It seemed to be a usual school day, however it wasn’t. The school buses were picking up spider men, witches, butterflies, princesses and many other characters. What??? Am I going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry today? I was thinking. No. It’s 31st of October. Halloween. No wonder why children from younger classes were enjoying this day with their special customs. „Happy Halloween!” wished their school’s Principal in the morning assembly. Indians like to celebrate! And if there seems to be no reason, they will find it! Isn’t it nice to get sweets every day?
Light a candle for Diwali!
From one celebration to another. Sometimes I get an impression. Though I didn’t join the pupils of elementary school for Halloween performances (I was working with junior and senior classes), I don’t miss the celebration and festival mood here. Some days ago (from 24th to 28th of October) Indians were celebrating Diwali (Deepavali), probably the most meaningful festival or so called the festival of Lights. Though the duration of the celebration is five days filled with lots of traditions and legends, the actual holidays are two. Diwali sweets, little lights called Diyas lit in all houses, fire crackers, rockets, sparklers. Sounds like New Year’s Eve? Indeed, for Indians this festival is like a New Years Eve, however, it’s important to celebrate it in families and enjoying Indian hospitality. So, did we. My Mexican friend and I had just come back from a trip to Goa when we got an invitation from our Indian friend to join her family’s Diwali celebration. As we were asked we put on Indian clothes (for Indians you should always wear new clothes at this celebration) and took a rickshaw to our friend’s house. Surrounded by lights and explosions of the firecrackers we were moving towards our destination and feeling like in a war. You couldn’t know where the cracker will explode. It was a bit scary despite hiding in a rickshaw, our shelter, and also the sound was quite annoying.
Once arrived, we waited for the other guests and then started the celebration with lots of nice food - snacks, rice, sauces, sweets. „You must eat until you feel uncomfortable,” the host was telling us. And indeed, food is very important part for Indians, especially, in celebrations. No wonder, why you feel stuffed after Diwali dinner. But, of course, it’s not only about eating. During dinner we learned about the importance of Diwali. It’s indeed a special festival marking the time when the monsoons are over, the harvest has been collected and the family can come together to prepare for the next season. Also school’s term is over by that time and a new one starts right after Diwali. As it’s said in one of the children books „it signifies the triumph of good over evil”. It also signifies hope and reminds us of that despite the evil that exists in this world.Traditionally also the firecrackers have a meaning and explanation, however, nowadays it has become commercial and people seem to enjoy turning the whole place into a battleground and making it even more polluted. Though Diwali dinner is a one day event (out of 5 celebrated days), it’s not the same with the crackers – you can hear the ‘bombing’ also in the next Diwali days.
Worshipping for Ganesha
I had hardly settled down in India (beginning of September, 2011) when I noticed strange looking elephant faces all around Hyderabad – bigger and smaller sizes, on streets, in markets. Everywhere. What’s this? Ganesha Charatarthi or simply Ganesha is another festival that is celebrated quite visibly, widely and loudly.
It’s quite important to know the legend of this elephant and human body that is being worshipped. In short, there was a goddess Parvati (wife of Lord Shiva) who created a statue and made it her son. One day she asked the boy to guard the house while she was taking a bath. After a while Lord Shiva returned home and sadly the boy didn’t recognize him and stopped the Lord. It made Shiva angry and he cut the boy’s head. After finding out it was Parvati’s son, the Lord felt bad and asked his servants to put on him any creature’s head they find as first. The servants found an elephant and put on his head. Then the Lord made him Ganesha which means „Lord of the attendants” and said he shall be praised as a Lord of Power and Wisdom.
Therefore, the idol of Ganesha is worshipped in families and also in public places where large statues are installed under huge tents. The period of worshipping lasts for 10 days, though the statues are being made months before. On the 11th day which is a national holiday the big statues are taken through the streets in a procession with crowds of people gathering and cheering and, believe me, making a big mess. People are transporting the huge Ganesha statues in the trucks and their cheering is sometimes really wild both inside the trucks and on streets where crowds are gathering, dancing, screaming. Moreover, after seeing some foreigners they get around them and involve in their dances and take loads of pictures – well, it’s nice and spiritual and you can really feel the atmosphere, however, might be dangerous as some of people are drunk. what happens After the procession (you won’t want to believe!) these beautiful creatures are simply immersed into the water (in the case of Hyderabad it was lake). Of course, also this procedure is accompanied with rituals and traditions. However, it’s sad to see so much work and beauty to just disappear into the water....
Celebrating two laptops
Religion has an important roles when it comes to different festivals and celebrations. The majority of Indians belong to Hinduism. However, there are also Muslims and Christians and other religions. Especially, here in Hyderabad, Muslim population is the highest one in India. Therefore, naturally, you get to experience Ramadan and Eid (for Muslims) and Christmas and probably many other festivals and celebrations which I don’t even know about yet. For example, today (7th of November) it’s again holiday because Muslims are celebrating Eid.
And sometimes you really don’t need to know who is celebrating what and for what reason. You just notice it when somebody gives you a sweet. It happens very often in my school. A birthday kid wears special and new clothes, not the school uniform and gives sweets to all teachers. When it was my birthday I also brought some Indian sweets to school. This is interesting that it’s more common for Indians to wish ‘Many Happy Returns of the day!’ than ‘Happy Birthday’ (at least I got such an impression)..
And the private celebrations don’t finish with birthdays. Someone can treat you with sweets because he/she celebrates a newborn or even finding his/her laptop after thinking it was lost and having bought a new one. Why not? Let’s celebrate! Let’s have some sweets!
