When I embark upon the task of researching a topic on India, it quickly becomes daunting, as I almost immediately realize “it is easier said than done” to compile a comprehensive, not to mention informative yet still amusing account of the particulars about this vast subject. I am similar to my 4 year old, who often proclaims, “I want to know everything, about everything!” She really means it, I however reserve that proclamation for topics that truly intrigue me; those that claw at my curiosity and compel me look deeper. Alas, I am still unable to relay it all; all that I read and hear and glean since I have been researching India. Oh, how I wish I could, but since I cannot, I will suffice to say that we will again delve into yet another interesting part of Indian culture. Indian Holidays.
Like Americans, Indians have all sorts of holidays, festivities and celebrations. Some are major holidays others are specific to certain regions. Still other holidays are specific to certain religions. Since I am American, when I first started researching, I looked to find some holidays that were comparable to our own.
Buddhist Indians celebrate “the New year” and it’s called Losar. It is celebrated for 15 days. On the first day they drink a beverage similar to beer called “changkol”. The second is the king’s Losar. This practice ironically sometimes falls on Chinese New Year. Losar dates back to pre-Buddhist times and therefore is also called by another name, “Bal Gyal Lo”. Gyal is “king” and Lo is “year”. It is called the “kings year” because it was started by the first king and has been practiced ever since. There are twelve lunar months on the calendar and celebrators of Losar begin their festivities on the day before “new years eve” on the 29th day of the last month.
The custom that day is to make special noodle called guthuk. It is made of nine different ingredients including dried cheese and various grains. Also, dough balls are given out with various ingredients hidden in them such as chilies, salt, wool, rice and coal. The ingredients one finds hidden in one's dough ball are supposed to be a lighthearted comment on one's character. If a person finds chilies in their dough, it means they are talkative. If white-colored ingredients like salt, wool or rice are inside the dough it is considered a good sign. If a person finds coal in the dough it has much the same meaning as finding coal in one's Christmas stocking; it means you have a "black heart". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LosarAnother very special Buddhist holiday is Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti. Some say it is the most sacred of days for a Buddhsit because it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death (entering Nirvana) of their most beloved teacher Siddhartha Guatama. The next time Buddha Purnima will be celebrated will be on Saturday, May 5 2012.
What would a listing of prominent holidays be if we didn’t mention Independence Day? America is of course a very young nation in comparison to India. Yet India gained it’s independence from Britain a short 64 years ago on August 15th 1947.
After more than two hundred years of British rule, India finally won back its freedom on 15th August, 1947. All the patriotic hearts rejoiced at seeing India becoming a sovereign nation and the triumph of hundreds and thousands of martyred souls. It was a birth of a new nation and a new beginning. The only fact that marred the happiness of the fruits by the blood of martyrs was the fact that the country was divided into India and Pakistan and the violent communal riots took away a number of lives. It was on the eve of 15th of August, 1947 that India tricolor flag was unfurled by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, on the ramparts the Red Fort, Delhi. Festivals.com
Continuing to scour history for more fascinating Indian celebrations, I ran across one that was not born in India, but is celebrated there by some. Boxing Day, occurs the day after Christmas (the first or second business day after Christmas in certain places) and it is a quirky little celebration concocted under the reign of Queen Victoria of Britain. Boxing Day is not a religious holiday but it holds many meanings depending on the region that celebrates it. For some because it often falls on St. Stepen’s day it does hold spiritual meaning. For others it is a day to give to the needy and poor. Some countries have made it a statutory day off for all workers and for still others it is the best shopping day of the year, much like the day after thanksgiving for Americans.
Unfortunately, there will be no major holidays for us to partake in when we visit in september. There is always next time!
Following is a glimpse of a few more “holidays” celebrated in India:
Gandhi Jayanti Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday; Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Pongal Harvest Festival of South India; Saturday, 14 January 2012
India Republic Day Commemorates Constitution of India replacing the Government of India Act 1935.Thursday, 26 January 2012
Milad-Un-Nabi Mawlid-an-Nabi; Birth of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Other sources for pictures and italics:
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