Lohri- Celebrated on the 13th of January

Lohri is basically more than just a festival for Indians. It is a festival of prime importance for natives of Punjab as this festival symbolizes their love for celebrations and light-hearted flirtation. It is celebrated on the 13th of January every year and is the most prominent harvest festival of Punjab, the State more popularly known as the Breadbasket India.

Lohri is the festival that prompts people to be thankful to God’s provision and celebrate His creations and gifts to mankind. In Punjab, wheat is the major crop that is sown in the month of October and then harvested in the months of March or April. January is said to be the period of rest since after this month the crops mature and the farmers are ready to gather their year’s hard labour. As a result, the people or farmers residing in Punjab have a great sense of attachment to the festival of Lohri.

Lohri is celebrated as a harvest festival with spirit, joy, and enthusiasm and marks the culmination of the chilling winter. Punjabi women and men perform the Bhangra, Gidda on Punjabi Folk songs around a bonfire. On this festive day, enthusiastic children go from house to house singing Lohri songs and the elders oblige the children by offering them eatables as well as money.

As dusk settles in, logs of woods are collected for a bonfire where all the family members, relatives and friends gather around it. It is a ritual for people to go around the bonfire thrice, offering peanuts, sweets, rayveri and popcorns to the fire. Then, they break into dance around the fire on the beats of Dhol while prasad of til, puffed rice, gajak, popcorn and peanuts is distributed amongst the people.

Lohri is a propitious occasion to celebrate the arrival of a new bride in the family or for a newly born baby. Family members gather and host a feast that includes mouth watering winter cuisines of ‘Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki roti’ with a dessert made up of sugarcane juice and rice. The basic motive behind celebrating Lohri is to thank God for his protection and care.

On the whole, Lohri is a festival that signifies the jubilation at the onset of a bountiful harvest. The best feature about the festival is that it shows the festive spirit of Indians towards food, which they consider as God’s gift to humanity. Apart from celebrating the festival in their respective ways, people also tend to enjoy the fairs which are organized at various places.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti- a pious festival of Sikhs

Whether the event is Vaisakhi (Khalsa Sajna Diwas), Dewali (Bandi Chhor Diwas), or the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib (Sahidi Diwas), Sikhs assemble and commemorate their respectable Gurus and worship to pay homage to their worthy Martyrs. Gurpurabs, as they are more commonly known, are celebrated with immense devotion by the Sikh community all over the globe.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, is one pious festival of the Sikhs which is celebrated with great fervour. The festival witnesses a huge convoy of Sikhs who congregate to offer extraordinary prayers at Gurudwaras. Guru Gobind Singh was born at Patna Sahib on 22nd December. Generally, his birthday is celebrated in the month of December or in January. At times it falls twice a year as per the Hindu Bikrami Calendar. However, the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh comes on January 5 every year according to the Nanakshahi Calendar.

It is chronicled that after the death of his father Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru felt obliged to organize a community of Sikhs into a saint-soldiers’ community. In the year 1699, he assembled thousands of Sikhs together and addressed a massive audience asking his followers to sacrifice their life for him in his devotion. Not long after, five Sikhs came forward to sacrifice themselves, and the sword of Guru Gobind Singh was completely stained with their blood. To the revelation of the huge audience, Guru came out with those five followers wholly dressed in the Pure or Khalsa uniform. The demonstration given by Guru symbolizes the rebirth of the Sikh community into a complete distinct identity saint-soldiers. After initiating the five sacrificed followers or ‘beloved ones’, into a completely new identification of Khalsa, Guru Gobind Singh requested them to initiate him. In the chronicle of human history, the absolute conversion of a solidified and distinctive community remained a defining and unique moment.

Guru Gobind Singh and his followers were engaged in many battles against several Mughal rulers during his lifetime. During that turbulent period, he lost his mother and four children in fighting for righteousness. Nevertheless, the Khalsa soldiers stood determined as a sovereign and distinct body, and could efficiently withstand their enemies.

Before his death in 1708, he added a few writings to the Sikh scriptures and requested his worshippers to take spiritual guidance out of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs. The words enclosed in Guru Granth Sahib are from now on and will forever be present as their Guru for the Sikhs.

New Year Celebrations

Welcome 2008: New Year New Hope

New Year is a festive occasion for all. Much before the arrival of new year, people start making preparations to celebrate this gala event. The basic idea is to give a warm welcome to the new year and cherish golden moments of the past. New year is perceived differently by people. Some take it as a time to look back and remember the positive happenings in life. They take them as a motivation and promise themselves to keep doing good work in the future as well. Also, they take note of the negativities that had an adverse effect on their level of performance. They do so with the aim of learning from their mistake. While, there are others who crib about the fact that they have lost one more year of their life.

