It is celebrated for five days. Each day dedicated to a special thought. First day - Dhanteras or Dhantrayadashi is celebrated in favour of goddess Lakshmi. Poojas are performed and devotional songs are sung in praise of the goddess. Small foot steps are made with rice flour and vermilion powder on the floors of the houses depicting the arrival of the goddess. Earthen lamps filled with oil having cotton wicks are arranged in neat rows along the walls and parapets in the verandahs. These lamps are lit in the evening and kept throughout the night. Glittering lights are a splendid spectacle.

Second day the Narka - Chaturdashi or Choti Diwal, the celebrations are based on a legend of the killing of the Naraka Asura by Lord Krishna. Traditional early baths with oil are made and kumkums are applied on their foreheads. The following days Goddess Kali is worshipped, books are worshipped in a special ceremony, old accounts are settled and new ones are opened and the legend of the Asura king Bali is remembered. On Diwali day, delicious sweets are prepared and exchanged among friends and relatives.

In West Bengal, puja pandals have beautifully decorated images of the goddess Durga and people gather here in large numbers to enjoy the festivities.

In Gujarat, the exuberant Navaratri celebrations include dancing the lively 'garba' and 'dandiya ras' dances.

In Himachal Pradesh, a week -long fair in the hill town of Kullu, is a part of the Dussehra celebrations. From the little temples in the hills , deities are brought in procession to the 'maidan' in Kullu, to pay homage to the reigning deity, Raghunathji.

Mysore, the city of palaces in Karnataka celebrates the ten day Dussehra in a royal style. The Mysore Palace is illuminated with a myriad lights. Majestic processions, a torch light parade and dance and musical events enliven the tranquil city.,

Ganapati an important deity of the Hindus, has different names and manifestations. He is the God of knowledge, wisdom and the 'remover of Obstacles' ('Vignaharta') hence called 'Vigneswar'. He is invoked at the beginning of every major venture.

On the occasion of the Ganapati festival, large number of images are made of clay or metal in all possible sizes sometimes even up to twenty feet. People buy them and install them in their houses and worship for one and a half, five, seven, or ten days (Ananda Chaturdashi), after which the images are taken out ceremoniously, carried in a procession through the streets of the towns, especially in Maharashtra and thrown into the river, sea or well for immersion or 'Visarjan'. People chant 'Ganpati bappa Morya, Agle baras to jaldi aa' ('Father Ganpati, Come again soon next year') while immersing. The idol should not be kept after this day, as it is considered inauspicious. The sea front at Mumbai, packed with people, is a spectacular sight.

Aarthis are performed everyday and kumkum thrown over the seated Ganesh idol when it is kept at home. It is customary to make 'Naivedya' or offerings of twenty one blades of grass Kewra (pandanus buds) a lotus flower, fruits and sweets, specially twenty one pieces of 'modaks' made of rice flour and filled with jaggery; before him. After the ritual worship it is distributed as 'Prasad' (sacred food) to everyone present.

Although Ganesh worship was performed from time immemorial it was Lok Manya Bal Gangadhar Tilak who was responsible for making Ganesh utsav into a public celebration. A cultural feast is held to coincide with Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra especially at Pune. Classical dance, music performances, poetry recitations, folk dances, theatre and film festival are the main features of this festival.

Legend behind the origin of Ganesh:
In Shiv purana it is said that Ganesh was the creation of Goddess Parvati, who breathed life into an image made of clay. She placed the image outside the door while she was bathing and ordered him not to allow anyone to enter. Then her husband Lord Shiva arrived and was refused admission by the doorkeeper. Shiva became furious and severed the head of the idol. Parvathi was very upset over the incident as she considered the idol as her son (manas putra). To make amends Shiva ordered his servant to go and bring the head of the first living being he would meet. The servant saw an elephant, and he at once cut his head and took it to Shiva. Shiva joined the elephant's head to the body of Parvati's son. Thus Ganapathi came in to being.

Ganapathi's mount is a mouse and he has a snake tied around his belly. His origin has a philosophical aspect to it. The whole cosmos is compared to the belly of God. Shakti Parvati is the primordial energy. The seven worlds above, seven worlds (lokas) below and the seven oceans are inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha, held together by the cosmic energy kundalini symbolized as the huge snake which Ganesha ties around him. The mouse is nothing but our ego. Ganesha, using the mouse as a vehicle, exemplifies the need to control our ego. One who has controlled the ego is believed to have Ganesha consciousness or God-consciousness.

