|
Festivals
Diwali
In Haryana Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
It comes in the middle of the month of Karthik. First comes the little
Diwali on which rice and sugar put in vessels, with a paisa placed on
the top, are given away to Brahmins and girls. The deceased ancestors
are said to visit the house of their families on that day, and it is in
their name that the ceremony is performed. Houses are whitewashed and
cleaned. On the next day, or Govardhan, Diwali lamps are lighted in the
evening and sweets distributed. On the following day all the sweepings
are thrown out on to the refused dumps outside the village. The old lamps
are also thrown their and new ones placed in the house. The rich and trading
classes specially consider Diwali as their own festival. On this occasion
they perform pujas
which are considered auspicious for their profession.
Diwali is also celebrated by gambling in various ways
throughout the night accompanied by merry making. For children Diwali
provides an occasion for fire works. More
about Diwali
Top
Dussera
Dussera is probably the chief Hindu festival, being associated
with the great Epic Ramayana and its renowned hero, Rama.
The celebrations last nearly a month. First come the Shradas, early in
September and lasts over a fortnight. The Brahmins are fed on these days
in memory of the deceased elders of the family. The Shradas are followed
by Nauratas, which as the name implies are nine in number. Oats sown in
the field or deposited in big utensils, are watered on each of these days.
On the Dussera day, pudding (halwa) is eaten with rice and cured. The
Brahmins are also fed. All the members of the family except woman put
stalks of green oats on their head.
Ram Leela is enacted in various places. On the last day the effigies
of the demon king Ravana and his supporters are burned, which forms the
concluding event. More
about Dussera
Top
Holi
Holi is celebrated with considerable zest, particularly in
the area bordering Uttar Pradesh. Four days before the festival, married
women play Holi with their men folk by throwing coloured water on them.
The day following Holi, Dhulandi (Phag), men folk throw water on women
who retaliate by a mock beating with sticks or kolras (twisted cloth strips).
The men act as if they are powerless and they pretended attempts at shielding
themselves lead to much fun and amusement. More
about Holi
Gugga
Naumi
This is a religious festival, celebrated all over Haryana.
It is connected with snake-worship and observed in August-September. A
number of legends have clustered around Gugga Pir or Zahir Pir (the saint).
He is also referred to as Baggar wala because of his grave near Dadrewa
near Ganga nagar, a tract over which he is said to have ruled. He was
reputed to have the power of curing people of snake-bite. Monday is his
day, the date being 9th. The shrine is distinguished by its
square shape with minarets and domed roof. It is called 'Mari'.
Top
Bathing at
Sohna
Sohna is famous for its hot springs, which have medicinal
qualities, several thousand people assemble at Sohna on Somwati Amawas
to bathe in sulphur springs. The crowd would be small if the festival
happens to fall during harvest-time.
Kurukshetra Festival
The festival in Kurushetra, Haryana coincides with the
Gita Jayanti, signifying the birth of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. A visit
to Kurukshetra during the festival is an exhilarating and spiritual experience.
Kurukshetra, named after the great sage king Kuru, is also the site of
the epic battle of Mahabharata (righteous war) where on a momentous occasion,
dialogue between Sri.
Click here to know more...
Top
Pinjore Heritage Festival
It is situated 20 kilometers from Chandigarh. Pinjore
is famous for its gardens which is a beautiful example of the terraced
gardens of the Mughals. The Pinjore Gardens lie on the Ambala Simla road,
near Kalka. It is planned by a Fidai Khan in the region of Jehangir. At
present the garden belongs to Haryana to whose share it came, in1966 at
the time of formation of the state. Haryana government has spent considerable
sum of money on the improvement of the garden and buildings. The results
has been quite breathtaking.
Festival of Gardens
The biggest rose show in the country, also known as 'Rose
Festival' is celebrated in the last week of February. Zakir Rose garden,
the venue of the Rose festival, displays huge varieties of roses. The
festival includes flower shows, performances of music and dance; both
classical and folk, exhibitions by local artists, photographers and craftsman.
More...
Teej Festival
The biggest rose show in the country, also known as 'Rose
Festival' is celebrated in the last week of February. Zakir Rose garden,
the venue of the Rose festival, displays huge varieties of roses. The
festival includes flower shows, performances of music and dance; both
classical and folk, exhibitions by local artists, photographers and craftsman.
More...
Other festivals are Ram Naumi, Solono (Raksha Bandhan)
and Bhai Duj.
Top
|
