All major Indian festivals are celebrated with traditional pomp and gaiety. Bangalore also celebrates some regional festivals. Festivals in Bangalore includes :
Karaga festival
It is celebrated in March and April.Karaga, an earthen pot embodying Shakti is taken out in a night procession for more than 12miles before being immersed in the Sampangi tank. Devotees balance pots on their heads to test the strength of their character. A priest attired as a woman also does the same thing in the main temple procession.
Makara Sankranthi/Pongal
Makara Sankranti or Pongal is a three-day harvest festival and one of the most joyful events in the South. In Tamil Nadu, newly harvested rice with milk and jaggery is ceremonially cooked in a new pot and allowed to boil over. This preparation called Pongal is then served as prasad.
Bakr - Id (Id-Ul-Zuha/Id-Ul-Azha)
Bakr-Id or Id-ul-Azha commemorates the ordeal of Hazrat Ibrahim (Abraham), who had been put to terrible test by God when he was asked to sacrifice whatever was dearest to him and he decided to sacrifice the life of his son. He blindfolds himself and cuts off his son's head, only to discover that his son is alive and a ram had been sacrificed instead. Since then, a ram or bakri is sacrificed in the name of Allah. In India, too, goats and sheep are sacrificed all over the country and prayers are offered.
Maha Shivaratri
All over India, Maha Shivratri occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. On a moonless night in February every year, occurs the night of Shiva, the destroyer. This is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.
Muharram
Muharram commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the holy Prophet Mohammed. It is observed by the Shi'ite Muslims, who take out processions of colourfully decorated 'Tazias', which are paper and bamboo replicas of the martyr's tomb at Karbala in Iraq. The processions are specially impressive at Lucknow. In parts of the South, tiger dancers--men painted over with stripes and wearing tiger masks lead the procession. Mourners beat their chests lamenting and grieving over the murder, accompanied by drum beats. Muharram is not a festival in the celebratory sense as it mourns the Karbala tragedy when Imam Husain, grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was martyred in the early days of Islamic history.
Holi
Holi, celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March every year is observed all over the north of India. It heralds the end of winter and beginning of spring. Men, women and children revel in throwing coloured powder (Gulal) and squirting coloured water using long syringes called 'pichkaris' on each other to symbolise the colours of the flowers and fields that are in bloom. Greetings and sweets are exchanged. There is much merriment, laughter and good natured horseplay with 'gulal', water balloons and even mud baths.
Dussehra
The pride of Karnataka's festivals is Dussehra. It is a celebration that lasts for ten days. The rulers of Vijayanagara Empire used to celebrate Dussehra with remarkable brilliance. The rulers of Mysore continued the tradition. The Maharaja of Mysore used to hold a Durbar for 9 days and on the 10th day went in a procession on a caparisoned elephant. With the ending of the royal rule, a picture of Bhuvaneshwari, the patron goddess of Karnataka, is taken out in procession. It is a unique and significant festival of the Hindus.
Yugadi
The Kannadiga New Year day of Yugadi falls on the second half of March or early April is celebrated with devotion and delight. This day is considered very auspicious to start new ventures. The festival begins with ritual bath and prayers and continues till late night. It is generally held that Brahma created the world on this day. Also Lord Vishnu is said to incarnate himself, as Matsya.Brahma is the chief deity worshipped this day. Ugadi also signifies the advent of spring with colorful blossoms, green fields all heralding a new beginning. The vibrancy of life signifying growth, prosperity and well-being filling the hearts of people with joy and contentment. On Ugadi the predictions are made for the New Year among the chanting of mantras. The preparations are made a week ahead with houses given a thorough wash and shopping for new clothes. People also decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves and draw colorful floral designs in front of the houses. The women prepare special dishes to mark the occasion.
Varamahalakshmi
The annual Lakshmi Pooja is celebrated all over Karnataka in August. The origin of this puja lies in the Vedic age. On this auspicious day married women make offerings to Mother Lakshmi in the form of garlands of cash, jewellary and other valuables. They pray for prosperity, peace and happiness for their families and husbands. All financial problems are said to be solved after performing this puja. People meet each other and women perform puja together. It is also customary to offer vermilion or kum-kum to at least five married ladies
Mahavir Jayanthi
Mahavir Jayanthi commemorates the anniversary of the birth of Vardhamana Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara, more than 2,500 years ago, and the founder of Jainism. The festival attracts pilgrims from all parts of the country to the ancient Jain shrines at Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat. This religious event is largely observed by the Jains, by visiting sacred sites and worshipping the Teerthankaras.
Good Friday
Good Friday occurs between March 20 and April 23 on the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. There are a few explanations as to why the holiday is known as "Good" Friday since it commemorates a sorrowful time in Christianity. Many churches have mourning services from noon until 3:00pm to symbolise Jesus' last hours on the cross. Some congregations also re-enact Jesus' procession to the cross in a ritual known as The Stations of the Cross.
Easter
Easter is the oldest of all Christian festivals. It embodies the spirit of life for devotees, as they recall the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring (Vernal) Equinox; and is usually between March 22 and April 25. It marks the transition from night to day, and from death to life and a time for joy and happiness. It also marks the end of Lent, the 40 day period of fasting and penance that the Christians undertake to remind themselves of the 40 days of fasting that Christ did in the desert.
Onam
Kerala's most popular festival, celebrated with great enthusiasm, it is primarily a harvest festival. The most exciting part of the festival is the snake-boat race held at several places in the palm-fringed lagoons. One of the highlights of traditional Onam festivites is the aththa-poo, an auspicious floral decoration that is made in the compound of the house. Usually circular, it is often multi-tiered, and upto four or five metres across. It is decorated with leaves, flowers and petals of different kinds. A special feast called a sadhya is prepared for the occasion with at least 4 sweet dishes.
Navaratri
The nine day/night festival of Navaratri, is a worship of the nine avatars of Bhagawati. "Navaratri" actually means nine (Nava) nights (Ratri). In the homes where it is celebrated, each day a new avatar is worshipped. The most significant part of Navaratri is the setting up of an odd number of steps (usually 7 or 9) with a display of idols or dolls called Kolu. Every day a different rangoli is spread before the home and the house is stocked with auspicious objects - blouse pieces, fruits, sweets, kumkum, haldi, paan, bangles - to give away as gifts to visiting women. The food cooked during this festival is special and there is a different kind of dish every day which is served as prasad to guests. Delicacies like Obattu, Vada, Bisi Bele Bhaath etc and fried savouries of various kinds are also made. Chundal is made everyday.
Christmas
Like elsewhere in the world, December 25 is celebrated in India too as the nativity of Jesus Christ with traditional joy and gaiety. In fact, it cuts across the confines of the church to spill over into the streets for all to participate. It is a time for merry-making and exchanging gifts, for Christmas cakes and puddings. The market places are all done up with tinsel and buntings and people masquerading as Santa Claus stalk customers, particularly children with gifts in the big cities. Decorated and glittering Christmas Trees and Stars are all over the place. For the devout, the celebrations begin on Christmas Eve. Carols are sung and various churches organise the midnight mass. The service on Christmas Day is attended by Christians dressed in new clothes. After the morning service is over, people assemble in their homes for family get-togethers.