Kurukshetra, named after the great sage king Kuru, is also the site of the epic battle of Mahabharata (righteous war) where on a momentous occasion, dialogue between Sri. Krishna and Arjuna took place which later formed the Bhagavat Gita, the holy book of the Hindus. Bhagavat Gita comprises the basic truths and declares that whatever way of life, whatever mode of worship man has and shall adopt, so long as it is guided by an earnest desire for betterment, they are to be deemed worthy of recognition and respect.

It is the ancient holy land where the essence of Hinduism originated. It is also the land where the sage Manu penned his 'Manusmriti' and where learned 'rishis' compiled the Rig Veda and Sama Veda. It was graced with the visits of Lord Krishna, the Buddha and the Sikh gurus.

Pilgrims gather to take a dip in the sacred tanks of Brahma Sarovar and Sannehit Sarovar. Week -long Bhagwad katha (presenting stories in Bhagwad Gita, sacred book of the Hindus), Shloka recital, dance, dramas and 'deep daan' at Brahma Sarovar are part of the religious festivities. Free medical camps, book exhibitions and 'bhajan' recitals in classical tradition are organized.

How to reach there

Air: The nearest airports are at Delhi and Chandigarh.

Rail: Kurukshetra is a major railway junction, well-connected with all important towns and cities of the country.

Road: Buses of Haryana Roadways and other State Corporations ply through Kurukshetra and connect it to Delhi, Chandigarh and other important places.

Celebrations begin with a prayer to the Sun early in the morning. At midday, when Lord Rama is supposed to have been born, a special prayer is performed. Temples of Rama are decorated, religious discourses are held and the Ramayana is recited for ten days. People sing devotional songs in praise of Rama and rock, images of him in a cradle to celebrate his birth. Rathyatras or chariot processions of Rama, his wife Seeta, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman are held from many temples. The chariot is accompanied by several devotees dressed up in ancient costumes as Rama's soldiers. The procession is a gusty affair with the participants shouting praises echoing the happy days of Rama's reign. People gather in thousands on the banks of the sacred river Sarayu for a dip. Some observe a strict fast on this day.

Ayodhya is the focus of great celebrations. Devotees throng the temples of Ayodhya and Pondicherry, two places closely connected with the events of the Ramayana to participate in Ramnavami festivities.

The chief priest of the temple and the twelve "hero-youths", who are to perform this feat, first go out in a procession from the temple to bathe, smear themselves with turmeric powder and begin the dance. A decorated image of the temple deity is held over the priests head and colourful chhatris (kavadis) is held by the devotees over their heads. Then they walk over a long pit covered with burning coals and come out unscathed. This is followed by singing and feasting which continues till late night. Many strange traditions like the lips pierced with a small spear, locking of the mouth with metal ring and drawing of small make shift chariot with its chain hooked into the back of devotees are performed by the ardent devotees.

At Palani Periyanayaki temple which is a famous temple dedicated to Muruga, Thaipusam is celebrated as a ten day festival with great fervor. People from distance places come here during this festival.

How to get there

Air: The nearest airport is at Madurai, at a distance of 119-km from Palani.

Rail: There is a railway station at Palani but it is advisable to travel upto Dindigal or Madurai by train and take bus or taxi to reach Palani. Madurai and Dindigal stations are well connected with Chennai, Bangalore, Salem, Coimbatore and other important cities/towns in Tamil Nadu.

Road: Palani is well connected by road with all-important cities/towns in Tamil Nadu. There are frequent buses to Madurai, Coimbatore, Chennai, and Dindigal, etc.

In West Bengal, it is celebrated in most households apart from the gaily-decorated puja mandaps that are erected in almost every locality. The puja pandals have beautifully decorated images of the goddess Durga and community pujas are organised. People gather here in large numbers to enjoy the festivities. Families visit each other to share feasts.

The festivities start with the first day called Mahalaya, when people remember their ancestors (tarpan) and 'chakku dan' the ritual of drawing the eyes of the image is performed. The first day as well as the following days of Sashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami or Bijoya Dashami have their own unique rituals. The religious ceremony starts on Saptami or the seventh day and are observed till Dashami, the tenth day. 'Bodhun' the ritual of infusing life to the Goddess is performed on Saptami, when a banana plant draped in a yellow saree symbolises the goddesses soul. On Sashthi, all mothers keep a fast and pray for the well being of their children. On the 10th day, Bijoya dashami, the idols are taken in elaborate processions for immersion in the river or the sea.

