Art integrated project/learning
Topic :- Festivals of Maharashtra
The Paired State :- Maharashtra
Prepared By:-
Mukesh Sethy-X/A/21
Payasini Mohanta-X/A/22
Pramod Bihari Dalai-X/A/23
Pranati Nayak-X/A/24
Priyanka Samal-X/A/25
Under the able guidance of:-
Mr. Antaryami Pujari
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The State Paired With Odisha : Maharashtra
INTRODUCTION:-
As Maharashtra is a big state, it is home to many religions. The
state also nurtures different traditions with diverse
communities. Maharashtrians are fun loving people, so that
might be another reason why the state has lots of different
festivals.
Apart from the main festivals of Eid, Holi, Deewali and other
festivals, which are celebrated, all over India, there are other
festivals, which are celebrated locally and regionally in
Maharashtra. Songs, dance and mouth watering cuisines
accompany almost every festivals.
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Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the biggest festivals of Maharashtra.
Thousands of idols are produced every year. During the ongoing of this
'Shlokas' or religious verses can be heard in each and every corner.On the
first day of the festival, the idol is welcomed while being kept over a
pedestal followed by a priest performing the rituals. Modak, a sweet made
of sweetened coconut and rice flour, is especially made during the festival.
For the rest of the days, the idol of worshipped with Ganesh Stuti and
devotional songs in the evening and morning. People install idols of Lord
Ganesh in their houses as well. It is believed that god returns to his
heavenly abode after ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Hence,
after seven to ten days, the long festival ends with 'Ganesh Visarjan' where
the idols are immersed in the water; it is done great vigour and enthusiasm
for the farewell procession in which the idol of Lord Ganesha is carried by
the devotees.
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Janamashtami, or the appearance day of Lord Krishna is celebrated with
great fervor across India. People decorate temples, sing hymns, listen to
His tales and exploits and chant His names. Some even observe a fast
throughout the day and night. At midnight, the time when Krishna was
said to have appeared, devotees observe a vigil, the idol of the Lord is
bathed in milk, butter and many other sacred concoctions, while people
welcome His “arrival” amidst deafening sounds of bells, gongs, conch
shells, chants and songs. The atmosphere across the temples gets
absolutely electric as devotees immerse themselves in joy, celebration
and devotion.
Krishna, considered to be the incarnation of the God Himself by many
sacred scriptures and learned of the religion, appeared in Mathura, a
small city on the banks of river Yamuna, sometime around 3200 to 3100
BC.(according to both scientific and astrological calculations). Since
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childhood, He displayed many miracles and wonders and due to His
mischievous though enchanting activities, was loved and adored by all.
Dahi Handi festival or Utlotsavam is one of the festive events and a team
sport during the Hindu festival Gokulashtami, which is also known
as Krishna Janmashtami and celebrates the birth of Krishna. Dahi Handi is
celebrated every August/September, the day after Krishna Janmashtami. It
involves communities hanging an earthen pot filled with dahi (yogurt) or
other milk-based delicacy, at a convenient or difficult to reach height.
Young men and boys form teams, make a human pyramid and attempt to
reach or break the pot. As they do so, girls surround them, sing with music,
and cheer them on.. The event is based on the legend of
the Krishna stealing butter and other milk products as a baby (he is also
called Makhan chor), the community hiding the products by hanging them
high out of his reach, but he finding creative ways to reach what he wanted.
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Gudi Padwa marks the Maharashtrian New Year. It is celebrated during
spring and is also a harvest festival celebrated in Maharashtra and in
Konkan areas. Gudi Padwa is observed in the month of Chaitra, according
to the luni-solar calendar, and is considered an auspicious day that marks
the New Year, celebrates the onset of spring and the reaping of Rabi crops.
Maharashtrians celebrate the day by decorating their houses and also
make colourful rangoli. A special Gudi flag, generally of yellow or red
colour, is made and is garlanded with flowers, mango and neem leaves. It
is topped with upturned silver or copper vessel signifying victory and
achievement. Gudi is believed to ward off evil, invite prosperity and good
luck into the house. Street processions are also held on Gudi Padwa.
Maharashtrians wear new clothes, dance, prepare festive foods like Sakkar
Bhaat (sweet rice), Shrikhand and Puri, and Puran Poli, the festival is
celebrated with friends and family. Traditionally, families prepare a special
dish that mixes various flavors, particularly leaves of neem tree and
jaggery. In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the festival is celebrated
as Ugadi. The day also marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri, that lead
up to Ram Navami.
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Pola is a festival respecting bulls and oxen which is celebrated by farmers
in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh , Telangana, Karnataka.
Pola is a thanksgiving festival of farmers and their families for their bulls.
Pola is mainly a farmer's festival, wherein farmers respect their bulls and
oxen, to thank them for their support in farming. On the day of Pola, the
bulls are first given a bath, and then decorated with ornaments and shawls.
Their horns are painted, and their necks are adorned with garlands of
flowers. The bulls do not work that day, and they are part of procession
where farmers celebrate the crop season. The festival is found among
Marathas in central and eastern Maharashtra. A similar festival is observed
by Hindus in other parts of India, and is called Mattu Pongal in south
and Godhan in north and west India.
REFERENCES:-
www.wikipedia.org
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