The Festivals of India

This is my 3rd Toastmasters Speech delivered in March, 2002 on "Structuring the Speech"

India is the land of often bewildering diversity. It is a jigsaw puzzle of people of every faith and religion, living together to create a unique and colorful mosaic. There is a festival for every reason and season. Every celebration centres on rituals of prayer, seeking blessings, exchanging goodwill, decorating houses, wearing new clothes, music, dance and feasting.

The first festival is Makara Sankranti held in the month of Jan. It is celebrated throughout India as a harvest festival – way of giving thanks to the elements of nature that help man. In Tamil Nadu and AP, it is celebrated as a 3 day festival – Pongal. In Assam as Bhogali Bihu & Punjab Lohri. In North India, a ritual bathing in the Ganga is important on this day. A big fair is held at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers – called Magh Mela. Also, the season to fly kites – the evening sky is awash with colourful kites of all shapes and sizes specially in Gujarat.

Next the festival of colors – Holi. People throw colored powder (gulal) or colored water on each other in remembrance o the fun Krishna used to have playing with the Gopis. Color is something that makes our life so beautiful. The color festival is the man’s appreciation of beauty and the development of his aesthetic sense. In some places on the eve of Holi, people light bonfires – also known as Kamdahan – the burning of lust.

One of the important festivals of the Muslims starts in the end of March – beginning of April. The “Muharram” or the sacred month marks the beginning o the Muslim year. On the 10th day of Muharram, Hussain, Muhammad’s grandson was brutally murdered by troops of Umayyad Caliph. His violent death awakens the sympathy of the faithful who commemorate his martyrdom with sorrow and indignation. Men and boys beat themselves with a bundle of sharp blades so that blood streams down their backs – crying together in uniform rhythm – “Ya Hasan! Ya Hussain!”

In the mid of April, 2 festivals almost coincide with one another – the Good Friday of the Christians and Baisakhi of the Hindus. Good Friday marks the occasion of crucification of Lord Jesus by Romans. And even in intense pain and suffering the Lord prays for forgiveness to the Almighty – “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” The Lord again rose from death on the 3rd day and delivered the world from sinners. Baisakhi – marks the beginning of the Hindu Solar year and is celebrated as New Year all over the country under different names. In Kerala, it is called Vishu, in Assam Bohay Bihu and Poila Baisakh in WB. In Assam people perform the famous Bihu dance with beating of drums & pipes. In Punjab, men perform the wild Bhangra dance with dholak – telling you of the strenuous agricultural process.

Then amidst the heavy rains in the month of Asadh – June & July is the famous Rathayatra in Puri, Orissa. Millions from all over India participate in the procession of taking Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the World in richly decorated chariots to his aunt’s place.

Right after the ID celebrations in August is the famous Ganapati festival celebrated in most parts of India. The elephant headed deity is the remover of obstacles and the God of auspiciousness has been observed for the last 250 years. The modern history of Ganapati festival dates back to 1894 when Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak used it to unite the Hindus all over India and educate them with the evils of colonization. It is now celebrated as a community festival by collecting subscriptions and putting large idols of Ganesha in the mandapas for collective worship.

Come September, the Onam festival is celebrated in Kerala with dance, drama and famous snake boat race. Legend goes that Lord Vishnu came down to earth as a dwarf and asked for 3 feet of land fro King Mahabali, who was a great and successful king for whom the God’s were jealous. When offered, Vishnu changed himself to a Giant – put one feet on earth, 2nd feet on heaven and 3rd on Mahabali’s head. However, Mahabali was granted a boon to visit his people once every year and Onam marks that day.

In October, the Dussehra festival is celebrated on the 10th day. Also, known as Vijayadashami or Victory Tenth, because of the victory of Rama over Ravana. In West Bengal, it is celebrated as Durga Puja to mark Rama’s prayer to the Goddess of Power to overcome Ravana. The Goddess Shakti supports the entire universe, destroys evil and grants boom, personified as Mother Goddess. In Gujarat, people celebrate with the famous Dandiya dance – men & women whirl and dance to intoxicating rhythm. In Karnataka, Mysore it is celebrated in grand style – with caparisoned elephants in procession in Mysore. The palace deity is Chamundeshwari is taken out – who killed the great demon Mahishasura. Friends and relatives visit each other’s homes to exchange greetings.

Then comes the festival of light – one of the most important of all Hindu festival. It is believed that it was on this day that Lord Rama entered Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. Deepavali is also celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi, the day when the demon of darkness, Narakasura was destroyed by Lord Krishna. The celebrities commence with a purifying oil bath and lighting of lamps, symbol of spiritual light pervading the earth and the destruction of darkness and ignorance.

Ramzan is the holy month for Muslims during Nov-Dec. Ramzan means the breaking of fast. Muslims fast during the day throughout that month, even without drinking water. They have meals only at night. Muslims believe that their holy book came down from heaven to earth one night during this period.
Also known as Id or Id-ul-Fitr – special prayers are held in mosques. Its an occasion of feasting and rejoicing. Muslims express their goodwill for all on this day. They greet everyone with Id-mubarak.

With the arrival of the cold season – December, the bells toll on the churches and hymns/carols fill the air. “Silent Night, Holy Night” – the birth of Lord Jesus – the messiah of peace in the humble abode. Everyone celebrate with lighting candles, cutting and eating cakes and spreading the gospel of love and peace.

Festivals are a way of unifying people, understanding others sentiments and enjoying yourself with other fellow beings. I feel Infosys represents a mini-India where we have people from all races and religions represented. And by celebrating some festivals here at our campus, we can wok towards friendly and cohesive workforce – did someone say “Greater Employee Satisfaction?”