the zodiac
to the next.
The Sankranti
of any month
is considered
auspicious
as it signifies
afresh start.
However
Makara Sankranti
is celebrated
in the month
of Magha
when the
sun passes
through
the winter
solstice,
from the
Tropic of
Cancer to
the Tropic
of Capricorn.
A
celebration
of the harvest
- Pongal
is observed
for three
days in
January,
in Tamil
Nadu. Bhogi
Pongal -
the first
day, is
an occasion
for festivities
at home.
Flavoured
rice is
offered
to the Sun
God on the
second day.
Mattu Pongal,
the next
day, is
celebrated
in a more
boisterous
fashion.
Village
cattle are
bathed and
decorated
and cattle
races enliven
village
festivities.
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Republic
(Jan
26th)
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On
Republic
Day regional
identity
gives way
to national
identity.
Neither
caste, creed
nor religion
matter.
What is
predominant
is the Indianness
of the people.Republic
Day reminds
us of the
fulfillment
of the pledge
that was
made on
the midnight
of Independence
as a “tryst
with destiny”.
It is future-oriented,
a vision
of India
that we
nourish,
an acceptance
of responsibility
and making
of promises
as well
as recapitulation
of the achievements.
The act
of framing
the Constitution
puts a spotlight
on B.R.
Ambedkar
whose indefatigable
labour and
sharp insights
helped the
preparation
of the document. |
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February |
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Bakrid
(Feb
23) |
Bakrid,
the festival
of sacrifice
is an important
celebration,
which falls
on the last
month of
the Islamic
Calendar.
The Muslims
traditionally
offer the
sacrifice
of goats
/ sheep
/ camels
as part
of the festival.
Bakrid,
also known
as Id-Ul-Zuha
coincides
with the
Haj pilgrimage
at Mecca.
The significance
of the festival
is the commemoration
of the ordeals
of Prophet
Ibrahim.
According
to popular
belief,
Prophet
Ibrahim
was put
to a tough
test by
Allah to
prove his
faith. He
was asked
to sacrifice
his son
Ismail and
without
any hesitation
Prophet
Ibrahim
blindfolded
himself
and made
the offering
on the Mount
of Mina
near Mecca.
When Prophet
Ibrahim
opened his
eyes, he
was astonished
to find
a goat lying
upon the
altar and
his son
Ismail standing
in front
of him.
Ever since,
faithfuls
of Islam
the world
over offer
sacrifices
on the festival
day. |
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March |
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Mahashivrathri
(
Mar 6th)
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Literally
'the great
night of
Shiva',
celebrated
on the moonless
night of
the month
of Phalguna,
which is
fourteenth
day in the
dark half,
this festival
is specially
dedicated
to Shiva,
the destroyer.
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Holi
(Mar
21th)
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The
colorful
festival
of Holi,
literally
'burning',
is celebrated
on the full
moon day
in the month
of Phalguna
and heralds
the spring
season.
The word
probably
originated
from a cry,
shout or
sound in
singing.
This festival
is especially
celebrated
in Northern
states,
as a kind
of Hindu
Sutranalia
or carnival
and is very
popular.Holi
is the time
when people
from all
castes and
social strata
come together
forgetting
all past
differences
and grievances.
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Good
Friday
(Mar
21th)
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Good
Friday is
observed
two days
before Easter
to honor
the martyrdom
of Jesus
Christ.
It is a
day of somber
ceremonies
for all
Christians.
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Eid
(Mar
21th) |
Coming
with the
new moon,
the festival
marks the
end of 'Ramadan'
- a month
when Muslims
fast throughout
the day
and eat
only at
night Prayers,
feasts and
family get-
together
are the
major highlights
of the celebrations.
It was during
this month
that the
holy Koran
was revealed.
Eid means
recurring
happiness
or festivity.
Eid is celebrated
in India
with much
enthusiasm
and fervor
and Muslims
from all
strata of
life can
be seen
adorned
in beautiful
new clothes,
visiting
the mosques
to attend
Salatul
Eid (Eid
prayers).
Greetings
of "Eid-Mubarak"
or "a blessed
Eid"
are exchanged.
A very important
aspect of
eid is the
charity,
which all
the Muslims
are expected
to extend
to the needy.
Earlier,
this was
in the form
of gifts
in kind
but now
cash is
given to
the needy.
The first
Eid of the
year is
known as
"Eid
Al Fitr".
Al Fitr
literally
means breaking
of fast.
Thus Eid
Al Fitr
is celebrated
on the first
day of Shawaal,
the tenth
month in
the Muslim
calendar,
to mark
the end
of a month
long fast
during the
month of
Ramadan.
As the third
"pillar"
or religious
obligation
of Islam,
fasting
has many
special
benefits.
Among these,
the most
important
is that
it is a
means of
learning
self-control.
Due to the
lack of
preoccupation
with the
satisfaction
of bodily
appetites
during the
daylight
hours of
fasting,
a measure
of ascendancy
is given
to one's
spiritual
nature,
which becomes
a means
of coming
closer to
Allah. Ramadan
is also
a time of
concentrated
worship,
reading
of the Quran,
purifying
one's behavior,
giving charity
and doing
virtuous
deeds. |
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April |
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Ugadi
(Apr
7th) |
Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar
with a
change
in the
moon's
orbit.The
New year
festival
or Ugadi
comes
close
on the
heels
of Holi.
While
the strong
colors
of Holi
start
fading
away,
the freshness
of spring
lingers
on with
sprightliness
all around.
