Book Reviewed: Among the Hindus: A Study of Hindu Festivals by Manohar Lall

The Hindu Utsava

A Hindu festival is a religious celebration and worship. It may be about rejoicing God’s victory over rakshasas (demons) or it may be an ustav, an act of removal of grief or washing of sins. Hindu festivals are often associated with the offerings of fruits and other vegetarian food to the Hindu deity. Some celebrations include fasting, pooja, homa (yajna), feasting, social celebration, vigil, and other rituals specific for the festival. The significance of many Hindu festivals are described in Hindu books of Puranas, and other religious texts; the festivals generally coincide with seasonal changes. Hindu festivals have some local variations in terms of its practices but the underlying principles are the same throughout the Hindu World.

In this book, the author has discussed several Hindu festivals. The major festivals like Diwali, Dussehra, Janmashtami, Shivaratri, Holi, Makara Sankranti, Ganesha Chaturthi and few minor festivals.

Makara Sankranti (Pongal) is an Indian Thanksgiving and a celebration of the harvest festival. Every year in mid-January, the festival marks the reaping of crops and a special thanksgiving to God, the sun, earth and cattle. It is also known to the celebration of goddess Sankranti, who destroys the demons to preserve the goodness in the universe. Holi is another popular spring festival that commemorates the slaying of the demoness Holika by Lord Vishnu's devotee Prahlad. Diwali is a major Hindu festival of lights lasting five days. For Hindus, Diwali is also the New Year's Eve. Mahashivaratri (Shiva Ratri) is a festival of Shiva. It is held on the 14th day of the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna. It is festival of fasting and vigil. The festival of Vijayadashami is the Hindu celebration of good over evil.

Other Hindu sacred days discussed in this book include; Rama Navami that celebrates the birthday of Lord Rama; Krishna Janmashtami that celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna; Ganesha-Chaturthi worshipping the Lord Ganesha; Dussehra, celebrating the victory of Rama over demon king Ravana, and Navaratri marks the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasura.