THE FIRST RAINDROP FELL, and the earth, parched for months, embraced it, closing its bare, brown, coarse arms around it like an oyster shielding a pearl. As drop after drop fell, the brown turned green, and the bare was rarely seen. Though the skies gloom'd, the flowers bloomed, in vivid shades and hues. With the colours came the sounds—of rustling leaves, buzzing bees, chirping birds and gushing streams. Change was in the air, literally (dry and dusty, air cooled down, too). Nature was throwing a wild party, and everyone was invited.
Our first festivals celebrated nature in all its glory, and fury. And, some of them have stood the test of time. As spring arrives, so does Holi. Every season in India—be it monsoon, winter or, say, harvest—comes with its own festivity manual, which, at times, differs slightly from state to state or region to region. What is Lohri in Punjab becomes Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra or Pongal in Tamil Nadu. Over time, religion, like that drop of rain, seeped into our celebrations. But, even today, many religious festivals look to the sun, moon and stars for cues.
Then, there are festivals that begin with journeys, in a way a toast to our nomadic origins. Year after year, thousands travel miles, some even barefoot, leaving their homes behind. Take, for instance, P. Chitran Namboodiripad from Thrissur, Kerala. The 99-year-old is gearing up for his 28th Chota Char Dham Yatra. This October, he will again head to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. But, what draws people like him to the Himalayas? A higher calling? The snow-capped peaks? Or, the elusive peace? People say as the mighty mountains reveal themselves from behind a curtain of clouds, it reveals you—you are as momentary as the view. Perhaps, all our spiritual journeys are about finding ourselves.
But, for some, it is all about the journey, finding comfort in strange company. And, as their journey ends, they rejoice, revelling in their differences, together. Many of our yatras, therefore, end in melas, an amalgamation of our primal desires, traditions and faith.
Festivals, no wonder, have become a part of our culture, our being. We celebrate, therefore we are. And, the more the merrier. In this issue of THE WEEK, we bring you ten unique and little-known festivals from across India—each a celebration of all things human, natural and divine.