The flame
of the
forest
(trees
with bright
red flowers
that blossom)
are in
full bloom
signifying
an affluent
season.
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Ramnavami
(Apr
21st) |
Ramanavami
celebrates
the birth
of Rama
or Ramachandra.
The festival
is celebrated
on the ninth
day of the
bright fortnight
of the Hindu
month of
Chaitra.
It was on
this day
that Vishnu
incarnated
as Rama
through
Dasharatha’s
wife Kaushalya.
In some
parts of
India, it
is a nine-day
festival,
coinciding
with the
Vasanta
Navaratri.
It finds
mention
in ancient
texts and
literature.This
is an occasion
for great
rejoicing
especially
for the
Vaishnavas
who celebrate
it with
due solemnity
allover
the country.
The ancient
texts lays
tress on
fasting
on this
day, and
it is believed
that anyone
who does
not will
go to the
worst hell.
It is also
said that
Rama fulfills
the wishes
of all those
who pray
to him on
this day. |
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August |
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Independence
Day
(Aug
15th)
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Commemorating
the day
India Attained
freedom
(15th August),
Independence
Day is celebrated
with flag
hoisting
ceremonies
and cultural
programmes
in the sate
capitals.
The Prime
Minister's
speech at
the Red
Fort in
Delhi is
the major
highlight.
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Krishna
Janmastami
(Aug
23rd)
|
Janma
literally
means 'birth'
and ashtami
means
the 'eighth
day'. The
eighth day
of the dark
fortnight
in the
month
of Bhadrapad
is celebrated
as Krishna
Janmashtami.
It
commemorates
the birth
of Krishna,
born to
annihilate
Kansa, the
evil king
of Mathura.
According
to the Puranas,
Kansa was
an evil
king of
Mathura
who had
overthrown
his father
and imprisoned
him. His
atrocities
drove the
gods to
Vishnu who
promised
to take
his eighth
incarnation
in the human
world. He
was then
born as
Krishna
in the 28th
year of
the Dwapara
Yuga. Vishnu
took his
eighth incarnation
of Krishna
to kill
the evil
king Kansa. |
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September |
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Ganesh
Chaturthi
(Sept
3rd)
|
This
is a ten-day
festival,
dedicated
to Ganesha.
Celebrated
from the
fourth to
the fourteenth
day in the
bright fortnight
of Bhadrapad,
it is especially
important
in Maharashtra
and is one
of the cultural
highlights
of the state.The
festival
begins on
the fourth
day of Bhadrapad,
which is
celebrated
as Ganesha
Chaturthi
in the rest
of India.
This day
is very
important
to all Hindus,
who believe
that by
praying
to the remover
of obstructions,
people hope
to dispel
all obstacles
from their
lives. Some
people believe
that this
was the
day Ganesha
was born.
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Onam
(Sept
11th)
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When
the monsoon
has washed
the land
clean, when
the harvest
has been
gathered,
Onam
blooms in
Kerala.
With one-third
of the area
low lying
and covered
with canals,
lakes and
backwaters,
the people
take to
their boats
and country
crafts to
celebrate.The
harvest
festival
of Onam
corresponds
with the
Malayalam
New Year,
Chingam.
Depending
on the position
of the stars
and the
moon, the
festival
is held
at the end
of August
or beginning
of September.
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October |
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Gandhi
Jayanthi
(Oct
2nd)
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The
birth anniversary
of Mahatma
Gandhi -
the 'Father
of the nation'
(2nd October).
The President
and Prime
Minister,
along with
other eminent
political
leaders,
pay homage
at Raj Ghat
- the samadhi
of Mahatma
Gandhi.
All the
offices
and schools,
throughout
the country,
remain closed
on this
day.
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Ramzan
(Oct
2nd)
|
Around
28th of
this month,
Muslims
praying
together
would be
a familiar
sight across
the globe.
This would
be a festival
day called
Ramzan-Id.Muslims
are followers
of the religion
preached
by the Prophet
Mohammed.
Ramzan is
the name
of one of
the twelve
months of
the Muslim
calendar
year. It
coincides
with the
months of
October-November.
Ramzan is
a holy month
for Muslims.They
fast during
the day
throughout
that month.
They do
not even
drink water.
Pious men
among them
spend the
day during
the month
in prayer
and reading
their holy
book 'Quran'.
They have
their meal
only at
night. Some
Muslims
spend the
twenty-first
and twenty-second
days of
this month
in mourning
in memory
of Ali,
the Prophet's
son-in-law,
who died
in the cause
of their
religion.
Muslims
say their
holy book
came down
from heaven
to the earth
one night
during the
last ten
days of
this month.
When it
came, the
whole of
creation
praised
Allah or
God.
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Durga
Pooja
(Oct
6th)
|
This
nine-day
festival
of the Hindus
is celebrated
in the month
of Ashvina
in Bengal.
It marks
the victory
of Goddess
Durga over
the buffalo
demon Mahishasura
after a
long battle,
signifying
the victory
of good
over evil.
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Dusshrea
(Oct
9th)
|
This
Hindu festival,
celebrated
on the tenth
day of the
bright fortnight
in the month
of Ashvin,
celebrates
the victory
of good
over evil.
Effigies
of the demon
king Ravana,
his son
Meghanatha,
and his
brother
Kumbhakarna,
are burnt
amidst shouts
of joy.
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Deepavali
(Oct
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