Saraswati is the goddess of learning, art and crafts. According to her different specialities she is known by different names like Bakdevi, Biraj, Sarada, Brahmi, Satarupa, Mahasweta, Sarbasukla, Prithudar, Bagiswari and, of course, Saraswati.

This festival ,is held on the month Magh (January - February). It is a festival celebrated by the youth, particularly students who invoke the blessing of the goddess for success in learning, art and crafts. Through out Ang-Pradesh Saraswati Puja is celebrated in all educational institutions as well as homes. The images of goddess of learning are worshipped.

According to the Matsya Purana, Saraswati evolved from the mouth of Brahma. Such was her beauty and grace that Brahma pursued her. As she fled in different directions a head appeared and so Brahma is attributed with five heads. She was the most unique creation of Brahma. Saraswati is our equivalent of classical goddess Minerva and also the Teutonic Goddess Fira. The moon and the lotus associated with Saraswati are both symbols of eternal womanhood.She is married to Kartikeya.

Vashishtha and Vishwamitra, the two sages, were both violently opposed to each other. Viswamitra ordered the river Saraswati to wash away Vashishtha along with all he possessed. Saraswati refused to comply with his command. To punish Saraswati, he turned the water of the river to blood. At the behest of Shiva, the two sages became amicable and once again there was pure water in the river of Saraswati.

Vishnu had three wives - Saraswati, Ganga and Lakshmi. He was tired of Saraswati because of her superior knowledge and gave her away to Brahma. Ganga was too frivolous and so was given to Shiva. Lakshmi quiet and sedate, remained his wife. These were the three Sris.*

Saraswati is one of the seven holy rivers flowing through modern Punjab, Haryana and North Rajasthan.Sociologically the River Saraswati was an important factor in ancient civilization. She is therefore a part of the fertility cult.

* The story of Kalidas has been built around Saraswati. There was a proud and learned princess who rejected all suitors who could not match to her knowledge. The pundits in anger planned to marry her off to a fool. They saw a man cutting the branch on which he was sitting and decided he was the ideal fool for the princess. Kalidas was presented to the princess as a man of wisdom who only spoke in signs. The pundits answered all the princess's question by interpreting Kalidas's signs. The two were married but on the wedding night the princess realized she had been duped. She kicked Kalidas out of her bed. He in sorrow and shame went to commit suicide. The Goddess Saraswati appeared and asked him to take a dip in the river. As he emerged from the river Kalidas was transformed. He began to recite verses in praise of the Goddess. Unfortunately for him he began to praise her beauty not from her feet upwards but from her breasts downwards. Saraswati in anger cursed Kalidas for his audacity. He would die in an ignonimous place.

A festival of sweet preparation of chewra, dahi, tilkut,laduwa and tilba celebrated in Ang - Pradesh as Til - Sankranti.

Makar Sankranti is also observed as a festival among certain classes. On this occasion, the participants and believers eat rice flakes, curd and sweets made of til.

Also known as Tila Sankranti, the festival marks the beginning of the summer season. People believe that from this day on, the days become longer and the heat of the sun also increases. Every year it is observed on the 14th of January. People celebrate it by giving offerings to the poor.

YA DEVI SARVA BHUTESHU SAKTI RUPENA SANSHISTHA NAMASTHESAYEE NAMASTRESAYEE  NAMASTRESAYEE NAMO NAMAH.

Smiling blue skies trimmed with fleecy white clouds, gentle breeze, warm sunshine and the 'kash' flowers usher in the month of Aswin (September - October). It is the time for Durga Puja, bringing with it new hope to thepeople og Ang-Pradesh. Preparations and expectations culminate in the Puja days, Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami and Nabami. The beat of drums, the clash of cymbals, the ringing of bells, dances before the image of Durga, incense wafting in the air, all form an integral part of Durga puja. All too soon it is Vijayadashmi the day when the images are taken in a procession and immersed in the river.

Associated with the Puja, cultural functions and melas (fairs) are held. These melas create mass contact and develop various folk arts and cottage industries.

Durga was a Puranic Goddess. In the Puranas, the struggle between the Gods and demons or 'asuras' is mentioned. The Gods could not subdue Mahisasura, the king of demons, who drove the gods out of heaven. They went to Vishnu who told them that it would be possible for someone other than a God to defeat Mahisasura. The name Tilottama and not Durga is found in the Puranas. She was created with all the special attributes. Shiva gave her his trident, Vishnu his die, the spear was given by Yama, Agni gave a dart, Kubera a club, Kala a sword, Surya a quiver full or arrows for a magical bow given by Vayu; Varuna provided her with a conch to announce her victory; Viswakarma a battle axe and Indra his thunderbolt. Himavan gave her a mount - a ferocious lion. She was also adorned with jewels.

She subjugated Mahisasura and is also known as Mahisasurmardini, who disappeared into nothingness. Mahisasura is identified with a block buffalo.

The war between the asuras and the Gods took place in spring, the season for war. It is said that Ram invoked the blessings of Chandi in Autumn before attacking Lanka. This was not the proper time for war. Therefore Rama had to invoke Chandi so as to be victorious. The Chandi - worship of Rama was called "Akal Bodhan" the untimely worship.

Another myth centers around Parvati, the daughter of Menaka and Himalaya. She unwillingly married Shiva. The Durga mythology slowly crept into the social mainstream and gave rise to poignant yet common social feelings. Durga has other common household names like Uma, Gauri, Lalita and so on.

