The 33 Parvas or Festivals that we celebrated in 12 months were very beautifully spread through the Shad Rithus (six seasons) and were indicators of a Seasonal Regimen.
Festivals
Celebration is a great part of the life in Bharat. Our Parvas (festivals) that we have in 12 months of a year are such 33 occasions to celebrate. Yes you are hearing it right there are 33 festivals in 12 months. These Parvas are called so as Parva which means Peak or to peak and it also means to celebrate in many of the Bharathiya Bhasha (languages).
To understand the festivals of Bharat we need to first understand the way our Panchanga/calendar is made. We need to understand the intricacies of the seasons, months and the festivals thence attributed to the months. This is because the festivals are not just celebrations but they have got a connection with the seasons. They have a relation to the other aspects of life like Seasonal Lifestyle, Food, Socio-Economy and Spirituality. There are many versions of the Indian Panchanga I will mainly adhere to the seasons and months trying to mention the names of the months mainly in Hindi, Sanskrit, Kannada and any other language whenever needed.
The Bharathiya Panchanga has 12 months (Maasa/Mahina) running through and once in 3 years there is an ‘AdhikMaasa’ that is the ‘Extra Month’ which covers the left out days, hours, minutes and seconds thus catching up with the time once in every three years. The year has 2 Aayanas Utharayana (Northwardly sun) and Dakshinayana (Southwardly sun). The 12 months (Maasa) are divided equally into six Rithus (seasons) and each Rithu thus has 2 months and each month has the Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha (ascending moon and the descending moon). The festivals are arranged and fall on specific days/dates of these Pakshas. Since the Bharathiya Panchanga is based on movement of both the Moon and the Sun with respect the 12 Zodiac constellations and the 27 Nakshatras (Asterisms) these festivals coincide with the seasonal clock as well.
The Indian New Year begins with the Vasanth Rithu (Spring). Usually the Ugadi festival which is actually the celebration of New Year, this falls around 21 of March of the Gregorian calendar. As we all know that 21st of March is the summer equinox the day and night being of same duration. That is the day on which the sun is actually on the equator. Bharathiya Panchanga recognises this and we celebrate the New Year near about that date.
This program on festivals (Parvas) takes 8-9 hours. This can be done whole day or 2.5 to 3 hours a day for 3 days. Or spread over a weekend.
Jatras and Yatras Fairs and Travels
Jatras Fairs: Every Nagara (City), Pura (town) and Grama (village) used to have Devatha Utsav and their own Jathra or the fair; like anything Bharathiya this too had its own spherical thinking and spherical purpose.
Yatras Travels :The people from north of Bharat had to undertake Rameshwaram Yatra; while the people from south of Bharat had to undertake Kashi/Varanasi Yatra. This was considered as an essential part of one’s life these travels were called as Yatras.
- Jatras: Every Nagara (City), Pura (town) and Gramam village used to have other than the Gram Devatha Utsav their own Jathra or the fair. These Jathras were done at periodic intervals and they involved a lot of things other than sale of produce, trade and commerce. Like anything Bharathiya this too had its own spherical thinking and spherical purpose. I shall touch upon these aspects with mention of some of the ‘still alive’ Jatras and my own experiences of the Jathras.
- Yartas: The people of this land undertook travel to various Punya Kshetra (pilgrim centres), Viharas (places of solitude), Janamasthan (birth place), Moolasthan (place of origin) etc. The people from north of Bharat had to undertake Rameshwaram Yatra; while the people from south of Bharat had to undertake Kashi/Varanasi Yatra. This was considered as an essential part of one’s life these travels were called as Yatras. Why and how these Yatras were undertaken? The arrangements like transport, food, water and accommodation for the traveller is something amazing as there were no Public Transport, Bottled Drinking Water, No Hotels or Restaurants and No Lodges in Bharath up to as late as the beginning of 1900.
Utsav Bhojan Festival Feast
- Bharat has 33 festivals running through the 12 months of a year; various foods were specially made during these festivals across India during various festivities these were regional and varied from region to region and they were called Utsav Bhojan.
- “Sadhya” of Kerala, “Chappan Bhog” of the North, “Panch Anna” & “Habbada Oota” of Karnataka, “Pandigai Unavu” of Tamil Nadu, “Utsaba Khabara” from West Bengal we have 108 different feasts for each festival and an amazing 3500+ numbers of these.
- Utsav Bhojan: People of Kerala boast of the “Kerala Sadhya” which is the special food served on festive occasions. But this is just one of those special foods for festivals and Kerala Sadhya has only one specified number of dishes and the same set of dishes are served every time. Each region Bharat has it’s own special food and many of the regions actually have different spread for different festivals according to the month and season.
Bharat has 33 festivals running through the 12 months of a year. Each festival in Bharat is unique in its nature. Probably nowhere in the world any country would have the number of festivals that we have here. There is a reason for all this which I have discussed in the chapter on Festivals of India. Here I would like to discuss the various foods specially made across India during various festivities. This is an honest attempt and I hope I can bring most of it though not all of it.
From “Kerala Sadhya” of Kerala to “Chappan Bhog” of the North to “Panch Anna” & “Habbada Oota” of Karnataka, “Pandigai Unavu” of Tamil Nadu and “Utsaba Khabara” from West Bengal welcome to this workshop of 6 hours where you get a glimpse of the festival food from various parts of Bharath.
Rithucharya according to Ayurveda
A good Rithucharya (seasonal regimen) helps in balancing of the TriDoshas. Following the seasonal routine helps in avoiding changing stress of the seasons, associated diseases and in achieving good benefits of the changing weather conditions.
Ritucharya has two words “Ritu” meaning “Seasons” and “Charya” meaning “to follow a routine”. Ritucharya (Seasonal Regimen) holds great significance in Ayurveda and the life in Bharat was led according to the season. According to this principle, the year is divided into two distinct “Aayanas” or “Kaal” or periods based on the position of the Sun. These two are Utharayana Aadan Kaal and Dakshinayana Visarga Kaal. During Uhatarayana there are three seasons Shishira Rithu (Late Winter or Dry Season), Vasantha Rithu (Spring) and Ghrishma Rithu (Summer). The Utharayana is called as Aadana Kaala as it drains away energy from a person. A person has to spend a lot of energy during this time. Further the seasons have two months and each month has the
Shukla Paksha (ascending moon) and the Krishna Paksha (descending moon). The season peaks and falls accordingly. Rithucharya is adopted accordingly and there is a particular lifestyle that is prescribed. The Dakshinayana has three seasons Varsha Rithu (Rainy Season), Sharad Rithu (Autumn Season) and Hemanta Rithu (Winter Season). The Dakshinayana is called as Visarga Kaala as during this time of the year a person gains more energy. Also during this part of the year energy is conserved. Further the seasons have two months and each month has the Shukla Paksha (ascending moon) and the Krishna Paksha (descending moon). The season peaks and falls accordingly. Rithucharya is adopted accordingly and there is a particular lifestyle that is prescribed. This forms the main premise of Rithucharya.
