Festivals
Celebrating festivals is a part of almost every culture. Festivals differ in the style in which they are celebrated, but invariably many peope feel very happy celebrating. A legend, a folklore, is very often attached to the celebration. For example, in India where very many festivals are celebrated, by people following different religions, most Hindu festivals have a legend attached.Very often, related to some diety, Rama, Krishna etc. Thus there is a festival to celebrate the birth of Krishna, known as Janmashtami.
The legend attached to this festival is. The birth of Krishna took place under extraordinary circumstances. He was born at midnight stroke on a dark, rainy night to 'Devaki' and 'Vasudev' who had been imprisoned by Devaki's brother Kansa. It had been foretold that the eighth son of Devaki would kill the evil king Kansa. Upon hearing this prophesies, Kansa had his sister put into prison. He killed her seven children one by one but when Krishna was born, there was divine intervention to save the life of baby Krishna. The guards had fallen into deep slumber and were unable to inform their master about the newborn child.An heavenly voice commanded Vasudev to take the baby to Gokul and exchange with the newborn baby of Nanda and Yashoda. The shackles and the prison gates opened miraculously and Vasudev carried the child in a small basket, through the waters of Yamuna. As it was a dark stormy night, the waters of Yamuna were raging but parted to let the carrier of the divine Krishna pass. A huge snake known as Adisesha with 2000 hoods, glided behind them, its hoods formed a protective canopy over the child. When Vasudev returned back with Nanda's child the shackles fastened and the doors closed and the guards awakened. Kansa came and picked up the child to hurl it to the wall and kill him but somehow the baby slipped from his grasp and took the form of a Goddess laughing at Kansa, she vanished after telling him that the one who would kill him had already taken birth and was elsewhere. This Goddess was Yogmaya. As a little boy, Krishna was the heartbeat of Gokul, a mischievous prankster who was favourite amongst the gopikas. He used to steal curd and butter from the houses of gopikas. Even though he was a child, he performed several miracles. His exploits are now the immortal legends of Braj. He killed a number of 'asuras'(devils), vanquished the Kali Nag and later he killed Kansa as it had been foretold.
Similarly there are legends attached to Dasshera and Deepawali, that are related to Sita and Rama.The victory of Rama over Ravana, who had abducted his wife Sita from the forests. Deepawali a festival to celebrate prosperity, by lighting lamps, is attached to the legend of return of Ram Sita couple back to their kingdom, after serving a voluntary exile of fourteen years.
Rakesh Mohan Hallen