Ending Festival Season

December, 14, 2020

Rajasthan, Punjab

Winter season has started in Rajasthan. With the end of four-month rainy season, pujas were performed. Festival season of Deepawali ends with these pujas and new season is welcomed. Winter crops like potato, ladyfinger and onions are sown in the fields.

Rajesh describes the stories behind these festivals:

Dev Uthani Ekadashi 

“Vishnu and Lakshmi were sitting in the milky ocean (ksheer sagar). Lakshmi asked Vishnu:

– Don’t you get tired without sleep? You must take some rest.

Vishnu agreed and went to sleep for 4 months. It is believed that Vishnu wakes up on this Ekadashi day. So, it is called as Dev Uthani Ekadashi or God wakes up on the Ekadashi day.”

In Harirampura, women are performing a puja (photo above), and they fast for one day. During the fast, women do not eat any grains or solid food; they consume tea and milk and some fruits. In the evening, they offer a puja to Lord Vishnu by drawing the figure of Vishnu in the sand and lighting oil lamps (diya), dhoop (cow dung incense) and agarbatti (incense stick).

After the puja, the women break their fast and consume food, and the wedding season begins in the village, Rajesh explains the festivities.

Tulasi Vivah or Wedding of Tulsi 

In the Rakshas family, Vrinda was born and she was married to Jalandhar. He was exploiting devas, mahatmas and rishis. Devas reached Vishnu. Vishnu took form of Jalandhar and comes to Vrinda. Vrinda defamed by living with the disguised Vishnu and curses him to go to Patala lok. Lakshmi Devi comes to his rescue and asks for forgiveness from Vrinda who takes back the curse. After Vrinda dies, a plant erupts in her spot, which was named as Tulasi. Vishnu promised to marry Tulasi. It is believed that on Ekadashi day, Vishnu married Tulasi, previously known as Vrinda.

Devas – Demigods; Asura, Rakshas – Demons; Mahatma – Great soul; Rishi – Seer; Patala Loka – Hell; Bhiksha – alm