The celebration of life, joyous and exultant, fostering song and dance, the splendour of festivals and the bustle of fairs, has been the most characteristic feature of the Indian tradition from time immemorial.
The impulses to the revels have been both secular and sacred. The seasons which signal to man the time for work and the time for relaxation, the commencement of the agricultural cycle with sowing in spring and its culmination with the harvest of golden grain, have their associated festivals. And then of course we have, in endless variations of legend and myth, the great perception that there is an ever-renewed war of light and darkness, of the divine and the demoniac, in the evolution of the world.
But the richness of the Indian heritage is not exhausted by the Hindu tradition. History has made India the homeland of Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Zoroastrains, Muslims, Christians, and Jews. They too have their festivals. Thus every region of India, from the snows of the Himalayas to the surf of Kanya Kumari, celebrates life and the year pulses to its joyous rhythm with a festival almost every other day.
The work presents a vivid account of as many as 172 festivals of all eight religious communities of this unique country, India, which makes it almost encyclopaedic in its thrust and coverage. Further, the mythology of all the festivals is also most detailed and comprehensive, providing interesting legend and reference material to a scholar. The rich visual experience of the splendid panorama is spread over the whole book (in black and white and colour) through specially made and selected photographs and etchings.
About the Author:
Shakti M. Gupta is a well-known author having written on subjects as varied as Indian mythology, traditions, plants, enthobotany etc. Her books include Visnu and his Incarnations, Love of Hindu Gods and Sages, Surya-the Sun God, and a life of the world-famous palaeobotanist, Prof. Birbal Sahni of Luchnow University.
CONTENTS
Magha (January-February) 14, Lohri 15, Makara Sankranti 15, Pongal 15, Bhogali Bihu 17, Ganga Sagara 17, Ravi Dass Jayanti 17, Vasanta Panchami 17, Narmada Mata Jayanti 17, Muthumariamman Temple Festival 20, Sakata Chautha 20, Tai Pusam 20, Tyagaraja Music Festival 21, Sabarimalai Temple Festival 22
Phalguna (February-March) 32, Shivaratri 33, Kalahasti Temple Festival 35, Ekalingi Temple Festival 35, Jadayupureswarar Temple Festival 35, Amalaka Ekadashi 36, Dol Purnima 38, Vrindavan Car Festival 38, Holi 38, Nauchandi Fair 44
Chaitra (March-April) 46, Gangaur 47, Ugadi and Panchganga Shravana 48, Shitala Ashtami 48, Bohag Bihu 52, Sarhul 52, Cheti Chand 52, Burwa Mangal 53, Chaitra Pratipada 53, Brahmotsavam 53, Cittirai Festival 53, Chaitra Purnima 57, Bahucharji Fair 57, Vishnu 57, Ramanavami 57, Hindolakotsava 58, Kaila Mata 58, Devipatan Fair 58, Parthasarthi Temple Festival 60, Hanuman Jayanti 60, Rasalila 62, Kalapriyanath Temple Festival 64, Kapleshwarar Koil Festival 64, Fire-Walking Festivals 64
Vaishakha (April-May) 72, Jwalamukhi Festival 73, Baisakhi 73, Pooram 73, Kinni Rathotsavam 76, Lai Haraoba 76
Jyeshtha (May-June) 80, Jyeshtha Ashtami 81, Bhadrakali Amman Temple Festival 81, Vata-Savitri Vrata 81, Ganga Dussehra 82
Ashadha (June-July) 84, Ratha Yatra of Jagannatha 85, Shreemoolanadhar Temple Festival 88, Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple Festival 88, Guru Purnima 88, Pandarpur Temple Festival 89
Shravana (July-August) 90, Teej 91, Tijri Festival 91, Thadari 91, Adipuram 91, Vrindavan Shravana 92, Draupadi Amman Temple Festival 93, Naga Panchami 93, Varalakshmi Puja 95, Raksha Bandhan 95, Pola Festival 96, Krishna Janmashtami 96, Mangala Gauri 100
Bhadra (August-September) 108, Jal-Jhilani Ekadashi 109, Minger Mela 109, Ganesha Chaturthi 109, Ananta Chaturdashi 112, Naina Devi Festival 113, Avani Mulam 113, Kaveri River Festival 114, Onam 114, Tirupati Festival 116, Sair-e-Gulforoshan/Phool Walon ki Sair 118, Karam Festival 119, Ambaji Fair 119, Nanda Devi Festival 119, Tarnetar Fair 120
Ashvina (September-October) 122, Hadaga Festival 123, Kojagari Harvest Festival 123, Palli Festival 123, Valmiki Jayanti 124, Navaratri 124, Durga Puja 125, Mahanavami 125, Dussehra 125, Shastra Ayudha Puja 128
Karttika (October-November) 136, Skanda Shashthi 137, Karwa Chautha 139, Hoi 139, Dhanteras 139, Deepawali 142, Govardhan Puja 144, Bhaiya Duj 146, Maruthamalai Temple Festival 146, Yama Dvitiya 146, Kathikai Festival 148, Kansa-ka-Mela 148, Guruvayur Temple Festival 148, Devuthana Ekadashi 149, Karttika Purnima 150, Pushkar Fari 150, Sonepur Mela 154, Batesar Mela 154, Vautha Fair 156, Kati Bihu 156
Agrahayana (November-December) 157
Pausha (December-January) 157, Vaikuntha Edadashi 157, Arudra Darshan Festival 158
Miscellaneous Festivals 161, Kokilambal Thirukameshwarar Temple Festivals 161, Sengazhumeeramman Temple Festival 162, Kumbha Mela 162, Darbharaneshwarar Temple Festival 166, Mahamangham Tank Festival 167, Thira Festival 167, Bihu Festival 168, Sthanumalayaswamy Temple Festival 169, Surya Grahana 169
Mahavira Jayanti 173, Deva Diwali 174, Jnana-Panchami 174, Pajjushana 174, Bhadra Shukla Panchami 175
Buddha Purnima 177, Ashadha Purnima 178, Ashvina Purnima 178, Magha Purnima 178, Phalguna Purnima/Madhu Purnima 178, Kaza/Tsheshu Festival 178
Holla Mohalla 181, Baisakhi 181, Gurpurab 184
Jamshed Nav Roz 193, Khordad Sal and Zarthost No Diso 194, Muktad Ceremonies (Farvardegan) 194, Gahambars 194, Jashans 195
Christmas 197, Ash Wednesday 198, St. Joseph's Day 198, Holy Week - Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday 200, Ascension 200, Pentecost Sunday 200, Shrine Festival of St. Thomas Didymus 201, Assumption of Mary 202, Nativity of Mary 202, All Saints' Day 202, All Souls' Day 202, St. Francis Xavier's Day 202
Muharram 206, Id Milad-un-Nabi/Barah Wafat 209, Shab-e-Barat/Lailut-ul-Barat 209, Id-ul-Fitr 210, If-ul-Azha/Id-ul-Zuha/Baqr-Id 210, Urs 211
Sabbath 213, Tisha Be Av 214, Rosh Hashanah 214, Yom Kippur 214, Pessah 215, Shavuoth 215, Succoth 215, Simhath Torah 216, Hannukah 216, Tu Bishvat 217, Purim 217
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