Legend behind the Origin of Goddess Durga:
Most of the themes of Hindu mythology is the struggle between good and evil and the ultimate triumph of the good. Goddess Durga symbolizing divine energy (Shakthi), was created to slain the demon in the buffalo form; Mahishasura who attacked the Gods and conquered heaven. The Gods led by Brahma went to Shiva and Vishnu and prayed for help. The energies of the trinity of the Hindu Gods condensed to create the Goddess. She went to battle on her ferocious mount lion, armed with the weapons given to her by the other Gods. In the battle, she fought and killed the evil Mahishasura and restored heaven to the Gods. Since then the goddess is invoked for protection from the powers of evil. Durga Puja is observed in her honour, to celebrate her victory over evil.

In north India, it is characterized by fasts and solemnity, in western India, it is marked by gaiety and the traditional and garba dances, and in the south, pujas are offered separately for three days to each of the three goddesses, Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi. In some parts of India, the first three of the nine days of Navratri are devoted for worshipping Durga (Goddess of valor), next three days for Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and the last three days for Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge)

According to the legends, 'Gangavataran' or the descent of the Ganga (Ganges), happened at this time. Ganga, the eldest daughter of Himavan and Mena and sister of Parvathi was married to the gods in heaven but later brought down to earth by the great 'tapas' of Bhagiratha, grandson of king Sagara of Ayodhya. Ganga came down to earth reluctantly and Lord Shiva took her on his matted locks, to avoid the danger of Ganga's fury. She then descended to earth from the tangled locks of Shiva in seven streams.

The source of the Ganga is at Gaumukh, a two day trek from Gangothri, Uttaranchal. Places such as Rishikesh, Haridwar, Garh-Mukteswar, Prayag, Varanasi etc where Ganga flows hold special significance on this day.

Devotees flock to these places and Varanasi with its numerous ghats situated on the west bank of the Ganga, to touch the river water, bathe in it and take the river clay home to venerate. A bath in the river Ganga is believed to purify the bather of all sins and to die on its banks is considered most auspicious. If that is not possible, then the immersion of the ashes after cremation in the river Ganga is believed to release one from the cycles of birth and re-birth.

In Haridwar, 'aratis' are performed at twilight and a large number of devotees meditate on river banks. Ganga jal (water) is kept in sealed pots in homes by the devotees and is used on sacred days in sanctifying places. People who cannot reach Ganga banks on this day, bathe in some nearby tank or river invoking Ganga by chanting her name and offering prayers to her.

In Maharashtra, earthen pots of curd and butter are hung up over the streets. Young men enacting an episode from Krishna's childhood form human pyramids by climbing on each others shoulders and try to break these pots.

Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, has about 400 temples dedicated to him. The main celebrations are held at the Dwarkadhish temple or Jagat Mandir, Banke Bihari, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balram temple and Gopinath temple. Particularly, in the Dwarakashish temple, the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The deity is anointed with a particular colour. A crawling image of Krishna is cradled amidst singing of bhajans and chantings of 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna'.

In South India, Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, is celebrated with prayers, devotional renditions and offering of fruits and special prasadams to Lord Krishna. Kolams are drawn in the front yard and mango leaves are tied to the doorways to mark the auspicious occasion. Inside the house, a small wooden mandapam is erected and decorated with flowers and plantain leaves. An icon of a crawling Krishna in a silver cradle or leaf is placed in the mandapam. In some houses, a typical setting of 'Gokulam' is arranged with mud images of Devaki, Vasudeva with little Krishna perched in a basket on his head, a cow, besides other things related to Krishna's legends. Small foot marks produced by impressions with rice powder mixed with water are believed to symbolically recreate the coming of Krishna into peoples' homes.

Navaratri is a combination of many concepts, with the common theme of the victory of good over evil. One concept is that Vijayadashami or Dusshera is celebrated on the day Rama kills Ravana in the Rama Ravana war. Another concept is that, Durga, goddesses of power and vitality who is believed to have nine forms called Navadurga, takes a new form on each of the nine days (celebrated as Durga Puja ) with the arsenal of weapons to ride a lion and fight the demon Mahishasura. The 10th day on which the goddess kills Mahishasura, is celebrated as Dusshera or Vijayadashami as the victory of good over evil. Lord Rama is said to have worshipped the goddesses, seeking her blessing in order to overpower the evil force of Ravana, the abductor of his beloved Sita.

