Festivals

Hindu Festivals                               

Divali

Divali is associated with the godess Lakshmi, and is held at the Hindu New Year which is in November. Divali means the festival of lights. Light represents knowledge. During Divali, Hindu temples and homes are decorated with candles and divas(lamps filled with ghee or clarified butter). Special foods are eaten and there are parties and fireworks. Numerous lamps, especially diva lamps are lit everywhere and people exchange presents and cards. People paint goemetris designs called rangoli outside their homes.The festival also commemorates the story of Rama and Sita. Like many Hindu stories, its theme is the struggle between good and evil, the symbolism of light is important. Light wins over darkness.

Janamashtami

Hindus celebrate the birthday of Lord Krishna at Janamashtami. People put garlands of flowers on the statueof Krishna at the temple. Hindus particularly like the stories about when Krishna was a cow herd and played on a flute to entertain the milkmaids. This festival usually occurs between August and September.

Holi

This is the spring festival that celebrates the wheat harvest.It usually occurs somewhere between February and March. The festival of Holi celebrates the tricks of Krishna, as  cowherd, used to play on the cowgirls. There are processions, bonfires and dancing. People scatter and squirt coloured powder and coloured water over each other.

Dassehra

The yearly festival of Dassehra commemorates Rama's victory over Ravava. It is a nine day festival.  Rama and his wife Sita represent the ideals of male and female behaviour. Sita was captured by the demon king Ravana and taken to Sri lanka. Rama rescued Sita with the help of the monkey god, Hanuman. Key moments from the life of Rama and Sita are retold in dances and plays. It occurs between September and October. In some parts of India, it is also called Durga Puja or Vavaratru. It is a nine day festival to worship the mother goddess and her victory over the buffalo demon. The goddess is also known as Durga Puja, Parvati, Kali.

Mahashivratri

This festival occurs somewhere between January and February. It is a festival dedicated to the god, Shiva. He is known as a creator God, as well as a God of destruction. There are aspects of good and evil in his nature. He is known as many things-the God of life, the god of death and the lord of  the dance. Shiva is said to have created the world in a cosmic dance.

Jewish Festivals

This is  a festival for the Jewish New Year, which falls in September or October. The main ceremony at Rosh Hashannah is the sounding of the Shofar, a ram's horn, blown to "wake" people so they can prepare to live better lives. Foods eaten include Apple Kugel, Yams and Matzah soup(see "recipes"). Shofar.

Passover

The Passover or Pesach  is held in March or April. It marks the night when the Israelite children were saved or "passed over" by the plague before their escape from Egypt. The most important ceremony is the seder, a meal in which some of the food and drink have a special meaning. The story of Exodus is read from a book called the Hagadah, in response to the ritual question from the youngest child : "Why is this night different from other nights?" The seder meal is an important ceremony to celebrate the Passover. On the plate, the egg symbolizes new life or a new beginning. The roasted lamb bone is a reminder of the eve of the Exodus: God told the  Israelites to daub lambs' blood over their  doorposts as a signal to the angel of death to pass over them. The bitter taste of horseradish is a reminder of the misery of slavery. Salt waster symbolizes tears. Unleavened bread (made without yeast) is eaten. Bread made from yeast takes time to rise and on the eve of the Exodus the Israelites only had time to make the unleavened type.

Hanukkah is the festival of lights, held in December. A candlestick with nine branches called a "menorah" is very important to this festival.This festival commemorates the defeat of the Greeks by Judas Maccabaeus and his followers who cleansed and rededicated the Temple.  The Temple is deeply significant  to Jews. Jewish scriptures and prayers contain reference to the many occasions on which their enemies destroyed theTemple; each time the Jews rebuilt it.  The Hanukkah is a special candle holder used during the festival. It has eight candles, plus an extra one (the shammash or servant) in the middle. The significance of the festival is that one days oil lasted for eight days. For eight days, Hanukkah is celebrated with a new candle being lit everyday until all eight candles arelit. they are lit from the Shammah or servant candle in the middle.

Yom Kippur

Ten days after the Jewish New Year(Rosh Hashanah) comes Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement(repent and making amends). this is the most sacred day in the Jewish year, spent in prayer, fasting and asking God's forgiveness for wrongdoings.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

At the age of 13, a boy is considered an adult for religious purposes and is called a bar mitzvah(son of the covenant).The boy will now be responsible for his own actions. he will have been studying the Torah and recites some of the Torah at the ceremony. The ceremony takes place in the synagogue, followed by a party. Many synagogues hold a bat mitzvah (daughter of the covenant) ceremony for girls when they reach the age of 12. She can now share in the religious life and will be able to read the Torah.

Muslim Festivals

Ramadam

This is the ninth month on the Muslim calandar. it is an imporatnt month for muslims because for thirty days Muslims eat or drink nothing during the hours of daylight.  This reminds them that the good things in life are there to be enjoyed but not to be over-indulged in. It also shows the equality with the poor. Ramadam is a time for studying the Qur'an and for practising self-discipline, self control and charity. The fast starts the moment the new moon is seen at the beginning of the month and ends when the new moon is seen again at the end of the month.

Eid-ul-Fitr

This is the festival that takes place at the end of the fast of Ramadam.  This is a happy festival that celebrates the glory of Allah(God) and each individual's achievement of fasting. Muslims attend special prayers at the mosque and give food to the poor. They buy new clothes and eat celebratory meals, visit friends and relations and exchange presents and cards. It is a time of thankfulness for Allah's many blessings and for his help during the fast.

Eid -ul- Adha

This festival can be celebrated by Muslims at home while others are on Hajj or at the end of the Hajj. All over the world, Muslims give thanks for those who have been on the great pilgrimage. After visiting the mosque to pray, it is custom for every family that can afford it to sacrifice alamb or a sheep   at Ied-ul-Adha. One third of the meat is given to the poor. This is because Eid-ul-Adha also commemorates an important event in the Qur'an, when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his beloved son, Ishmael to show his obedience. Just as Abraham was about to kill his son, God provided aram to take Ishmael's place. The festival celebrates both Abraham's faith and God's mercy.