Hinduism
The prominent religion of India.
A lunar calendar is used to determine the dates of most of the Hindu festivals.
The Indian lunar year consists of twelve lunar months, with an intercalary month
inserted about once every three years.
A lunar month lasts from one new moon to the next, and is named for the Indian solar
month that it begins in.
Hence, the lunar month Vaisakha will begin with the first new moon after April 21, the
beginning date of the solar month Vaisakha.
| Lunar Month | Begins on
new moon after |
|---|
| Chaitra | March 14
|
| Vaisakha | April 13
|
| Jaistha | May 14
|
| Asadha | June 14
|
| Sravana | July 16
|
| Bhadra | August 16
|
| Asvina | September 16
|
| Kartika | October 17
|
| Agrahayana | November 16
|
| Pausa | December 15
|
| Magha | January 14
|
| Phalguna | February 12
|
When two new moons occur in the same solar month, an intercalary month is inserted.
The solar month gives its name to both months, with
nija added to the name of the first month, and
akhika added to the name of the second.
Unless specified otherwise, it is the lunar month, and not the solar month, that this
book refers to.
"14 days after the full moon of Asvina" means 14 days after the full moon after the new
moon after September 23.
 Gudi Padava, Chaitra 1 (Mar 20, 2004). Begins the Hindu calendar.
Holi, Phalguna 15 (Mar 6, 2004). It commemorates the burning of the witch Holika.
Also is a celebration of the arrival of spring.
People throw brightly colored powders at each other.
It is popular in India, Malaysia, and Surinam.
Also known as
Basaat.
In
Culture Shock! India Gitanjali Kolandad offers a word of warning to visitors who will be in India
for Holi.
Normal rules of behavior are suspended: women pretend to battle with men,
bhang (hashish) is added to milk and drunk, and anyone is fair target for
the coloured powders and water that are traditionally thrown.
This is one festival that can get a little out of hand, and it is best to
go to a Holi party, rather than join the street celebration, especially
in the cities. The men can get quite intoxicated and rowdy.
If you do go out on the streets, wear old clothes and be prepared to become
every colour of the rainbow, and soaking wet into the bargain.
If you are invited to a Holi party, wear spotless white, the perfect
canvas for the brilliant pink, red and yellow powders with which you will
be painted.
Rang Panchami, Phalguna 16 (Mar 7, 2004).
Diwali, Asvina 29 (Nov 10, 2004). Diwali occurs fourteen days after the full moon of Asvina.
That is, it falls near a new moon in October or November.
It is a celebration commemorating Ram's return from exile, and in some parts of India
it marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year [on the following day,
Vikram Samvat/Goverdhan Puja].
It's alternate name,
Festival of Lights, comes from the tradition of lighting thousands of oil lamps
and electric lights throughout India.
On this night the goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi, is honored, and in Eastern India and
Bengal the goddess of strength, Kali, is honored.
Statues of Kali are dipped in the river as a sign of respect.
Diwali is celebrated in India, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Mauritius, and Singapore.
Also known as
Deepavali.
Vaisakha
Many calendar variations have been used in India, most of which were based on a
calendar called the Kali Yuga which dates back to 3,000 B.C.
Until the Indian calendar was reformed this century, the Indian solar year was based on
the zodiac (sidereal year), and the year would not begin until the sun entered the sign of
Aries.
The sidereal year is about 24 minutes longer, and so becomes out of synch with the
Gregorian dates.
Even though Aries is generally excepted as beginning on March 21, the sun does not
actually enter the sign of Aries until mid-April.
This is still celebrated as a beginning of the new year in India.
Baisakhi, April 13, 14, or 15. The Hindu solar new year.
Celebrated with bathing in holy waters, especially the Ganges.
Also known as
Vishnu or
Vishu in Kerala,
Mesa Samkranti in W.
Bengal and Tripura,
Bahag Bihu in Assam, and
Cheiraoba in Manipur.
Sometimes spelled
Vaisakhi.
Also known as
Meshadi. Many of these names (Vaisakhi, Baisakhi, Meshadi), correspond to the
zodiac Aries.
This is also the name of the second month of the current calendar, and in earlier times
it was the first month in most areas.
Women wear yellow saris on this day.[aka Kalpa Vruksha]
Ten Days in Asvina
The first ten days of the lunar month of Asvina are celebrated in different parts of
India variously as Ram Lila, Dussehra, or Durga Puja.
Ram Lila. It celebrates Ram's victory over Ravana.
Dussehra, Asvina 10 (Oct 22, 2004). Also known as
Vijaya Dasami. An autumn festival.
It also celebrates Ram's victory Ravana.
Durga Puja, first 10 days of Asvina. A ten day festival.
It means "Durga prayer".
Durga is a terrible form of Parvati, Shiva's consort.
It commemorates the victory of the Durga over the buffalo-headed demon Mashishasura.
The seventh, eighth, and ninth days of this festival are known as
Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, and
Maha Navami respectively.
Navaratri, Asvina 1-9. "Nine nights".
Commemorates Durga killing the buffalo-headed deamon.
The tenth day is
Vijaya Dasami, or "victory of the tenth".
Navaratri is again held in Vaisakha.
Dasain. Ten day Durga festival in Nepal.
