Bandi Festival

Festivals are really important for our lives life is really incomplete without festivals, one of the most famous and wonderful festival of Sikh Community is Bandi Festival This festival is very popular and well known all over the India mainly in Punjab. People welcome it with great enthusiasm and fun as it fills them with new energy and gives them a wonderful reason to celebrate life.

Bandi Festival comes in the month of October and November, very significant festival of Sikh Community. this festival is celebrated on the occasions of the arrival of very famous Sikh Guru to Amritsar, he reached there on the day of the Diwali so this is the another important reason, making Bandi Festival the most important festival of the Sikh Community.



On this day there is great joy every where,in fact it is called Diwali of Sikhs. The day begins with wonderful preparations as the people clean their houses and do so much of decoration like they put flowers and beautiful lights on the houses. There is a wave of happiness and pleasure around.

On this day the people gather and perform so many activities like they celebrate the day with the traditional folk dance Bhangra s every one wants to celebrate this festival with true spirit. People got to the temple and perform long prayers specially to Golden Temple, and pray for the blessings for well being of the family. In the evening time the people use to add more pleasure to this festival by playing with crackers and fireworks.

Guru Purab or Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Purab or Guru Nanak Jayanti is a festival that is celebrated wit great enthusiasm specially in North India Punjab and Haryana, this festival is basically followed by Sikh Population, but people through out the India have great belief on it .This day is known as the Birth Day of Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev ji, and one of the most sacredfestival of Sikhs, all the festivities of Sikhs revolve round 10 Sikh Gurus..



The Gurus were the first responsible for shaping and giving new directions to the beliefs of sikhs, there is a spread of divinity everywhere because their birthdays are known as Gurpurabs, a big occasion for celebrations, as their is festivity all around. Founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev ji was the first Guru, he was born on 14 April 1469, in the present Shekhupura District of Pakistan, in Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi.

Now it is called Nankana Sahib, the birthday falls on Kartik Poornima, that is the day of the full moon, GuruNanak's Birthday usually comes In the month of November. On this day big procession of Guru Granth Sahib is wonderfully decorated with beautiful flowers, large crowd is there to follow the procession with religious songs. This procession is led by Panj Pyaras.

They carry Sikh flag that is called Nishan Sahib along with the palki, there are 'Gatka' teams (martial arts) that shows their amazing swordmanship, with all the devotees that sing the chorus. Their is afree communal lunch called "Langar", the religious societies serve the food and sweets, that is offered to people so many volunteers and people join this to spread the divine feeling of Seva and Bhakti.

Mahaveer Jayanti

Most important festival of India, and very significant festivals of Jains. This festival is celebrated in the month of March and April every year. Lord Mahaveer was born on this day, he was the founder of Jain religion . On this very pure and divine day people go to temple to perform prayers, they worship tirthankars along with their religious Gurus like acharya bhikshu, acharya 108 Sri vardhamansagarji muni maharaj ,mahapragji and , swasti sri charukeerthi bhattaraka swamiji, .



Mahaveer Jayanti is celebrated with full enthusiasm and joy all over the India, people from all parts of the country come and visit Girnar palitana in Gujarat,Parshwnath temple in Calcutta. Lord Mahaveer is the son of Trisala and Siddhartha, his father Siddhartha a king of kundalpur.Queen trishala was known as priyakarni..Their is a story behind as Lord Mahaveera left his palace, parents, friends and money.

He gave up all his wealth and beacame a monk, lord Mahaveer gave up all his wealth to the poor and the needy, ,he sacrificed his life helping those who are in need, he went to Jungle, Lord Mahaveer was very kind and his nature was very simple, his life was very pure and simple, he followed the path of truth and lived his life with full honesty .

Lord Mahaveera has a view people can take their souls and make them more near to the god by practising non violence, Jainism has two sects shvetambaras and the digambaras, further divided into deravasis and sthanakvasis, the Deravasis worship statue of Mahaveer and Sthanakvasis believe on internalisation of the faith.On Mahaveer Jayanti people from Jain community form parties and various type of programs are to be organised by them.

Akshaya Tritiya

Among the Hindus there are "Golden Four Days " who really termed as very auspicious they are Akshaya Tritiya, Vijayadashami, Balipaadyami and Ugadi. THe devotes pray for their good luck and fortune following and observing certain rituals. These festivals give them a chance to get the right energy and power to commence their life with a new spirit. Akshaya Tritiya is termed as very auspicious day for Hindus.



