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May-June

This spectacular chariot festival is held at the famous Jagannath Temple at Puri. Images of Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are taken out in procession in three chariots to their summer temple for a week. The main chariots is 14 meters high and 10 meters square with 16 wheels. The ropes of the huge chariots are pulled by millions of devotees who also believe that this act bestows salvation upon them.

 Guru Purnima (All over India) 16th July

A special worship is performed on this day to all teachers and is called Guru Purnima. Worship of the great Vyasa, the author of the great epic, Mahabharata, is a part of the celebration. On this day students visit their elders, teachers and guides in order to show respect to them with gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets. These gifts are called gurudakshina. Discourses are held in community gatherings to hear the readings of the holy book, Bhagwad Gita.

 August

The birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu is observed all over India. It is celebrated with great fervour at Mathura and Brindavan where Lord Krishna spent his childhood. Night long prayers are offered and religious hymns are sung in temples. Scenes are enacted from Lord Krishna’s early life.

In Maharashtra, earthen pots of curd and butter are hung high 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.

 Onam(Kerala)

Onam is Kerala’s most popular festival, celebrated with great enthusiasm. It is primarily a harvest festival celebrated to welcome the spirit of the pious King Mahabali from eternal exile and to assure him that his people are happy and wish him well. At Trichur, caparisoned elephants take part in a spectacular procession. There is also a magnificent display of fireworks. At Shoranur, appreciative crowds gather on the green where colourfully dressed Kathakali dancers re-enact the well-loved stories of the epic heroes and virtuous women.

On the second day of the festival, every home is lit bright and decorated in preparation for the visit of King Mahabali. Greetings are exchanged and lengths of auspicious saffron cloth are presented by friends to one another.

The Vallumkali (boat race) is one of the main attractions of Onam, and is best seen at Aranmulai and Kottayam. About a hundred oarsmen row huge and graceful odee (boats). Oars dip and flash to the rhythm of drums and cymbals in each boat. The songs are generally topical in character and concern people well known in Malabar. Above each boat gleam scarlet silk umbrellas, their number denotes the affluence of the family owning the boat. Gold coins and tassels hang from the umbrellas.

In the evenings, girls perform the Kyekottikali (the clapping dance) in the open, dancing around the traditional brass lamp. Intricate patterns of flower petals are made on the grass forming a flower carpet for the dance.

 Nag Panchami(West Bengal, Maharashtra and South India) (sudh) 4 th August

Nag Panchami is the festival when snakes, the symbols of energy and prosperity are worshipped. In Maharashtra, snake charmers go from house to house with dormant cobras ensconced in cane baskets, asking for alms and clothing. Women offer milk and cooked rice to the snakes and gather around to see the snakes spread their hoods to the tune of the pungi. Clay snakes are brought home to be worshipped by day and immersed in the sea in the evening. In southern India, particularly in Kerala, snake temples are crowded on this day and worship is offered to stone or metal icons of the cosmic serpent Ananta or Shesha.

Rakshabandhan(North India) 15 th August

This is a Hindu sister’s day when brothers and sisters reaffirm their bonds of affections. Sisters tie colourful threads or rakhis on their brothers’ wrists. The brothers in turn promise to protect their sisters and give them gifts.

 Ganesh Chaturthi(Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka)

Ganesha Chaturthi is an important festival in India, especially in Maharashtra dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the elephant headed God of all good beginnings and success.It is believed that Lord Ganesha was born on this day and every chaturthi is considered auspicious. Thousands of clay idols of Lord Ganesha are made in every size, pose, form and colour and worshipped at community or family festivals which last between one to ten days. These images are then taken in large processions, amidst the rhythm of bells and drums and immersed in flowing water.