West Bengal is a land of festivals. There is a popular saying in Bengali, “Baro Mase Tero parbon” which means thirteen festivals in twelve months. Almost all Famous Festivals of all religions are celebrated here with equal regional sentiment and fervour. The people of West Bengal strive hard to maintain the tradition and culture of its land in the festivals they celebrate. One of the greatest festivals of West Bengal is Durga Puja. The city of Kolkata undergoes a transformation during Durga Puja is solemnised as perhaps the most significant of all celebrations in West Bengal. Being a part of these popular celebrations is a memory for a lifetime. There are different types of festivals observed – some are religious, and the others are rooted in cultural traditions in West Bengal. So, let us get started with the Festival charts of West Bengal that take place in a year
List of Famous Festivals of West Bengal which we should not miss
DURGA PUJA
Durga Puja is the most Famous Festival of West Bengal. It has now got the dimension of a National Festival. This Massive celebration is an emotion to which every inhabitant of West Bengal is connected. This festival is observed in the Bengali calendar month of Ashwin, which corresponds to September-October. It not only brings joy to every household but also teaches great lessons in life. It is a festival of joy that surpasses all the barriers, merging the communities, whether rich or poor, to cherish the royalty and togetherness of this festival in one way or other . Durga Puja is all about shopping for new clothes, distributing sweets, gift spreading love as well as best wishes, pandal hopping, Dance, Drama, lighting, hang out with friends, Pandel decoration etc…
Bhai Phota
Bhai Phota is another Famous Festival celebrated on the second day of Kali Puja. This Ritual involving brother and sister. Sister applies Tilak on the forehead of brothers. Bhai Phota is a festival that strengthens the beautiful bonds between brothers and sisters. Following the tradition, the brother touches the feet of his elder sister who gives him ‘DUBA’ as her blessing then comes the brother’s turn to pamper his sister with gifts and cash. The Bhai Phota festival is symbolic of sister prayers to the drive to provide long and prosperous life to her brother.
Brother touches the feet of his elder sister, who gives him ‘DUBA’ as her blessing then comes the brother’s turn to pamper his sister with gifts and cash. The Bhai Phota festival is symbolic of sister prayers to the drive to provide long and prosperous life to her brother. And people have a good time relishing the festive food with near and dear ones.
Pohela Boisakh
Pohela boisakh is one of the National Festival of West Bengal. Pohela Boisakh is also known as Bengali New Year. Bengalis all over the world celebrate this famous Festival. The name Pohela means first and Boisakh means the first month of the Bengali
calendar. Where brought together- the festival named Pohela Boisakh. On this occasion, fairs are organized in cities, where people meet and greet each other by saying “Shubho Nobobarsho” This year the celebrations may be dampened due to coronavirus.
Famous Festivals of Islamic Religion
Eid al Adha
Eid al-Adha this four-day festival marks the day of the Haj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. It is conceded one of the most famous Islamic festivals. The celebration is based on the lunar calendar which changes the date each year. Most Muslims celebrate for four days, however, the celebration of the first day is a must. During Eid ul- Adha, distributing meat among the people men and women and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayer in a large congregation in an open field called Eidgah or mosque.
Muharram
According to traditional customs, Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and is considered to be highly religious, only coming next to Ramadan. Muharram, in itself, means “forbidden” and since it is considered to be holy, many Muslims use it as a period of prayer and reflection. It is a norm for people in the community to fast during the holy Muharram period. Muslims celebrate the New Year by visiting the mosque, praying to Allah for well-being and by spending time with their
family and near and dear ones on the holiday. People also like to cook something sweet like sweet rice and Share it with their family and circle of friends to eat when breaking their fast.
A Famous Christian Festival
Christmas
is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus). A Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life. It is a National Festival of West Bengal. This is celebrated on December 25 every year. This festival is hosted at Allen Park on Park Street. A large Christmas tree is placed near Mother Teresa’s statue at the Park Street- Camac Street crossing. Park street is converted to a “walk-only’’ road on Christmas Eve.
Other Type Of Festival
Basanta Utsab
Festivals add colors to life. And, if it is Holi, the fiesta of colors, one may well imagine how it smudges every soul with happiness. The famous Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore introduced Basanta Utsav in Bolpur or spring festival in Santiniketan, Birbhum to recreate the magic of Holi. Basanta Utsab literally means the celebration of spring. Falgun and Chaitra According to the Bengali calendar is the season of Dol Utsab. During this season nature shows of its own Beauty with colour full flower Shimul, Palash etc… The beautiful tradition of celebrating the spring festival in Bengal was first started by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan. Actually, Basanta Utsav is no different from Holi, except for the gracefulness with which it is celebrated.
Saraswati Puja
Perhaps one of the unique celebrations of Kolkata is the day celebrating the Homecoming of the Hindu Goddess of Learning, Goddess Saraswati. This is usually celebrated on the fifth day of the Hindu month of Magha, known as Vasant Panchami in the Northern parts of the country and Saraswati Puja in West Bengal predominately. This day is dedicated to the Goddess as a day when all the study related things should have an auspicious beginning. In Kolkata people consider this day to be very fortunate for their children to start writing for the first time. This day is also marked by small girls wearing colourful saris and going out on the streets to visit the richly decorated pandals of Goddess Saraswati.
Lakshmi Puja
Lakshmi Puja is the celebration of the homecoming for the Hindu Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Goddess Lakshmi. The festival is entirely restricted to the Bengalis since Hindus apart from Bengalis do this Puja during Diwali- the festival of lights. This is usually done at home by a priest or by own and offerings are made to Goddess Lakshmi and prayers are made to bring wealth and prosperity to their homes.
Poush Sankranti
It is celebrated in January every year and marks the termination of the Winter season and the beginning of a new harvest season. This year it will be celebrated on 14 January.
It is dedicated to Lord Sun. It also refers to a specific solar day in the Hindu calendar. On this auspicious day, the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar which marks the end of winter months and the beginning of longer days. This is the beginning of the month of Magh. To recompense for the distinction that happens due to the revolution around the sun, every 80 years the day of Sankranti is deferred by one day.
Conclusion
Festivals are indeed part of the life of Bengalis. We the Bengalis enjoy different types of festivals. We keep waiting for all the major festivals. Festival brings unity among different kinds of the community of people during these Famous festivals. we forget the problems and suffering of everyday life’s. Festivals better the economic conditions of a large number of people. At many places fairs are organized on the occasion of festivals. In our states, we notice that people of one religion participate in the festival of another religion. This festival act as a catalyst for communal harmony.
Make sure to check out Why Sundarban is famous in West Bengal?
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