Caturmasya
Caturmasya means "four months", which is the duration that Vishnu sleeps.
Ekadasi, Asadha 11 (Jun 27, 2004). The time the Vishnu goes to sleep for four months.
Naga Panchami, Sravana 5 (Aug 19, 2004). The cobras are appeased at this festival, which is dedicated to the serpent Ananta
(aka Sesha?), on whose coils Vishnu rested when he created the universe.
"Vishnu lies on Ananta", Bhadra 14 (Sep 27, 2004). Celebration of Vishnu lying on the cobra Ananta.
[same as Sharad Purnima?]
"Vishnu wakes". eleven days after new moon in [Agrahayana].
Vishnu wakes.
The Ramayana
In 24,000 verses the Ramayana tells the story of the life of Rama and Sita.
Rama was exiled from his kingdom, and he went to live in the forest with his wife Sita
and his brother Lakhshmana.
Ravana, a demon king, kidnapped Sita and took her away to his kingdom in Lanka.
With the help of the monkey god Hanuman, Rama defeated Ravana's army.
Rama and Sita were incarnations of Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi.
As a Sanskrit epic, the Ramayana is second only to the Mahabharata.
Both epics are about the struggle between one's dharma (destiny) and adharma.
Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday, full moon of Asvina. Valmiki is considered to be the author of the great Hindu epic, the Ramayana.
Although the work was certainly modified by later writers, there is evidence that the
majority of the Ramayana was by a single author.
It was written sometime between 400 BC and 400 AD.
Ramnavami, Chaitra 9 (Mar 28, 2004). Birthday of Rama.
Celebrated with readings of the Ramayana.
Hanuman Jayanti, full moon of Chaitra. Hanuman is the Monkey-God hero of the Ramayan.
Melas
Kumbha Mela. Occurs once every three years, at one of these four holy cities:
Nasik, Ujjain, Prayag, or Hardwar.
Millions of pilgrims attend to take a dip in the Ganges.
Magh Mela.
Other Days
Sharad Purnima, full moon of asvina.
Raksha Bandhan, Sravana 15 (Aug 29, 2004). One of the brother-sister holidays.
The sister ties a thread (rakhi) to her brother as a symbolic bond, and he promises to
protect her.
Bhai Duj, Kartika 3 (Nov 14, 2004). One of the brother-sister festivals. [is this related to Diwali?]
Janmashtami, eighth day of dark half of Sravana. Celebrates the birthday of Krishna, believed to be an incarnation of Vishnu and the
author of the Bhagavad Gita, the most important book of the Mahabarata.
Also known as
Gokulashtami.
Onam, Bhadra 12 (Sep 25, 2004). A harvest festival.
Ganesh Chaturthi, full moon of Bhadra. Festival begins ten days preceding.
Celebrates Ganesh's birthday.
It is especially observed in Bombay.
Rath Yatra. Occured on 7/10/94 and 6/30/95.
Commemorates Krishna's journey from his childhood home to Mathura.
In Puri, Orissa, images of Krishna are pulled the streets on huge chariots pulled by four
thousand people.
This form of Krishna is called "Jagannath" (Juggernaut).
Pooram. Occurs in April or May with the new moon.
Observed in Kerala.
Elephants carrying umbrellas circle the temple, and at midnight there is fireworks.
Vasant Panchami, Magha 5 (Jan 25, 2004). Observed mainly in the eastern region of India.
Honors Saraswati, the goddess of learning, and Vasanta, companion of Kama.
Celebration of the coming of spring.
Women wear yellow saris on this day.
Also called
Sripanchami.
Teej, Bhadra 3 (Sep 16, 2004). Honors Parvati, the consort of Shiva, and Krishna.
A married woman may visit her parents on this day.
Women wear green saris.
Mainly observed in Rajastan.
There is also a
Tij Day in Nepal.
Also known as
Woman's Holiday or
Haritalika.
Maharashtra, Bhadra 4 (Sep 17, 2004). Honors Ganesh.
"Rishi day", Bhadra 5 (Sep 18, 2004). Honors the rishis.
Sivaratri, 14th day of dark half of Magha. Siva bestows salvation to his followers on this day which is considered the anniversary
of his Creation dance and of his wedding.
Also known as
Mahashivratri.
Thaipusam, occurs in February. Celebrates the birthday of Lord Subramian.
A Malaysian holiday.
Also called
Thaipusam Cavadee.
Pitrpaksha.
"Skanda procession", Agrahayana 6 (Dec 16, 2004).
Karttikaidipa, full moon of Agrahayana.
"Effigy of Kama", full moon of Chaitra.
Navaratri, Chaitra 1-9. Other occurance of Navaratri.
On Chaitra [9|10] is Ramnavami.
Narasimha, full moon of Vaisakha.
"Ganga day", Jaistha 10 (May 27, 2004).
Meenakshi Kalyanam. Observed in Madurai.
A ten day festival that celebrates the marriage of Meenakshi with Shiva.
Amarnath Yatra. Occurs in July or August with the full moon.
Pilgrims visit the place in Kashmir where Shiva explained the secret of salvation to
Parvati.
Ougadi. Telegu New Year celebration in Mauritius.
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Halloween
