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of pandals are erected and people are known to go pandal-hopping in the
carnival-like atmosphere, in a spirit of joy and celebration. On the 10th day
of the festival Dussehra day huge images of Durga are carried through
the streets in a procession and immersed in a nearby body of water.
Holi, Festival of Colours
Holi falls on the day after the first full moon in the month of March. It is
a festival marked by colour, exuberance, joyous dance and play, as people
get together to celebrate the end of winter and the start of the spring
season. Holi has taken on a somewhat wild and riotous character in recent
times, with participants throwing water balloons, squirting coloured water
with water guns and even using buckets of water to drench others, in
addition to smearing the traditional coloured powder (gulal) on each
other. Thandai is a popular milk-based drink which is a favourite of revellers
during the Holi festival, while the intoxicant bhang is consumed by the
more adventurous.
A number of legends surround the festival of Holi and its origins. One
revolves around the kingdom of the mythological King Hiranyakashipu, his
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sister Holika and his son Prahlad. Holika is said to have died in a fire while
protecting Prahlad from the wrath of his father, who had declared himself
as god. Prahlad, a devotee of Vishnu, remained unscathed in the fire. Holi
is named after Holika, and her effigy is burnt in a bonfire on the eve of the
festival in some parts of India. Another legend revolves around Shiva and
Kama, the God of Love. Shiva is said to have burnt Kama for disturbing his
meditation, hence the bonfire on the eve of Holi.
In the cities of Vrindavan and Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh state, Holi
is associated with Hindu god Krishna and his companion, Radha. In this
region, the birthplace of Krishna, Holi is celebrated over 16 days with
colourful processions, folk songs and dances. Songs and dances also mark
the festival of colours in the rural parts of Maharashtra state, where it is
known as Rangapanchami. In Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, the Mandir Palace is a
favourite spot for celebratory dances and folk songs amidst the profusion
of coloured powder.
Raksha Bandhan
Popularly known as Rakhi, this Hindu festival falls in the month of August on
full moon day. Traditionally, it commemorates the bond between a brother
and sister, with the brother pledging love and protection for his sister.
Unlike other Indian festivals, a simple ritual is performed to mark Raksha
Bandhan, which literally means ties of protection . A sister applies a tikka,
a red vermillion dot, on her brother s forehead, says a small prayer for his
health and well-being, then ties the rakhi on his wrist. The rakhi can take any
form, from a simple thread to a more elaborate bunch of colourful strings
decorated with stones and attractive motifs. She completes the ceremony
by offering him some sweets. He in turn promises to love and protect his
sister and gives her a gift, commonly of cash, as a token of his affection.
This festival has been given a broader interpretation with the sibling
relationship extended to include ties between two friends who are like
brother and sister, or even between a leader and his subordinate. Priests
have been known to tie rakhis on members of their congregation, women
tie rakhis on soldiers to wish them well on the field and members of the
THE INDIAN CALENDAR
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public congregate to tie the thread on local leaders and even the prime
minister of India.
This festival, too, has its origins in Hindu mythology. According to one
legend, Sachi, the wife of Sun God Indra, tied a thread around her husband s
wrist to ensure his victory in a duel with demon Vritra. Another legend from
the Mahabharata revolves around Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas and
of Hindu god Krishna. Draupadi is said to have torn a strip of silk off her
sari and tied it around Krishna s wrist to stem the flow of blood after he
suffered an injury in battle. Krishna promised to repay her for her concern.
He was able to do so years later, when Draupadi was about to be disrobed
by her brother-in-law, Duryodhana. Krishna came to her aid and ensured
that her sari could not be taken off.
EXCHANGE OF RAKHIS AMONG ROYALTY
Historical records reveal countless instances of exchanges of rakhis
among members of royalty. In one example from the 16th century,
Queen Karnawati, anxious about an imminent invasion of her
kingdom Chittor by Bahadur Shah of Mewar, sent a rakhi to Mughal
Emperor Humayun. He accepted her as a sister and immediately
came to her rescue.
Baisakhi
Baisakhi, or Vaisakhi, is a north Indian harvest festival with a special significance
for the Sikhs, for it marks their New Year and the founding of the Sikh Khalsa.
The Khalsa (The Pure Ones) is a brotherhood of Sikhs who have taken a
vow to uphold the principles laid down by the 10th guru, Guru Gobind
Singh. This is one of the few Hindu festivals that has a fixed date, falling on
13 April every year at the start of the solar calendar.
It was on Baisakhi day in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh founded the
Khalsa with the initiation of the Panj Piare, or Beloved Five, giving Sikhs
an identity and a code of conduct to live by. The initiation ceremony took
place in a tent. The guru, holding a sword in his hand, asked for volunteers
who would be prepared to give up their lives if required. One by one, he
led five men into a tent and, after the initiation ceremony with a sword,
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sprinkled holy water (amrit) on them and called them the Beloved Five.
These men were to dedicate themselves to the service of others and
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