The most joyous celebration of Navaratri is seen in Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Bengal. In Gujarat, every night people gather in courtyards to dance the Garba and Dandiya Raas, a community dance in which men and women dressed in festive clothes dancing in pairs with Dandiya or painted wooden sticks. Goddess Durga's three 'Sakthipithas' in Gujarat; Ambaji in Banaskantha, Bahucharaji in Chunaval and Kalika on Pavagadh hill in Panchmahals are thronged by devotees during Navaratri. In West Bengal, it is celebrated as Durga Puja where beautifully decorated images of the goddess are worshipped in specially erected Puja Pandals.

It has special significance in Mysore, South India. Mysore palace is illuminated for a whole month during Dusshera and caparisoned elephants lead a colourful procession through the gaily decorated streets of the city. Here and in North India, on the 10th day, larger than life effigies of Ravana (the Asura King), his brothers Meghnada and Kumbhakarna filled with different fire crackers are set alight to celebrate victory of good over evil.

Many pilgrims flock to the places where there are Shiva temples. Devotees of Shiva observe a strict fast on this day and maintain a long vigil during the night. Some devotees do not even take a drop of water. In temples, bells ring, sacred texts are chanted and traditional offerings of leaves and milk are made to the Shiv lingam, the phallic symbol of the god. The major Shaivite temples at Varanasi, Kalahasti (Andhra Pradesh), and Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu) are noted for their special celebrations.

The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk, clarified butter, curd, honey, rose water etc., and applying vermilion paste, whilst the chanting of the Mantra 'Om Namah Shivaya'. Offerings of bel leaves are made to the Lingam. Bel (wood apple) leaves are very sacred as, it is said, Lakshmi resides in them. Drinking a typical drink made with cannabis, almonds and milk, is held particularly auspicious by the devout. Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the 'Shiva Mahimna Stotra' of Pushpadanta or Ravana's 'Shiva Tandava Stotra' are sung with great fervour and devotion.

'Kani-Kanal' is the main event of the day. The night before Vishu, the mistress of the house prepares the Kani. In a big pot, coconuts, a gold ornament, a new cloth, fruits, cereals and Konna (cassia fistula) flower is kept. Behind the pot a mirror and the garlanded deity of Krishna is kept. Around the deity, lighted lamps will be arranged. Early morning on the Vishu day, the master of the house sees the 'Kani' and then the rest of the family follows. Children are brought blind folded from their beds to where the Kani is kept. The elder in the family give money to the youngsters (Vishu Kaineetam) and bless them. It is believed that the Kani we see and its good tidings will stay with you till the year ends. In Kerala, the Kani in the temples of Guruvayur, Ambalapuzha and Sabarimala are famous. Special pujas are held in these temples where the people go to worship and pray for a prosperous New Year.

The families then celebrate the day with joyous abandon by bursting fire crackers. The feast or the 'sadya' is prepared by the women of the household and the whole family sits down to enjoy the vishu lunch together.

The Mariamman Theppakulam in Vandiyur, 5km south east of Meenakshi Temple is one of the the huge Temple tanks in South India. Built in 1636, the tank 1,100 ft by 950ft almost a perfect square, has an island pavilion in the centre with a garden and temple which enshrines an idol of Lord Vigneshwara, the elephant-faced god. The placid waters of the tank turn colorful when the mandapam is lit up and the temple deities are brought to it in decorated floats. The tank is connected to river Vaigai through underground channels. The granite steps leading down to the tank on all four sides and the shrine was build by Tirumala Nayak. This festival attracts pilgrims from all over the country.

How to get there

Air : Madurai has a domestic terminus with daily flights from Chennai, Bangalore, Tiruchirapalli and Mumbai.

Rail : Rail connections are available from Chennai (8 hrs) and Rameswaram (6 hrs.)

Road: Madurai is also very well connected by road. Private and state-run buses ply regularly from all major cities in Tamil Nadu.

Images of Lord Jaganath - the Lord of the Universe, his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are taken out in a procession in three immense chariots. The main chariot is 14 meters high and 10 meters square with 16 wheels. The deities are brought out of the temple to the chariots by rhythmic movement called 'Pahandi' in a royal procession to the accompaniment of the beat of the 'cymbals' and drums and chanting of prayers by devotees.