The very name Durga is not Aryan but Asiantic. This name Durga, came from aboriginal sources like the Santhal folk lore. The kingdom of Champa (modern Bhagalpur, Pataliputra, Magadh) was ruled by Harmaid Durga. The Aryans could not defeat him. They engaged a beautiful courtesan to entice Harmaid Durga. She was so successful that, when the Aryans attacked, Harmaid Durga, busy with his courtesan did not bother to protect his kingdom. Consequently Harmaid Durga was killed and worshipped the courtesan. The feminine of Durga should rightfully be Durgi. The worship of Durga became the annual Aryan festival and the Durga cult was established among the Aryans. Incidentally, the Aryans called the non - Aryans 'dashyu', 'dashyu', 'dasa' (slave) and subdued them. This explains the presence of the black buffalo.

The festival of lights is celebrated in the month of Kartik (October - November) on Krishna Chaturdasi. The moon rotates around the earth in 28 days. We have fourteen days of light and fourteen days of darkness, Krishna Chaturdasi is the darkest night of the dark period. It is associated with the cult of Kali.

The mythological background of this festival is many and varied. It is said that when Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana in Lanka, the people of Ayodhya celebrated the event with lights and fireworks on Krishna Chaturdashi.

In the month of Kartik, Narakasura, a demon, took into captivity all the gopinis ,(shepherdesses) of Brindavan and Mathura. Krishna was furious and in his anger he killed Narakasura. All the gopinis were rescued. The event was celebrated with lights and fireworks all over Mathura and Brindavan.

Yet again the story goes that the Gods wanted the 'Amrit Kumbha' so as to get the elixir of life and conquer death. They joined the demons in this venture. Mainak mountain was used as the churning rod and Basuki, the snake was twisted round the mountain to be used as the churning rope. The God and the demons began to churn the ocean in unison. The poison from Basuki vitiated the water and the demons became unconscious. It was then that the Amrit Kumbha arose from the water. The Gods drank and became immortal. This memorable event was celebrated with lights and fireworks by the Gods.

On the historical front we have Chandragupta II who took the name of Sakari Vikramaditya after conquering the Sakas. He returned to his capital Magadh in triumph. His subjects celebrated his great victory with lights and fireworks.

The sociological aspect of this festival is very interesting. We find evidences of the worship of Kali by the non - Aryan tribes - Katya, Kaushiki, Parnasabari and so on. The goddess Kali was worshipped on the darkest night of the month, i.e. on Krishna Chaturdashi to ward off death. She was perceived as someone faithful and naked. Darkness was her only apparel. Due to the darkness, the worship of Kali took place amidst illuminations. Crackers were burst to ward off evil spirits. With the passage of time, this festival entered into the Aryan cult of worship. Gradually the fearful appearance was replaced by different forms. Kali assumed different names in different regions. In Andhra Pradesh and in Karnataka she is Chamundeshwari, in Kanchi we have Kamakshi, Meenakshi in Madurai and further down South, she is Mukh Ambika. In the eastern region she came to be known as Mahakali.

Popularly known as the festival in honour of snakes, it is celebrated during the bright fortnight of the month of Shravana. In the celebration, in the South images of Snakes are crafted in cowdung on either side of the entrance to the house as a mark of welcome to snake God and offering of milks are given in the holes around the house.

The festival is widely observed by the women folk who seek protection from the snakes otherwise known as Nagas.

It begins with a fast. Bathing fairs are held on the banks of rivers.

Vinayak Chaturthi is set apart for the sole worship of Ganesh, the common deity of all Hindus. As he is supposed to be very fond of rice puddings, these dishes are cooked on a very large scale in every Hindu house and offered to the God, to be consumed by the members of the family, after the worship is over. A fresh image of Ganesh in clay is made and worshiped on this day. One hundred and eight different names of this God are repeated after the preliminary ceremonies and 108 different flowers are thrown in worship over them.

Vinayaka or Ganesh is the eldest son of Shiva and Parvati, or of Parvati only, according to the following legend, as he sprang from the dirt of her body. Shiva had gone from home and Parvati was left alone on the Kailasa; she wished to have a bath and not liking the idea of any person entering the house then, she rubbed her body with her hands and from the dirt that rolled off produced a figure to which she gave life and named Ganesh. She then asked Ganesh to sit at the door and allow no one, however he might be, to come in till she had finished her bath. Ganesh sat at his duty and while Parvati was bathing inside, Shiva returned home. He wanted to enter his house, but Ganesh would not allow him. After trying in vain to persuade him with gentle words, the great god used threats which, however had no effect. He was at last compelled to cut off Ganesh's head and force his way in. When the goddess who was within perceived her lord entering and when she came to know that Ganesh had been murdered, she would not speak to Shiva until her attendant was restored to life. In order to do this, Shiva gave orders to his army of the Bhutaganas to find the first living creature that slept with its head turned towards the north, to cut off its head and to fit it into Ganesh's body. The Bhutas searched and searched for a very long time and at last found an elephant asleep with its head to the north, and cutting of its head, they brought it and fixed it to the Ganesh's body, and he rose up man in body and elephant in face.

The elephant's head is regarded as the emblem of sagacity. In his image he is always seated at his ease, with his legs folded under him on a lotus throne. He has four arms and they hold an elephant's trunk, a noose, a mace, and a Modaka (rice pudding). He wears a crown. His ears are adorned with jewels and his forehead vibhuti - the sacred ashes. He wears a garland of pearls and precious stones round his neck. He is worshipped under the different names of Vinayaka, Ganesh, Ganapati, Pillaiyar, etc. As this most popular deity is worshipped in almost every village, there is a belief among certain people that he is the god of the Sudras and lower orders, who are generally uneducated. As an authority for this belief, the following couplet is sometimes quoted: -

Viparanam daivatam Sambhuh, Kshatriyanam tu Madhavah, Vaisyanam tu bhaved Brahma, Sudranam Gananayakah!!

