Important Winter Festivals of Hindus

Our forefathers had a way of living in tune with the nature. We, of course, carry with us a few aspects of these as tradition, unknowingly with us still, when we celebrate our festivals.

Here I talk about three important festivals, namely Navarathri, Deepavali and Karthigai which generally fall in the last quarter of the year.

Navarathri comes during September/October when it is rainy season for South India. Navarathri, it is believed that Goddess Durga emerges triumphant after destroying the demon Mahishasura. We pray the other two Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswathi too during these 9 days.

There is one custom in south India that people follow even today.They arrange dolls of Gods/Godesses, Gurus, other fellow human beings and also those of birds and animals on a special stand erected with number of steps counting to odd number. This is referred as Bommai Kolu and people display all their creativity.

Also, we still follow the custom of preparing sundals from pulses and distributing them to invitees as well as visitors after offering them to kolu gods. Our ancestors had this practice because during the rainy season, the yield of fresh vegetables would either be less or be washed out. To maintain the balance of nutrition in food the sundals must have substituted them.

Deepavali comes on a new moon day and it is the beginning of the month Aswin (Iyppasi) for those who follow Moon Calender. So the second half of the year starts with Deepavali, which means there is drastic change in climatic condition. To strengthen the physical body to adopt to new condition our forefathers introduced the custom of taking oil bath. The custom of taking oil bath cannot be brushed away as old fashion. It cools the entire system, the skin gets enough nourishment, strengthens inner organs. The early morning oil bath prepares us to meet the adverse changes in nature around us. Further, in this season all new viruses emerge in the atmosphere. To kill/drive away the insects we fire crackers which produce smoke.
In olden days even wild animals may come out of their dwelling place. To frighten them the bombs are fired, the loud sound filling the entire surrounding may drive away the animals.

Karthigai The rains will stop and the real winter will start setting in. We have a custom to keep lamps made out of mud ( agal vilakku) in front of the house throughout the month. Those days we had only pockets of villages and not big towns/ cities like today. The lit lamps served the purpose of revealing the travelers and/or the pilgrims the existence of a village nearby. The lamps are lit in the evening itself as the Sun sets early during winter months.

Here a model kolu designed with photoshop is displayed

Few photos taken on Deepavali day at/around Sri Kapali temple are given below.

Deepavali is one festival when, irrespective of age and economic status, people from infants to late 80s visit temples in brand new dress. Hence, I took pictures inside temple and nearby

You will have one more picture where Karthigai is being celebrated at home.

Here is a bonus. Kandasashti falls on the 6th day from Deepavali. Lord Muruga defeats the demon Tarakasura and marries Devasena, daughter of Indra. Lord Muruga splits Soora into two parts and Soora surrenders. Then the two parts become Cock and Peacock. Coak becomes Lord Muruga's flag and Peacock his vahana. The video link given displays the dance of cock and peacock before joining the lord.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CotmHibabvo