India is a hotbed for Hindu festivals. And were not talking about pokey little gatherings for alternatives like we have in the US and Europe. We’re talking full scale events attended by thousands of people.
Hindus have a reputation for tradition, auspicious occasions and colorful temples. Their festivals are no different and encompass many aspects of Hindu life and religious beliefs.
Furthermore, many Hindu festivals are countrywide and celebrated by people from every region. In this article, we celebrate the passion, the history and the legends from which the top Hindu festivals were born.
Diwali
Diwali is without doubt the most popular Hindu festival. Commonly known as the ‘Festival of Lights,’ the five-day extravaganza is held to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. The origins of the festival come from the legend of Lord Rama who rescues his wife, Sita from the clutches of the demon King Ravana.
The festival marks the return of Rama, his wife and brother, to the Kingdom of Ayodhya after their 14 years of exile in the wilderness. Upon their return, Rama is crowned king.
During the festival, people decorate their houses with clay lamps, Ashok leaves and candles. Fireworks brighten up the night sky. Shops and markets bustle with people buying new clothes to mark the festive occasions.
Diwali is held around the night of the new moon in the Hindu lunisolar calendar, sometime between mid-October and November.
Holi
Holi is arguably the most famous of the Hindu festivals because it is the most colorful and photogenic. Known as the ‘Festival of Colors” the two-day event involves throwing paint powder at one another and dancing under water sprinklers.
The festival celebrates the spring harvest and there is a fervent and carefree attitude when gatherers forget their responsibilities and troubles for two days. It is common for some people to consume Bhang, a potent paste made from cannabis plant.
On the eve of the festival, family and friends gather to build a Holika bonfire. They typically party and dance and sing well into the night. The following day, the real fun begins as people go wild with paint powder, water pistols and balloon bombs filled with water.
Ganesh Chaturthi
The birth of the popular elephant-headed deity, Lord Ganesh is honored in a marathon 11-day festival. Held in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada sometime around August and September, Hindus install statues and podiums of Ganesh in their homes and worship the God throughout the period of the festival.
At the end of the festival, villagers parade through the streets with their Ganesh statues and walk down to the ocean or river to submerge in water and be cleansed. Lord Ganesh is known as the remover and the submergence in water is symbolic of removing sins, woes and troubles.
Onam
Another marathon Hindu festival is Onam which takes place in Kerala between August and September. The festival marks the return of the legendary King Mahabali who reigned over Kerala during the states golden era.
During the 10 days of celebration, people prepare a wide variety of dishes and decorate their houses with flowers arranged in pretty patterns known as ‘onnapookkalam.’ It is also tradition to buy new clothes for the occasion.
Krishna Janmashtami
The festival of Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated in the Hindu month of Bhadrapad on the 8th day of Krishna Paksha. The celebrations honor Lord Krishna, arguably the most popular God of the Hindu pantheon.
During the festival, worshippers generally fast for the day and prepare delicacies made from milk products as an offering to Lord Krishna. In the evening people gather in the temples and at the stroke of midnight pray to mark the hour of day the miracle child was born.
Raksha Bandhan
Hindus have close family ties and one of the festivals in India that teach young children to respect one another from an early age is the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
As with most Hindu festivals, the event is inspired by the mythological story of Queen Draupadi and Lord Krishna. Krishna was injured during a battle, and Queen Draupadi rushed to his aid by tying a torn piece of cloth from her sari around his wrist to prevent the bleeding. The tradition for the Raksha Bandhan is for sisters to tie a holy piece of thread around the wrist of their brother.
Navaratri & Durga Pooja
Although this festival is celebrated all over India, it goes by different names. In East India it is known as Durga Pooja in honor of the Goddess Durga, the consort of Lord Shiva. In the rest of the country, the name given for the festival is Navaratri, which in sanskrit means ‘nine nights.’
In Hindu myth, Durga, also known as Shakti, is the slayer of demons and the nine-day festival is symbolic of overcoming the animal instincts of our lower consciousness. It is held during Ashvina of the lunar calendar – end of September and beginning of October.
During the nine-day festival, it is customary to fast. The tenth day is called Vijayadashami and is dedicated to Lord Rama to mark the Gods victory of the demon King Ravana.
Maha Shivaratri
Otherwise known as ‘The Night of Shiva,” the Maha Shivaratri celebrates the legends of Shiva, one of the Hindu Trimurti. Shiva is known as the destroyer because of his ability to destroy ego.
The festival is held on the moonless night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun around February-March time. It is a ritual to fast and worship the shiva lingam. Many worshippers will only eat fruit and drink milk, rather than water.
It is believed that by fasting and honoring Shiva, worshippers will be absolved of sins whereby they can be liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth. The auspicious day involves rising early in the morning and taking a ritual bath in the river, then dressing in new clothes and attending the temple and pouring a mix of milk, honey and water over the shiva lingam.
What is your favorite Hindu festival? Leave a comment in the field below and tell us about your experience – and which festivals you will be enjoying this year!
