Importance of Women in Indian Festivals  in relation with the "Generational Shift in Traditional Indian Culture from Global Influence Group 1- Members: Yumina Bashir Shivendu Bhalla Angela Ampomah Stephanie Borruso Jason Cheru LAC 1000-Language and Culture Professor Nita Yajnik

Introduction In India, festivals are the celebration of togetherness, of being a community. Indian festivities have always been inspiring to women all over the world. A prominent reason maybe that women are highly involved in all the festivities. In present day, the concepts have altered to enhance it into a celebration. In this article we will speak of the different Indian festivals and the significance women hold in Karwa Chauth, Holi, Deewali, Raksha Bandhan, and Navarati. Although media has provided a great platform in the sense that it brings cultural awareness, it has also portrayed some indirect negative feedback analyses as well Today, for some women, it may be a trend, for others it's pure dedication, while many simply perform it because women reflect the household. Hindus have always believed in worshiping the male and female aspect of God together and that Sri Ram was also a devoted husband. No one remembers the rituals with only Seeta Ram or Radha Krishna.  

Karwa Chauth Karwa Chauth, is an annual one day fast that married women celebrate this fast with great dedication and pray for the longevity of their husbands. The fast is observed during the month of Karthik on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha. In Hindi, Karwa translates to a clay oiled lamp, whereas Chauth means the fourth.  There are many references and tales of the karwa chauth that have been told in the Indian culture. A beautiful queen named Veervati was the only sister of seven caring brothers. The sister was mistaken and later learned that her brothers had tricked her into breaking her fast. As soon as she ate, she heard that her husband had passed away. She was asked her to complete the fast with full devotion once more. When Veervati repeated the fast, Yama was forced to restore her husband to life. Like all other Hindu fasts, the karwa chauth fast also has a spiritual and religious importance. After worship, rice, black gram pulse, a comb, a mirror, vermilion, bangles, and henna are put on a plate, along with fruits and kept ready till the fast is broken. In modern Hindu cities, Karva Chauth is now taken to be a passionate festival, not only symbolizing the love between a husband and wife but also between two unmarried partners. As seen in my media links (videos), it has been numerously been celebrated in bollywood films. My link is from the film “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jainge”; in the clip it is seen that the unmarried woman indicates her love for a man by keeping the fast for him and he also secretly fasts for her showing equal compassion. It is also seen how he breaks the fast for her by feeding her when the moon is visible. Many news coverages have shown couples, famous or infamous, keeping a fast because it signifies a strong bonding. Karva chauth has been referred to as a representation of cultural oppression of women by some Indian feminists. Others, however, have called the festival authorizing for women because Karva Chauth allows them to show their love for the husband and in a way honor the beautiful marital relationship.

Holi the festival of colors The word 'Holi' originated from 'Holika' sister of Hiranyakashipu The festival of Holi is celebrated because of a story in the old Hindu religion. In Vaishnavism, Hiranyakashipu is the great king of demons, and he had been granted a boon by Brahma, which made it almost impossible for him to be killed. Hiranyakashipu, grew arrogant and wanted people to worship him and not the gods.

Hiranyakashipu, even tried to kill his own son because he was a devotee of lord Vishnu who saved him. Hiranyakashipu, ordered young Prahlada to sit on a pyre in the lap of Holika, Hiranyakashipu's demoness sister, who also could not die because she had a boon preventing her from being burned by fire. Prahlada readily accepted his father's orders, and prayed to Lord Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika burnt to death, while Prahlada survived unharmed The salvation of Prahlada and burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi

Holi Today Most of the people today don’t knows the true story why we celebrate Holi. Nowadays people just put color on each other and get together to eat and celebrate. Some people actually do the special prayer on this day and burn the bushes of the tree which is called burning of Holika. The ladies in the family make the Rangoli which is just the designs with the colors and as the days pass by we see the colors fade.

The Festival of Navaratri The festival of the Maha Navaratri takes place during nine consecutive nights of the Ashvin on the Hindu Calendar Special Navaratris occur multiple times throughout the year, but the most widely celebrated is the Maha Navaratri. Celebrates the Shakti with 3 3-day devotions to her forms of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Each region that celebrates this festival have their own unique customs to honor the goddesses, but the most traditional forms of celebration are dressing elegantly and colorfully, singing and dancing, and fasting. This festival is also understood to be the celebration and honor of motherhood, and respect for women’s roles in society.

The Festival of Navaratri Garba, and the more complex Dandiya dancing are traditional and well known dances that are performed during the festival. These dances are still significant today, especially in Gujarat. Traditionally they are performed to accompany devotional songs, but with global influences they are performed with various styles of music. People may also add improvised steps to the dances. The Dandiya, historically was performed by men only, but in more recent times women also participate. It is believed that the dance, which used sticks and complex steps and movements were a form of swordfight practice. The dress code for performing women are three piece ghagras, while performing men wear dhotis and aangrakha. According to Sumesh on wordpress.com, traditionalists do not like the commercialization of devotional song and dance as they deviate from their original forms.

Raksha Bandhan Rakhi is basically a sacred thread of protection embellished with the love and affection of a sister for her brother This day is also known as a Raksha Bandhan and celebrated n the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravana in India

Raksha Bandhan The festival of Raksha Bandhan is entirely dedicated to the love and affection shared between a brother and sister On this day, sisters pray for long life of their brothers and ask God to bless them his blessings

Resources: Karva Chauth Articles: http://www.karwachauth.com/tradition-of-fast.html http://www.karwachauth.com/karwa-chauth-article.html Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS67mWZKfCs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLwVeu2NmgM Holi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFx87ILa3IY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOnvh3y9J_  Navrati: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/navaratri.shtml http://festivals.iloveindia.com/navratri/garba.html http://www.netglimse.com/holidays/navaratri/the_different_navaratris.shtml Diwali http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-diwali.htm http://www.diwalifestival.org/diwali-festival-in-india.html