New year celebrations usually revolve around friends and family. It is the time when the entire family gets together and enjoys to the fullest. Special food is prepared, songs are sung and people especially youngsters party. Elderly people share laughter, play games and chitchat. The trend of celebrating New Year is not new, though you can find notable variations in the style of celebration. Infact, when it comes to celebration, as you travel from one region to another, you'll find a great diversity.

The date of New Year varies from country to country like in the US, it is celebrated on the first day in the month of January. China and Israel follow the lunar calendar and celebrate New Year in accordance with the movement of moon around the Earth. There are a couple of countries that celebrate New Year during the spring season when it is the time of growing of fresh crops. Few countries look forward to welcome autumn season for New Year celebrations. New Year is a great occasion for gifting and promotional products are the best giveaways.

Large number of people visit their respective places of worship on the festive period of New Year and offer prayers to the Lord. They seek the blessings of the almighty God with the hope that New Year would bring happiness and prosperity to them. They light candles on the first day of New Year and wish that new year may fill their lives with brightness ad shine. Devotees perform religious dances to appease God. Many people give old clothes and their other belongings as charity to help the poor and needy people. Women adorn their house with Happy New Year banners. DJ nights are organised to mark the beginning of New Year. The entire world rocks and rolls in the New Year party. It is nothing less than an extravaganza that becomes a lifetime memory.

Chatt Pooja

Chatt pooja is a Hindu festival celebrated especially by Biharis. The event occurs twice a year – once, on the sixth day of ‘Chaitra’ (as per the Hindu lunar month) which falls in the month of March and secondly in ‘Kartik‘, which falls in November or remembered as an occasion a week after Diwali. The word “Chatt” means the number six in Hindi It is, however, not concentrated in Bihar but is equally popular in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and in some northeast regions of India. People in parts of Nepal, particularly in the Terai region, also celebrate this festival.

Other parts of India too do not remain untouched by this festive colour. Biharis migrated from their native place to several parts of the country celebrate them with equal zing. Chatt Pooja has been recognised on national level. Where the Delhi government has sanctioned holiday for this day, Mumbai witness unofficial jam packed beaches.

The Chatt festival is dedicated to the Sun god. It is a belief that people worship Sun and thank Him for bestowing the bounties of life in earth and fulfilling their wishes. It is also a faith that the prayers of the devotees on this occasion are always answered; and the sinners get punished for their any wrong doings. It is celebrated for three-four days. During this occasion, the worshipers, usually women, observe ritual purity. They sleep on the floor on a single blanket or a mat. They pray and fast for the well-being of their family and prosperity. On the eve of this festival, houses are scrupulously cleaned. The worshippers observe a fast from dawn to the dusk. On the occasion, the entire family accompanies the worshiper to a ritual bathing and worship of the Sun god, usually on the bank of a river or a large common water body. The devotees take a holy dip.

Throughout the festival, the food prepared is totally vegetarian, without even onions and garlic. On Chatt, women of the family recite regional folk songs and entertain themselves with the family members. Friends and relatives are invited to the household to share the ‘prashad’ of the ritual.

But the question that eggs up in my mind is whether there any specific scientific reason backing the worship of sun during this period of the year?

Bhai Dooj

Bhai dooj is a Hindu festival which is celebrated two days after Diwali, the festival of lights. Bhai dooj (in Hindi), is known as Bhaubeej in Marathi, Bhai beej in Gujarati, Bhai phota in Bengali. It occurs on a new moon night in Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. Usually it falls in October/November.

This festival is celebrated by sisters for the well being and long life of their brothers. They offer prayers and good wishes to their brothers. On the day, sisters worship and pray for their brothers. They put an auspicious tilak, made from vermilion or sandalwood paste, on the forehead of their brothers and perform aarti of theirs as a mark of love and protection from evil forces. If the sister is elder, brother touches her feet and she blesses her brother with rice grains and dubya grass. It is a belief that anyone who receives a tilak from his sister on this day is saved the agony of evils or hell-fire.

Sisiters prepare sumptuous, mouth-watering food including sweets for brothers on Bhai dooj day. In return, brothers offer gifts to their sisters expressing their love on the occasion. Brothers also pledges protection and support to their sisters on the day. On Bhai dooj after the rituals, the family members engage into singing songs, play games and other entertainment that is enjoyed by all.

