August
Fairs & Festivals
JANMASHTAMI (All over India)
The birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu is observed
all over India. It is celebrated with great fervour at Mathhura and Brindavan
where Lord Krishna spent his childhood. Night long prayers are offered and religious
hymns are sung in temples. Scenes are enacted from Lord Krishna's life.
In Maharashtra, earthen pots of curd and butter are hung high up over the streets.
Young men enacting an episode from Krishna's childhood form human pyramids by
climbing on each others shoulders and try to break these pots.
ONAM (Kerala)
Onam
is Kerala's most popular festival, celebrated with great enthusiasm. It is primarily
a harvest festival celebrated to welcome the spirit of the pious King Mahabali
from eternal exile and to assure him that his people are happy and wish him
well. At trichur, caparisoned, elephants take part in a spectacular procession.
There is also a maginificent display of fireworks. At Shoranur, appreciative
crowds gather on the green where colourfully dressed Kathakali dancers re-enact
the well-loved stories of the epic heroes and virtuous women.
On the second day of the festival, every home is lit bright and decorated in
preparation for the visit of King Mahabali. Greetings are exchanged and lengths
of auspicious saffron cloth are presented by friends to one another.
The Vallumkali (boat race) is one of the main attractions of Onam, and is best
seen at Aranmulai and Kottayam. About a hundred oarsmen row huge and graceful
odee (boats). Oars dip and flash to the rhythum of drums and cymbals in each
boat. The songs are generally topical in character and concern people well known
in Malabar. Above each boat gleam scarlet silk umbrellas, their number denotes
the affluence of the family owning the boat. Gold coins and tassels hang from
the umbrellas.
NAG PANCHAMI (West Bangal, Maharashtra and South India)
Nag Panchami is the festival when snakes, the symbols of energy and prosperity
are worshipped. In Maharashtra, snake charmers go from house to house with dormant
cobras ensconced in cane baskets, asking for alms and clothing. Women offer
milk and cooked rice to the snakes and gather around to see the snakes spread
their hoods to the tune of the pungi. Clay snakes are brought home to be worshipped
by day and immersed in the sea in the evening. In southern India, particularly
in Kerala, snake temples are crowded on this day and worship is offered to stone
or metal icons of the cosmic serpent Ananta or Shesha.
RAKSHABANDHAN (North India)
This is Hindu sister's day when brothers and sisters reaffirm their bonds of
affections. Sisters tie colourful threads or rakhis on their brothers' wrists.
The brothers in turn promise to protect their sisters and give them gifts.
GANESH
CHATURTHI (Maharasthra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka)
Ganesha Chaturthi is an important festival in India, especially in Maharashtra
dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the elephant headed God to all good beginnings and
success. It is believed that Lord Ganesha was born on this day and every chaturthi
is considered auspicious. Thousands of clay idols of Lord Ganesha are made in
every size, pose, form and colour and worshipped at community or family festivals
which last between one to ten days. These images are then taken in large processions,
amidst the rhythm of bells and drums and immersed in flowing water.
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