The word Akshaya Tritiya has a meaning Akshaya means something that never diminishes and Tritiya means the third day, the significance is that it falls on the third day of Vaisakha, it is the first month of Hindu Calendar, this day brings the sun and the moon bright simultaneously. Akshaya Tritiya is popularly known by several names as Akshaya Trutheeya, Akshaya Trithi and it is world wide famous as Akha Teej.

This day is so divine and considered as most important day for the beginning of new business etc. This day brings ultimate luck, fortune and prosperity , any one can start any of his activity from this day as this day is considered as very fortunate, Vedic Astrologers form the belief that on this day wedding can be conducted any time and there is no need of any particular Shubh Mahurat .

Akshaya Tritiya is very divine day, the hindus wait for this whole year and they look forward to commence new things from this very day, on this day temples of Char Dham Yatra and Badri Kedar Yatra are opened for devotees, they offer prayers and good luck and blessings for the whole of their life, there are so many reasons that make this day so divine the legends mention that.

Culture, fairs and festivals of India

Fairs and festivals brings new energy and charm in our lives they bring us a reason to smile and celebrate. Festivals are major attractions of the country they reflect the vibrant culture, India is a large country preserving the culture and heritage, it proudly reflects the feeling of togetherness of people through the means of celebrating festivals. Indian tourism industry gives a significant place to fairs and festivals are people from across the globe come and witness its proudly preserved and cared heritage and culture.



Festivals are deep rooted in traditions, myths and religious beliefs. They bring colours to our life. In India every season comes with a gift of festival, as spring season brings Holi and Mewar festival , when the monsoon arrives it brings Teej the most awaited festival of Rajasthan. In south parts Bihu in Assam and Onam in Kerala are celebrated with great enthusiasm in occassion of harvesting season.

There is a chain of festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Christmas, Durga Puja, Janmastami. There is konark Dance Festival that specifically promotes culture of India. Other popular festivals of India are Ram Nabami and Vasant Panchami, some different festivals like Elephant Festival and Desert Festival.The festival that shows love and affection of brother and sister is Raksha Bandhan. Special and world known festivals of India are Dusssehra and Diwali .

There is a variety of festivals and a large number of fairs occur from time to time, they are world wide people from all parts of world specially plans their vacations to come here and enjoy the warmth of these beautiful festivals.Surajkund Crafts Fair, Pushkar Fair and Urs Ajmer Fair are hot favourites, grand Goa Carnival and Kumbh Mela are most awaited festivals of people.

Baisakhi

With a different accent and flavour, spreads fun everywhere well this is a festival of Baisakhi, that is celebrated all over the India.It comes on the first state of Baisakh, actually this is the time when all the harvest is gathered in and the farmers enjoy the pleasure of their hard work, their is merry making every where, as this fir symbolises coming of prosperity accompanied by dancing and singing every where as everyone enjoys the fruits of his hard work.Punjab's most famous dance is quite enough to add glitters, well this is Giddha and Bhangra.

There are so many fairs that are held near shrines of pirs and tombs, they express the true feelings of Saints, the most important of these fairs is the Jarag fair, Roshni fair of Jagranyan and the Chhapar fair. In northern part Baisakhi indicates the beginning of new year, it comes on the fixed date that is April 13th, in Tamil Nadu it is called as Puthandu. Baisakhi is called as "Vishu". The day starts with the bath and dip in holy rivers, on this day Sun enters Aries it indicates the coming of new year.



Particularly in Punjab farmers start cutting of their harvest as the fields are full of nature and greenery, they dressed themselves in typical Punjabi attire well this is done by both men and women, people made groups and performed Bhangra and Gidda, with fun and frolic around sweets are distributed all the worries put to an end and there is a feeling of joy everywhere.

In 1969 Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa Panth , people wait for this festival year long, through this festival they give thanks to Almighty and wish god luck for themselves,on this day delicious meals along with sweets are served to one another. On Baisakhi day, water is collected from all the sacred rivers of India, as it is believed that this water is poured into a big tank that surrounds Golden Temple.

