Major Holidays in Popular Hinduism

A. Introduction
    1.  Sixteen religious holidays are recognized by the central government
    2. Many are based on a lunar calendar, so dates vary from year to year
B. Most important festivals
    
    1.  Lohari – symbolism reflects the casting off of evils and invoking blessings for the coming year.
        Practical sign:  throw popcorn, peanuts and sesame candles into fire

    2.  Holi – celebrates the death of winter and the return of spring (Feb. / March)
        a.  In N. India, this holiday is associated with Krishna who as an infant killed a demon who served the king of winter 
        b.  Across India – dedicated to kama, god of sexual love
        Practical sign:  In North – gopis,  all over India, people get plastic squirt guns and spray each other with colored liquids

    3.  Naga panchami -  celebrates snakes  (usually occurs in July or August)
        a.  especially strong in villages (farmers refuse to plough during Nag festival)
        b.  many snakes are handled and charmed by brave handlers, esp. cobra
        Practical sign:  snakes are seen everywhere and people sprinkle vermilion and rice on the hoods of cobras, people (like Siva) wear snakes around their necks, people will be seen pouring milk into holes in the ground

    4.  Janmashtami -  Celebrates Krishna’s birthday (occurs in August or September)
        a.  Stories and plays about Krishna’s life – boyhood, gopis, gita etc…
        b.  Vaishnavites will fast until midnight
        Practical sign:  Krishna plays, people will string pots of milk, curds, butter
            pots etc… high in the air on strings and people will form human pyramids to seize them.

    5.  Ganesh Chaturti – Celebrates Ganesh’s life and exploits  (end of the summer)
        a.  Celebrated especially in West and South India
        b.  thousands of new images are formed, sung to for ten days and then carried
            to a body of water.   (symbolizes obstacles being removed)
        Practical sign:  thousands of clay idols of Ganesh appear in the market

    6.  Durga Puja – Goddess worship – (Takes place in September / October)
        a.  Often accompanied by Ramayana celebrations ((re-enactment of epic)
        b.  triumph of good over evil (Durga triumphed over evil)
        Practical sign:  Ramayana epic re-enactments, huge effigies of Ravana are lit  afire and burned  (Dasehra)

    7.  Devali -  Festival of lights    (November and/or end of Monsoon)
        a.  Celebrates the return of Rama after his exile
        b.  Lakshmi puja (goddess of wealth) / goddess Kali
        Practical sign:  fireworks, weddings, people cleaning out their houses, wearing new clothes, thousands of lamps lit and burning in homes, temples along the road etc….

    8.  Mahashivaratri – Great Shiva “austerity”
        a.  day of fasting and night of keeping vigil to earn the merits of Shiva
        b.  followed by a festival of eating and celebration
        Practical sign:  pilgrims everywhere going to dip in Ganges, siva lingums are sold everywhere in the shops etc…

    9.  Kumba Mela – every twelve years
        a.  Pilgrims go to the Ganges river, especially where the Ganges and the Jumna rivers meet.  At that auspicious time, Sarasvati mystically turns into a   river and salvation can be obtained by dipping into the river.
        b.  All sacred pilgrimage sites are especially active
        Practical sign:  Great masses of pilgrims traveling roads, often carrying small water buckets and colorful poles over their shoulders
C. Other rites of passage
    1. Samskaras
    2. Upanayana
    3. Vivaha
    4. Antyesti

[The chart is the “Three Vehicle Structure of Hinduism” Lecture 6]

C. Should Christians in India eat meat offered to idols and celebrate festivals with Hindu origins?

D. Overview of Sankara