Punjab and Haryana: Fairs and Festivals
Punjab has always been known and identified as a land of celebrations. Similarly Haryana, once part of Punjab, has also undertaken the same characteristics. Festivals in Punjab and Haryana have always been celebrated with much fanfare. These festivals are popular occasions for social gathering and enjoyment. Some of the festivals which are celebrated in Punjab and Haryana are Baisakhi, Guruparb, Lohri, Holla Mohalla, Tika, Teej, Sanjhi and Gita Jayanti. Many other festivals like Basant Panchmi, Karva Chauth, Holi, Diwali and Dussehra are also celebrated with great joy.Mostly at the harvest time when the KHARIF crop is cut after a good monsoon.
Baisakhi
- Baisakhi is an ancient harvest festival celebrated across North India, especially in the state of Punjab.which is celebrated by all Punjabi whether Muslim,Hindu or sikh.For sikhs, the Khalsa was founded on same day of Baisakhi festival so double delight for them. In Sikhism, it is one of the most significant holidays in the Sikh calendar, commemorating the establishment of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in 1699, by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
- Considered a holy day, the devout celebrate the Baisakhi with a dip in the holy rivers just around the break of dawn. It is on this day that Sun enters Aries, the first sign of Zodiac. This signifies ushering of the New Year.
- In Punjab (the land of Green Revolution) particularly and in the northern belt of India in general, farmers perform their own prayers and rejoice. For on this day, they commence cutting their harvest.
- The fields can be seen full of nature's bounty. Dressed in their typical folk attire, both men and women, celebrate the day with Bhangra and Gidda. Sweets are distributed, old enmities are forgiven and life is full of joy, merriment and everyone seems to belong.
- The above two are the main reasons for celebrating Baisakhi.
- Baisakhi, however, has had a new dimension added to it by Guru Gobind Singh. For it was on the day of Baisakhi in 1669, that he established the Khalsa Panth and gave a final impetus to the course of the earlier nine Gurus of Sikhism.
- A rural festival of North India, marking the beginning of the solar year (New year), celebrated in Punjab with great fervor. For the Sikhs the day is a collective celebration of New Year along with the commemoration of the founding of the Khalsa Panth (Sikh brotherhood) by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
- It also signifies the end of harvest of the main crop. During Baisakhi the farmers give 'thanks' to the Lord Almighty for their fortune and pray for a better crop the next year. Baisakhi involves a lot of socializing where friends and relatives are invited and delicious meals are served.
- The holy book of the Sikhs, 'Granth Sahib' is taken in a procession, led by the 'Panj Pyaras' (five senior Sikhs) who are symbolic of the original leaders. The occasion is celebrated with great gusto at Talwandi Sabo, where Guru Gobind Singh stayed for nine months and completed the recompilation of the Guru Granth Sahib and in the Golden temple in Amritsar.
- On Baisakhi day, water is drawn from all the sacred rivers of India and poured in to the huge tank surrounding the golden temple.
Onam
In Southern India they have a festival called Onam. For this festival they clean their homes and the children go out to pick flowers and in return are bought new clothes. People go to the temple and give thanks for the harvest.
Onam has a story behind it that a long time ago an Asura king named Mahabali ruled Kerala. He was dearly loved by his subjects and was known to be a just and wise ruler. His popularity soon spread far and wide. Mahabali, however, incurred the wrath of the gods when, besides earth, he extended his rule to the heavens and the nether world. Indra, the king of gods, did not appreciate the growing power of the asura king. The gods approached Lord Vishnu the preserver in the Hindu trinity to help them out of the situation and to curb the growing power of the Asura king. Lord Vishnu in the guise of Vamana approached Mahabali for alms. Now Mahabali was a very generous man. He told Vamana to ask for anything. The Vamana asked for three pieces of land and the king agreed to it. Immediately the Vamana increased in size, he grew as big as the universe. With his first step he covered the earth. With the second step he covered the heaven and the nether world. He did not have any land to place the third step. Mahabali offered his head as the third step. The Vamana placed the third step on Mahabali’s head and sent him to nether world. But before placing the final step, Mahabali was granted a boon. Mahabali was allowed to return to his country once a year and visit his people. Onam is the day when Mahabali comes to visit his people. In memory of the happy days of Mahabali’s rule, a grateful Kerala celebrates his annual homecoming with all the pomp and grandeur it can command.
