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FESTIVALS AND FAIRS
Eternal India
encyclopedia
ONE-DAY FAST
VOWS AND OBSERVANCES
KUMBHA MELA
Kumbha
means water pot. The four blessed places are
Haridwar, Pragaya, Ujjain and Nasik, held in 12-year ro-
tation.
Kumbha
fair is the most magnificent festival with
people from all walks of life participating. In spite of
preparations a month ahead stampedes are frequent. Con-
tinuous recitation and reading of scriptures, epics and
puranas
is done.
THE ECLIPSE
Devotees bathe and offer libations to departed souls and
also offer water to sun and moon. Charities and devotions
practised. Until the time when sun and moon is clear
neither food* nor water is taken. Widows,
Sadhus
and
medicants observe strict fast; the people in general prohib-
ited from sleeping, going to toilet and touching the image
of the deity.
MAL-MAS
Also called
Adhikmas
or
Purushottammas.
The month in
which the Sun does not move from one position or sign
into the other. It occurs after every 32 months, 16 days
and 4 ghaties. Religious ceremonies are prohibited, fasts
observed and charities practised. According to
Puranas
33 crore gods and goddesses descend to places making
them sacred and places of pilgrimage.
SATYANARAYANA VRATA
Can be observed either on
Sankranti, Ekadashi
or
Ama-
vasys
or
Puranmasi.
Lord of truth-Vishnu is worshipped.
Fast is observed. Prasad is distributed. This enables self-
purification and self-surrender at the lotus feet of Hari.
PRADOSHA VRATA
Pradosha
means dusk. Observed on the 13th day of each
lunar fortnight in honour of Lord Shiva. Devotees fast,
bath and put on clean clothes and sit in a sanctified place
for worship. He should sit on
Kusha
grass facing east. He
should offer 16 acts of homage to Shiva with seasonal
flowers, leaves, fruits, lamps, ets., Night vigil should be
kept and
Pradosha - Stotra
from
Shandu Purana
recited.
SOMVAR VRATA
Somvar
means Monday. Monday fast is observed termi-
nating late afternoon.
"Om Namah Shivaya"
mantra is
repeated on this day. Observed for sixteen Mondays ter-
minating in ritual ceremony. A cow or calf is gifted to
a Brahmin.
MANGALVAR VRATA
Mangalvar
means Tuesday. Fast is observed, Hanuman
is worshipped and a coat of Vermilion and ghee is mixed
and applied on Hanuman's idols. After puja fast is broken
with sweets. Only one meal is taken and without salt.
SHUKRAVAR VRATA
Shukravar
means Friday. Lakshmi is worshipped with
white flowers, white raiments and
naivedya
(ghee and
sugar). People fast and observe
jagran
at night.
RAMZAN AND ID-UL-FITR.
The month of Ramzan is sacred. Devout Muslims keep
strict fast during the day, after sunset Namaz is offered and
then fast is broken, and continues for about a month
beginning with a new moon and ends with the next moon.
SANTOSHI MATA VRAT
Santoshi Ma is the Goddess of peace; any person who
believes in Her and fasts on Friday and performs
puja
with
devotion and proper rituals gets his or her wish fulfilled.
"Udapan",
a puja is performed by offering the Goddess
sweets, fruits and food and feeding of 7 small children. No
member of the house should eat non-vegetarian food or
anything sour until the vrat is over. After the
"Udapan"
the prasad of food and fruits can be given to friends.
*
Jan./Feb.
Sakata Chauth
Fourth day of the dark half of
Magha
-Birth day of
Lord Ganesh - ensures wisdom, trouble- free life and
prosperity.
Maghi Purnima
Full moon day
Magha -
great bathing day.
*
Feb./March
Shivaratri
Fourteenth day of the dark half of
Phalguna -
called
the "Night of Shiva" offered in honour of Lord Shiva.
Amalaka Ekadashi
Eleventh day of
Phalguna
- the Amla tree is wor-
shipped showing the role of trees in our lives.
* March/April
Gangaur
18-day festival in honour of Goddess Parvati.
Ramanavami
9-day festival; Birthday of Lord Rama.
Mahavir Jayanti
On 13th day of the bright half of
Chaitra
Month, the
birth of Lord Mahavira.
