Temple festivals in India are closely connected to the agricultural calendar. India is an agricultural country, and the festivals are celebrated to mark important agricultural events such as the start of the planting season, harvesting, and the arrival of monsoon. The festivals are celebrated to give thanks to the gods and goddesses for the blessings of nature and to seek their blessings for a good harvest.
Here are some ways in which temple festivals in India are connected to the agricultural calendar:
Celebrating the arrival of the monsoon: The monsoon is crucial for agriculture in India. The arrival of the monsoon is celebrated with great enthusiasm in many parts of the country. Temple festivals such as Teej, Onam, and Raksha Bandhan are celebrated during the monsoon season to mark the arrival of rain and to pray for a good harvest.
Celebrating the harvest: The harvesting season is a time of celebration in many parts of India. Temple festivals such as Pongal, Baisakhi, and Onam are celebrated during the harvesting season to give thanks to the gods and goddesses for a good harvest.
Marking the start of the planting season: Many temple festivals are celebrated to mark the start of the planting season. For example, the festival of Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated to mark the beginning of the planting season and to seek the blessings of the gods and goddesses for a good crop.
Worshiping agricultural deities: In many parts of India, agricultural deities are worshiped during temple festivals. For example, during the festival of Navratri, the nine forms of the goddess Durga are worshiped, and during the festival of Pongal, the sun god Surya is worshiped for a good harvest.
