Monsoon is the season of the year which marks abundance and prosperity. Many states of India are well known for the monsoon festivals which signifies for the farmers. An abundance of rain shall ensure that the crops are cultivated successfully and the festivals are ways to offer prayers to God and seek his blessings. Different states in India are popular for harvesting and rain festivals and are well known internationally. Here is an account of the festivals that are celebrated in the country and the significance behind them. Let us tell you about auspicious festivals in the Monsoon which are essentially celebrated for good fortune and abundance of cultivation by bringing in the rain.
1. Teej
The celebration of Teej is well known among the inhabitants of Rajasthan. This is celebrated during the time of the monsoon and marks the celebratory period for the people of Rajasthan. The women fast for the well-being of their husbands and offer prayers to God. They also get decked up in Mehendi and a beautiful saree to look gorgeous for the occasion. The women are allowed to swing on the branches of the tree as a part of the merriment and their spouses are asked to sing. The men then engage in the kite flying ritual which is a fun competition for everyone to enjoy the festival spirit. Dal bati churma, kheer, and other authentic delicacies adorn the table. The festival is mostly celebrated in the Bundi district of Rajasthan and marks the time of abundance of rainfall and prosperity of the people.
2. Janmashtami
Janmashtami is a very auspicious festival all around the country and the households grandly celebrate this occasion. This is the time of the year while Lord Krishna was born and hence the celebration in this birthplace that is Mathura and Vrindavan is elaborate and grand. Young children are dressed like Lord Kanha and the families come together to dance, sing and offer prayers to the Lord. It is believed that when Lord Krishna was born, it was raining heavily and the river was flooded. His father carried him on his head and crossed the river to save the child's life from the evil clutches of Kans.
The Dahi Handi competition is well known in Maharashtra where the people form a pyramid to reach the handi which hangs in the air. The pot is broken and whoever does it first is the winner of the game.
3. Onam
This is the most popular harvest festival in South India and the famous snake boat race in the town is what makes it even grander and happening. The farmers are engaged in the celebration to offer their prayers and be thankful to the rain god for the successful harvest. It is a way of celebrating the contribution of precipitation to ensure a proper harvest crop. Twenty-one types of homemade curries are prepared for the families and the payasam which is a rice dessert is a must-have during the seasonal celebration. Everyone put on traditional attire and decorate the houses with vibrancy and colour to ensure a happy mood for the festival. The rangolis are painted and beautiful motifs are made with flowers to uplift the spirit of the household and spread positivity. The elephant carnival is another grand affair of the state during the time of Onam.
4. Rath Yatra
The famous Rath Yatra in Puri every year is what attracts the attention of the tourists. It is celebrated during the time of the monsoon to ask God for the abundance and fortune to be bestowed upon us. The festival signifies the journey of Lord Jagannath and his siblings to the house of their aunt and vice versa. The remarkable Jagannath Temple in Puri is decked up during this time and the procession of the crowd moves around the town rejoicing for the suspicious events. The chariot in which the three siblings travel is huge which is about 46 feet in height and drawn by 18 wheels. This is a very popular festival in Orissa and every year several tourists and pilgrims gather to celebrate the occasion with grandeur.
5. Nariyal Poornima
The Nariyal Poornima in Maharashtra is a well-known celebration among the fishing communities and shares the same reason such as an abundance of rain and favourable weather for business. The fishing villages are mostly engaged in this kind of celebration and if you wish to have a closer look and knowledge about the occasion do not forget to head to the fishing towns of Maharashtra. Celebrated during the same of Rakshabandhan, this is the festival that is prominent in Maharashtra. The coastal towns celebrate the occasion with grandeur and much elaborate decoration of the houses and the village. The time of celebration is around the month of August.