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palak Inde

Others

5.0  

palak Inde

Others

Let's Know India - A Bit More

Let's Know India - A Bit More

7 mins
136


I and Jenny were friends. Facebook friends. I still remember our first chat. She sends me a Friend request by mistake, and I accepted it by mistake. Then we started a conversation. It took us barely 2 months to know each other.


She was from London. She had two brothers and parents in her family. She was studying tourism. Elena was her best friend and many more things.......


I belonged to Punjab. I was living in a small city named Bathinda. I had a younger brother and my parents. I was studying nursing. Palak was my best friend and many more... These were the things she knew about me.


One day, she texted me that she was coming to India. My joy had no bounds. A person with whom we talked for about 5 months, I was finally going to meet her.

But, then, one thing struck my mind. Why would she even come there? She had her projects, she had to travel a lot. She must have a package of time.


I asked her about the dates. I was a bit disappointed. She asked me if she could stay with me - just for 5 days. I was happier than anybody. But I told her about our locality and all ......so that she didn't need to regret why she came to our house. If she wanted to stay somewhere else like in Bombay, Delhi or somewhere else. She said she knew me, so it won't be a bad idea to stay with me. I was happy. I told everyone in my family. Just fifteen days and she would be here.


It was the 11th of January when she came to India and on the 12th, she was here.


We all were excited. After all, I was going to meet her. I thought she would object to little things, but she didn't. Even she likes the environment. It was Lohri next day on 13th and Makar Sankranti on 14th. Everyone was preparing for that. She asked curiously about it. I told her Lohri is the first festival in the New Year. During the night, Bonfire is made, and sweets and peanuts were distributed. It is very special in case there are a newly married couple and a newborn baby. In South India Pongal or Onam is celebrated and I continued ......

We enjoyed ourselves a lot on Lohri night. The next day it was Makar Sankranti. I told her the importance. It was treated as the beginning of the new year. She really enjoyed. We wandered around the streets. I made her taste street food. We went to visit Qila Mubarak, Rose garden. We visited the public library, malls. Those 3 - 4 days, I didn't know how those days passed. Last day, she had to make her assignment, she asked me to help her out. Frankly speaking, I didn't travel much, so I couldn't help in that part. She then asks me to tell her about Indian festivals. I told her that there was a big list and she had to be patient. She sat very excitedly. 

So, I started my chapter,


"India is a land with various cultures traditions so are the festivals. I can tell you about some, still, some going to be left for sure."


"I am excited please tell me now. I can't wait anymore."


" So, I already told you about Lodi then came to our national festival Republic Day."

"Hmmm"


" We had parades that day."


" Wow. "


"We couldn't go there. So, we used to watch it on tv."


"Then"


"In the month of February, Shivratri came."

"What happens in this?"


" We prayed to our Lord Shiva. And, many people perform acts on Lord Shiva 's marriage with goddess Gauri."


"Oh..."


"Ya.

About the same time, Basant Panchami came. We used to fly kites. And you know what, it's not only the day we fly kites, we started it before about a month only. We used to have competitions."


" Wow. Then?"


" Next is our Holi. You must hear of it. It's the festival of colors.

Then came Navratri."


"Nav... Navy...what?"


" It's a Navratri. This is the festival of nine days. These nine days, we pray goddess incarnated in nine different forms. Usually, people kept fast these nine days, then last day, we pray little girls and serve them with special food."


"Sounds interesting."


" Every festival has its own importance.

"

" Tell me some more na..."


"Yeah. In the month of April, we had Baisakhi. It's the festival when our farmers cut the wheat crops for the first time. It's auspicious for us. It's special in North India. We had Faired. "


"Nice."


"You know what, about the time in May - June, we had ' Kumbh ka Mela ' which took place after every 12 years in Allahabad."


"Oh my God!! After 12 years?"


"Yeah "


I thought she would be bored but she didn't.


"Then we had Eid it is mainly celebrated by the Muslims. But you know Indians are especially known for their unity in diversity.

People use to keep fast for about the month preceding Eid.

July - August is the month of Sawan. This month we had Teej. Teej is the festival celebrated mainly by the newly married girls. They come to their paternal home and celebrate the festival with their friends, sisters, and neighbors.

Monsoon also arrived in North India at that time only. "


"Wow.

Nice."


"I hope you know about 15 August. It's our Independence Day, the day when our India got free. "


"Yeah."


"Then comes one of my favorite festival that is Rakhi. This is the festival celebrated for the love between a brother and sister. This day sisters tie a thread called Rakhi on their brothers’ wrist and pray for his long life while brother promises to keep them safe.

Even we sisters got some money as a got some money as shagun."


"This is great ya."


"Then it comes time for Lord Krishna's birthday. This festival is known as Janmashtami. We celebrated the festival with a lot of excitement.

Next is Ganesh Chaturthi. It is one of the biggest festivals in Maharashtra.

People used to keep lord Ganesh’s statue at home for several days. Then Ganesha is 'visarjit ' in water. It is the belief that God has taken away all the bad omen with them.

Then our Navratri came again. This time, it is celebrated with Garba dance.

The tenth day is our Dussehra. This day, we burnt incarnations of evil 'Ravan ', his brothers. This festival is for the victory of good over evil.

Same time, in West Bengal, Durga pooja is arranged where people worship goddess Durga."


"Wow yaar. I must say, you Indians are great."


"Wait. Baby, some are still waiting."


"Ohk."


"Then comes Karwa Chauth. This day, married ladies kept fast for their husband's long life and used to get beautifully dressed up and specially Mehndi is applied to their hands and feet, new dresses and all makeup accessory. Even unmarried girls can keep fast."


"Do you Indians love to keep fasts? I mean your every second festival has fast in it."


"Hahaha. But it's not like that.

You must have heard about Diwali. Do you? "


"Yeah. A bit."


"This is known as the festival of lights. People use to decorate their houses and light it with the help of candles and Diya. We burnt crackers and distribution sweets.

It is believed that Lord Rama came to his home Ayodhya after forest visit for 14 years. Ayodhya's people celebrated this festival as Lord Rama's Homecoming and in Sikhism, the same day we celebrated as Bandi Chhod Divas."


"Ok."


"In East India, in States like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, ' Chhath Puja' is celebrated after Diwali in October and November. It is the festival that goes on for 6 days."


"I’m impressed."

 

"You should be dear."


"Then come Gurpooraab, the birthday of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first guru in Sikhism.

People pray them and lit candles in Gurudwara.

Finally, Christmas. "


"Yeah. "


"See the big smile on your face. We even celebrate it. Then it's a New Year.

"You guys continue celebrating for a whole year in one way or other. I didn't know whether I’m going to live all of them or not. But I would surely love to.

You know what, I going to get full marks in this beautifully, detailed explained festival of India. Thank you so much."


"You won't be surprised but, I knew I left many of the festivals that skipped my mind. I’m sorry about that."


My mom called both of us for dinner. The next day, she was going to leave us.


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