Ten days of feasting, boat races, songs and dance are part of the festivals. Pookalam or floral decorations are at the entrance of each house marks each day. Earthen mounds look like square pyramids; representing Mahabali and Vishnu are also placed in the dung-plastered courtyards. After traditional prayers and worship, the head of the household presents new clothes to the family and friends. This is followed by a lavish feast.
Onam has a story behind it that a long time ago an Asura king named Mahabali ruled Kerala. He was dearly loved by his subjects and was known to be a just and wise ruler. His popularity soon spread far and wide. Mahabali, however, incurred the wrath of the gods when, besides earth, he extended his rule to the heavens and the nether world. Indra, the king of gods, did not appreciate the growing power of the asura king. The gods approached Lord Vishnu the preserver in the Hindu trinity to help them out of the situation and to curb the growing power of the Asura king. Lord Vishnu in the guise of Vamana approached Mahabali for alms. Now Mahabali was a very generous man. He told Vamana to ask for anything. The Vamana asked for three pieces of land and the king agreed to it. Immediately the Vamana increased in size, he grew as big as the universe. With his first step he covered the earth. With the second step he covered the heaven and the nether world. He did not have any land to place the third step. Mahabali offered his head as the third step. The Vamana placed the third step on Mahabali’s head and sent him to nether world. But before placing the final step, Mahabali was granted a boon. Mahabali was allowed to return to his country once a year and visit his people. Onam is the day when Mahabali comes to visit his people. In memory of the happy days of Mahabali’s rule, a grateful Kerala celebrates his annual homecoming with all the pomp and grandeur it can command.
Ten days of feasting, boat races, songs and dance are part of the festivals. Pookalam or floral decorations are at the entrance of each house marks each day. Earthen mounds look like square pyramids; representing Mahabali and Vishnu are also placed in the dung-plastered courtyards. After traditional prayers and worship, the head of the household presents new clothes to the family and friends. This is followed by a lavish feast.
Kakkoor Kalavayal
The traditional harvest festival of farmers in Kakkoor south of Kochi in South India has its own unique style and Dravidian culture. This is Kakkoor Kalavayal celebrated since time immemorial . Kalavayal, which means cattle market, is strongly tied up with the mythical concept of Goddess Sisters of Edapara and Ambassery temples that meet once in every year. Kalavayal has been conducted to commemorate this auspicious day, it is believed. The four-day celebrations of Kalavayal start on the day of asterism, Aswathy, in the lunar month of Kumbam. The exciting event of this festival is Maramady conducted in the concluding day. This shows the physical strength and skills of peasants and their fighters. The sight of the paired oxen racing in the mud followed by a "flogger" and "runner" is enough to drive the spectators in to a fever of excitement.
Pongal
Kolam decorations in front of a house during Pongal
In Southern India Pongal is a four-day harvest festival and one of the most joyful events. In Tamil Nadu, newly harvested rice is ceremonially cooked. In Karnataka, the festival is called 'Sankranti', and cows and bullocks are gaily decorated and fed on Pongal, which is a sweet preparation of rice. In the evening, the cattle are led out in procession to the beat of drums and music. All the four days of Pongal have their own significance as separate deities are worshipped each day. On the first day, Bhogi or the Rain God is worshipped. The day begins with an oil bath and in the evening there is a bonfire in which all the rubbish in the house is burnt. The second day is that of the Surya Pongal. The place where the Pongal puja is to be done, usually the courtyard or open terrace, is washed a day prior to the festival, smeared with cow-dung, and left to dry. Pretty kolams are drawn, which are special to the occasion. At the place where the puja is to be performed, a delicious concoction of rice, moong dal, jaggery and milk is cooked in a new earthenware pot on an open fire. But before that, some fresh ginger is tied around the pot. As the Pongal boils over and spills out of the pot, children waiting for this go around the pot, clapping their hands and crying “Pongalo Pongal”. Once the Pongal is ready, it is tempered with cashew nuts and raisins fried in ghee.
