FLAVORS OF FESTIVITY IN INDIA

FLAVORS OF FESTIVITY

In India, the festival season has begun. It all starts when the annual Shraads – a time when we pray for the departed souls in our family – end. The first of the season is Navaratri – literally meaning nine nights. It is a time India celebrates the victory of good over evil. On the 10th day, the celebrations culminate with grand pomp. Different parts of the country celebrate in different ways for India is a land of colours, a land of individuality, a land revered for its culture and yes….its festivals.

Tamil Nadu

Innovative enthusiasm reigns in Tamil Nadu during Navarathri - a ladies festival. The best silks are worn and visits made to friends and relatives homes every single day.

Gollu dolls – brought down on their annual airing from the attic – are passed down from one generation to the next. Naturally, collections grow. Every member of the family gets involved in creative presentations. Some spend hours doing up the house for this grand nine day long festival, creating intricate thematic Gollus that are remembered for years to come.

Karnataka

The first thought that comes to mind when we think of Navarathri in Karnataka is the grand royal procession in Mysore on Vijaya Dashmi day. The king riding on his elaborately decorated elephant and a brightly lit palace. Eagerly awaited classical music and dance performances on the palace premises add to the glamour of the festival, and tradition goes glorious.

Andhra Pradesh

Typically, like most of the South, the dolls come out and get arranged in Andhra Pradesh too. New clothes and jewellery are worn. Instead of the Sundal that is offered to guests in Tamil Nadu, the Telegu ladies make the most delicious sweets – ummmmm. Ladoos, sweet rice and khir are offered to the nine avatars of Durga before being distributed among visiting friends and family.

Kerala

Do the people of Kerala celebrate Navarathri? Do they even have any other festival besides Onam and Vishu? Well, they do. Navarathri is celebrated privately, in the sanctuary of the home, but on Ayudha Puja day, the entire neighbourhood comes together and pays respect to the goddess of learning – Saraswathi. The famous Kerala paayasams are offered to the goddess before being distributed among her devotees.

Punjab and U.P

In the Northern parts of India, Navratri is a huge celebration. The goddess Durga gets worshipped. On Dussera day, a huge effigy of Ravana is filled with fireworks and set on fire. As the gigantic evil monster goes up in flames, good celebrates it victory over evil.

On the ninth day, little girls in odd numbers are invited into homes. Their feet are washed by the male members in the family and the girls are given a meal, and presents.

Gujarat

Oh how the Gujaratis long for these nine days. Wardrobes are planned in advance, and they dance the night away around a kumbh (pot) with a coconut on it, surrounded by mango leaves signifies the mother goddess or Devi. She has nine avatars (incarnations), hence the nine days. Garba and Dandiya competitions, live music and lots more.

Bengal

Goddess Durga is worshipped with pomp, splendour and beauty. No Bengali will miss the Durga Puja as it is called. They have a fair of sorts, with competitions, quizzes and the famous aarati. Women generally dress up – resplendent in their traditional white and red saris, while men tog up in their best ethnic wear.

Dussera, or Vijaya Dashmi, culminates Navratri after which the Northern part of India goes into a gambling frenzy. It is considered auspicious to gamble the night away. Parties, splendid and lavish are held every night at different homes, with guests hoping they will lose, for losing at a temporary den, actually signifies they will win in their business dealings. Any excuse for a little bit of hope, I guess. Money crosses hands, stakes are high, and parties last till dawn, with no one to stop them.

Twenty days later, it is Diwali. It arrives like the grand finale that has been building towards it for nearly a month. The festival weaves its magic every single year. India as a whole celebrates this festival. Only traditions vary from region to region. The spirit remains, intact. Happy, lively and colourful all through.

In the North, Dussera is actually the beginning of Diwali. Clay lamps filled with oil light up homes, buildings and streets. Always doing things with an extra aplomb, the north of India begins its tryst with fire crackers early on too. “To frighten away evil spirits,” laughs an indulgent mother. “I find myself spending a small fortune buying all this noise that simply gets fired away,” she says. Her boisterous sons run in and out of the house in a febrile frenzy. They don’t want to miss a single moment of the fun.

The Ram Lila (an enactment of Lord Rama’s life) is an important part of Diwali, and every street has its own little stage. Budding actors get to show their talent to whoever will watch, and perhaps get that longed for big break into Bollywood, or at least the regional cinema.

Gujaratis celebrate Diwali over five days starting with Dhun Teras, when they buy a small piece of hope – gold. It is believed that gold bought on this day brings in prosperity throughout the year. Some keep the new piece of gold in their cash boxes while others carry it in their purses.

Diwali day is full of festivity. Rangolis are drawn and the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in the evening, amidst fireworks and prayer. The five days end with Bhai-Dooj when the brother gets to visit his sister for lunch, give her a gift. In some families the brother gets a gift too.

Very much like the West, Assam, the largest state in East India, Diwali is a family affair. Evening is for worshipping goddess Lakshmi, fireworks, lights, lanterns and diyas.

Kali Pooja in Bengal is on the day before Diwali and is held in public places with the devoted staying up all night worshipping Ma Kali.

Festivities begin early on Deepavali morning down south. Dawn is special. Families wake up before dawn breaks. The traditional oil bath follows. New clothes are donned and the Deepavali Lehiyam (a bitter concoction) keeps tummies working efficiently as all those sweets need to be eaten. A little bit of bitterness followed by tons of fun. Everybody gets on to the streets to scare away evil spirits lurking in the air, and killing demon king Narakasur with our fire crackers. Sweets and savouries are distributed among friends and family.

Newly weds have a special Deepavali lined up. The first after their wedding is also the most memorable. They get to be the VIPs in the bride’s paternal house. Along with the traditional gifts of clothes and jewellery, the couple burn the first fire crackers. If possible his family come over to join the celebrations.

Gifts get distributed to friends, family and business associates. indianselections.com has gone to great lengths to bring to you unique and interesting gifts created especially for this awesome festival.

And a new tomorrow is born, filled with hope of health, happiness and prosperity

by Indian Selections Press Bureau
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