Hina Matsuri: The Japanese Doll Festival

Every year on 3rd March, the Japanese celebrate the Hina Matsuri or the Doll Festival. Also known as the girls’ day, people all over Japan pray for the health happiness and prosperity of the girls.

This century’s old tradition is based on the belief that dolls could carry away the bad omens, sickness, evil spirits and troubles which could befall on the little ladies. The dolls are displayed in houses, streets, shrines and even stations. A traditional Hina doll set comprises of 15 dolls arranged in seven tiers on a red carpet or red silk. The dolls are attired in ancient royal costumes. The uppermost tier holds the emperor and the empress. The 2nd one displays three ladies in waiting. Five musicians are on the third tier. Two ministers occupy the fourth level. The lower levels belong to the retainers and guards. Articles of use such as furniture, utensils etc are also displayed on the lower tiers.

After the display, the dolls are released in a river so that they take away with them all the troubles and ailments. A popular superstition among the Japanese is that if the dolls are displayed for more than three days, the girls will face problems in getting married. Special food like rice cakes and non alcoholic wine are prepared and served on this festival.

Easter

Easter is the most important Christian festival of the year relating to the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is a movable festival which occurs between 22nd March and 25th April as it is celebrated on the first Sunday that falls after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Easter marks the end of the Lent; a 40 day fasting period.

The Roman Catholics offer special prayers in the church every Friday till Good Friday. As Jesus was crucified on Friday, it is a sad day for the Christians. A special mass is held on Friday at 3 pm sharp as Jesus Christ was crucified at this hour. A Special midnight Mass is also held on Saturday, the eve of Easter. In some churches, all candles are extinguished on Thursday and then on Easter eve, new candles are lit. The main candle called the Paschal candle is white in color with a red cross on it and signifies the presence of the Christ amongst the people. This candle is lit for a whole month and also on special occasions. People light their candles with it as well. Easter Sunday symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus and begins with special prayers in the church. For Christians too, it is a sign of a new beginning.

The day is then spent greeting and visiting friends and family and feasting. Easter eggs and Easter bunnies are some Easter traditions. Easter eggs represent a new life. Brightly colored eggs are hid all around the house and the garden for children to find. The eggs can be of chocolate or they may be an egg shaped container with goodies inside. Other traditional Easter foods are hot cross buns, roast duck or roast lamb.

Dead Guy Days Festival

The Dead Guy Days Festival celebrated in Colorado US is a bizarre festival. It is celebrated on the first weekend of March. The story behind this weird festival is that a Norwegian brought with him his grandfather’s dead body to the U S and kept it cryogenically frozen. Dead Guy Days celebrations honor this unusual event.

The celebrations are from Friday to Sunday and are as strange as the festival itself. There is a coffin race, three legged race, snowshoe race and a Polar Plunge (you can take a dip in the icy cold waters of the lake). There are parades such as the “Cryonics Parade” besides the “Look a like Grandpa” and the “Ice Queen” contest. The two contests take place during the Grandpa’s Blue Ball. Saturday begins with a hearty breakfast of pancakes. You can also visit the place where the old man’s body is still preserved. There are many enjoyable activities on this fun packed weekend.

This festival has non stop entertainment for people of all ages young and old. You can participate in the family events along with your kids or enjoy some adult themed programs. Live musical concerts are too a part of the celebrations.

The Dead Guy Days Festival brings life to the otherwise dull chilly winter of Colorado.

La Fallas: The Fiery Festival of Spain

La Fallas is celebrated in Valencia Spain from March 13-17 to honor the Patron Saint of carpenters, Saint Joseph’s. Having pagan roots, the festival originated in the 18th century and has now evolved into one of the biggest festivals of Spain.

La Fallas is all about dance, music, costumes and fireworks. La Fallas is the Spanish for “the fires”. The main feature of the festival is the making and burning of “nintos” (puppets). The nintos can be papier Mâché or wooden or plaster statues. The theme is mostly satirical and mostly based on current happenings. Most nintos are elaborate works of art which take a whole year in making and cost a fortune.

