Yogic & Vedic Heritage FESTIVALS OF BHARATA

Festivals and Holy Days are very familiar, very important interwoven part of our religious and social life. Leaving aside the holy days, undoubtedly, festivals are objects of natural love to the entire human race. Poet Laureate Kalidasa, has observed this truth and says 'Human beings are fond of festivities' ("utsava priya khalu manuShyaaH" shaakuntala Act 6). They are especially happy occasions of life. The most common method in which people all over the world celebrate festivals is by getting together with family and friends, enjoying the savory gourmet foods, drinking to the best of their ability (at times, even spending beyond their means), singing, dancing and chit chatting to their hearts content, forgetting their troubles, if any. In this book we will elaborate in a chronological order beginning with the first month of the year, incorporating any special features in the description of festivals (parvas).

Saṅkrānti is one of the most important festivals of the Sanātana Ārya Bhāratiyas. In scriptures it is called by other names such as Saṅkrānti, Makarasaṅkrānti, Makarasaṅkramaṇa, Makarasaṅkramaṇa, and Uttarāyaṇa puṇyakāla also. In Tamil Nadu it is called Pongal. Common people also call this as 'Ellina Habba'. Though the distribution of sesame is in vougue in the next festival also i.e. 'rathasaptamī', it is only Saṅkrānti which is renownedly associated with the significance and fame pertaining to the gifting of sesame, and thus is well known as Eḷḷina habba. The Kannada proveb "Eḷḷu bellava tindu oḷḷeya māthanāḍu' owes it's origin to this festival.

We see many Dīpotsava parvas in the line of festivals of Bhāratīyas where rows of lamps are lighted in temples, homes, maṭhas, Āśramas and Mandirs, both inside and outside those places. The most famous parvas among these are the Vishṇu dīpa and Śiva dīpa (Mahotsavas).

Prathamaikādaśī is one of the most important festivals observed in our country. The Ekādaśī which falls in the śuklapaksha of the month of Āshāḍha is called by this name. This festival is also called by names such as Ekādaśī, festival of fasting, mahaikādasī, sāyanī etc. This happens to be a very important parva observed by virtuous people of all the varṇas and Āśramas, and people belonging to all sects such as Śaiva, Vaishṇava etc.

Ugādi is the very first festival which comes on the first day of the month of Caitra every year. This day is an auspicious beginning of the year, season, month, the fortnight and above all, is in the form of an introduction for the whole year. The planet corresponding to the week day on this day of Ugādi, is considered the regining deity for the whole year. For example, if it is a Thursday, Bṛhaspati (Jupiter) will be the reigning Lord for the entire year.

Mahāśivarātri is one of the most important parvas among the festivals of Bhāratīyas. Just as Prayāga and Pushkara are called 'Tīrtharāja', Mahāśivarātri is called 'vratarāja'. This vrata is observed in all parts of Bhāratadeśa with concern reverence and devotion. Though this is a festival where the prominent deity is Śiva and a very special parva for śaivites, even Vaishṇavas and worshippers of other great devatās also should specially worship God (Śiva) on Śivarātri.

Though the name cāturmāsya is familiar to many of us in the row of vratas, there is an impression that it is related to monks and some Maḍi hengasaru (some women in the olden days who were very orthodox) and people belonging to the other Āśramas need not consider it. From the view point of śāstras this is a parva that should be observed by everyone. This does not belong either to the category called naimittika karma, a rite which should be performed because of a nimitta, Or a kāmya karma a rite which is performed only for the fulfillment of a specific desire, which need not be observed otherwise. It happens to be a nitya karma only, as it belongs to a category in which certain rituals are mandatory at some distinct times, and the blemish of sinfulness may occur if they are not observed. There is no doubt that it must be specially observed by sanyāsis. But the śāstras say that is the duty of all i.e. people belonging to all Āśramas, to observe it to the extent possible.