The Pongal is offered, on a new banana leaf along with other traditional delicacies like Vadas, and payasam, to the Sun God in gratitude for bestowing his blessings on the land and the harvest. Sugar cane, grain, sweet potatoes etc. are also offered. The third day is that of the cattle worship or Mattu Pongal. On this day, the cattle are caparisoned and paraded in the village after they have been offered the Pongal. The fourth and final day marks the Kanya Pongal, when birds are worshipped. Major attractions of this day are bull and bird fights. The Sankranti Rath or the chariot is a typical Pongal kolam. Earlier, the ropes of the rath were kept open till the day after Pongal, when all were “joined” from house to house symbolizing a collective desire to realize an uninterrupted cosmic cycle. This festival is celebrated all over India on the same day, but has different names in each region. However, being a harvest festival, bonfires and feasts are the main thing common to all the celebrations of this festival.
The Pongal is offered, on a new banana leaf along with other traditional delicacies like Vadas, and payasam, to the Sun God in gratitude for bestowing his blessings on the land and the harvest. Sugar cane, grain, sweet potatoes etc. are also offered. The third day is that of the cattle worship or Mattu Pongal. On this day, the cattle are caparisoned and paraded in the village after they have been offered the Pongal. The fourth and final day marks the Kanya Pongal, when birds are worshipped. Major attractions of this day are bull and bird fights. The Sankranti Rath or the chariot is a typical Pongal kolam. Earlier, the ropes of the rath were kept open till the day after Pongal, when all were “joined” from house to house symbolizing a collective desire to realize an uninterrupted cosmic cycle. This festival is celebrated all over India on the same day, but has different names in each region. However, being a harvest festival, bonfires and feasts are the main thing common to all the celebrations of this festival.
Puthari
For the People of Karnataka in the South of India, Puthari or Huthari is the traditional harvest festival known for a variety of folk songs and dances being displayed. It is observed in November/December. Each village presents its own set of discipline and dances during the annual fairs at its temple, which is the main centre of cultural activities. When the Paddy Crop is ready for the harvest, a little crop is cut, bound in small bunches and handed out to all those present to be taken home and preserved as a sign of prosperity.
Makar Sankranti
Til Gul (Click to Zoom)
- Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the earth from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in Hindi, this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14 January every year.
- Since the festival is celebrated in mid winter, food prepared for this festival is such that it keeps the body warm and gives high energy. Laddu of til made with Jaggery is a specialty of the festival. In the western Indian state of Maharashtra it is called 'Tilgul'. In Karnataka it is called 'Yellu-Bella'. In some states cattle are decorated with various colours and are made to jump over a bon-fire.
- Makar Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the 'holy phase of transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family, this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.
- All over the country, Makar Sankranti is observed with great fanfare. However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. In the states of northern and western India, the festival is celebrated as the Sankranti day with special zeal and fervor. The importance of this day has been signified in the ancient epics like Mahabharata also. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, this day also holds a historical and religious significance. As it is the festival of Sun God and he is regarded as the symbol divinity and wisdom, the festival also holds an eternal meaning to it.
- Sankranti is celebrated all over South Asia with some regional variations. It is known by different names and celebrated with different customs in different parts of the country.
- In India it is known by different regional names:
- Makar Sankranti or Sankranti - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Uttarakhand.
- Uttarayan- Gujarat and Rajasthan
- In other countries too the day is celebrated but under different names and in different ways
- In Nepal,
- Tharu people - Maghi
- Other people - Maghe Sankranti or Maghe Sakrati
- In Thailand - Songkran
- In Laos - Pi Ma Lao
- In Myanmar - Thingyan
- In Cambodia - Moha Sangkran
Festivals and grains have some common features main, if you eat and enjoy, you forget all pain
Background Music (North India): Typical Punjabi Folk Music (Bhangra)