Gangasagar Mela is one of the largest and oldest annual congregations of mankind. The event has fascinated the pious Hindus since the days of the Mahabharata. Even during my first visit to the fair about fifteen years ago, I realised that very few things epitomize India as quintessentially as the Gangasagar Mela.
Dev Deepavali, also known as Dev Diwali or the Diwali of the Gods, is a Hindu festival celebrated in the holy city of Varanasi (Banaras) in India. It usually occurs 15 days after Diwali, on the full moon day in the month of Kartik.
As a spring festival, Holi marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring, the season and symbol of regeneration and new life. The much-awaited spring harvest and the availability of the abundance of food at the time of Holi add newer niceties to the flavours of the festivities every year.
Bengal’s cult of the ‘terrifying mother’ has fascinated foreign scholars like Rachel Fell McDermott, Wendy Doniger, Barbara Walker and numerous others, as well as countless Indian academics and analysts of the Shakta tradition. Like the corn-goddess, the powerful cult of the mother goddess, representing power, protection, blood and victory, was equally evident in ancient civilisations like Greece.
Now the pandals are ready and the atmosphere festive and kinetic. The city is abuzz with excitement about the myriad themed installations that house Maa Durga (goddess Durga) who will grace the city for a few days before returning to her heavenly abode.
In a tryst with destiny, Ahladini Shakti was born on the dark tempestuous night to Yashoda and Nanda in Gokul, a hamlet on the banks of river Yamuna.
Photos of the Rath Yatra festival from Kolkata captured by Abir Choudhury.
The thekua also known as ‘khajuri’ has achieved a cult status of sorts. It is immensely popular in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and the foothills of Nepal.
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