The pushing and shoving to seat Lord Jagannath on his chariot continues for hours. The god it seems is testing the perseverance of his devotees. The devotees in turn coax, cajole, they promise sweetmeats and other delicacies, when all this fails they call the Lord names and even give blows to the idol, all the while the surging crowd chants, sings and dances. It is believed that on these days Lord Jagannath will descend from his pedestal and mingle with his devotees with no barrier between them. After seating the idols, the traditional King of Puri sweeps the Chariots with a golden broom.

Thousands of devotees pull these chariots to Gundicha Mandir, a temple 3 km away. After a week, on 'Ashadha Sukla Dasami', the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha (June-July), return journey or 'Bahuda Yatra' of the deities commences in the same manner from Gundicha temple to the main temple like Rath Yatra.

When two months of Ashadha fall in one year, Rath Yatra is observed as the festival of 'Nabakalebar' the old deities are buried within the temple premises ('Koilibaikuntha') and are replaced by new deities, carved out of Margosa trees for which there are set procedures. Double Ashadha occurs at intervals of 8 to 19 years. Construction of the chariots begin as early as April.

How to get there

Air: Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport from Puri (60-km).

Rail: A terminus on the S.E. Railway, Puri has fast and super fast train links with New Delhi, Kolkata, Baidyanath Dham etc.

Road: Puri can also be approached by road directly from Bhubaneshwar and via Konark and then through the Marine Drive covering about 100-km.

Pooram is a magnificent spectacle with night long fireworks, colourful 'Kudamattom' (exchange of different types of parasols), the famous 'Elanjithara Melam' and a splendid elephant procession. The best elephants from the various temples in Kerala are send to Trichur to participate in the grand eight day Pooram Festival.

The celebration on the final day commences in the morning with a procession of fifteen elephants marching from Thiruvambadi temple nearby to the Vadukunnathan temple. The main elephant of the group carries the idol of Lord Krishna. At the same time another group of 15 elephants, will start from Paramekavu Bhagavathy temple. The leader of this group will carry the idol of the goddess. This group of thirty decorated elephants stand facing each other in two rows in the Tekkinkadu maidan, the venue of the festival while drums and Nadaswarams (a flute like instrument) create a crescendo of music.

The 'melam' includes around 80 drummers and many other artists who are experts in playing various instruments. In the afternoon around 2'0 clock a crescendo of music starts from the area under an Elanchi tree called the 'Elanchithara Melam' which lasts for three hours. The artists play in a competitive spirit. The atmosphere is filled with music and even the elephants seem to enjoy the music by shaking their ears along with the rhythm of the drums. Around evening, people carrying colourfully decorated umbrellas and 'Venchamaramas' (peacock-fan) take their place on top of the elephants and then the umbrella showing competition called the 'Kudamattom' begins. They will keep on inter changing the umbrellas and the fans aesthetically in perfect rhythm to the music. This event evokes considerable enthusiasm from the thousands of spectators. After this event, the elephants are taken back and the statues of Krishna and the goddess are returned to the temple. By night, the ground is lighted up with lamps. Early next morning at around 3' 0 Clock a spectacular display of fireworks begins which lasts for almost three hours. The display of fireworks is a competition between two parties representing the two divisions of Trichur, Paramekkavu and Tiruvuvampadi vying with each other to make their displays grander than the other. The festival terminates by afternoon.

Contact Address :

Sree Vadakkunnathan Kshethra Kshema Samithy,
Sreemoolasthanam,
Thrissur, Kerala State.
Pin - 680 001
Phone : 91-487 - 2426040

How to get there :

Air : The nearest international airport is at Nedumbassery, Ernakulam located 60km north from Thrissur.

Rail : Thrissur is an important railhead of the southern railway and linked to most major towns inside and outside Kerala. The railway station is about 1km south-west of the town centre and just 350 meters from the temple premises. Trains to Ernakulam, 74km south, take about 11/2 -2 hours; trains to Kozhikode, 118km north, take about 3hours. Train Timings

Road : There are frequent buses from Thrissur along NH47 to different destinations. The KSRTC bus stand is at the south west of the town center. There are buses to Kochi (3 hrs), Thiruvananthapuram (8 hrs), Kozhikode (31/2 hrs), Kottayam, Palakkad (11/2 hrs), Chennai (12hrs)etc. The large, private bus stand Sakthan Tampuran is south of the city center, the smaller, private Priyadarshini bus stand is north of the city. Private buses have frequent services to places close by like Guruvayur and small towns like Mallapuram and Shornur near by.

