Though foreign influences have added new flavours, the core cultural identity is maintained by adapting to new environments while preserving the essential traditions
India is experiencing its peak autumn festive season! The experience is characterised by abundant harvests, blooming nature and widespread cultural events, transforming the country into a festive wonderland. Festivals like Durga Puja, Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali contribute to the county’s vibrant cultural tapestry, with widespread celebrations involving music, dance, traditional foods, and the observance of religious and mythological stories.
‘Navratri’ celebrations involve worshipping the Hindu Goddess ‘Durga’ and her nine forms over nine nights, and featuring various rituals like fasting and prayers. The festival culminates on the tenth day, ‘Vijayadashami’ or ‘Dussehra’, with rituals symbolising the victory of good over evil such as immersing idols or burning the effigies of the demon.
Navratri celebrates the same Goddess, ‘Durga’, across India but with diverse regional customs. In Gujarat, its pure ‘Garba’ energy, with circles of dancers wearing colourful ‘chaniya cholis’ and ‘dhol’ beats that go on all night.
But in Bengal it is an emotional affair! The focus is on ‘Durgama’ returning to her maternal home accompanied by her children. And for four days it is full of elaborate pandals and performing the traditional ‘Ululu’ songs. But the mood is deeply emotional during ‘Visarjan’ (immersion) of the idol, mimicking parents saying goodbye to their daughter. Hence, it is said that Navratri is the same festival that makes Gujaratis dance, but also makes Bengalis cry.
In Tamil Nadu, families set up ‘Golu dolls’ – intricate displays that often depict mythological stories or themes. In Kerala, the auspicious occasion of ‘Vidhyrambham’ is observed where the tiny-tots take their first step into formal education, typically by writing their initial letters. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it is the ‘Bathukamma’ festival. The festive occasion features women creating beautiful towers of flowers and singing and dancing around them. Himachal Pradesh celebrates a unique version of the festival known as ‘Kullu Dussehra’.
The ‘Mysuru Dasara’ festival in Karnataka has the majestic Mysuru Palace illuminated with thousands of lights. And in many parts of North India, the tradition of ‘Kanya Puja’ involves worshipping young girls as living embodiments of the goddess.
“One goddess, nine nights, but every corner of India honours her in the most beautiful way possible.” How true! The variation in how ‘Vijayadashami’ is celebrated across India reflects the regional diversity of mythological epics and local folklore that have evolved over centuries.
While the central theme of good triumphing over evil is consistent, the specific story and deity honoured on the tenth day differ significantly. Local cultures adapt and reinterpret festivals in their own unique ways, leading to a wide variety of celebrations.
Indian festivals often carry different connotations and traditions across the country due to regional mythology, local traditions, agricultural cycles and historical events. Such instances showcase how India’s rich cultural diversity manifests in different meanings and celebrations of its festivals, creating a vibrant and varied festive landscape across the country. “Transcending the cultural and religious divides, our myriad festivals play a major role in fostering a strong bond of unity, bonhomie and amity.” (Amit Banerjee)
This time though, untimely rains dampened the festive ‘Navratri’ season in various parts of the country. Yet, there was no let-up in the celebrations with Garba and Dandiya dance venues witnessing record attendance all through the days of celebration.
Interestingly, the ‘Garba’ and ‘Dandiya’ dances have gone beyond geographical, cultural and social boundaries, evolving from traditional folk dances of Gujarat into globally recognised cultural phenomena during Navratri celebrations. Their inclusion in the UNESCO intangible Cultural heritage List and widespread popularity among diaspora communities demonstrate this global reach.
Many of the Indian festivals have transcended national borders to become global phenomena, celebrated by millions worldwide. The festivities are going global through the diaspora, increased international media coverage and commercial interest from global brands and tourism. These factors facilitate the spread of Indian festivals worldwide, allowing them to serve as vehicles for cultural appreciation, economic development and cross-cultural understanding on a global scale.
Events like ‘Kumbh Mela’, which attracts millions of people from around the world, highlight the scale and cultural significance of Indian festivals to a global audience. Instead of being confined to their original cultural context, many Indian festival celebrations evolve to reflect the multicultural societies in which they now exist.
The creation of inclusive, hybrid versions of traditional celebrations also gain global attraction due to factors like the participation of diverse audiences and the adaptability of celebrations to local contexts. As an example of inclusive hybrid celebration, the Hindu festival of ‘Holi’, traditionally a North Indian celebration of spring, is celebrated as a secular ‘festival of colours’ globally. I am informed that in cities like New York, London and Tokyo, people from all backgrounds come together to participate in the playful throwing of coloured powders. These ‘modern’ festivals incorporate local customs, such as music from popular genres and local food vendors, to create an experience that is both, authentic to the festival’s spirit and relevant to the host city.
Foreign influences have long added new flavours to Indian festivals! However, Indian festivals maintain their core cultural identity by adapting to new environments while preserving essential traditions, despite expanding globally.
(Pachu Menon is a senior columnist and author based in Goa.)