The above verse means that Shiva is the god of the Brahmans, Vishnu of the Kshatrivas, Brahma of the vaisyas, and Ganesh of the Sudras.

He controlled all those qualities which overcame hindrances in every undertakings with their usual accompaniments-good living , plenty, prosperity, and peace. This is the one great and real reason for the popularity of the worship of this deity.

There is always a small shrine of Vigneswara, attached to all Shiva temples. In the Vishnu temples too he is worshipped as Tumbikkaialvar - the sage of the elephant's trunk - and as Vishvaksena. Sometimes he has his own temples too. As he is the favourite son of Shiva, he receives honours equal to Shiva. His image is with sincere devotion adored by men and women alike. He is supposed to represent the several personifications of sagacity, shrewdness, patience, and learning. As a test of his wisdom, it is related that when he was a child and playing in company with his brother Subrahmanya, Shiva promised to present a mango to him who made a circuit round the world and returned first. Subrahmanya summoned his peacock, mounted it and was ready for the journey. But Ganesh calmly went round Shiva, his father, and demanded the fruit. "But you never went round the world," said Shiva. "What is the world, but your own holy self ? I went round you. Ergo, I went round the world," was Ganesh's wise reply. Shiva was of course convinced, praised Ganesh for his shrewdness, and gave him the promised fruit, which however he shared with Subrahmanya.

The "belly god" is on this account called Ekadanta, or the single - tusked. Ganesh is said to have written the Mahabharata at the dictation of Vyasa - for it is said that the letter was so quick in repeating the epic that no mortal could have managed to follow him.

Shivaratri is the day on which Maheswara takes up the Linga form for the benefit of spiritual seekers. What they have to seek from Maheswar is Jnana! ‘Janam Maheswaraardichched’. It is Jnana that makes manifest the divinity latent in man. It is the final achievement of all tapas, all Yajna and Yoga ”

It is the name of a Hindu Festival observed in honour of Shiva, one of the gods of the Hindu Trinity. This falls generally in the month of Magha and the festival is called the Mahashivaratri as it is observed on the night preceding the new moon. Not only the night but also the day preceding the new moon in that month is devoted by the Smarta sect of the Hindus to Shiva's worship. On this day the orthodox Hindu rises early in the morning, bathes and attends most devoutly to his prayers. He attends a temple if there is one nearby. Fasting, as a general rule, is observed throughout the day and the night. Sitting up in wakefulness throughout the night entirely absorbed in worshipping Shiva is considered most meritorious. There are special prayers for each of the four watches (Jamas - three hours' duration) of the night, and the devotee who goes through these prayers on the night sacred to Shiva is considered to be working his way up to oneness with Shiva after his death.

The origin of the sacredness of the Shivaratri is related in the following Puranic legend. In a forest, on the Himalaya mountains there once lived a hunter with his wife and an only child in a humble cottage. He was in the habit of going out daily in the morning with his bow and arrows and returning home in the evening with some game or other which furnished the food for the whole family. As usual he went out in search of game on a certain morning. he wandered throughout the forest, but was not able to secure any game. Darkness had almost set in. Thinking it was no use lingering longer in the dense forest he turned his course towards his cottage with a melancholy countenance, for, what could his wife and child do for their supper that night ? This was his sole thought. Sometimes he would stop on the way and say to himself that there was no use in going home without any flesh to cook. He saw a big tank on the way, "Ah ! to be sure some animal or other must come to this tank to drink water. I shall hide myself behind some thick bush and wait for the occasion." On second thoughts, he considered it safer to climb a tree to be beyond the reach of any beast to prey. To attract beasts to the side of the tree on which he was resting he kept dropping tender leaves from the tree. He was not disappointed in his maneuvers. During the first watch of the night a doe antelope, after drinking water in the tank, approached the tree to feed of the tempting leaves without any idea of danger that hung overhead. The hunter, glad at heart, hastily prepared to take aim at the poor beast. The antelope perceived the danger and instead of running away, most piteously addressed the hunter in a human voice, "O ! Hunter dear ! Do not kill me now." The hunter, thought startled to hear the animal speak in a human voice, said, mustering up his courage : "My charming antelope ! I cannot but kill you at once. My wife and child are dying at home in hunger. You must be their food tonight." "Even so, hunter, I have a dear husband and an affectionate child at home. I must take leave of them before I fall down dead by your shaft. For their sake save me for a few hours. You are not a hard - hearted bachelor. As you feel for your wife and child, surely you must realise what my misery will be if I do not take leave of my Lord and child before I lay down my life." The hunter, moved at the piteous words of the beast, thought within himself how hard - hearted he was to resolve to kill a beast so that he may feed on its carcass. But kill he must, if he should eke out his livelihood in that forest. The antelope promised to return after taking leave of her husband and her child. He permitted her to do so and she promised to be back in the fourth watch of the night.

The first watch of the night was almost over. Our hero was wide awake. Having lost his first opportunity that night, he waited for another beast to approach his tree. And his heart leapt with joy at the sight of another beast approaching the tree during the second watch. He again prepared himself to aim his shift at it. He was again astonished when he heard that antelope also begging him in human voice. Again there was a conversation, in the course of which the hunter learnt that the second antelope was the husband of the first one. It also requested the hunter to spare it till the fourth watch of the night, as it wanted to see its wife and child. The hunter gladly granted the request; for he was sure of carrying away both these beasts at the fourth watch. He thought that beasts which argued in such an honest fashion would never prove untrue. During the third watch appeared the child of the first two antelopes. This beast also astonished the hunter by a similar request, which of course was readily granted, to be spared till the fourth watch of the night.

