Download Hinduism – Taylan Sharmah

Hindus celebrations
and festivals
Taylan Sharmah
Citrine Class Year 2
• Hinduism is the third largest world religion
with about 900 million Hindus worldwide.
• They celebrate many festivals and
celebrations.
• I have written about the festival: Vishu
beacause it is in the month I was born April.
• I have listed other festivals too.
Vishu
•
Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു) is a Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala. It falls around 14 April of the Gregorian
year.
•
Vishu is considered a festival of light and fireworks,] and decorating lights and bursting of firecrackers
(Vishupadakkam) is part of the celebration.
Other elements of Vishu include buying of new clothes (Puthukodi) for the occasion, the tradition of giving
money called Vishukkaineetam , and the Vishu feast or Sadya, which consist of equal proportions of salty,
sweet, sour and bitter items.
The most important event in Vishu is the Vishukkani, which literally means "the first thing seen on the day
of Vishu after waking up". The Vishukkani consists of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles intended
to signify prosperity, including rice, fruits and vegetables, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, yellow
flowers called konna (Cassia fistula), holy texts and coins, usually in the prayer room of the house. This is
arranged the night before Vishu and is the first sight seen on Vishu.
On Vishu, devotees often visit temples like Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple or Guruvayur Sree Krishna
temple to have a 'Vishukkani Kazhcha' (viewing) in the early hours of the day.
•
•
•
Makar Sankranti or Pongal
Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festivals of southern India, mainly
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Pongal happens in the middle of
January every year and marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayan (sun's
journey northwards). The Pongal festival lasts for four days. Celebrations include
a drawing of Kolam, swinging & the cooking of delicious Pongal.
This day coincides with Makara Sankranti.
Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami (also called Saraswati
Puja by Bengalis, Oriyas and Biharis) is
celebrated for the blessing of Saraswati,
goddess of wisdom and the arts.
Thaipusam or Kavadi
•
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. The word Thaipusam is derived
from the Tamil month name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a star near the location of the moon during
the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a spear so he could
vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. Kavadi Attam (Tamil:காவடி ஆட்டம்) is a dance performed by the
devotees during the ceremonial worship of Murugan, the Tamil God of War. It is often performed during
the festival of Thaipusam and emphasises debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through
which the devotees implore for help from the God Murugan.
• Maha Shivaratri
• Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva,
during which followers of Shiva observe
religious fasting and the offering of Bael (Bilva)
leaves to Shiva.
Holi
• Holi or Phagwah is a popular spring festival.
Holi commemorates the slaying of the
demoness Holika by Lord Vishnu's devotee
Prahlad. Thus, the festival's name is derived
from the Sanskrit words "Holika Dahanam",
which literally mean "Holika's slaying"
Shigmo
• Shigmo is celebrated in Goa as one of the
prominent festivals of the Konkani Hindu
community.
Vasant Navratri
• Navratri is the Hindu festival of worship and
dance. In Sanskrit the term literally means
"nine nights". During this festival the forms of
Shakti are worshipped, and effigies are
burned. Navratri is the Hindu festival of
worship and dance. In Sanskrit the term
literally means "nine nights". During this
festival the forms of Shakti are worshipped,
and effigies are burned.
Rama Navami
Rama Navami is the celebration of the birth
of Rama.
Gudi Padwa
Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra
month, and is celebrated as New Year's Day by Marathis
and the Konkanis. According to the Brahma Purana, this is
the day on which Brahma created the world. The date
keeps changing every year in the month of march.
Ugadi
Ugadi (meaning "the start of an era" in
Kannada) is New Year's Day for the
Kannadigas and Telugus. It takes place on
the same day as Gudi Padwa.
Hanuman Jayanti
Hanuman Jayanti is the celebration of the
birth of Hanuman, Rama's loyal devotee.
Mahalakshmi Vrata
Mahalakshmi Vrata is a puja performed by
married Hindu women to seek the blessings of
Mahalakshmi, goddess of wealth and
prosperity.
Onam
• The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the
subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It
falls during the month of Chingam (August–September) and lasts
for ten days. The festival is marked by various festivities, including
intricate flower carpets, elaborate banquet lunches, snake boat
races, Onappottan, Kaazhchakkula in Guruvayoor, Puli Kali,
Kaikottikkali etc.
• These festivities make Onam a unique festival on the earth which is
embellished by most number of cultural elements and it can be
undoubtedly said that these elements constitute the colorfulness,
diversity and richness that no other festival can claim. On Onam day
people conduct special prayers in Hindu temples. Although Prayers
in Hindu temples are important part of the festival, non-Hindus are
not allowed to enter temples.
Krishna Janmaashtami
• Krishna Janmaashtami is the Hindu festival
celebrating the birth of Krishna. It is actually
called as Krishna Jayanthi. The date falls not
only on the eight day of the waning moon of
Bhadrapad, but always on Rohini Nakshatra.