Popular Festivals in Maharashtra
Maharashtra is rich in cultural heritage. Faith and festivals bind every individual of this state into one thread of unity. All festivals in Maharashtra are celebrated with full enthusiasm. During the time of festivity, a sense of elation can be seen amongst the denizens and city dwellers. Every home in the region is ornamented with accessories and designs. Smiles can be noticed on every face at the time of festivity. The festivals in Maharashtra are as follows:
Buddha Purnima: Buddha Purnima is the holiest day in the Buddhists calendar. On this day Lord Buddha achieved took birth, achieved enlightenment and attained nirvana. All the incidents, co-incidentally occurred on the same day. The moon in the month of Vaisakh(April-May) has special significance. Many people on this day go to monasteries and listen to the verses from monks. During this day pilgrims are asked to follow the five principles of right path advocated by Lord Buddha. The people on this worship their spiritual masters and organize grand functions.
Dusshera and Diwali: Dusshera and Diwlali are celebrated in the month of October and November. According to the epic Ramayana, Rama killed the evil king Ravana and to mark this occasion, the effigy of the evil king is burnt. Besides this, Diwali is celebrated to celebrate the return of Lord Rama after the exile of 14 years. In Maharashtra Diwali is celebrated for 5 days. The people on this day apply special type of scented oil Â?UtahÂ? and then take a bath. Dhanatrayodashi; Narakchaturdashi, Amavasya (Laxmi poojan), Balipratipada and Yamadvitiya (Bhaubeej) are the five days. The Bhaubeej is the last day of Diwali festival when brothers and sisters exchange sweets. It is the festival similar to Rakhi.
Ganesh Chaturthi: Lord Ganesha is the patron deity of Maharashtra. With the arrival of August, the preparation for the celebrations commence in advance. The local populaces place the small idols of Lord Ganesha and offer him prayers every day. Temples are illuminated and hymns in the praise of Lord are sung. Idols ranging from 10 feet to 40 feet can be seen in Pmnadaals. During the last, the statue of Lord Ganesha is immersed in the rivers and sea shores near by. In the earlier days, Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated privately by people. In order to give a political angle and achieve independence, Lokmanaya Balgangadhar Tilak publicized the entire festivity. After independence, Ganesh Chathurthi gained its original form. Today this festival is celebrated with great fervor and passion.
Gokul Ashtami: The Gokul Ashtami is celebrated in the month of AugustÂ?the birth day of Lord Krishna. During this festival, fasts are observed all over the Maharashtra region. Special meals of butter, rice, yogurt, breads and potatoes are prepared and eaten by the followers. These meals were in fact the routine platter of Lord Krishna. During this festivity, the temples are ornamented with lights and flowers. The ceremony of breaking curd pot is also celebrated with complete fervor. The Curd pot is suspended 40-50 feet above the ground and the groups of special trained people try to break that pot forming a pyramid structure. In the villages, the Pola or harvest festival is celebrated and the villagers mark this occasion by decorating their houses and organizing various events.
Gudhi Padwa: It is dedicated to Sahaliwan, the son of a humble potter who overthrew the reigning Guptas of Malwa to become an important monarch guiding the fortunes of a new dynasty. This day marks the start of the Hindu solar year. On this day people offer rituals, prayers, prasad of neem leaves, gram pulse and jagerry and they buy new clothes. Families erect a gudhi or bamboo staff, with a colored silk cloth and a bright garlanded goblet is hung on top of it, which symbolizes victory or achievement. In a city where business is conducted as much through modern technology as ancient wisdom, the advice of astrologers on this day is highly sought.
Holi: The festival of Holi is celebrated in the month of March. During this month, farmers celebrate their rich harvest. At night people burn wooden bon fire which symbolizes the triumph of truth over evil. Next day, the people throw color on each other and make special sweets at homes. Holi is perhaps an important festival which is celebrated with great enthusiasm in different parts of North and South India.
Mahavir Jayanti: The main Jain festival of the year is Mahavir Jayanti. According to the experts it is the birth anniversary of Mahavir Jain. The Shwetambara Jains are of the belief that Mahavira was the son of Siddhartha and Trisala. Legend has that; he was conceived by Devananda, wife of the Brahmin named Rishabhdeva. Later, the embryo was ingeniously transferred in the womb of Trisala. The expectant mother received 14 holy dreams when the Lord was in the process of formation (according to Shwetambra Jain). But according to Diagambra Jains, the mother received 16 dreams. Interpreting these dreams, the astrologers predicted that the child will either become an emperor or Tirthankar. During this occasion grand celebrations are observed at Bihar, Calcutta, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Makarsakranti: Makarsakranti is the eve when the sun comes in the orbit of Northern hemisphere(Makar Rashi), signifying the on set of Uttrayana Punyakalam and is a day of celebrations all over the country. The day begins with the people taking holy dip in the waters and worshiping sun god. According to the epics, this is the most auspicious time and veteran king Bheeshma choose to die during the period only. He waited on the bed of arrows to depart from this world during this period only. The person who dies during this period never takes rebirth.
On this day fasts are observed and pilgrims in Northern India take holy dip in the river Ganges. People in the regions of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka cook special kind of colored sweet rice. Pilgrims offer special prayers and holy water to the sun god. It is said the girls who worship Sun god during this occasion get smart and intelligent husbands. On this day people in Maharashtra exchange sugar, mixture of Til and molasses to make their relationships sweeter and stronger.
Nag Panchami: Nag Panchami, the snake festival is celebrated in the month of August end and commencement of September. In Hindu mythology, Cobra has a significant place and the earth is believed to rest on the head of hundreds of Shesh Naag. During this festival people capture the Cobra snakes in the earthen pots and offer prayers. Later as the beacon to honor Snake God, processions are carried on bullocks and carts. The people in the region after giving final cognizance leave the snakes free into the fields from where they were captured.
Narali Poornima: The full moon day of the Narali Poornima is celebrated with complete fervor. The Narali Pournima is known by different names generally, Raksha Bandhan, Rakhi Purnima or Shravani Pournima. Naral means coconut and on this pilgrims offer coconut to the sea god. The fisher men set their sails into the sea please the sea god. It is also the advent of new fishing season and people organize various programs on this day. They sing, dance and relish special cuisines.
Raksha Bandhan: The annual festival is celebrated between brothers and sisters. The girl ties a fancy thread on the wrist of his brother. This thread signifies the relationship of love, care and trust. Brothers on this occasion keep the promise of the day to protect their sisters for the whole life. Rakhi festival is celebrated in the month of late August.
Besides this, the festivals organized by MTDC includes Ellora festival, Elephanta festival, Ellora festival, Kalidas festival and Shilpotsav.
- Dussera Festival at Kolhapur
- Kalidas Festival at Nagpur
- Ellora - Aurangabad Festival at Aurangabad
- Chikhaldara Festival at Chikhaldara (Amravati
- Solapur Festival at Solapur
- Banganga Festival at Mumbai
- Elephanta Festival at Elephanta - off Mumbai
- Shilpotsav (Art and Craft Fair)- 2008 at Aurangabad
