Festival of Nine Nights
Navaratri (nine nights) is one of the greatest Hindu festivals. It symbolises the triumph of
good over evil. Navratri takes place at the beginning of October around harvest time and, as
the name implies, this festival is celebrated for nine days. Navratri is also known as Durga
Puja. During this period, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped as three different
manifestations of Shakti, or cosmic energy.
Navaratri is celebrated by communities getting together for dances and nightly feasts. To
celebrate a good harvest and to propitiate the nine planets, women also plant nine different
kinds of food grain seeds in small containers during these nine days and then offer the
young saplings to the goddess.
In Gujarati communities, Navratri is celebrated with the famous Garba and Dandiya-Raas
dances. (Sources: BBC Religions, Wikipedia)
Festival of Lights
Diwali is an important festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, celebrated for different
reasons, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali commemorates the
return of Lord Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, from his 14-year-long exile and
vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the
people of Ayodhya illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas and burst firecrackers.
For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC. For Sikhs,
Diwali is important because it celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru
Hargobind, who also rescued 52 Hindu kings held captive by Mughal Emperor with him in the
Gwalior Fort in 1619.
The name "Diwali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" which translates into
"row of lamps". Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil
to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes
and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. (Source: Wikipedia).
Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) was a Bronze Age civilization (3300–1300 BCE; mature
period 2600–1900 BCE) that was located in the northwestern region of the Indian
Subcontinent. Geographically, the civilization was spread over an area of some 1,260,000
km², making it the largest ancient civilization in the world.
The Indus Valley is one of the world's earliest urban civilizations, along with its
contemporaries, Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. Inhabitants of the ancient Indus river
valley, developed new techniques in metallurgy and handicraft, and produced copper, bronze,
lead, and tin. The civilization is noted for its cities built of brick, roadside drainage
system, and multistoried houses.
A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture is evident in the Indus Valley
Civilization making them the first urban centers in the region. The quality of municipal
town planning suggests the knowledge of urban planning and efficient municipal government.
As seen in Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, this urban plan included the world's first known
urban sanitation systems. (Source: Wikipedia).
A Festival of colours and Joy
What is Holi?
Holi is a spring festival, also known as the festival of colours or the festival of love. It is an ancient Hindu religious festival, which has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of the world.
Holi is celebrated at the approach of the vernal equinox, on the Phalguna Purnima (Full Moon). The festival date varies every year, per the Hindu calendar, and typically comes in March, sometimes February in the Gregorian Calendar.
Significance of Holi
The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.
There is a symbolic legend to explain why Holi is celebrated as a festival of colours. The word "Holi" originates from "Holika", the evil sister of the demon king Hiranyakashap. According to legend, he was the King of Multan and had earned a boon that made him virtually indestructible. He grew arrogant, thought he was God, and demanded that everyone worship only him.
Hiranyakashap's own son, Prahlad however, disagreed. He was and remained devoted to Vishnu. This infuriated Hiranyakashap. He subjected Prahlada to cruel punishments, none of which affected the boy. Finally, Holika - Prahlada's evil aunt - tricked him into sitting on a pyre with her. Holika was wearing a cloak that made her immune to injury from fire, while Prahlada was not. As the fire roared, the cloak flew from Holika and encased Prahlada. Thus Holika was burned, while Prahlada survived.
Vishnu appeared and killed Hiranyakashipu. The bonfire is a reminder of the symbolic victory of good over evil.
The next day when the fire cooled down, people applied ash to their foreheads, a practice still observed by some people, Eventually, coloured powder came to be used to celebrate Holi.
Children and young people form groups armed with dry colours, coloured solution, water pistols, water balloons filled with coloured water, and other creative means to colour their targets.
Holi in UK
Today Holi is celebrated in all major towns and cities of UK including London, Oxford, Edinburgh, Manchester and Leicester.
Holi in Leicester
What is involved?
In the evening a fire is lit in the centre of a park or a community centre where people come and offer coconut and flowers. Coconuts are given back after they have been roasted for a while. Once it’s over the fire is put out.
Why in Oadby?
At the moment Hindu residents of Oadby and Wigston have to travel to either Cossington or Spinny Hill Park in Leicester.
It will not only save people travelling to Leicester but will be kind to environment too.
Holi is a community event and by organising in Oadby we will bring colour and joy to the entire community of Oadby and Wigston Borough. It will bring the communities together.
A Hindu priest with police and stewards light a smaller bonfire Credit: ITV News Central