Thus the three watches of the night were spent by the hunter in strict wakefulness. He had no had even a wink of sleep. The tree on which he lodged for the night happened to be the Bilva tree (crataeva religiosa) the leaves of which are held to be sacred to Shiva ; and in dropping the leaves he was unwittingly offering worship to Shiva through out the night, for the leaves happened to fall on a ruined image of Shiva which lay under the branches of that tree. To add to the hunter's fortune, the night on which all these things took place happened to be a Shivaratri night, though the hunter was ignorant of it. The three watches were over. The hunter was anxiously waiting for the return of the three antelopes as promised. The fourth watch also was running out fast. Still the beasts never came back. The hunter had almost set himself down for a fool for having let the animals go in the first instance. The morning twilight had almost appeared; he returned his face towards east and a most heart - rending sight met his eyes. There he saw on the dawn of the early morning the three honest animals each weeping at the fate of the other two, unmindful of its own. Even the hunter's hard heart melted away at what he saw. He turned to the other side to hide his tears; but he saw there his wife and child, who after spending the whole night in the forest in his search came running towards him in joy when they saw him. He turned his eyes again towards the east with something in his mind more noble and elevated than he had ever had. He had almost resolved to excuse the beasts and give back their lives though they had not returned to him yet. But just as the lord of the day was making his appearance on the horizon, there stood before the hunter a divine vimana which carried away all the six - the three antelopes, the hunter, his wife and child - to heavens, to the realm of Shiva. In connection with this marvelous passing away to heaven of the beasts, the hunter and his family, is held the popular belief that Mrgasira - the fifth lunar mansion containing three stars in Orion and figured by an antelope's head, which appear in the heavens is a symbolic representation of this Puranic story.

Teeja is celebrated during the monsoon months of shravana to commemorate the event of Parvati leaving the home of her parents as a bride and lord Shiva's visit to fetch her.

The festival is extremely popular among the women in North India . Married women visit their parent's home to celebrate this festival. It is an occasion on their part to sing in the praise of Parvati whose devotion to her husband was exemplary.

Married women beautifully dressed pray to Parvati for marital bliss. Parvati clad in red and gold, borne on a palanquin is taken out in procession.

Teej in Rajstan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharastra is observed as Haritalika.This is observed in the month of Bhadrapad. For three days the brata is observed with fastings.

During the festivity they offer painted coconuts and fruits to friends and goddesses as thanksgiving. Once the ritual is over, normally jaggery and rice patolis steamed in banana leaves and a sweet made from coconut milk and rice and mixed vegetable cooked with spices are taken.

The nine day celebration during bright fortnight of Chaitra month marks the birth ceremony of Lord Rama. The worship starts with morning ablations, chanting of Vedic mantras dedicated to Vishnu and offering of flowers and fruits to God.

Excerpts from Ramacharitamanas extolling the glory of Rama are recited.Ramnavmi brata is considered as one of the five most important Vratas of the ancient time and everybody is obligated to observe the brata as it is the sole means of worldly happiness and salvation.

Raksha Bandhan falls on the full - moon day (Purnima) of the month of Sravana (July - August). Therefore it is also called Rakhi Purnima. The main celebrations of Rakhi Purnima takes different forms in different region.

IThis ritual strengthens the bond of love between brothers and sisters. Rakhi is also tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbours. Women tie a Rakhi (rosette) around the right wrist of their brothers. If the brother is in a distant place the Rakhi may be sent by post. Women receive gifts and cash from brothers.

Raksha Bandhan has a historical background. About 3000 B.C. Aryans entered India through the North - Western passes and settled in North - Western India. They brought with them their traditional custom, Raksha Bandhan. It was a tradition among the Aryans to have a 'Yajna' before a war to invoke God's blessing for protection and security. Apart from the regular army, the clan leader called the able - bodied men of the villages to join the war. Before the men departed for the battle field the women - folk tied an anointed sacred thread or amulet : i) to protect the man ii) to remind him to uphold the honour of his clan. This is how the custom of Raksha Bandhan originated. The word 'Raksha' means protection. Later, different ethnic tribes entered India, each with its own traditional customs. This led to a fusion of Aryan and Non - Aryan customs. Consequently new and modified forms of the various customs came to be. The same happened with Raksha Bandhan.

In the Middle Ages, especially in Rajasthan, it was practised both for imperial alliance and matrimonial alliance. We get innumerable examples of offering Rakhi for such alliances in Todd's Annals of Rajasthan'. Marwar was attacked by the Sultan of Malwah. Queen. Karna Devi, the dowager queen of Marwar sent a Rakhi to the Moghul Emperor Humayun, to accept her as his sister and to come to her aid. Humayun responded to her gesture. He drove the Sultan of Malwah away from Marwar and saved the queen. That particular day of Purnima was celebrated as Raksha Bandhan in Marwar and then all over Rajasthan and, finally, throughout India.

Holi is the most popular of the three Indian festivals - Holi, Diwali and Dussehra. It is also the most secular festival although it has a touch of religiosity. This festival is celebrated on the Full Moon Day in the month of Phalgun (February - March).

'Phalguni Purnima' has its source in the phagua or phag, the powder used in Holi. The original colours used were red and green. Red as a symbol of desire and green stands for youth and vigour. In Bengal it is known as 'Dol Purnima' from the swing in which sat Radha and Krishna. Orissa celebrates 'Dol Jatra'. In Western India, in Goa and in the Konkan, it is called 'Simagh' in celebration of youth and vitality. It is 'Madan Daman' or 'Kamayan' in South India. Kamayan represents the fulfilment of desire. North India has just 'Holi' or 'Hori'.

