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The gudi with a swastika-marked pot and silk cloth is a traditional
tribute to the vernal sun. Raising a gudi is an act of declaring
victory, first initiated by the victorious warriors of the Maratha
army under Shivaji.
GUDI PADVA : A New
Year Begins In The South
Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu calendar and the very first
day of this month begins the new year in Maharashtra, Andhra and
parts of Karnataka. This festival is called Gudi Padva or Ugadi.
VASANT NAVARATRI :
Nine Days Of Devi Worship
The first day of Chaitra also begins the more quietly celebrated
Vasant Navaratri dedicated to the goddess Gauri or Parvati. This
is part of the month-long spring rites during which women wear festive
garments and gather to share seasonal fruit and sweets.
RAMNAVAMI : The Birthday
Of Rama
The ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra is the birthday of Rama.
On the Ramnavami day, people sing devotional bhajans in praise of
Rama and rock images of him in cradles to celebrate his birth. There
are recitations of Tulsi Ramayan, the epic which recounts the story
of this great king.
MAHAVIR JAYANTI : The
Birth Of The Great Tirthankara
On the 13th day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra, falls
the most important festival of the Jains. The birthday of their
24th Tirthankara, Mahavir, is celebrated with solemnity and worship.
HANUMAN JAYANTI :
The Birthday Of Hanuman
Later in the month, the full moon of Chaitra brings Hanuman Jayanti,
the birthday of Rama's greatest devotee and chief of the monkey
army which fought Rama's war with Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.
POORAM : A Procession
Of Bejewelled Temple Elephants
At the beginning of April, the people of Kerala begin their search
for the best elephants in the state. Each temple in Kerala sends
a procession of decorated elephants to Trichur to participate in
the Pooram festival.
EASTER SUNDAY : Celebration
0f New Life
During April, Christians the world over celebrate Easter, also a
festival of the rejuvenation of life and living.
BAISAKHI : A Time
To Dance
Guru Gobind Singh, honoured as the greatest Sikh leader after the
founder of the faith, Guru Nanak, was the most dynamic of all the
gurus who consolidated Sikhism and gave it the modern form it has
today.
RAMZAN ID : Fasting
And Feasting
All over the world, Muslims of all sects celebrate Ramzan as the
most sacred and holy month in their year. They observe an austere
lifestyle of restraint and duty, fasting from sunrise to sunset
each day, not even drinking water. Once the moon is sighted over
the horizon, their daily fast ends and all-night feasting and merriment
is the norm till the new day dawns.
PESAKH : The Passover
Pesakh is the celebration of the escape of the Jews from Egypt under
the leadership of Moses and with the guidance of Yahweh. An event
which happened almost 3200 years ago lives fresh in the memory of
Jews all over the world. On the Pesakh night, the whole family gets
together for a meal of homemade bread and the produce of the springtime
harvests. The special unleavened bread which is baked on this occasion
is called Matzoh.
