Page 40 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

38  INTRODUCING INDIA

INDIA THROUGH THE YEAR

Indians love celebrations, and the year is anniversaries and events of national
filled with innumerable fairs and festivals. importance such as the Republic Day
Almost every day marks a religious or (see p79). Hindu festivals usually follow
social event celebrated by the diverse the lunar calendar, and both the full moon
religious or local communities, where (purnima) and the new moon (pradosh)
ritual fasting and feasting go hand in are considered auspicious. Muslim festivals,
hand. Some festivals are linked to the too, are determined by the new moon.
pantheon of gods and goddesses, others This means that the dates of most religious
follow the changing seasons and mark festivals vary from year to year. See also the
pastoral occasions. Some commemorate special festival columns in each chapter.

The aim of this extravaganza
is to preserve the country’s
cultural heritage and promote
the performing arts. It is today
a forum for talented youth
to interact and perform with
eminent music maestros.
Delhi Dhrupad Samaroh
(Mar), Delhi. Leading
exponents of Dhrupad, a
classical musical tradition,
present a series of recitals.
Holi (Mar). One of the most
important Hindu festivals,
Holi is celebrated in the
Holi celebrations at Krishna temple in Nandgao morning after a full-moon night
and marks the end of winter.
Nishagandhi Dance Festival On the eve of Holi, bonfires
Spring (Feb–Mar) (Feb), Thiruvananthapuram. are lit, and an effigy of the
From mid-February to the Artistes of almost all classical demon Holika is burnt to
end of March, spring (Basant) dance forms perform annually signify the triumph of good
is India’s most glorious season at the open-air Nishagandhi over evil. The next day, people
with flowers in full bloom Auditorium. swarm the streets, sprinkling
and pleasant, not-too-hot Milad-ul-Nabi (Feb). Prophet coloured water and powder
temperatures. It is also the main Mohammed’s birthday is (gulal) on each other. This
season for weddings, parades, observed with prayers and exuberant festival is especially
cricket matches, horse racing, readings from the holy Koran. dear to Lord Krishna, and
flower shows and other events. Shivratri (Feb/Mar). Devotees around Mathura, his birthplace
Vasantahabba (Feb), of Shiva observe the night of (see p182), it is celebrated with
Nrityagram. One of Bengaluru’s his celestial wedding to Parvati. great abandon.
most awaited dance festivals. Shankarlal Sangeet Jahan-e-Khusrau (Mar),
Acclaimed artistes from all Sammelan (Feb/Mar), Delhi. Delhi. Held at Humayun’s
over India perform from This is the capital’s oldest Tomb (see p87), this festival
dusk till dawn. Hindustani classical vocal and commemorates the death
Kala Ghoda Festival (Feb), instrumental music festival. of the Sufi poet Amir Khusrau
Mumbai. A two-week
extravaganza of the visual
and performing arts is held in
Mumbai’s main cultural district
of Kala Ghoda. The National
Gallery of Modern Art and the
Jehangir Art Gallery, as well
as the area’s sidewalks, become
venues for sitar and tabla
performances, dance recitals
and exhibitions of paintings,
prints, photographs and
installation art. Kathak dancer Jayantimala performs at a dance festival

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