Essay on Festivals of India Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.
The rich variety and diversity of Indian culture and people has given the country many colourful and gay festivals. Perhaps no other country had as many festivals and celebrations as does India. It is said that there are only seven days in a week, but there are at least nine festivals in a week in India. All these festivals and fairs are observed with great enthusiasm and abandon. They are related with mythical heroes and heroines, gods and goddesses, change of seasons harvesting and national events. Thus, festivals serve so many purposes, social, cultural, religious, national and psychological.
Festivals mark the grand, gay, happy and free moments in the life of masses in India. These are the occasions of family gathering, exchange of sweets and greetings, thanks-giving, relaxation, joy, praying, fasting, ceremonies, and invoking favours from gods and elders. They come around year after year and enthuse the people with a new spirit of colour, joy and festivity. Some of these are observed as closed public holidays on all India basis and others on a limited or selective basis. These festivals very well reflect the country’s unity in diversity. These are entrenched in the consciousness of the masses, and therefore, are not mere formalities. A foreigner is amazed and fascinated not only by their numbers, but also by their colourfulness, pageantry, enthusiasm and fervour with which they are observed.
Right from the dawn of civilization in India, festival has played a very important social and religious role. They are a great source of recreation, social gathering, communal harmony and mutual relaxation. They are very special occasions for women and children. They look forward to and prepare many days in advance for the festivals. The important festivals in India are: Dussehra, Diwali, Holi, Ram Navami, Janmashtmi, Buddha Purnima, Shivaratri, Muharram, Id-ul-Zuha, Christmas, Vaisakhi, etc. Republic Day, that is, 26th January is another National festival.
Holi is the most colourful festival. It is as much boistrous as colourful. It comes in March-April at the advent of spring reason and ripening of the crops. Men and women throw coloured water, powder and perfumes at one another in gay abundance. They sing and dance to the accompaniment of music and enjoy to their heart’s content. At this time the season is at its best. Then it is neither hot nor cold and the ripe crop is golden yellow, and trees are in their colourful blooms. The festival lasts for two days. On the first day a bonfire is lit in the evening. The next day people indulge in throwing coloured water at one another through big syringes. People embrace one another and offer sweets and soft drinks, etc.
Dussehra or Vijai Dashmi is observed to mark the victory of good over evil. On this day prince Rama of Ayddhya defeated and killed Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Ravana was the embodiment of evils, while Rama was the personification of all that is best in man. The great and popular Ramayana epic is presented in dance-drama form on specially erected stages all over India during the preceding nine days. This enactment of the Ramayana is popularly known as Ramlila. The effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarana and son Meghnad are burnt and fireworks are there. It is followed by Bharat Milap, an occasion of family reunion of Rama. In Mysore and Kulu there are special observations on the occasion. In West Bengal it is observed as Durga Puja.
Diwali, the festival of lights and illumination falls in October-November. It is also the occasion of much fireworks. At night earthen lamps, candles, etc., are lit illuminating the dark night, sweets and greetings are exchanged and Lakshmi the goddess of wealth and prosperity is worshipped. The businessmen close their old accounts and open the new ones. It is celebrated to commemorate the crowning of Rama on the throne of Ayodhya after his triumphant return from Lanka. Houses, etc., are cleaned and whitewashed and bazaars, etc., are tastefully decorated on this occasion. Men and women and children in their best colourful costumes visit one another exchanging greetings and sweets.
Buddha Purnima marks the Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and nirvana. On this day special celebrations are held at Sarnath, Boddh Gaya and Buddhist temples. Gautama the Buddha was born, got enlightenment and the nirvana on the same day of the full moon, but in the different years. Baisakhi is very special to Sikhs. On this day the Hindu Solar New Year begins. People visit temples and shrines after holy baths in rivers, tanks, lakes and ponds regarded as holy.
Christmas is celebrated on 25th December with great fervour all over the country, specially by the Christians, followed by the New Year celebrations. Muharram commemorates the martyrdom of a, grandson of the Prophet Mohmmad. In big cities and towns mourning processions are taken out to the loud beating of drums with Tajias. Id-ul-Fitr is another important Muslim festival of rejoicing and feast After month long fasting and prayer during Ramazan. Namaj is offered and money and food articles, etc., are given in charity on this day. The Hindus and the Muslims embrace one another and exchange greetings on the occasion.
26th January is a major festival when very spectacular parade followed by cultural tableaus is held in Delhi all along the Raj Path. Folk dancers from all over the states and union territories came to Delhi to perform on this occasion. The President of India takes the salute. This day is also celebrated in State capitals with equal enthusiasm and preparations.
There are many other festivals and celebrations and local festivals which create a feeling of joy, happiness, oneness, integration, and mutual sharing among the masses. The biggest of the fairs, Kumbha Mela is held at Hardwar, Prayag, Nasik and Ujjain in rotation when millions of people gather there to have a holy dip. This comes round once in 12 years. The religio-social significance of these so colourful festivals is great. They make the Indian calendar an unending procession of festivals, observations and celebrations.
