Festivals |
| Holidays and festivals are among some of the most exciting
things about the Indian experience. They are vibrant expressions
of the depth and diversity of Indian culture. In the Hindu
calendar, there is a holiday for almost every day of the
year, although many of them are not widely celebrated.
Knowing about the various festivals in and around Bangalore
can enrich your cultural experience and also help you
avoid severe traffic jams from time to time. |
January-February
Makara Sankranth (Pongal)
 Pongal
is a well-known festival for South India. It marks the
beginning of the harvest season. When the festival begins,
families drive evil spirits from their homes to be burned
on large bonfires, and then the home is whitewashed
and cleaned. The family usually wears new clothes the
second day of the festival and cooks the first of the
harvest in new pots. Even the cows participate in the
festival on the third day, receiving a lovely bath,
decorations, and visit to the temple.
Tamil Nadu
Republic Day
The best Republic Day celebrations take place in Delhi.
It is a national holiday set aside to recognize the
day that the constitution of India was set into place
and India truly became a sovereign state.
National Holiday
|
February-March
Holi
Holi traditionally marks the end of winter
for North Indians, but celebrations take place all over
the country. On the day of Holi, normal cultural rules
are suspended as ladies battle with men, people drink
intoxicating beverages, and anyone is a fair target
for colored powders and water to be thrown on them.
To best enjoy Holi, go to a party, as street celebrations
tend to become too rowdy. If you attend a party, wear
white clothing to best display the brilliant colors.
Wear old clothes on that day because the colors take
several washes to disappear. Be on your guard when out
in the marketplace during Holi, since anyone can throw
colors on your at any time.
West Bengal & Most of
North India |
March-April
Karaga
 During
the festival, devotees take earthen pots embodying Shakti
in a night procession to the Sampangi Tank. One of the
most interesting sights of the festival is the devotees
balancing pots on their heads to test the strength of
their character.
Karnataka
Ugadi
Ugadi marks the New Year for Kannadigas (Karnataka natives).
Many different deities receive honor during the festival,
but Brahma is the chief deity of the celebration. The
day begins with ritual baths and prayers and extends
with celebrations late into the night. Houses must be
cleaned, and new clothes should be purchased ahead of
time, in preparation for the mango leaf decorations
and colorful rangolis.
Karnataka
Easter
Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus
beginning with Palm Sunday. Many churches have special
Good Friday programs, in addition to the Easter Sunday
service.
All over India
|
April-May
Baisakh
Baisakh represents the Hindu solar new year.
North India and Tamil Nadu
Pooram
In Trichur, Kerala, this temple festival is celebrated
with grandeur. Elephants wear spectacular decorations
for the day-long musical procession. The festival ends
with a magnificent fireworks display.
Kerala
|
May-June
Buddha Purnima
This holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and
death of Buddha. |
June-July
Rath Yatra
 Rath
Yatra marks the journey Krishna took from his home to
Mathura to kill his evil uncle. His images, along with
those of his brother and sister, are paraded in the streets
of Puri, Orissa, on huge chariots that require 4,000 people
to pull them!
Orissa and West Bengal
|
July-August
Raksha Bandhan
 Raksha
Bandhan is a North Indian festival where sisters tie
a rakhi, a protective colored thread, around the wrist
of their brothers and close male friends. The brothers
also offer gifts to their sisters in exchange for the
thread.
All over India
Independence Day
 August
15th commemorates the day in 1947 when India achieved
freedom from British rule. In Bangalore, a huge program
is held at Palace Grounds from 9 A.M. to 2 P.M., complete
with traditional dancing, speeches, and stunt bikers.
Traffic is terrible until after 2 P.M. so avoid going
to the city center prior to that time. DD1 and DD2 broadcast
the program on television so you can comfortably watch
from home. You can find many of the national celebrations
on TV as well.
National Holiday
Varamahalakshmi
Celebrated mainly in Karnataka, Varamahalakshmi
is a time for married women to make offerings to Mother
Lakshmi in the form of garlands, cash, jewelry, etc.
They pray for their families, husbands, and prosperity.
A custom of the festival is to offer vermillion to at
least 5 other married ladies.
Karnataka
|
August-September
Krishna Janmashtami The festival
celebrates the birth of Krishna, the blue-colored god.
Celebrations in include special songs, dancing, and
plays about the life of Krishna.
Ganesh Chaturthi
 Ganesh
Chaturthi, the annual festival of the elephant-headed
Hindu god, is celebrated in the month of August or September.
He is known as the remover of obstacles and god of auspiciousness.
Ganesh Chaturthi is actually the culmination of an 11-day
period of prayer, rituals, and preparation of Ganeshas.
Colonies purchase large communal Ganapatis, in addition
to the ones in their homes, to be displayed in a special
shelter where people can worship. They have elaborate
processions full of dancing young men, loud music, traditional
dancing and drums, firecrackers, and lovely fireworks
displays. On the last day of the festival, the huge
clay/gold idols are carried to local watering holes
to be immersed. In Bangalore, the celebrations tend
to be less than 11 days, but you can still catch a good
glimpse of the festival if you venture outside on the
evening of a procession. You need only listen for the
pounding drums to find the route of the parade. Seeing
the festival in Bangalore is a good way to experience
it without being part of the over-the-top revelry you
might find in Mumbai.
Maharashtra and Karnataka
|
| September-October
Dusshera
 Celebrated
all over India, only different in name, Dusshera remembers
the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Nowaddi.
Each day of the festival is devoted to different goddesses,
but the last days generally focus on Saraswati, goddess
of learning. Craftsmen worship their tools; students
worship their teachers, and musicians, their instruments.
All over India
|
| October-November
Kadalekaye Parishe
The “Peanut Festival” is a festival for
farmers to celebrate the groundnut crop of the year.
During the holiday, farmers worship at the Bull Temple
to give thanks for the crops and ask for blessings on
the coming year.
Karnataka
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It
is during this month that Muslims observe the Fast of
Ramadan. Lasting for the entire month, Muslims fast
during the daylight hours and in the evening eat small
meals and visit with friends and family. It is a time
of worship and contemplation as well as a time to strengthen
family and community ties. During Ramadan, the Muslim
marketplaces have great sales on clothing and other
goods. It is a good time to do your pre-holiday shopping
at discounted rates.
All over India
Diwali
Probably the most well-known of Indian holidays, Diwali,
festival of lights, marks Rama’s return to the
throne after his exile. Each house is vibrantly decorated
with lights and little oil lamps to guide Rama to his
home. Children and adults alike play in the streets
with sparklers and fire crackers. Neighbors exchange
special sweets, and many shops give out sweets to their
customers. Diwali is also a great time of year for shopping
at heavy discounts, as stores make room for the next
season’s merchandise.
All over India
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November-December
Christmas
 Christians
all over India celebrate the birth of Christ, often
marking their homes with a lit paper star. The holiday
tends to be less commercialised in India than it does
in Western countries. Many families share special Christmas
sweets with one another, and all the ladies wear new
saris in honor of the special day.
All over India
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