Holidays and Festivals Hinduism

Holi Arrival of spring Commemorates various events in Hindu mythology; King who forbid his son to worship Vishnu Son continued to offer prayers Forced his son to sit on fire with his aunt who is immune to fire Prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe Emerged from fire without a scar, aunt turned to ashes

Holi Cont… Shiva and Madana Love between Krishna and Radha Madana, god of love, tests Shiva’s resolve during meditation Madana disguises herself as a nymph Shiva recognizes this and shoots fire out of his third eye; Madana turns to ashes Love between Krishna and Radha Krishna complained to his mother that he was so dark and Radha was fair Mother advised him to apply color to Radha’s face

Holi Cont… Rituals Two days Loosening of social restrictions Bura na mano, Holi hai (don’t feel offended, its Holi) First night; public bonfire to commemorate the aunt Everyone gathers in the street and its mayhem! Throwing and applying of colored water and powders on friends and family

Holi Cont…

Holi

Diwali New Year and festival of lights Return of Rama and Sita Welcomes Lakshmi Bengal and Northern India: Kali and return of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman to Ayodyha

Diwali Cont… Five days Gambling Ensure good luck for upcoming year Game of dice played by Shiva and Pavrati Fourth day marks the new year Exchanging gifts Religious ceremonies Decorating houses Feasting Fireworks New clothes Lakshmi comes to every house lit with a lamp to bring wealth and prosperity

Navaratri “Nine nights” Three days devoted to a different female deity Durga small bed of mud prepared in puja room on tenth day, small shoots are pulled out and given to people as blessing from gods manifestations worshipped representing classes of womanhood Kumari Parvati Kali Lakshmi Gather and display all literature available in house and light a lamp to invoke Saraswati

Navaratri Saraswati Holy fire is lit Feasting and fasting Ghee Rice Seeds are offered to the fire Mahanavami Culminates Navratri with nine young girls’ feet washed and offered new clothes Feasting and fasting Religious dances in the evening

Kumbh Mela Began thousands of years ago Rituals Gods and demons agreed to work together to share the nectar of immortality equally When the urn containing the nectar appeared, the demons ran away with it and were chased by gods For 12 days/nights the gods and demons fought Nectar fell to four places, where this festival is observed Rituals Most sacred of all pilgrimages (every 12 years) Devotees perform at intersection of the Ganges and Yamuna Rives Ritual bath Clad with saffron sheets (some could be naked) Powder dabbed on skin

Kumbh Mela

Ganesha-Chaturthi Birthday of Ganesh Lifelike clay model of Ganesh made 2-3 months prior to the festival Rituals Raised on platforms in homes or elaborately decorated outside tents Lasts ten days Priest, dressed in red, chants mantras invoking life into the idol Idol is anointed with red sandal paste Vedic Hymns from the Rig Veda are chanted On 11th day, image is taken through the streets with a procession of dancing and singing

Ganesh

Ganesha-Chaturthi

Raksha Bandan Raksha Bandhan Celebration in India Bonds of love between brother and sister Many stories in Hindu history that support the traditions Traditional ceremony performed Sister ties rakhi (holy thread) on wrist of her brother Elder brother offers a gift to sister and vows to look after her Feed each other sweets