Hanuman Jayanti
On
Chaitra Shukla Purnima -
full moon day; Birth-
day of God Hanuman.
Akshya Tritiya
On third day of bright half of
Vaisakha
observed to
secure longevity.
Parshurama Jayanti
Birthday of
Parshurama
or Rama with Axe.
Janaki Navami
Ninth day of the bright half of
Vaisakha.
The day on
which Sita was found when king Janaka was plough-
ing the field.
Ramzan
The Muslims fast during the day in the holy month
breaking the fast at midnight and ends at next moon.
*
April/May
Baisakhi
During the
Vaisakha
month on thirteenth of April.
Observed in Punjab.
Narashima Jayanti
On the fourteenth day of bright half of
Vaisakha
Vishnu incarnated as Narasimha - Man - Lion.
Buddha Purnima
On
Vaisakha Poornima,
Birthday of Lord Buddha.
Vata Savitri
On the 13th day of the dark fortnight of
Jyaishtha/
Jyaishtha Purnima.
Nirlaja Ekadashi
On every eleventh day of the bright and dark half of
the month 24
Ekadashis
per year.
Guru Vyasa Purnima
On full moon day of
Ashadha
for the veneration and
worship of Guru Vyasa.
Good Friday
The Christian people commemorate the crucifixion
and death of lesus Christ. This day fasts are observed.
*
July/Aug.
Nag Panchami
5th day of the bright half of Shravana, Nagas, Cobras
and Snakes are worshipped.
Putrada Ekadashi
11th day of the bright half of Shravana dedicated to
Lord Vishnu.
*
Aug/Sept.
Haritalika Teej
Third day of bright half of Bhadra in honour of God-
dess Parvati.
Rishi Panchami
On the fifth day of bright half of
Bhadra
dedicated to
the seven seers of
Sapta Rishis.
Janmashtami
On the eighth day of the black half of
Bhadra
-
Birthday of Lord Krishna eighth incarnation of Vishnu.
Hala Shashti
On the sixth day of dark half
Bhadra
- Birthday of
Balram - Lord Krishna's elder brother.
Radha Ashtami
On the eighth day of the dark fortnight of
Bhadra-
Birthday of Radha-incamation of Lakshmi.
Anant Chaturdashi
On the 14th day of the bright fortnight of
Bhadra -
Vishnu sleeps on the bed of Ananta in the milky ocean
when he is worshipped.
Partyshana Parva
Jain festival from the dark half of the month from the
13th day to the 5th day of the bright half -for 8 days
signifies man's emergence into a new moral and spiri-
tual world.
Dhan Tears
On the 13th day of the half of
Kartika -
the day
attributed to the father of Indian science of medicine
and
Ayurveda
- Dhanvantri.
Narak Chaturdashi
On the 14th day of the dark half of
Kartika
dedicated
to Yama - god of Naraka or Hell.
Bhaiya Duj
2nd day of bright fortnight of
Kartika
- symbolises the
affection between brother and sister.
Kartika Snan
Month of
Kartika -
most suitable month for acts of
piety.
* October/November
Tulsi Vivahotsava
Kartika Shukla Ekadashi
- the eleventh day of the
bright half of Kartika .
Surya Shashti
Sixth day of the bright fortnight of
Kartika
to ensure
good health, longevity & happiness.
Karva Chauth
Fourth day of the dark half of
Kartika-
married ladies
to ensure prosperity, sound health and longevity of
their husbands.
Devuthani Ekadashi
Eleventh day of Kartika - Marks the beginning of
eating new products of the fields.
Karthika Poornima
Month of
Margashirha
- eleventh day of bright and
dark fortnights Sikhs celebrate as Guru Nanak's birth-
day and Hindus as the day when God incarnates as
Fish.
*
Nov./Dec.
Vaitrani Vrata
Eleventh day of the dark half of Margashirha - A black
cow is worshipped - crossing the impetuosity of river
Vaitarani.
*
Dec./Jan.
Rukmani Ashtam
Eighth day of the dark half of
Pausha.
Rukmani's
Birthday, Lord Krishna's wife.
Mauni Amavasya - Fifteenth day of the dark fortnight
of Magha most sacred of Hindu months - Lord Vishnu
is worshipped and peepal tree circumambulated.
* * *