Ardh Kumbh Mela and Magh Mela

The Ardh or half Kumbh, is held every six years on the banks of Sangam in Allahabad. Second only to the Kumbh in sanctity, the Ardh Kumbh also attracts devouts in millions, from all over the world.
Magh Mela is an annual event held at the Sangam.

How to get there

Air : There is no air link at present to Allahabad. However efforts are on to connect Allahabad to air route by the start of Kumbh 2001. The nearest airports are Varanasi (120 Kms from Allahabad) and Lucknow (200 Kms from Allahabad).

Rail: Allahabad is an important rail junction. Trains from all metros and major cities cross Allahabad. Allahabad is well connected by trains with all major cities, viz. Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mumbai

Road: Allahabad, on National Highways 2 and 27, is connected to all parts of the country by good motorable all-weather roads. State of U.P. (UPSRTC) runs buses (coaches) from all major cities in U.P. to Allahabad. Travel agencies operating in all major cities can provide cars on rentals with chauffeur at reasonable cost.

Amarnath yatra started in the year 1850 AD. Devotees believe that one can get salvation by witnessing 'Shiv lingam'. There are several legends behind its origin.

It was a Muslim shepherd, Buta Malik who discovered the cave and the naturally formed shiv lingam. According to popular belief, Buta malik was given a sack of coal by a sadhu. But when he open the sack at home, he found that it was full of gold. Overjoyed he went back to thank the sadhu but found the cave on the spot where they met. From then on the cave was venerated as a pilgrim centre and a representative from the Malik family would be present at the holy shrine along with the Hindu priest during the time of the pilgrimage.

It is said that Lord Shiva recounted the secret of creation to Parvati in this cave which was overheard by a pair of doves who became immortal and made this cave their eternal abode. Pilgrims still report seeing these doves at the cave. More details...

How to get there

Amarnath is situated 145-km from Srinagar. There are two routes to Amarnath, 1) via Pahalgam, Sheshnag and Panchtarni (48 kms long) takes 4 days to reach 2)the steeper route Via Baltal (15kms) takes two days. Ponies and Palanquins are available for pilgrims who are unable to climb.

According to Islamic belief, to test Ibrahim's faith, Allah commanded him to sacrifice his son Ismail. He agreed to do it but found his paternal feelings hard to suppress. So he blind - folded himself before putting Ismail on the altar at the mount of Mina near Mecca. When he removed his bandage after performing the act, he saw his son standing in front of him, alive. On the altar lay a slaughtered lamb. This festival coincides with the Haj pilgrimage in Mecca.

Prayers are offered in the mosques and the sacrificial meat is then distributed after the Id prayers. Special delicacies are prepared and served among family and friends on the occasion.

Hazrat Hussain was the second son of Fatimah, the prophet Muhammad's daughter. He was brutally murdered with his whole family and followers by the wicked, Yazid, a Muslim ruler at Karbala in Mecca. This dispute was result of a disagreement among Muslims on the question of succession after the demise of Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph.

Tazias, glittering replicas of the Martyr's tomb, are carried in procession through the streets. The Tazias of Lucknow and Hyderabad are noted for their splendour. The Muslims observe fasts, offer prayers recites 'fatihas' in homage to the martyrs who fought bravely for preserving their faith. In places like Lucknow, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, grand scale processions are held. People beat their chest in mourning to the tune of beating drums and chants 'Ya Hussain'. Devotees beat themselves and inflict wounds on their own bodies. Some sects of Muslims hold meetings where speeches are made on the happenings of Karbala and on the lives of martyrs. After the procession, the devotees return home, break their fast and give food, clothes, money to the poor, needy and the sick in charity.

People decorate their houses, erect Christmas trees with branches hung with gifts and decorations, make cribs with figures of baby Jesus, Mother Mary, Joseph, the three kings who come to visit the baby and shepherd boys and their herds grazing around depicting the scenes of Jesus's Birth in the Bible. They decorate the Christmas tree, hang stars and illuminate them. The celebrations starts on 24th evening with carol singing and the Santa Claus visiting houses. There is a mid night mass followed by the pealing of the Church bells to usher in the day of Christmas. On the Christmas day, people enjoy a sumptuous Christmas lunch. Christmas cakes and wine are served to visitors and exchanged as gifts among friends and relatives.

