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The fifteen lunar days of the dark half of the moon in Assu are the
Shradh
days when the dead are propitiated. People observe this rite out of moral
obligation and gratitude to the manes. Brahmins are fed on the particular
ancestor died. During these days nothing auspicious is celebrated. The Shradhs
are followed by the Nauratas (Navaratras), which regarded auspicious
for celebration on the first of the mix days barley is sown in the house. This
is called Khetri, or goddess Gorjas farm. This little farm is watered and
nurtured regularly till the eighth or ninth day. On that day goddess Gorja, in
the form of seedlings, is covered with a piece of red cloth and worshipped and
propitiated. Hindu women observe a fast during the Nauratas, though esculent
roots like potates, and cakes made from the water-chestnut (sandhara) flour are
allowed despite the fast. On the Dussehra day women cut the young shoots
of Khetri and tick them in the headwears of their male relatives, and invariably
get gifts in return. The festival of goddess Sanjhi is also celebrated during the
Nauratas. On the
first day an image of the goddess is made from mixing mud and cow dung and is
then placed along a wall on a door. Every evening during the Nauratas the image
is worshipped, incantations are muttered and an offering of a mixture of rice
and sugar (tilcholi) is distributed. On the day of Dussehra this image is
immersed in water.
The Dussehra festival is celebrated in a big way. Big tall effigies of
Ravana,
Kumbkharna and Meghnad are burnt at a large number of places. During the
Nauratas Ram-Lila is is organised at innumerable places in the state. On Kartik on the fourth day
falls Karva Chauth. On this day married
women observe a fast and pray for the long life of their husbands. Sometimes unmarried
girls observe this fast and pray for their husbands-to-be. This is
the mother-in-laws day because it is customary on this day for the
daughter-in-law to present her offerings (Baya) in the form of money and eatables.
On the eleventh lunar day in this month the festival of Devuthan (waking up
the deities) is celebrated. Metal plates are taken in order to awaken the
deities who are supposed to go to sleep between the summer harvest and the first
ploughing after the start of the autumnal rains.
The most important festival in the month of Kartik is Diwali. Eearthen lamps
or candles are lighted over buildings all over the state. People celebrate the
festival with great gusto. Houses are white-washed, new clothes are purchased
and sweets of all kinds are prepared. People worship Goddess Lakshmi with an
offering of sweets and silver coins. Thereafter they distribute sweets among
friends and relatives. It is believed that on this night Goddess Lakshmi in the
company of Vidmata (goddess of fate) takes a round of every and wherever she
takes a fancy, she bestows immense prosperity. In the Golden Temple of Amristar, Diwali is celebrated with great
eclat.
Earthen lamps are lighted all round the hold tank and their undulating
refelctions in the water look extremely fascinating.
14th January Lohri which comes on is another popular festival of Punjab. A
few days before it arrives, youngsters get together in groups and go round their
localities singing folk-songs connected with Lohri and collecting fuel and money
for the bonfire. This is a special day for making offerings to fire. When fire
is lit up in the evening, orthodox men and women go round it, pour offerings
into it and bow before it in reverence. The first Lohri for a new bride or
a new-born baby is celebrated enthusiastically and sweets are distributed.
 Next day after Lohri comes
Maghi. It is a popular festival of the Punjabis.
On this day fairs are held at many places, people go out for a holy dip and give
away a lot in charity. The special dish of the day is kheer cooked in sugarcane
juice. The most colourful and hilarious of all the festivals which are
celebrated in the Punjab is Holi which is celebrated on the full-moon day of
Phagun. A big fair known as Hola Mahala is held at Anandpur on the next day after
Holi. Villagers come from far-off places to join it. Some festivals are held in the Punjab in honour of the Sikh
Gurus. These are
called Gurupureabs. They are well spread over the year. There are three
important Gurupurabs. On the full moon of Karthik the birth anniversary of Guru
Nanak is celebrated by the devotees with great ardour. Two days earlier a
non-stop reading of the Adi Granth is started. At different places
religious congregations are held and hymns from the Granth Sahib are chanted .
large processions are taken out through the towns. At night buildings are
illuminated. The birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh is also celebrated in a
similar manner. The third important Gurupurab is the one associated with the
martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev.
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