Holi has three distinct aspects. It is symbolic of hope for new crops, youth and vigour as well as invocation to the new year. It is said Phalguna was the last month of the year as stated in the Bavishya Purana. This festival heralds the advent of spring. People are in a jubilant mood and feel rejuvenated.

The usual legends surround this festival. Hiranyakashipu, a mighty king worshipped Shiva and was fanatically opposed to Vishnu. His son Prahlad, on the other hand, was an ardent devotee of Vishnu. The father tried to destroy his son but failed. His sister Holika was immune to fire. He employed Holika to enter the fire with Prahlad on her lap. The unexpected happened. Holika was burnt to ashes and Prahlad emerged unscathed. The worshippers of Vishnu, celebrated the occasion by the effigy of Holika. They celebrated the event with phag or powder on Phalguni Purnima Day. Holi was celebrated by the Vaishnavas, the followers of Vishnu.

The Vaishanav cult found expression in Radha and Krishna. According to Srimadbhagvata, Putana, a female demon, tried to kill Krishna, who was the eighth, incarnation of Vishnu. When Krishna was a baby, his uncle, King Kansa ordered a general massacre of all babies. Putana, is the disguise of a woman, suckled infants to death. Krishna, knowing her for what she was, sucked her lifeblood and destroyed her. In Mathura and Brindavan, where the Krishna cult flourishes, the effigy of Putana is burnt. It is here, in the birth place of Krishna, that Holi is celebrated with traditional songs, dances and spraying of colours.

Yet another legend associated with Holi is the destruction of Kamadeva, the God of Love by Shiva. Parvati, the daughter of Menaka and Himalaya was deeply in love with Shiva. At that time Shiva was immersed in deep meditation and took no notice of her. Kama, in order to help Parvati, disturbed Shiva's meditation. The enraged God with the power of his third eye, reduced Kama to ashes. Later, he was restored to life at the behest of Parvati. The meditation period of Shiva is considered to be seasonal cycle, winter. The interruption leading to his marriage with Parvati signifies new life and fulfilment.

'The social customs connected with Holi are universal. The ancient Greeks and Romans, celebrated Baccalian, a fertility cult. In Europe, May Flower Day was celebrated and on this day free mixing among the youth was encouraged. According to the ancient belief, the Sky was the father and the Earth the mother and the horizon was the mating place. In Egypt, the concept was exactly the reverse. The ancient festival was celebrated by the side of the field. Holi, the most popular and yet secular festival, is celebrated by all, cutting across barriers of caste, creed and religion. People enjoy putting colour on one another. The young seek the blessing of the elders. It is a time for free mixing and taboos are ignored. It is a time of hope and joy because spring is in the air.

Buddha Purnima is the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar. It is the most important festival of the Buddhists, and is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Although Buddhists regard every full moon as sacred, the moon of the month of Vaisakh (April - May) has special significance because on this day the Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and attained Nirvana when he died. This strange, three - fold coincidence, gives Buddha Purnima its unique significance.

The Buddha was born in 544 BC, over two thousand five hundred years ago. His father, King Suddhidana, was one of the best-known ruler of the Sakya dynasty. He, liked Lord Rama, was a Suryavanshi who traced his legendary descent from the sun.

On the full moon day of Vaisakh, the Buddha's mother, Queen Mahamaya, happened to be on her way from the capital Kapilavastu to her parent's home in Devdaha. During the journey she stopped under the shade of two Sal trees at Lumbini, where she gave birth to the Buddha. When she returned to Kapilavastu, an old sanyasi named Asit, who was also the court astrologer, came to the palace and predicted that the child would redeem the world.

The child was named Siddharth. But it was his clan name, Gautama, by which he came to be known, and he attained fame as Gautama the Buddha, Gautama the wise. The rejoicing at the birth of the prince was abruptly cut short because a week later his mother Queen Mahamaya suddenly died. Gautama was brought up by his mother's sister who was also her step mother.

Gautama was a serious-minded child who instead of playing with other children would sit alone, lost in his own thoughts. His father did his best to get him interested in various pursuits, but to no avail. When Prince Gautama came of age, King Suddhodana arranged his marriage to the beautiful Princess Yashodhara and saw to it the prince was kept occupied with diverse amusements and pleasures of life. None of these, however, succeeded in diverting Gautama's mind from its quest for truth.

Prince Gautama was a Kshatriya, who, like others of the warrior caste, was also expected to hunt animals and birds. But Gautama was different from other Kshatriyas; instead of killing animals and birds he wanted to protect them. Once his cousin Dev Datta shot a flying swan which fell near Gautama. He picked up the bird, took the arrow out of its body and dressed its wound. When Dev Datta came on the scene and demanded the bird he had shot, Prince Gautama replied, "He who saves life has a stronger claim to it than he who seeks to destroy it."

The dispute was referred to King Suddhodana. The king had the swan brought to court and put on a platform in the center. He then told the two princes that the swan would be awarded to the one to whose call it responded. First Dev Datta called the bird. It began to squawk and tremble. Then Gautama called it too. The bird waddled up to the prince and sat down in his lap. "The swan has chosen its protector and belongs to him, "pronounced King Suddhodana.

