The last few weeks of the departing monsoon, sets off India's festive season with the celebration of Raksha Bandhan, to reaffirm the bond between brothers and sisters. Raksha Bandhan literally means security band depicting a tie of affection and a symbol of solemn pledge taken by the brother to protect his sister, while the girl prays for her brother's well-being.
Come autumn and it is time to delve in festivities, sumptuous food, fun and frolic. The season begins, after the agonizing period of monsoon rains, with the sound of conch shell and Dhak welcoming the Goddess Durga. It is the apt period to show our gratitude to Mother Nature or the powerful and beauteous Goddess Durga, riding a raging lion and holding aloft ten weapons in her ten hands. On her either side you can see her four children Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity; Saraswati, the Goddess of learning; Ganesh, the God of fulfilment; and Karthikeya, the God of war and purity.
This auspicious ceremony is very religiously observed in the month of Ashwin, on the seventh, eighth and ninth day of the moon and the immersion of the idols take place on the tenth day. On the eve of the full moon, the country worships Goddess Lakshmi who depicts grace, wealth and prosperity.
Durga Puja is increasingly becoming a national festival with even non-Bengalis participating in it with much ardour and devotion. Kolkata adorns a beautiful garland during this time with colourfully decorated pandals.
Dussehra
Dussehra falls at a time, after the rainy season, when numerous diseases afflict people. Right after overpowering these ailments, people eagerly look forward to some festivities to mark the triumph of good over evil. This festival continues for ten days and nights, of which the first nine nights are popularly known as Navratri, dedicated to the worship of different aspects of Goddes Durga. In northern India, all the ten days of Dussehra are celebrated with Ramlila or vivid enactments of episodes from the Ramayana that culminated into the triumph of Rama over Ravana. The effigies of Ravan, Meghnath and Kumbhakarnan are stuffed with fire crackers on the last day and set on fire.
Diwali
This festival season ends with the festival of lights, Deepavali or Diwali, which is joyful celebration of triumph of good over evil. It marks Lord Rama's ascension to the throne after returning to his kingdom of Ayodhya. According to the famous epic of Ramayana, people of Ayodhya decorated the kingdom with lamps and candles to celebrate the return of Ram with his younger brother Lakshmana and his consort Sita,after defeating the ruler of Lanka, Ravana,who had abducted Sita.
It is widely believed that the fireworks reduce the evil to ashes. This festival beckons us to accept the fact that happiness and sorrow is a part of our life. The goddess of strength, disease and death, Kaliand Goddess Lakshmi are also worshiped on this day. On the fifth and last day of Diwali, sisters all over the country ceremonize their love for their brothers by putting an auspicious tilak on Bhai Dooj.
Chhath Puja
Chatth puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya, celebrated widely after Diwali especially in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Terai regions of West Bengal and Nepal. The Sun God is worshiped to promote well-being, prosperity and longevity of family members and friends by fasting, bathing in the holy water, standing in water for long periods and offering prashad and aragh to the sun.
Autumn is undoubtedly the season of festivity when the atmosphere reverberates with love, prosperity and eternal happiness.
Picture courtesy- The Holiday India