Christmas celebrations vary in different parts of India. In some parts, small clay oil-burning lamps, mango leaves etc are used as Christmas decorations and mango and banana trees are decorated. All the major Indian cities wear a festive look. Shops and bazaars are decorated for the occasion and offer attractive bargains.

Carol singing, get-togethers and the exchanging of gifts enhance the Christmas spirit. Christmas parties launch off celebrations for the New year, thus retaining the festive mood for at least a week.

Gautam Buddha was born as a prince in 544 BC in Lumbini, Nepal on a Full Moon day in the month of Vaisakh. When he was born it was predicted that the child would redeem the world. Even as a young prince he was touched by the pain and sickness of others. Later he renounced the world and became an ascetic. At the age of 35, he attained enlightenment on the full moon day of Vaisakh. He traveled far and wide preaching the truth and gained a large following consisting of scholars, sanyasis, rulers of states and others, thus forming the Buddhist community.

On this day the followers of Buddha bathe and wear only white clothes. They gather in their Viharas for worship and give alms to monks. Prayers, sermons, and non-stop recitation of Buddhist scriptures resonate in monasteries and viharas. The statue of the Buddha receives special attention everywhere, with people offering it incense, flowers, candles, and fruits. Since Buddha attained enlightenment sitting under a Bodhi (Pipal) tree, special care is taken in watering and tending Bodhi trees. They light lamps around the trees and decorate with garlands and coloured flags. They reaffirm their faith in the five principles called 'Panch Sheel'. The five principles are not to take life, not to steal, not to lie, not to imbibe liquor or other intoxicants and not to commit adultery. On this day, the Buddhists free birds from cages, distribute fruit and clothes to the sick and refrain from eating meat.

Bodh Gaya in Bihar and Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh are the main centers of celebration of this festival. Besides these two, areas with large Buddhist population like Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh also celebrate this festival with great devotion and enthusiasm.

Guru Nanak was born in 1469 at Talwandi about 45 kms away from Lahore and is now known as Nankana Sahib. Nanak was a great reformer, preacher and a saint. In Sikhism he tried to harmonize both Hinduism and Islam. He never believed in cast-distinction and liberalized social practices. He traveled widely and preached the name of God as a potent means of spiritual realization. God's name and its repetition helps us to develop the best in us. A true Sikh strives not for salvation or paradise but to see God in the form of love. Guru Nanak was followed by nine other Gurus, in succession under whom Sikhism gradually developed. Other Gurus are also commemorated on other Guru Purabs.

At Nankana Sahib, there is a beautiful Gurudwara, and a holy tank or sarovar. On Guru Parab, a grand fair and festival is held here, and Sikhs in thousand congregate here from India and abroad. Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture, is continuously read and recited in the Gurudwaras ('Akhand path') all over the country, lamps are lighted, processions are taken out, free langars (meals) are arranged and prasad (holy food) is distributed. Pandals are set up in various places and 'prasad' is distributed. Guru Purab celebrations at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab is impressive.

On Mahavir Jayanthi, Jain temples are decorated with flags. In the morning the idol of Mahavira is given a ceremonial bath called the 'abhishek'. It is then placed in a cradle and carried in a procession around the neighbourhood. The devotees will make offerings of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps and water to the tirthankar. Some sections of the community even participate in a grand procession. Lectures are held to preach the path of virtue. People meditate and offer prayers. Donations are collected to save the cows from slaughter. Pilgrims from all parts of the country visit the ancient Jain Temples at Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat on this day.

Ramzan means the 'festival of breaking the fast'. Fitr is said to be derived from the word 'fatar' meaning 'breaking' or 'fitrah' meaning 'alms'. It is an occasion of feasting and rejoicing. In the morning of Ramzan, people break their fast by having dates or any other fruit, dress well and gather in mosques to pray. Family get-togethers and feasts are the major highlights of the celebrations. Friends and relatives meet to exchange greetings 'Id Mubarak' and prayers. 'Idi' or presents of money are given to the youngsters by the family elders, conveying their blessings. Special delicacies are prepared, like Seviyan and 'Shir Korma' a dish with milk and dates.

