Miscellaneous festivals
There are some
other miscellaneous festivals which are celebrated here and there in
India. Some of them are given here.
Indra Dhwaj Utsav
In this Utsav, a flagstaff is raised in honor of Indra to appease him to
bring rain on the Poornimaa of Ashwin Month, after the festival is brought
down.
Gujaraat
Garabaa
Garabaa is not a festival as such, it is a type of dance which is very
common amon Gujaraatee cmmunity and it is regularly performed in Aashwin
Nava Raatri days. It can be performed by both men and women, boys and
girls. I is performed with two sticks.
Kerala
Onam
Onam festival is celebrated in Kerala.
Pongal
Pongal festival is celebrated on 14th January -
on Sankraanti day.
Panjaab
Baisaakhee
Baisaakhee is celebrated
in Panjaab or among Panjaab people. It falls on 13th April. In fact this
is another Sankraanti, Chitra Sankraanti and Vishuv Yog.
Lohadee
Lohadee is celebrated among Panjaab people It falls on Makar Sankraanti - 14th January.
It is very famous and is celebrated with a very great enthusiasm especially the first
Lohadee of a newborn child and a newly wed couple.
Tamilnaadu
Brahm Utsav or Brahmotsav
Pongal
Pongal is another name of Sankraanti falling
on 14th January every year. This is called thus in Tamil Naadu.
Thai Poosam
Thai Poosam is an important festival dedicated to Lord
Murugan or Kaarttikeya. This festival falls on Paush Poornimaa. It is celebrated
mostly by the Tamil community, wherever it is, on the Full Moon day in the Tamil
month of Thai (January-February). This festival is also referred to as Thai Pooyam.
The word Thaipusam has been derived from the month name "Thai" and
"Poosam", which refers to a star that is at its highest point during this
festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Paarvati gave Murugan a Vdel"
(spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Shoor Padm. There is a misconception among
people that Thai Poosam marks Murugan's birthday; however, it is believed that Vaikhasee
Vishakam, which falls in the Vaikhasee month (May-June), is Murugan's birthday.
Varalakshmee Poojaa
This festival is very popular in Tamilnaadu state. It is celebrated on the previous Friday
of Shraavan Poornimaa.
Yugaadi or Ugaadi
This is pronounced as Ugaadi or Yugaadi which means "the starting day of
Yug". It is an important festival of Southern India. It falls between
the end of March and the beginning of April
Others
The following
three celebrations are of Christian origin.
Christmas
It always falls on 25th December and is celebrated in a great pomp and show with
lights, good food (especially turkey), new clothes, gifts, sweets etc. It may be
compared to Hindu's Deepaavalee in a way. It is supposed to be the birthday of
Jesus Christ. Story of St Nicholas is related to this festival and he is known
as Santa, who brings presents for little children. Lately the appearance of a
Christmas tree has also been in fashion in all houses of Christians under which
all the gifts are kept and next day are opened with great enthusiasm. Most close
relations try to come home in these holidays to celebrated the festival together
with their family. They decorate their house with lights (nowadays little bulbs)
and Christ's life's events according to their status. They organize grand parties
and sing and play Christmas songs. Churches organize special services at midnight.
In fact Christmas is not only a festival, it is s season which normally start from
after 1st December and lasts up to New Year Day. During this period when people meet,
they wish each other as "Happy Holidays", "Season's Greetings",
"Merry Christmas" etc greetings. Although people are not of one opinion on
how and when all this started, still it is the most important festival of Christians.
Is it a ancient Pagan Sun festival. who was really born on December 25th?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjGkRFFBd0A - there are three videos in this series,
see them all.
Religion Comes From Ancient Astrology and Sun Worship:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD9f0XU_S78
Good Friday and Easter Monday
This is another important festivals of Christians. Friday is the day on
which it is believed that Jesus Christ was sentenced to death. And as it
is believed, that he rose on the 3rd day, the Easter Monday is celebrated
in a happy mood. Good Friday is not a celebration, but Easter Monday is.
Children go for egg hunt, organized by their areas, on this day and get
gifts of chocolate. At some other places people go for picnics.
New Year
It is not a festival, but just a celebration as a beginning of the New
Year, with lots of parties on the New Year Eve (31st December), waking up
to 12 AM to wish "Happy New Year" to one's relations and friends.
In most countries fire works are shown on special spots of the city. Happy
New Year wishes are exchanged even till one month. It is so much in vogue
that most countries celebrate it and exchange greetings on this day. Its main
reason is to adopt the Gregorian calendar worldwide.