Delhi temple festivals are celebrated with much zest and jollity. Beside rituals and religious offerings, merrymaking and feasting plays an important role in these festivals. India`s annual religious celebrations are a large part of Delhi`s multicultural social life, and it`s well worth trying to experience the city`s bustle of rowdy activity, conventional dances and vibrant costumes. In addition, several Delhi temple festivals are specific to the capital, when performers gather for music, dance and drama events.
Lohri is one of the major Delhi temple festivals, usually held on 13th January. In this festival, the climax of winter is celebrated with bonfires and singing. Traditionally, Lohri festival is celebrated to mark the end of winter. Makar Sankranti is an important Delhi temple festival, accompanied by the famous Kite-Flying Festival in January. The kites are flown from the green lawns above Palika Bazaar, Connaught Place and this colourful extravaganza attracts national as well as international participants.
Basant Panchami, an essential Delhi temple festival, is held on 2nd February and the biting winter winds continue till the end of January-early February, when the Hindu festival of Basant Panchami cordially welcomes the spring. Basant Panchami is the season when the prestigious Mughal gardens behind Rashtrapati Bhavan are opened to the public for a month. Thyagaraja Festival is held in the month of February in Vaikunthnath temple. An enthusiastic display of south Indian music and dance accompanies this festival. Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the `Amavasya` night of `Phalguna`. During this Delhi temple festival, Lord Shiva is worshipped at temples with all night vigils and prayers and unmarried women keep daylong fasts so that Shiva may grant them good husbands.
Baisakhi is a Delhi temple festival, celebrated in mid-April just as the sun begins to get fierce and the dusty winds indicate summer. It is referred as the beginning of the harvest season. Buddha Jayanti is held in May and the first full moon night in May marks the birth of the Lord Buddha. Prayer meetings are held at Buddha Vihar, Ring Road and Mandir Marg. Buddha Purnima is the month of `Vaisakha`, commemorates Lord Buddha`s birth, his `Enlightenment` and gaining `Nirvana`. Mahavir Jayanti is another Delhi temple festival, celebrated in May. The day marks the birth of Lord Mahavira, who founded Jainism and is celebrated around this time of the year with prayers and processions.
Phoolkwalon-ki-Sair, held in October is a festival specific to Mehrauli. This is the Flower Sellers Procession, originated in the 16th century. The decorated floral fans are blessed at the shrine of the 13th century Sufi saint, Khwaja Utb-ud-din Bakhtyar Kaki and at the Hindu temple of Jogmaya, both in Mehrauli. Guru Purab is held in the winter months and it is the celebration of the birth of first of the ten Sikh gurus, Guru Nanak. `Nagar Kirtans` are taken out through the streets and in the Gurdwaras; `Granthees` narrate verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs. The Delhi temple festivals are of great significance in north India and most of the people indulge in majestic merrymaking during these festivities.
