Author: Vimla Patil
Publisher: India Book House
Year: 1995
Language: English
Pages: 160
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8185028818
Description
In India, celebrating life is a way of life. This colorful book on art paper in a large format brings a deeper and more pleasurable look into the cultural personality of India and aims at enriching the lives of all readers.
Over the centuries, India's rich and ornate culture has either been forgotten and covered with the dust of time, or misinterpreted due to a lack of authentic information. The consequent result is that festive days today are either commercialized or celebrated mechanically without understanding their basic purpose.
Celebrations are the foundations on which a healthy, sturdy and relaxed community life is built. The very nature of India's festivals and celebration is such that they tie men and women, animals, birds, and plant life in a common bond of security within the time frame of seasons and life spans. In India, celebrating life is a way of life.
Here is a picturesque journey back to our roots. Since it is important to sift away the chaff from the grain from time to time, all the complicated and confusing details of mythology, all the negative elements of man-made customs and traditions have been omitted.
Contents
FOREWORD
CELEBRATIONS
Every Day is Festive in India
LUNAR MONTHS – SOLAR YEARS
How They Meet and Match
THE FULL MOON
Lunar Phases Are Significant
MUHURT
Auspicious Days And Times
WINTER HARVESTS
January (Poush – Magh)
THE LAST MISTS
February (Magh – Phalgun)
SPRING COLOURS
March (Phalgun –Chaitra)
NEW BEGINNINGS
April (Chaitra – Vaishakh)
FRAGRANT ORCHARDS
May (Vaishakh – Jyeshtha)
WAITING FOR THE RAINS
June ( Jyeshtha – Ashadh)
THE WET EARTH
July (Ashadh – Shravan)
A PROCESSION OF FESTIVALS
August (Shravan – Bhadrapad)
VERDANT BOUNTY
September (Bhadrapad – Ashwin)
TWINKLING LAMPS
October (Ashwin – Kartik)
THE AUTUMN MOON
November (Kartik – Margashirsha)
STAR-STUDDED NIGHTS
December (Margashirsha – Poush)
FESTIVALS OF WOMEN
Of Loving And Giving
PASSAGES OF LIFE
Sacraments
MANY FORMS – ONE GOD
Pantheon of Gods and Goddesses
WORSHIPPING NATURE
Sacred Trees and Plants
SACRED SYMBOLS
Their Use in Sacraments and Worship
EPILOGUE
GLOSSARY
FESTIVAL INDEX