NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 10, 2005: It’s that time of the year again when Indians, irrespective of their denomination or persuasion, are taken over by a festive mood and the entire country appears to be celebrating a religious or cultural occasion with prayers, food, songs and dance. The month-long festival gala, that began earlier this month, ends with Deepavali, the grand festival of lights. Apart from the fasting and prayers during Navratri, the festivals are also major social and cultural events where people congregate in hundreds in community marquees. In northern India, Ram Lila or the enactment of the Hindu epic Ramayana, is staged in marquees across cities and small towns. The final slaying of Ravana by Rama on Dussehra day (Oct 12) in a blaze of fireworks marks the victory of good over evil. Most south Indian homes are decorated with elaborate rangoli designs of rice paste on the floors and mango leaves on the doors. Icons of Hindu deities are arranged artistically for the Navratri ‘golu.’ Women visit one another’s homes, sing before the golu and exchange gifts of coconut, vermilion and turmeric–considered auspicious. In West Bengal and in places where there is a considerable Bengali population, including in Delhi, the Durga Puja fervor takes over. It is a time for creativity as well with the icons of Goddess Durga–and also of the rest of her pantheon in the forms of Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartik, crafted with great care and love by the artisans.
In Gujarat, Maharashtra and even in Rajasthan, it is dandia time. As evening falls, colorfully lit marquees come alive with men and women dancing with dandia sticks to traditional and Bollywood rhythms late into the night. In Mysore, Dussehra–locally called Dasara–is celebrated on a grand scale and elephants decked in robes and jewelry are taken out in a procession through the city’ streets. Aayudha Puja, or worship of tools and other equipment and vehicles form part of Dussehra celebrations in Andhra Pradesh. Farmers clean, wash and decorate their ploughs, tills, tractors and even cattle. “I love this season–there is always festivity in the area during this month-long period before Diwali. I along with my family visit almost all the fairs,” said Shilpi, a Delhi college student.