As per the Hindu mythology, on Bhai dooj day Yamraj, the Lord of Death, visits his sister Yami. She welcomed him warmly and cordially by applying a tilak on his forehead. She prays for his brother’s well being and long life. The festival is celebrated mostly in the northern India.

But now it is being celebrated all over India including , , , . Hindus living in other parts of the world also celebrate this occasion which enhances the bond of love between sisters and brothers.

Diwali

Diwali is one of the major Indian festivals celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and infact all creeds of people. Known as the festival of lights, Diwali is observed on the new moon day of Kartika, as per the Hindu calendar that falls in the months of October and November. The celebrations commence two days prior and ends two days later than this religiously fixed date. Diwali, colloquially called Deepawali, is celebrated exactly 20 days after Dussehra. In 2007, the festival is celebrated on November 9.

People celebrate Diwali by decorating their homes with lights, fireworks, gift-giving, worship, prayers and religious rituals. On the occasion, people purchase gold, gifts and household appliances. People distribute food and sweets as acts of charity during the festival. Companies offer huge discounts on products during Diwali to attract customers. Business communities start their financial year on Diwali and open new account books on this day. Offices and schools remain closed on this day.

The belief is that the Diwali festival marks the victory of good over evil. As per the Hindu mythology, on this day Lord Rama came back from exile and the people of Ayodhya lit lamps to welcome him back home. Hindus also worship Vishnu and Laxmi on the Diwali day. In Jainism, it marks the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, which occurred on Oct. 15, 527 B.C. Jains observe fast and chant the Uttaradhyayan Sutra, which contain the final pravachans of Lord Mahavira. Jains distributes Laddus and sweets in temples during the occasion.

Diwali is celebrated not only in India but all over the world where Hindus, Sikhs and Jains are staying. The festival is celebrated in countries like the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, Suriname, Canada, Guyana, Myanmar, Nepal, Mauritius, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Australia, much of Africa and the United States.

The major concern that this festival draws attention to is the issue of massive air and sound pollution that occurs with bursting crackers. Certain category of crackers have, however, been banned on certain parameters of social and environmental health, but it could not be implemented to full action.

No law can curb this problem until people are willingly conscious about it and generate self awareness, isn’t it?

Durga Pooja

Now Durga Pooja is very much near so its urgently required to put more details of pooja date, pooja process, regional values etc. Also we should start for diwali...

‘Durga Pooja’, the words that runs a thrill in every heart and body of a Bengali is the immensely cherished occasion much awaited throughout the year. Though the essence of this auspicious festival starts from the eastern part of the country (West Bengal), it spreads across every region and religion binding them with a common fervor of celebration.

According to the lunar movements in Hindu Bengali calendar, Durga pooja falls in the autumn months of September/ October. Though the preparations like buying new clothes and setting up and decoration of pandals starts a month ago or before, the celebration mood commences with the Mahalaya, seven days before the main pooja. Mahalaya is the heralding note for the homecoming of Ma Durga as the air gets heavy with the soothing fragrance of shefali flowers and river banks covered with milky white kash grasses.

There are various mythical and religious stories backing the reason for Durga Pooja. Where on one hand it is said that the Adda Shakti was invoked by the trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara to rescue heaven and Gods from the atrocities of demon Mahisasura and so is one of the names of Durga ‘Mahisasura Mardini.’ The other states that it was the time when God Rama invoked her to seek blessings to win over Ravana and is called ‘Akalbodhon’. ;so termed because it is believed to be an uncustomary time of her appearance on earth as conventionally spring is the right time to worship the Goddess, when it is known as Basanti pooja. Tradition also speaks that shorod (autumn) is the time when Ma Durga comes to her father, Himalaya’s abode along with her sons Ganesha and Kartikeya and daughters Laxmi and Saraswati.

Be that as it may but the motif is to rejoice, bask in the culture, spirituality and ultimately ‘eat, drink and be merry’. The four days viz. saptami, ashtami, navami and dashami are enjoyed with utmost zeal and verve. Relatives and friends gather and a feeling of togetherness warm up the atmosphere. Wearing that exclusive dress each day, visiting every pandal to see the idols and partying till the wee hours of night revives all that zing in life which people tends to loose in their daily chores.

The last day of the event is Bijoy Dashami or Dusshera. Married women prepare special sweet dishes for their beloved Mother like naru, takti etc, offers it to her and smear other women with vermillion. The day ends with Visarjan i.e. immersing the idol in river or pond which, however, starts with an enthusiastic possession of the idol till the river bank but bidding adieu leaves behind a sense of emotional loss in everyone with the only hope that our Ma will return again the next year with all her blessings and love.