Celebrating Shravan

India is a land of many festivals that are spread out over the year. The month of ‘Shravan’ though is one that is full of pujas and different celebrations. Since the Hindu calendar is based on the lunar month, the arrival of this month varies from one year to the next. Its arrival usually tallies with August/ September and sometimes arrives as early as in the second half of July. It is considered the holiest month in the year.

Raksha bandhan is a festival that falls on the full moon day in the month of Shravan. It is also known as rakhee pournima or narali pournima.

Rakhee pournima or raksha bandhan is a day that symbolizes the bond of love between a brother and a sister. It is a pledge of a brother to protect or be there for his sister in her time of need. Where as the narali pournima ritual is for worshipping the sea. People offer coconuts to the sea and the rain god Varun. This day marks the end of the monsoon season and marks the beginning of the new fishing season. Thus fishermen appease the sea-god for their safety on the sea before sailing out over the mighty sea. Singing and dancing are a major part of the festival. Sweet coconut rice is the dish prepared for the day.

Another important festival in the month of Shravan is Naag Panchami. This falls on the fifth day of the Shravan month. Serpants, usually the Cobra is worshipped on this day in honor of the serpent God or naag devata. Serpants have a special place in Hindu mythology. Lord Vishnu’s bed/ couch in the sea is the thousand headed snake called shesha naag. Lord Shiva is also depicted wearing a snake around his neck. The serpent symbolizes the coiled energy of kundalini. Shiva's sons are also linked with serpents. Kartik is depicted with one under his feet while Ganapati ties one around his waist. The significance of the serpant is esoteric and there are many theories about what other aspects of the subconscious it depicts. Serpants are offerred milk to drink on this day. It is forbidden to till land on this day as snakes living underground could be harmed or killed. Naag panchami is one of the oldest and auspicious festivals, women observe a fast on this day. They draw pictures and images of snakes on walls of their houses with a mixture of cowdung, milk and black powder. Offerings of milk, ghee, sweets, water and rice are also made at snake holes. Every Monday in this month is considered auspicious by devotees of Shiva.

Soon after naag panchami arrives janamashthami, when the birth of lord Krishna is celebrated. The birth of Krishna is celebrated at midnight with people singing bhajans. Dahi Handi is celebrated the following day. Krishna was brought up by cowherds and he is siad to have loved milk, butter milk and butter. to symbolose this, an earthenware pot (Handi), containing yogurt (Dahi) is hung from a rope tied several feet above the ground. Young people climb on each other's shoulders, building human pyramids to break the pot. These days Dahi Handi has become an international event. It is now celebrated more on the lines of a serious competition and media coverage and with sponsors offering prizes and cash rewards.

On the new moon day of Shravan, ‘Pola’ or festival to honor bullocks is celebrated. This day is noteworthy as it shows gratitude to an animal that helps the farmer in cultivating the land. There is another festival called Rishi panchami wherein one does not consume food or any products where bullocks have been used to till the land.

No sooner does the month of Shravan end, arrrives the festival of Lord Ganesha. Shravan is the first of the four holy months called the chaturmas; the celebrations only begin in Shravan!