During the month of Ramadan, the Muslims are ordained to observe fast for 30 days (sometimes 29 days, owing to the early sighting of the crescent) starting with the sighting of the new moon and end it after seeing the new moon the next month. They fast during the day throughout that month, even without drinking water or indulge in any form of pleasure. Pious men among them spend the day during the month in prayer and reading their holy book 'Quran'. They have their meal only at night. It is customary to break the fast with a sip of water, dates or some other fruits. Muslims are required to make a special effort to settle their differences and refrain from quarreling and also give alms to the needy during this month. To a devout Muslim, Id is a time to forget all past grievances.

It is believed that the holy book of Muslims, the Quran, came into existence during this month. ProphetMohammad who was an illiterate person was chosen by God to be His messenger to compile the holy book. The last ten days are specially significant as the faithful watch for Lailathul Qadr (the Night of Power) during which the revelation of the book to the Prophet was completed. Apart from bringing the Muslims face to face with the hard realities of life like the pangs of hunger, thirst and deprivation, Ramzaan is an annual training period inculcating discipline and declaration of subservience to the laws of God, enumerated in the holy Quran.

Pilgrims from all over the world gather to pay homage. The celebration is initiated by the hoisting of a white flag on the dargah by the 'Sajjada Nashin' - successor representative of the Chistis, to the accompaniment of music. The tomb is washed with rosewater and covered with an embroidered silk cloth. Qawalis (poems) are presented in the saint's honour and religious assemblies (mehfils) and 'fatihas' (mass prayers) are held. Kheer is distributed among the devotees as blessed food.

The much respected saint who came from Persia, established the Chishti order of 'fakirs' in India. The pilgrims make offerings of flowers, sandalwood paste, incense, money and votive offerings which they bring carrying on their head at the spot where he is buried.

The lakeside town of Ajmer also called Ajmer Sharif (holy) comes alive during the Urs which attracts thousands of devotees irrespective of caste, religion etc. At the huge fair; the largest Muslim fair in India, that springs up at this time, religious objects, books, rosaries, embroidered carpets and silver ornaments are on sale.

How to get there:

Ajmer is located 132 kms south-west of Jaipur and 198 kms east of Jodhpur.

Air : Nearest Airport is at Jaipur
Rail : Ajmer is a railway junction on the Delhi-Ahmedabad section of the Western Railway.
Road : It is connected by road to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur and Kota. During the Urs, special buses run from cities all over India to Ajmer.

For the Sikhs the day is a collective celebration of New year along with the commemoration of the founding of the 'Khalsa Panth' (Sikh brotherhood) by Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth spiritual leader of Sikhs) in 1699.

It also signifies the end of harvest of the main crop rabi. During Baisakhi the farmers give 'thanks' to the Lord Almighty for their fortune and pray for a better crop the next year. The occasion is marked by a lot of feasting and merry making. All night revelries termed 'Baisakhi di Raat' (Night of feasting) or 'Baisakhi da Mela' (Baisakhi fairs) are held, where men and women dance to the rhythmic beat of drums wrestling bouts are also held. Early morning of Baiskhai, people take dip in holy rivers. Scores of devotees throngs the Golden Temple to offer special prayers and take a holy dip on the occasion. On these occasions, men and women adorn themselves with gay-coloured clothes and traditional jewellery. Baisakhi involves a lot of socialising where friends and relatives are invited and delicious meals are served.

The holy book of the Sikhs, 'Granth Sahib' is taken in a procession, led by the 'Panj Pyaras' (five senior Sikhs) who are symbolic of the original leaders. It was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh organised his first batch of five disciples making them Singhs, a martial community. Kirtans and recital of passages from the 'Granth Sahib' are also organized in gurdwaras, where people line up to receive the delicious Kada prasad (sweetened semolina) and perform kar sewa-that is, offering help in the daily chores of the gurdwara. The occasion is celebrated with great gusto at Talwandi Sabo, where Guru Gobind Singh stayed for nine months and completed the recompilation of the Guru Granth Sahib and in the Golden temple in Amritsar. On Baisakhi day, water is drawn from all the sacred rivers of India and poured in to the huge tank surrounding the golden temple.

Fairs are organized at various places in Punjab, where besides other recreational activities, wrestling bouts are also held.

Harvest festivals symbolize hope and celebration of hard work by farmers.