Festivals of India - My favorites

Happy Diwali !

Today is Diwali ( Deepawali ) – festival of lights. A day when everyone in India will light up candles, diyas, distribute sweets, offer puja to Laxmi Goddess and fire crackers. People will go crazy in expressing their happiness, noise levels will break all decibel barriers and unparalleled amount of joy will spread across the nation, when the sun will set today. It would be very normal through the day, as most of the action would kick start from late afternoon. It is one of my favorite festivals and back home, everyone is busy cleaning up and lining up the decorations for the grand Diwali celebrations in the evening.
India is a land of GODs and festivals, I have seen my share of international countries and experienced various cultures / religions and festivals all around the globe. But nothing matches up to what my country offers, when it comes to festivals across the spectrum of time, religion and time. Almost every month in the year, we have one or more major festive day – each one has its unique relevance and rituals associated with it.

Some are very religion oriented – Christmas, Eid, Mahashiv ratri, Chath Puja, Janmasthmi. Some cut across regional boundaries – Dashera, Ganpati Puja, Nav Ratri. Some are celeberated on the same day but in unique ways in different parts of the country like Lohri in Punjab, Pongal in Southern states, Kite festival in Gujrat, Makar Sankranti in northern India, etc. Some are relationship oriented festivals – Rakhi ( Brother-sister), Karwa Chauth ( Husband –wife), etc. Each one of these festivals have their own history, significance, customs & rituals, dresses, food, etc associated with them. Most of them involve fasting, visiting temples / mosques / churches. Some are more inclusive than others, while some have transformed into new shapes over decades. I love each of them and all of them have lot of messages and relevance associated with them – which keeps people focused on positive side of life, true values and promotes a culture which is now hundreds of thousands of years old and still going strong.

However there are two festivals, which I like more than others and I feel are also celebrated across the nation & across the religions, with the same zeal. First one is “Holi – festival of colors” and the second one is “Diwali – Festival of lights”.

Holi marks the arrival of spring season, therefore, brings in warmth into the air. It is not just the season, which is changing, but also the mood of the people. The festival signifies the spirit of brotherhood and unity. People forget their old differences and get together to have some serious fun playing with colors, water, mud and Bhaang (Thandaai). One that one day, whether it is Mahura or Vrindawan, Mumbai or Madras, people just go over the top and no one feels offended. It is full of life and all the good things life brings to us as a community. Having spent my time in more than 8 states across the country over last 30 years, I have seen people from all walks of life, of all religious orientation take part in this colorful festival – full of masti.

View a typical Holi celeberation here - clip from a Hindi movie (Holi folk song) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_P2_WlFVME

The Holi in Kolkata is different from that of Orissa; the Holi in Bihar is different from that of Haryana. In West India, the Holi is entirely different from how it is celebrated in North Eastern state of Manipur. Holi in Barsana ( Krishna’s birth place) is unique where girls beat up guys with sticks – Lathmar Holi. We always used to have those riots in hostels, during college days and there were special tanks full of water to make sure everyone takes the colorful dip, drinks bhang and eats lot of sweets through the day. In my 6-7 years of “hostel holi” I hardly recall a single Holi night – by that time we used to generally pass out with all the drinks J Every holi celebration has its own specialty, though it is somewhat different and lot restrained in some of the South-Indian states.


However, Diwali – the festival of lights – cuts across all the states borders and truly brings India together as one country. The festival is predominated by colorful display of lights, bursting of crackers, cleanliness, sweets, lots of shopping, happiness. The festive spirit brings people of different communities closer, to celebrate the vibrant festival in the most blissful and lively way. Celebrated usually in the month of October or November, Diwali bears significance in the Hindu culture as well as among Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. The legends connected to the festival are different for different religions. Different communities worship different GODs - such as worship of Goddess Lakshmi, worship of Lord Ganesha, worship of Ma Kali, worship of Lord Chitragupta and worship of Govardhan Parvat. The business community in India marks this as a start of new financial year and hence they start with new books of accounts on Diwali. But across all of them there is a single theme of having some serious fun, with lights, sweets and family / friends. That is the core fiber of Diwali which makes it most special and my favorite Indian festival. Just for one night, we tend to forget everything and everyone tries to defeat the darkness, sorrows and silence in their lives. The collective energy of more than one billion people presides over the nature’s cycle and for one day in the year; there is no night or quiet moment in India; no one is alone or left out in celebrations – its Diwali night!

Once again happy diwali everyone!!