Ambedkar Jayanti

“Father of Indian Constitution”, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar who dedicated his whole life in providing good living conditions as well as to uplift them those come under deprived section of society. He was born on April 14, 1891 at MHOW (Military Headquarter of War) in Madhya Pradesh, he was a real architect of Indian Constitution, he devoted his whole life to make India Free from the clutches of British, a great social reformer. He was one of the first untouchables to get college education.



He fought to preserve the rights of weaker section of society, Dr. Ambedkar went to England and United states for higher studies, and he came out with degree of law and multiple doctorates for his outstanding research in political science, law and economics, he was a famous scholar, he had been practising law for few years, then he came out with publishing of journals to advocate social freedom and political rights of untouchables and to treat them well.

Dr. Ambedkar raised his voice against Dalit Buddhist movement, as he was the chairman of the drafting committee, he framed our constitution. Dr. Ambedkar was first Law Minister of India. In 1990 he was honoured with Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. To honour Dr. Ambedkar 14th April his birthday
celebrated as Ambedkar Jayanti all over the India with due respect and honour. It is a public holiday. To honour the great soul huge processions are carried out, followed by so many activities. Various organisations come out with cultural programs and rally.

A very big day for every one, specially Dalit Melas are held , prayers, meetings and memorial speeches also take place.

Kumbh Mela

With a very holy and divine feeling lakhs and lakhs of people take holy bath at Kumbha Mela, Kumbha means pot, this mela is very divine and sacred Hindu pilgrimage, that particularly takes place at four locationsm of India. These four places are Haridwar U.P the place where River Ganga enters from Himalayas, Prayag Allahabad, where the three rivers meet Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, Nasik in Maharshtra Goadavari river and Ujjain in M.P on the banks of Kshipra river. Every twelve years the pilgrimage occurs four times.



Every twelve years there is a Maha Kumbh held at Prayag that is attended by millions of people, that contributes making it largest pilgrimage all over the world. The beliefs have a story, thousands of years ago demons and gods decided to gather Amrita from the ocean of milk and share it equally. When they got the pot(Kumbh) the demons snatched from the gods and ran away and the gods kept on chasing.

They chased for twelve days and twelve nights equivalent to twelve years, and the battle was fought, during that drops of Amrita fell on four respective places. Thats why the kumbh mela takes place only at these four places. These four places are considered as holy ones and have great significance in Hindu faith. Astrologers are of the view that Kumbh Mela takes place when there are astrological changes as Sun enters Aries and Jupiter enters Aquarius.

People take ritual bath on a particular time and particular place, millions of people come across the world. This happens a great event, huge assembling of people that include discussions, mass feeding of poor and devotional singing. You will find Sadhus, Saints and monks gracing this festival with their presence.

Lohri

Full on fun. full on enjoyment, a perfect reason for happiness around, this festival come as culmination of winter, falls on 13th of January comes in the month Magh or Paush well this is the beginning of Makar Sankranti , the festival of Kites. Lohri is celebrated with great enthusiasm specially it is an important festival of Punjabi's this festival gives them to live the life in a new and positive way. Lohri denotes the spark of life and fertility. Every where is the festivity and fun people dance and gather to celebrate this wonderful occasion.



On Lohri people gather round the bonfires, dance around, throw sweets, popcorn and puffed ice into the flames, wih exchange of greetings and dancing every where. On this very special day children make group an go door to door to gather funds and later on in the evening time there is a community fire with an ultimate mood of festivity and fun. It is a community festival that rejoins people.

Lohri is called as Makar Sankranti, it brings the biting cold to an end, very auspicious day to make people happy and live their life to the fullest. It comes in the Uttarayan, in Bhagwad Gita it is mentioned that this is very sacred month, it is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh , Bihu in Assama and Sankranti in Karnataka, the centre of attraction is the bone fire every one just waits for the bonfire to lighten up. Then prasad is put includes , moongphali, gazak, phuliya, til and popcorn, when there is bonfire there is a puja that involves Parikrama.

This Parikrama around the fire symbolises the prayer to Agni for growth in crops and prosperity, a pray for abundant crops.In Punjabi's first Lohri of a bride is extremely special and important even it is as special for a new born baby this festival really excites.

Kerela Village Fair

Festivals gives us a chance of recreation and reunion, we become more energize and happy when it comes to festivals, a very famous festival In India called Kerela Village Fair, mid January brings the time or festivity and cultural events. There is great enthusiasm every where in the lush villages around Kovalam . people are so excited about the happenings around as Kerela Village Fair gives them a big chance to their at their fullest. It is a ten day long festival where all the music, festivities and folk dances take place.



