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**//__Importance of Women in Indian Festivals __//** in // relation with the // //"Generational Shift in Traditional Indian Culture from Global Influence //   //By Yumina Bashir, Shivendu Bhalla,Stephanie Borruso, Jeson Cheru, Angela Ampomah //

In India, festivals are the celebration of togetherness, of being a community. Indian festivities have always been inspiring to women all over the world. A prominent reason maybe that women are highly involved in all the festivities. In present day, the concepts have altered to enhance it into a celebration. In this article we will speak of the different Indian festivals and the significance women hold in Karwa Chauth, Holi, Deewali, Raksha Bandhan, and Navarati. Although media has provided a great platform in the sense that it brings cultural awareness, it has also portrayed some indirect negative feedback analyses as well. Karwa Chauth, is an annual one day fast that married women celebrate this fast with great dedication and pray for the longevity of their husbands. The fast is observed during the month of Karthik on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha. In Hindi, Karwa translates to a clay oiled lamp, whereas Chauth means the fourth. There are many references and tales of the karwa chauth that have been told in the Indian culture. A beautiful queen named Veervati was the only sister of seven caring brothers. The sister was mistaken and later learned that her brothers had tricked her into breaking her fast. As soon as she ate, she heard that her husband had passed away. She was asked her to complete the fast with full devotion once more. When Veervati repeated the fast, Yama was forced to restore her husband to life. Like all other Hindu fasts, the karwa chauth fast also has a spiritual and religious importance. After worship, rice, black gram pulse, a comb, a mirror, vermilion, bangles, and henna are put on a plate, along with fruits and kept ready till the fast is broken. In modern Hindu cities, Karva Chauth is now taken to be a passionate festival, not only symbolizing the love between a husband and wife but also between two unmarried partners. As seen in my media links (videos), it has been numerously been celebrated in bollywood films. My link is from the film “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jainge”; in the clip it is seen that the unmarried woman indicates her love for a man by keeping the fast for him and he also secretly fasts for her showing equal compassion. It is also seen how he breaks the fast for her by feeding her when the moon is visible. Many news coverages have shown couples, famous or infamous, keeping a fast because it signifies a strong bonding. Karva chauth has been referred to as a representation of cultural oppression of women by some Indian feminists. Others, however, have called the festival authorizing for women because Karva Chauth allows them to show their love for the husband and in a way honor the beautiful marital relationship. Holi is a spring festival celebrated as a festival of colors. It is a Hindu religious festival which has also become popular with people of other communities. It is primarily observed in India and Nepal. The word 'Holi' originated from 'Holika' sister of Hiranyakashipu. In Vaishnavism, Hiranyakashipu is the great king of demons, and he had been granted a boon by Brahma, which made it almost impossible for him to be killed. He demanded that people stop worshipping gods and start praising respectfully to him. According to this belief, Hiranyakashipu's own son, Prahlada, was a devotee of Vishnu. He was poisoned by Hiranyakashipu, but the poison turned to nectar in his mouth. He was ordered to be trampled by elephants yet remained unharmed. All of Hiranyakashipu's attempts to kill his son failed. Finally, he ordered young Prahlada to sit on a pyre in the lap of Holika. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika burnt to death, while Prahlada survived unharmed. The salvation of Prahlada and burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi. As you see in the video, there was not burning of Holika. Everyone in the family come together and put colors on each other. The girls in the family make designs with the colors on the floor which they call Holika now days and as days pass by the colors fade away. It celebrates the beginning of the new season, spring. Originally, it was a festival that commemorated good harvests and the fertile land. It also has a religious purpose, commemorating events present in Hinduism. During this event, participants hold a bonfire, throw colored powder at each other, and celebrate wildly. Now days very few people do the bonfire and actually go to a temple on this day. Diwali, the festival of lights even today in this modern world projects the rich and glorious past of India. Deepavali or Diwali is popularly celebrated as the "festival of lights”. It is a five-day Hindu festival which starts on Dhanteras, celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha. The name "Diwali" is a contraction of "Deepavali". Lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcomed. Firecrackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. The festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil; It is also a propitious time for new endeavors, and many people clean their homes and open all their windows and doors to welcome luck and good fortune during Diwali. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha by Mahavira. The festival starts with Dhanteras for beginning their financial year. The second is called the Naraka Chaturdasi. Amavasya, the third day marks the worship of Lakshmi who was the goddess of wealth. The fourth day is known as Kartika Shudda Padyami. The fifth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya where sisters invite their brothers home. It symbolizes that age-old culture of India, which teaches to vanquish ignorance that subdues humanity. Raksha Bandhan means a 'bond of protection'. This is an occasion to flourish love, care, affection and sacred feeling of brotherhood. Not a single festival in India is complete without the typical Indian festivities, the gatherings, celebrations, exchange of sweets and gifts, lots of noise, and singing and dancing. Raksha Bandhan is a regional celebration to celebrate the sacred relation between brothers and sisters. Primarily, this festival belongs to north and western region of India but soon the world has started celebrating this festival with the same verse and spirit. Rakhi has become an integral part of those customs. On the day of Rakhi, sisters prepare the pooja thali with diya, roli, chawal, rakhi thread and sweets. The ritual begins with a prayer in front of God, then the sister tie Rakhi on the wrist of her brother and wishes for his happiness and well-being. In turn, the brother acknowledges the love with a promise to stand by his sister through all the good and bad times.  The Hindu festival of Navaratri celebrates the Shakti, Mother Goddess, in her 3 different manifestations. Navaratri is divided into 3 3-day celebrations, with each devoted to the goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Sarasvati respectively. In Sanskrit, ‘Nava’ means nine and ‘ratri’ means nights, and so the festival literally means ‘Nine Nights’. Singing and playing of instruments are accompanied by traditional dancing, in the forms of Dandiyaa and Garba. In the first three days of the festival, the different incarnations of Durga represent the three classes of womanhood- child, young girl, and woman. In modern times, the dances performed have undergone some changes from their original forms. Older form of garba dances were performed by women who place the lit vase over their head and move in a circular motion, while singing and clapping simultaneously. Today, as this festival is celebrated by elaborate dress, stores will often be open late so that women may shop for new ornaments and jeweler. In fact, this holiday is understood as being a worship of womanhood. As a festival of Hinduism, great emphasis is placed on the importance of motherhood, as being a divine aspect of god. BBC Religions states that Hinduism is the only religion in the world which has emphasized to such an extent the motherhood of God. Today, for some women, it may be a trend, for others it's pure dedication, while many simply perform it because women reflect the household. Hindus have always believed in worshiping the male and female aspect of God together and that Sri Ram was also a devoted husband. No one remembers the rituals with only Seeta Ram or Radha Krishna.

Resources:


 * __Karva Chauth __**

//Articles: // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">http://www.karwachauth.com/tradition-of-fast.html <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[]

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Videos: // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS67mWZKfCs <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFx87ILa3IY <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOnvh3y9J_
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Holi __**


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Navrati: __**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> **__Diwali__**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-diwali.htm

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">http://www.diwalifestival.org/diwali-festival-in-india.html