A Festival A Day...

THERE IS A JOKE THAT, IN INDIA, THERE ARE 365 DAYS AND 366 FESTIVALS IN A YEAR. FOR SURE, INDIA ABOUNDS IN FESTIVE OCCASIONS – ON A PERSONAL AND COMMUNAL LEVEL – AND IT IS THESE CELEBRATIONS THAT ACT AS CONNECTING THREADS IN THE SUBCONTINENT’S MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY

- Suzanne McNeill

Life is one big celebration in India! An annual cycle of festivals marks the birth of deities and the arrival of spring, the richness of the harvest and devotion to the gods, the banishment of evil spirits and the victory of light over dark at the onset of winter. Colourful and joyous celebrations, festivals offer a key to understanding Indian attitudes and behaviour as well as people’s deep-rooted values.

Taking a Closer Look

India’s festivals have three layers of meaning: the outer layer of ritual and celebration; the inner rationale from which the festival originated along with the mythology and values that drive the festival; and the deeper spiritual significance at its core.

These layers are apparent in Ganesh Chaturthi, the festival that celebrates the birth of the popular elephant-headed god, Ganesha. The rituals include taking a day off work, eating modaks (sweet dumplings), singing and dancing, decorating statues of Ganesha and then immersing the statues in the sea. The sociological background to the festival came from the nationalist Lokamanya Tilak, who organised the first Ganesh Festival to build national unity, popularising this god who is the remover of obstacles. Creating a buzz through song and dance is typically Indian! Finally, the deeper significance of Ganesh Chaturthi is symbolised through eating the dumplings, which represent the bitter-sweet nature of life, and welcoming the immersing of the god as a symbol of life’s circularity and impermanence.

Of Legend and Myth