In Kerela Village Fair traditional thatched houses are decorated, Gramam is called as a typical Kerala village. There are amazing traditional Nalukettu houses and you can also enjoy local teashops called 'chayakkada'. In Kerela Village Fair portrays the nostalgic recreation of bygone era that is embedded with ethnic charm. You will find an association artisans, sorcerers along with astrologers they will make you enter in the world Kerela's great past. To display Kerela's antique style an architecture there are amazing and traditional upper class homestead.

Kerela Village Fair gives you the glimpse of ultimate architectural style as there are wealth of antiques inside Nalukettu. You can have look of priceless furniture in Sandalwood, Teak and Mahagony. As well as there is exclusive jewellery , Spice Bowls and so many antiques with beautiful and eye catchy paintings. Various classical dances like Mohiniyattom, Oppana and Kathakali.

Kerela Village fair offers you delecious food like 'Kappa' and 'Meen' (steamed tapioca served with fish curry) or 'Puttu' and 'Kadala. Kamalagramam' are the stalls of artisans to display various handicrafts. Here you will find men working with handlooms and traditional spinning wheels.

Ellora Festival

Festivals brings joy to our lives without them life cannot be imagined they fills us with new energy. Life will loose its meaning if their would be no festivity around really! Festivals rebound us and make us more near to our life. Another synonym of joy and fun none other than Ellora Festival. This is a festival of utmost fun and fills you with immense pleasure. Ellora Festival is a festival of music, dance and fun.

It takes place in vast surroundings of temple of Ellora, has got its very important place as it is about 30 km from Aurangabad in Maharashtra, amazingly there are 34 caves form a cut out of the sloping side of Chamadri hills, formed between 600-1000 AD these caves have got their special importance and this wonderful heritage belongs to Hindu, Jain and Buddhists faiths.




Ellora caves are known for its unique iconography along with different structural compulsions. This heritage is world renowned for its outstanding masterpieces which are formed after 300 years of experimentation, in fact the archaeological Survey has found more 28 caves later. In Kailash Temple the master piece of Ellora is placed which is termed as world's largest monolithic sculpture and interestingly carved out from a rock by 7000 labourers it took around a period of 150 years.

Ellora Festival includes ultimate fun and pleasure, and it has showcased best talents, this festival brings fun and frolic around and really a charming way to feel these amazing and some how mysterious caves, that preserving our culture from centuries. Ellora Festival is organised by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation a very wonderful platfrom for Indian Artists to perform with their utmost talent of dance and music.

Teej

Festival specially for Indian women, Teej which is celebrated with whole heartily by Hindi women. Teej Takes place on 3rd day of Shukla Paksha in Bhadrapad or Bhado month according to nepali calendar, here in month of August and early September arrival of monsoon. Very important for Indian women as it is celebrated for well being of spouse, husband- marital bliss, purification of soul and progress of children. It is three day long celebration, actually Teej is a very small red insects which usually comes out in rains.



Teej is celebrated with full enthusiasm in all over India, in Jaipur women dressed in green, they hung swings from trees with joy and pleasure all around, they sing songs to welcome monsoon. Beliefs are that this festival is for Goddess Parvati, when she formed her union with Lord Shiva. Teej idol is covered with ornamental fabric, a very pocession is taken out in Jaipur, followed by large masses. In chandigarh there are special arrangements for teej celebrations in rock garden, the females specially daughters and daughter in laws are given new dresses and gifts. So many functions and cultural programs are performed by school children. In Punjab teej is called Teeyan a seasonal festival every where is joy married women visit their parents, and special Punjabi Gidha( a dance) performed by women. In other states like Delhi, Haryana, Bihar, a day before this festival is celebrated as Sijara when ladies, girls put Mehandi, eat feeni, ghewar and other sweets, Goddess Parvati is decorated in a procession followed by women singing, dancing and music. Among Baniya and Marwari Community Teej is an important festival women are given Bindi and Bangles, ladies use to wear new clothes, their is special lunch for women mother in laws use to give jewellery and gifts to daughters in law. Buddhi Teej specially for the daughters-in-law in their marital home it falls after Rakhi.