Anushka Singh observes that Indian festivals punctuated with tales and anecdotes of love, serve as a reminder of the intrinsic divinity that permeates all aspects of life. They provide an opportunity for devotees to connect with the sacred feminine energy. In their colourful rituals and fervent devotions, these celebrations echo the timeless wisdom that recognises the eternal presence of the Devi in the hearts of all.
One of the strongest human emotions is that of love and Indian mythology is full of tales and anecdotes of love — romantic and devotional, both. Consequentially, Indian culture is ripe with festivals, especially those that celebrate love in its many forms. While some are traditionaly derived from anecdotes and mythology, then there are others that are in sync with modern-day living or inspired from foreign cultures and communities.
One of the most famous festivals of India that is celebrated across India, in almost all parts of the country, and often called by different names in local dialects, is the spring festival of Holi. Holi is celebrated with an unmatched fervour and enthusiasm that infuses energy and passion in anyone participating in it.
Colours, flowers and lathis
Holi is known as the festival of love. On this day, people from all walks of life and from different strata of society, come together to celebrate the festival in unity and harmony. The festival commences on the evening of the full moon of the poornima of the Hindu calendar month of Phalgun.
Usually lasting for a day and half, the first day is observed as Choti Holi or Holika Dahan followed by the festive Holi celebration the next day when people greet each other and put colourful gulaal on one another. Holi signifies love, colour and fertility.
According to legend, Holi symbolises the immortal love between Krishna and Radha. The festival celebrations in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, etc., are very popular where thousands gather to celebrate Holi in the most traditional manner, with lathis and flowers.
They say, during Holi, Lord Krishna who resided in Nandgaon would visit Radha who lived in Barsana, in Mathura, to celebrate the festival with her. Barsana is famous for its ‘Lathmar Holi’ celebrations where women holding lathis playfully run after their men and hit them as part of the celebrations, as a way to punish them for their mistakes. The men, on the other hand, carry shields or dhal to protect themselves.
In Barsana, Mathura and Vrindavan, Holi celebrations begin on Vasant Panchami and go on for more than a month. The main Holi celebrations are held at Mathura’s Dwarakadeesh Temple and Vrindavan’s Banke Bihari Temple. In Vrindavan, the flower Holi is quite popular.
Beauty, love and devotion
The magnificent Devki Krishna temple in Goa’s Marcel is the venue for the exhilarating and vibrant festival called as Chikhal Kalo. For those participating in it, it’s an unforgettable and a life-changing spiritual experience. This is a religious festival that is observed only by the locals of Marcel village. The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Ashaad and is a one of its kind experiences.
Marcel or Mashel is a village, now a town, in North Goa’s Ponda zone. The temple, also known as Shree Devkikrishna Ravalnath Saunsthan, is located in Pandavada in Mashel. It is one of the oldest temples established by Goa’s Saraswat community. And, it is the only temple in the world dedicated to Devki-Krishna. The vast area of the temple premises are the perfect venue for this festival.
The story behind the temple itself is a tale of love. Krishna’s birth mother Devki had not seen her child since his birth and became anxious to see him. She travelled south to Gomanchal Parvat and encountered Krishna but failed to recognise him. A perplexed Krishna realised that Devki had seen him only as a child and she still carried the same image.
Leela Purushottam Krishna immediately appeared in the form of the small child his mother had last seen and embraced Devki, who, in turn, lifted him on to her lap. The beautiful tale of the mother-son love embodies the existence of this temple.
The traditional festival of Chikhal Kalo is a tribute to Mother Earth. Earth loves, nurtures and protects all beings including humans like a mother does to her child. This festival is a celebration of the bond between Mother Earth and the farmers.
This festival is celebrated around the time when the soil of the zone has just the right amount of moisture. Chikhal Kalo translates to ‘mud bath’. The festivities include dancing by the revellers and playing outdoor games that inevitably lead to participants slipping and falling and getting coated in mud. Local games such as chendu fali are very popular during the festival. Being covered in mud is an essential part of the festival that honours the bond between earth and farmers.
Fasting for love
Several communities in India observe a special day where married women follow a strict fast to signify their love for their husbands and for their long life. Karwa Chauth is followed by married women for their husband’s well-being, longevity and prosperity.
Karwa Chauth or Karaka Chaturthi is mostly celebrated by married women in North and Western India in the lunar month of Kartika. The fast is from sunrise till the time the moon comes out in the night. It is known by many other names in different regions of the country.
In Manipur, the festival of Yaoshang is very popular among the people. During this time, people from different groups, communities, etc., unite as one and partake in the celebrations. Thabal chongba is a local folk dance that is performed during this festival. It is the traditional dance of the Meitei people.
The five-day event is held in February or March and is celebrated by children, young and old men and women, which is the very basis of Yaoshang as it celebrates love among children, adults and the elderly. Boys and girls dance traditionally in a circle as part of the festival in an open ground where many other gather to participate in the festival.
Any mention of the festival of love is incomplete without that of Valentine’s Day. Historically a foreign concept and festival, today Valentine’s Day is celebrated with utmost fervour and passion around the world, including India, as a way to express one’s love for his or her love interest.
Also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on 14 February every year. It was initially observed as the Christian day of feast commemorating and honouring a martyr who was named Valentine. Today, it has become the celebration of love and romance all over.
Divine love
In India, the celebrations of the Devi in her myriad forms are a testament to the deep-seated love and reverence for the feminine divine. Through festivals like Navaratri, Durga Puja, Kolu, Mahalakshmi Vrata, Attukal Pongala and Bonalu, the devotees pay homage to the power, grace, love and nurturing spirit of the goddess.
These festivals serve as a reminder of the intrinsic divinity that permeates all aspects of life, and they provide a profound opportunity for devotees to connect with the sacred feminine energy. In their colourful rituals and fervent devotions, these celebrations echo the timeless wisdom that recognises the eternal presence of the Devi in the hearts of all.