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Indian Festivals

India is known for its diverse festivals.

Not a single month can pass by without at least two festivals being celebrated. That is a testament to its complex tapestry of religion, communities and culture. Of all the numerous festivals that dot the calendar, a few are celebrated in a big way – Pongal (spring harvest), Diwali, Eid and Ganesh Chaturthi (the birthday of Lord Ganesha).

Lord Ganesha (Ga-NAY-shah)

According to Indian mythology, Ganesha is the son of lord Shiva and goddess Parvati, and as a deity is popularly recognized by his elephant face. Ganesha has a wide appeal as “everybody’s god”, and is always a part of every household’s worship. This deity is considered the master of the intellect (buddhi) and fulfillment (siddhi). In the Indian religious tradition, seeking him is a way of achieving self-realization. However, Ganesha’s appeal also lies in the fact that he is supposed to grant prosperity and fortune to the devotee.

Ganesh Chaturthi

This festival is celebrated all over India, but especially in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The date usually falls between 20 August and 15 September depending on the moon phases, and the festival lasts for 10 days. Though there is no specific date for when the festival was first celebrated, historical records indicate that the festival may have been celebrated as early as the 6^th century. However, it is known that the celebrations (as they are done today) were first initiated by Chatrapati Shivaji, a great ruler who wanted to encourage nationalism and cultural brotherhood. However, this was a domestic festival celebrated by the people of Shivaji’s kingdom.

It was Indian freedom fighter and social reformer Lokmanya Tilak, who was instrumental in making this domestic event a national public festival. He recognized the potential of the celebration to bridge the gap between local communities and castes, and also used it to generate a nationalistic fervor against the British colonial rule. Under his guidance large statues of Ganesha were displayed in public and on the tenth day were submerged in nearby rivers or in the ocean. This tradition is followed till date. Tilak encouraged community cooperation and involvement by setting up intellectual discourses, poetry recitals, plays, traditional musical concerts and folk dances. All these events served as a platform to bring people together.

The chief dish prepared during the festival is the modak. A modak is a dumpling made from rice flour/wheat flour with a stuffing of fresh or dry-grated coconut, jaggery, dry fruits and some other condiments. It is either steam-cooked or fried, and offered to the god before being distributed to the family.

Ganesh Chaturthi in the classroom

This is a great festival to introduce in classrooms because of the stories, the colours and the rituals that surround this festival. Here are some ways to celebrate the birth of Ganesha in your classroom:

1. Read up on the story of Ganesha and share it in class.

2. Explore other myths concerning Ganesha. Compare it to Greek myths.

3. Create activities and worksheets (colouring, join-the-dots for the very young) around the stories.

4. Contact a local sculpture workshop and set up a session to make clay Ganesha statues.

5. With an older classroom discuss the values of the intellect and self-realization. How is this philosophy similar or dissimilar to major works of philosophy.

6. Buy an eco-friendly Ganesha statue and immerse it in water after the ten days of celebrations are over.

7. Bring your classes’ attention to the state of Maharashtra and the history of Shivaji.

Festivals are a fun and neutral way of integrating the various cultures of the world into the classroom. It’s not only a vividly new experience, but a journey that enriches every child and helps them mature into culturally conscious adults.

Article written by Mrs Annie Besant on behalf of Global Kids Oz