Rajasthan
Fairs & Festivals
Dusshera Festival
One of the big festivals celebrated mostly in the northern part of India is
Dussehra. The festival is celebrated with high zest and festivities as it also
marks the beginning of the winter season after the long unbearable hot summer.
Also celebrated in the other parts of the country, all over India, Dussehra
marks the victory of Ram over Ravana, & the rescue of his wife Sita. All
institutions are closed for the days of the festival. In North India gigantic
effigies of the ten-headed Ravana & his brothers are set aflame with a bursting
of crackers. Fairs are usually held on this occasion with lots to eat, buy &
enjoy.
Dussehra means the Tenth Day, being the 10th day of the bright half of Ashwin.
This day is also known as Vijayadashmi, or Victory Tenth, because of the Victory
of Rama over Ravana.
Dussehra (tenth day) is one of the significant Hindu festivals, celebrated with
much joy and happiness in the entire country. The occasion marks the triumph
of Lord Rama over the demon king, Ravana, the victory of good over evil. Brilliantly
decorated tableaux and processions depicting various facets of Rama's life are
taken out. On the tenth day, the Vijayadasami day, colossal effigies of Ravana,
his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnad are placed in vast open spaces. Rama,
accompanied by his consort Sita and his brother Lakshman, arrive and shoot arrows
of fire at these effigies, which are stuffed with explosive material. The result
is a deafening blast, enhanced by the shouts of merriment and triumph from the
spectators.
Diwali Festival
Diwali festival is a 5 day Hindu festival in India which occurs on the fifteenth
day of Kartika.
Diwali when translated means "rows of lighted lamps" and the occasion
is also referred to as the Festival of Lights. During Diwali, Indian homes are
cleaned and windows are opened to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Lamps,
lights and candles are lit as a greeting to Goddess Laksmi.
Gifts are exchanged and sweets, festive meals are prepared during Diwali.
Because there are many castes and regions in India, there are myriad manifestations
of the Diwali festival. In some places, the festival begins with Dhanteras,
a day set aside to worship Laksmi. In the Indian culture, wealth is not viewed
as a corruptive power. Instead, a wealthy person is considered to have been
rewarded for good deeds of a past life, i.e karma.
On the second day of the festival, Kali, the goddess of Strength, is worshipped.
On the 3rd day ( the last day of the year in the lunar calendar), lamps are
lighted and shine brightly in homes. The lamp symbolizes knowledge.
The fourth day of Diwali falls on the first day of the lunar New Year. At
this time, old business accounts are settled and new books are opened. The
books are worshipped in a special ceremony by Indian priests and participants
are encouraged to remove anger, hate, and jealousy from their lives.
On the last day (Balipratipada) of the festival, Bali, an ancient Indian
king, is recalled and remembered. Bali destroyed the centuries old philosophies
of the society. However, in addition to this, he is remembered for being a
generous and kind person. Hence, the significance of this day is to see the
good in others, including enemies.
The Jain communities of India celebrate Diwali as a New Year's Day. Lord
Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, attained his Nirvana on the day of Diwali.
Sikhs celebrate Diwali to express joy at the return of the sixth Guru to
Amritsar in 1620; Emperor Jahangir had imprisoned him along with 52 Hindu
kings. The Guru was granted freedom but refused to leave until the kings were
also released.
Diwali is by far the most enthusiastically enjoyed festival in India. People
of different nationalities, races, religions and backgrounds come together to
share their joys generating a feeling of universal brotherhood and inter-religious
harmony.
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