There were other things about the world that began to trouble Gautama. One day, when passing through a street, he saw a man who was so old that he could not walk. Another day, he saw a very sick man lying unconscious on the ground. He asked himself, "What is pain ? Why is there so much pain and suffering in the world ? Is there any way of avoiding them ?" The Gautama came across an ascetic who looked so calm that he seemed to have found the answers to the problems of old age, sickness and death. Gautama decided to renounce the world and become an ascetic.

By now Gautama had become a father. But neither love for his baby son Rahul nor attachment to his beautiful wife Yasodhara deflected him from his purpose. One night, when his wife and son were asleep, Gautam stole out of palace. He discarded his royal lobes, snipped off his long curling tresses and went out into the dark night to seek the light of knowledge.

Gautama went from one religious center to another and from one hermitage to the next asking the inmates for answers to his questions. He got none. At last he reached a forest at the edge of the river Niranjana near Gaya. Gautama stayed here for six long years, starving himself and practising all kinds of other penances till he was reduced to skin and bone. He then realised that enlightenment could not come through mortifying the flesh. That very day a woman named Sujata offered him a bowl of kheer and a grass cutter gave him a stack of grass to sleep on. Gautama accepted both these gifts. His death recovered. He took his seat under a Bo tree and resolved to stay there until he found the answers to his questions.

One night, an hour or so before dawn, he found the answers to the four truths of life - the existence of pain and suffering, their causes, the need to overcome them and the means of doing so. Thus Gautama became Gautama the Buddha - the Enlightened one. This event took place on his thirty - fifth birthday which was also the night of the full moon Vaisakh.

From Gaya, the Buddha proceeded to Sarnath near Varanasi. Here five men became his disciples. He taught them the truths he had discovered and formed the first Sangha - community. Thereafter he traveled far and wide preaching the truth and gained a large following consisting of scholars, sanyasis, rulers of states and their ministers. He also went back to his home. But this time he entered his father's state not as a prince but as a bhikshu - monk. His father, stepmother, wife and son joined his Sangha.

Whereas followers of others religions observe the births, deaths, and other important occasions in the lives of their founders, for Buddhists all these events are combined in one on the full moon day in Vaisakh. On this day they baths and wear only white clothes. They gather in their viharas for worship and give alms to monks. Many spend their entire day at the vihara listening to discourses on the life and teaching of the Buddha or invite monks to their homes to speak to them. They reaffirm their faith in the five principles (Panch Sheel) - not to take life, not to steal, not to die, not to imbibe liquor or other intoxicants and not to commit adultery.

Different Buddhist countries have different ways of celebrating this great day. In Sri Lanka the celebrations are very similar to Diwali. All homes are brightly illuminated and even the poorest light at least one oil-lamp.

In Japan, Buddhists are fixed the eighth of April as the Buddha's birthday. On this day, they make replicas of shrines with spring flowers and place a small idol of the Buddha on them. They bathe and consecrate these idols with great reverence.

In Burma, the Buddhists set a day apart every month in honour of the Buddha. Since the Buddha attained enlightenment sitting under a Bodhi tree, special care is taken in watering and tending Bodhi trees.

Celebrations of Buddha Purnima have been extensively written about in poems and novels and depicted in paintings because Buddha Purnima is not only a day of rejoicing; it is also a day for reflection on the life and teaching of one of the greatest teachers the world has ever known.

Eid is a Muslim festival. Every year there are two Eids : Eid - ul - Fitr and Eid - ul - Zuha. Of the two, Eid - ul - Fitr is the more popular.

The Muslim religious calendar is based on lunar months. The ninth lunar month is known as Ramzan. During this month Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and during these hours they are forbidden to eat, drink or indulge in any form of pleasure. So strict are the injunctions against eating and drinking that even the taking of medicine or water is forbidden, as also smoking cigarettes, bidis or hookahs. During Ramzan, Muslims are required to make a special effort to settle their differences and refrain from quarrelling, talking ill of others, and from lying, cheating, or using bad language. Any breach of these is regarded as violating the spirit of Ramazari and deprives the defaulter of any merit he might have earned. If someone deliberately eats or drinks anything - even tastes a morsel of food - the fast is considered as having been broken and the person is expected to make up for the lapse by fasting after Ramzan is over.

The entire month of Ramzan is celebrated as one long festival : it could be described as the Month of Festivity. Muslims look forward to it for, at the end of it, there is Eid - ul - Fitr.

As soon as the new moon of Ramzan is sighted, people start making preparations for Eid. During this month young and old recite the special prayer, taravih in addition to the night prayer isha. Those who know the Koran by heart recite it, completing the recitation within the month.

For the early morning meal, known as sehri, generally eatables cooked in milk are preferred and tea or water drunk. No sooner is the sehri over than the call to prayer is heard from the minarets of mosques. The period of fasting begins and nothing is to be eaten till the sunset. On hearing the call to prayer men and male children set off for the nearest mosque. The women stay at home. They wash their faces, hands and feet and line up for prayer. After tarrying a while to listen to recitations from the holy Koran, they go about their daily chores.

As the sun sets, the call for the maghreb prayers issues from the minarets. This is a signal for Muslims to break their fast and is known as the iftar. It is customary to break the fast with a sip of water, a few dates or some other fruit. Some women chew a piece of rock salt. There after they may eat or drink anything not forbidden by Islamic law.

A great deal of trouble is taken over preparing the iftari. Special delicacies - sauces made of tamarind, fried corn flour, boiled grams and lentils, meat kababs and sweetmeats - are great favourites. If the month of Ramzan falls when the weather is hot a variety of sherbets are prepared.