From the first day of the festival, a daily ritual of releasing Mascleta (smoke bombs) in the air takes place at 2: pm sharp in the town’s main square. The sounds of the exploding smoke bombs is deafening and causes the whole place to vibrate besides enveloping it in grey smoke. Street parties are also a daily affair and the air rings with music.

As the festival reaches its climax, the festivities gain pace; people dress up in their traditional costumes. The women especially look stunning in their brightly colored gowns and elaborate hair accessories. On March 17 and 18 the people march towards the Plaza de la Virgen carrying flowers to honor the Patron Virgin. These flowers are then used to build a giant size image of the virgin.

On the final day of the festival, all the nintos are stuffed with fireworks. Then exactly at midnight they are set on fire; however the nintos voted the best is spared and is placed in the museum with the other winners.
La Fallas is a gala of parades, music and fireworks. It is celebrated with joy, pride and passion.

Holi: The Festival of colors

This festival of colors is celebrated by the Hindus all over the world. Holi is celebrated on the last full moon of the lunar month Phalguna which comes somewhere in February or March. Phalguna is the last month of the winter season as well and Holi is a way to welcome the spring season. However, Holi is mainly celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil.

Although many legends are associated with its origin, the most popular one involves the demon king Hiranyakashyap, his daughter the she devil Holika and his son the pious Prahlad. Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Naarayana and had unshakeable faith in him. The demon king not happy with this situation ordered his daughter Holika to walk into a burning fire along with her brother. Holika cold not be harmed by fire but when she entered into it, contrary to everyone’s expectations, Holika was burnt to ashes while Prahlad escaped unscathed. Holi is celebrated to commemorate this victory of good over evil forces and a person’s ultimate faith in his Lord.

Holi celebrations kick off with the burning of the effigy of Holika over a huge pile of sticks collected for days on the eve of Holi. The next day, the day of Holi known as Dhuleti is a day of pure merrymaking and enjoyment. People of all ages from all walks of life throw colored powder and colored water on each other amidst the chants of Holi Hai. Singing, dancing and savoring especially made delicacies is another way to enjoy Holi.

Holi brings people together as not only Hindus but also members of other communities like Muslims and Christians take part in this joyous occasion as well.

Hamauri: Purify yourself the Japanese Way

The island of Okinawa has always maintained its individuality. When the rest of Japan celebrates Hina Matsuri, the doll festival for little girls; Okinawa holds a cleansing festival for all the women of the island.

Hamauri is a ritual observed mostly in Okinawa Japan where women go to the beach early in the morning to cleanse themselves of bad omens and purify themselves spiritually.

Held in early March, the young girls and women head for the beach early in the morning and wait for the high tide. When the tide comes, the salty sea water must touch their foreheads three times. This ceremony is called the Ubinari and it purifies the ladies as the receding sea water takes away their bad tidings and misfortunes leaving them with the blessings of good health and good luck. The ladies then stroll along the white sandy beach, another ritual which purifies them. Later in the day they are joined by their families and together they look for shells, octopus, crabs and the other creatures which the tide has brought along with it. A good catch obviously means a good year.

On the lighter side, it is a day for some fun and food with rice cakes being the special dish for the occasions.

Its Basant..!!

Basant or the kite flying festival is celebrated in Lahore in early March to mark the advent of the spring season. It has nothing to do with religion and is not new to the area either. For centuries this has been a ritual to welcome spring.

Basant is mostly celebrated in Lahore with much pomp and show and vigor than in any other part of the Pakistan. It would not be wrong to say that basant is truly celebrated in Lahore only. People from adjoining cities go to Lahore to take part in the festivities The Basant fever catches up from the month of February. The skilled kite makers prepare colorful kites and strings. People buy lots of kites to take part in the festival. Yellow is the dominant color and ladies, get special clothes stitched for this occasion.

On Basant day, people gather on the rooftops to fly kites. Kite flying competitions are held, the air is thick with tension and drummers beat drums to encourage the kite fliers. The cries of “Bo kata” fill the air whenever a kite goes down. Special dishes are prepared for the occasion and kite flying continues well after dark. At night dinners, musical concerts and plain old family gatherings complete the day.

Some Islamic fundamentalists term basant as non-Islamic, however, for a lively Lahorite, it is a form of entertainment and a healthy activity.