Hindu Festivals are mainly related with the religious events. The new year's day of those who follow the solar calendar falls on the vernal equinox (Vishu) in mid-April. There is no common new year's day for those {mostly in the North) who observe the lunar calendar. In
Gujarat, the first day of the year is the one following
Diwali and for some communities it is the first day of the month of Visakha in the Hindu calendar.
Hindus have festivals on the new and full moon. The festival on the New Year is called
Pongal when the sun enters Capricorn around 12th of January. Pongal lasts for three days and sometimes lasts even longer. The first day is the Bhoga-Pongal is held when relatives and friends invite each other to entertainments and spend the time by enjoying with each other. Second day is the Perum Pongal which takes place in honour of the sun. Third day is the Mattu Pongal or the Cow Pongal. Early in the morning the cultivators sprinkle water on the corn of their fields. In the afternoon the cows and bulls are washed, their horns painted, they are dressed with trappings of leaves, flowers and coconuts. They are brought where the cow-keepers sprinkle saffron, water and mango-leaves upon them.
The Durga-Puja, or Dussehra, Diwali and the
Ayudha Puja are important festivals of the Hindus. Durga Puja is celebrated in honour of Goddess
Parvati. Ayudha Puja is celebrated in honour of the tools and instruments with which the people earn their livelihood.
An annual car festival is merriment to all sections. The chief gods of a particular temple are brought out and placed on large pyramidal cars which are decorated with flags. These cars are dragged through the streets by several worshippers. The people offer money, grain, fruits, flowers and cloths, which the priests receive.
In
Tamil Nadu the people of every village hold a feast in the honour of Aiyanar. This feast is held after the first or the second harvest and lasts for seven to nine days. The images of Aiyanar and his wives are decorated and they are taken out in the street processions.
The birthdays of different deities are significant festivals of the Hindus which are celebrated according to the lunar calendar.
Janmashtami is a significant festival which is celebrated on the birthday of
Lord Krishna. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the fading moon of Shravana. Rama Navami celebrates the birthday of
Lord Rama on the ninth day of the bright half of
Phalguna.
Ganesh Chaturthi mainly observed in
Maharashtra is observed on the fourth day of the diminishing moon in Bhadra pada.
Navaratriis the first nine days of the month of Asvina. It has significance in different parts of India. The tenth day,
Dussehra, is considered as Vijayadasami. Vijayadasami is venerated as the day of victory, when people in the North burn effigies of
Ravana, the evil power according to the sacred Hindu epic
Ramayana and his younger brother,
Kumbhakarna. In the South
Goddess Saraswati is most famous and Navaratri is celebrated in South Indian households with a display of dolls.
Diwali is the festival of lights which occurs in the, month of Karthika. Every house is illuminated with small diyas.
Onam is an important festival of
Kerala which is associated with Vamana, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, who banished the asura emperor, Bali, to the nether world. Basant Panchami is the festival that occurs in the season of spring. The festival of
Holi symbolizes the destruction by fire of evil personified by Holika, the demon sister of Hiranyakashipu. The festival of Sivaratri is observed in the month of Magha. It is observed in honour of Lord Siva.
The different festivals reveal the socio-cultural diversities of the different communities owing their origin from the Hindu religion. The festivals not only reveal the diversities, but also point to the cultural significance of the different communities living in the sacred abode of India.