After the iftari, the evening prayer, the maghreb is said. Then it is time for dinner and after that for the night prayer (isha). This prayer is accompanied by the taravih prayer. And so to bed. Thus pass the twenty-nine or thirty days of Ramzan. If the new moon appears after twenty-nine days there is another day of fasting to make it exactly thirty days. The sighting of the new moon bringing the glad tiding of Eid - ul Fitr and the end of the month of Ramzan. 'Eid - ul - Fitr' means the joy at the end of the days of fasting.

The day following the appearance of the new moon is celebrated with great enthusiasm. All Muslims put on their best clothes and assemble in mosques, Eidgahs or in some open space and line up for prayer. The Eid prayer is recited between the early morning and noon prayers. As soon as the prayer is over, people embrace and wish each other "Eid Mubarak".

Eid - ul - Fitr is a great favourite with children. On hearing that the new moon has been sighted they immediately begin laying out the clothes they will wear the next morning. Boys look for their new socks; girls for their hairpins. Boys select the caps they will wear for the Eid prayers; little girls plead with their elder sisters to have their dupattas dyed to match their new clothes. Every Muslim home is alive with excitement.

There are special delicacies prepared for Eid. Vermicelli pudding is the great favourite. There is also sheer khorma cooked in milk with raisins and nuts. Besides these, there are several varieties of savoury dishes. In most areas, people of other faiths join Muslims in celebrating Eid.

Eid - ul - Zuha falls about two months and nine days after Eid - ul - Fitr. On this occasion Muslims who can, go on pilgrimage to Mecca. This pilgrimage is known as Haj. On Eid - ul - Zuha Muslims offer goats or sheep in sacrifice to God. This commemorates the attempted sacrifice by the Prophet Abraham of his son Ishmael, which was commanded by God to test the faith of Abraham. But when Abraham was about to kill his own son, God performed a miracle and substituted a ram in place of Ishmael. Eid - ul - Zuha celebrates this great act of sacrifice.

As on Eid - ul - Fitr, on Eid - ul - Zuha also additional recitations are added to the morning prayer and people embrace each other in offering felicitations. Then they offer whatever animal they can afford by way of sacrifice. The flesh of the sacrificed animal is given to the poor and needy. Eid - ul - Zuha is , therefore, also known as Eid - ul - Kurban (the Eid of sacrifice). On this Eid also children are given eidee, but they are not nearly as excited over this Eid as they are over Eid - ul - Fitr.

There is yet another Eid known as Eid - Miladun - Nabi which commemorates the birthday of the holy Prophet Mohammed.

Every August, Bhagalpur and its adjoining areas start gearing up for Bishahri Puja, a ritual observed only in eastern parts of Bihar with the sole exceptions being certain parts of West Bengal and Assam.

The ceremony not only has an interesting myth attached to it, but also nurses the magnificent manjusha art within its fold which is considered on par with other folk arts of Bihar like Madhubani paintings of Mithilanchal and Jadopetiya of the Santhal Parganas.

Pandaals are decorated for the purpose and women sing folk songs in the local dialect highlighting the story and importance of Bishahari puja a month before. The Bishahari puja commences on "Singh Nashatra" in the month of "Bhadra" which according to the Hindi calender falls on 16th or 17th of August every year.

The main aim of this puja is to please the Goddess Bishahari so as to prevent people from the wrath of snakes. Requisite accoutrements for observing the puja include temple shaped boxes called Manjushas in which the devotees keep their puja articles. The Manjushas, which are made up of Jute straws and paper, depict sketches of different charecters, apart from those of Gods and Goddesses, thereby giving a vivid description of the entire mythology attached to Bishahari puja.

The myth behind this festival :

Maina, Bhawani, Devi, Padma and Jaya - the five sisters - were the 'Manas Putriyan' (divine daughters) of Lord Shiva. The were also called Bishahari. Once they apprised Lord Shiva of their keen desire to be worshiped on the planet Earth. The lord pondered for a while and put a condition, saying "if my Bhakt, Chando, accepts to worship you all then it is all right for me". According to the myth, Chando, who was a trader and lived at Champanagar on the western outskirts of Bhagalpur town, refused to comply to their wishes. This infuriated the five Manas Putriyan who killed all the six sons of Chando and also drowned his ship carrying merchandise. However, the fate had something else in its mind as Chando's wife Sonika gave birth to the seventh son, Bala.

In the meantime, an Ujjain based trader, Basu, was blessed with a daughter, Bihula. As time passed by, both Bala and Bihula grew into adults and one fine day even their marriage was fixed. However, the wrath of the raging sisters had not subsided by then and they threatened to kill Bala on the very night of his marriage. In order to check their entry into the house, Chando prepared a compact dwelling, made of iron and bamboo, for the couple. But, the still angry Bishahari sisters somehow managed to slip a Naag (snake) inside their new dwelling which bit Bala killing him instantaneously. A non-chalant Bihula then prepared a Manjusha shaped boat and went to Indralok (heaven). There she requested the Gods to revivify her husband. The Gods were pleased with her concern for her husband and thus Bala got back his life. On her return from the Indralok, Bihula persuaded Chando to worship Bishari. And since then Bishahri Puja is observed, says the myth.

THE COLOURFUL FESTIVAL

Though there are many festivals that are celebrated by the Hindus of Bihar, but there is one Hindu festival that is uniquely Bihari, and that is the festival of ‘Chhath’. Observed mostly by the people of North Bihar, it is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and therefore, is also known as ‘SuryaShashti’. Chhath is considered to be a means to thank the Sun for bestowing the bounties of life on earth, as also for fulfilling particular wishes.

The word ‘Chhath’ denotes the number ‘six’ and thus the festival begins on the sixth day of the Hindu month of ‘Kartik’ in the Hindu lunar calendar, corresponding to late October and mid November, i.e. on 6th day after deepawali, depending on the year. It is one of the holiest festivals for Biharis and extends for four days.

Chhattha, the festival of the sixth day after Diwali is observed with great pomp and show. On this occasion the longest of all fasts is observed by the people, especially women, who before breaking it offer cow's milk, coconut and other fruits to the sun god. All the women, old and young, go singing together to the nearby river ghats or ponds and offer homage to the setting sun in the evening and to the rising sun in the morning of the day following.

Beliefs :

There is a popular belief that all the desires of the devotees are always fulfilled during Chhath. Also, an element of fear is present among the devotees who dread the punishment for any misdeed during Chhath. The city remains safe and experiences peace during this time when criminals too prefer to be a part of the good.

The Days Of Festivity :

The festival of Chhath is unique to Bihar and is marked by 4 day long celebrations and rituals.

Day 1:
To wash away their sins, the devotees take a dip, preferably in the holy river Ganges and bring the river water to prepare the offerings.

Day 2:
The devotees observe a fast for the whole day, which is broken in late evening, after performing worship at home. The offerings - typically a porridge of rice, puris (deep-fried puffs of wheat flour) and bananas - are distributed among family and visiting friends and relatives.

Day 3:
It is spent preparing the offerings at home during the day. In the evening the devotees move to a riverbank or a pond. There, the offerings are made to the setting sun. At nightfall, the devotees along with the family and friends return home where another colorful celebration takes place. Under a canopy of sugar cane sticks, clay elephants containing earthen lamps, and containers full of the offerings, are placed. There the fire god is worshipped.

Day 4:
On the final day of the festivities of the grand festival, again the devotees, family and friends, move to the riverbank. Offerings are made to the rising sun, this time. At the completion of the offerings, there is great celebration. The devotees break their fast and the rich offerings are made to all the people around.

The Festivities And The Rituals :

Chhath is a very joyous and colorful festival. All the people dress up in their best and new clothes are a must. Clothes have to be unstitched and people sleep on the floor.

Loud and devotional music reverberates in the air, purifying the whole atmosphere. Folk songs are sung both at home and on the riverbank. Millions of people throng the banks of river Ganges, In Patna. All the people are busy merry making.

The streets are kept spotlessly clean by bands of volunteers, who also decorate all streets leading to the river with colorful festoons, ribbons, and banners.

The offerings of deep fried and sweet rolls of stone ground wheat flour, grapefruit, whole coconuts, bananas, and grains of lentils are also very peculiar. These items are contained in small, semicircular pans woven out of bamboo strips.

Strict saltless vegetarian menu is observed (even onions and garlic are considered unwanted during the entire festival period), all earthen vessels are reserved for the period only and all possible purity of food is adhered to.

The Places Of Activity :

Renowned for their sun temples, Deo in Aurangabad and Baragaon near Nalanda, are abuzz with activity. These are the places where the Chhath in Bihar can best be seen.

The temple at Deo faces west, unlike other sun temples in India that face East, and during the festival time it is the most crowded place. Forgetting all the barriers of caste, creed and colour, all the devotees throng the banks of the river to offer their prayers to the Sun god.

Bringing to the fore the jubilation and festive gaiety of the people of Bihar that transcends all the artificial social and economic barriers, the festival is more of a sacrifice which entails purificatory preparation.

The people of Ang - Pradesh have immense faith in this festival. It is celebrated twice a year. Once in ‘Chaitra’ (according to the Hindu calendar) which falls in March and in ‘Kartik ‘ which falls in November. For this 4-day festival, people maintain sanctity and purity from even a month ahead.

People celebrate this festival with immense faith the folk songs sung in the honour of ‘Surya Dev’ and ‘Chatti Maiyya’ can be heard at every nook and corner the sweetness of the songs lets you feel the holiness of the festival.

Women fast for the good of their family and the society. Regardless of the social status, to celebrate this festival only the faith counts. Though it is a festival of the Hindus, some of the Muslims also participate actively in the puja.

 

Janmashtami is observed on the eight day of the second fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada. Special meals are held and thousands of people visit the sacred places and temples.

The Karma festival is one which observed by the tribals as well as the non-tribals. There are sufficient grounds to believe that it is an imitation of the Hindu festival. The ceremony starts with the planting of the trees.

On this occasion the tribal youths spend the whole night in singing and dancing. The traditional dance gets its name from the Karma tree, which stands for fortune and good luck.The song sung on this occasion narrate the legends of Karma and Dharma.

Dancers, both men and women, form circles around it and dance with their arms around each other's waists. As the drum beats get quicker and louder, the dancers gain momentum and generally end in an uproarious tumult.

Hindu women worship Lord Shiva at Jeth Amavasya to ensure the long life of their husband. At Mauni Amavasya they sit silently under a pipal tree on the day of a new moon, provided it is a Monday.

Godhan, Chitra gupta puja are celebrated mostly by the Kayasthas
Viswakarma puja is observed only by factory workers and workmen.

It is during the winter season that the birds from the Himalayas migrate towards the plains. With the advent of these colorful birds, celebration of sama–chakeva is done. This is a festival especially celebrated in mithila. mithilanchal dedicates this festival to the celebration of the brother sister relationship. It represents the tradition of this land as well as the art of making idols. This festival starts with the welcoming of the pair of birds sama-chakeva. Girls make clay idols of various birds and decorate them in their own traditional ways. Various rituals are performed and the festival joyfully ended with the ‘vidai’ of sama and with a wish that these birds return to this land the next year.