Bank holidays in October
The festive season is finally here! And with it come a host of holidays that are perfect for a quick trip away.
Durga Puja – Maha Saptami (October 8, Saturday), Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal
Photograph: Indraneel Biswas/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)
This is the biggest, most elaborate festival in West Bengal and for Bengalis nationwide and around the world. Elaborate pandals are erected to house the Goddess Durga during her stay on earth. Durga Puja celebrates the goddess’ victory over the demon Mahishasura, and honours Shakti, the female force in the universe. There are 10 days of rituals, but the last five days (Shasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami) are the most celebrated. On Shasthi the goddess is invited down to earth with her four children. The next day, Saptami, the goddess’ energy is guided into her statues through various prayers and rituals. Durga Puja celebrations involve much pandal hopping to see the elaborate decorations and indulge in lip-smacking Bengali cuisine.
Durga Puja – Maha Asthami (October 9, Sunday), Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Orissa, Sikkim, Telangana, West Bengal
On this day the goddess is worshipped in her unmarried virgin girl form, and as part of the ritual, some young girls are treated as the goddess. According to Hindu mythology, this is also the day the Goddess Kali emerged from Durga’s head to kill Chanda and Munda, the henchmen of the demon Mahishasura. So there are evening puja’s to celebrate this victory.
Durga Puja – Maha Navami (October 10, Monday), Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Photograph: Kaustav Bhattacharya/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)
This is the last day of worship and the day ends with a maha aarti. It is believed the Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura on this day and her demon-slayer form is especially venerated. Devotees dress up in their finest and the goddess’ favourite food is prepared for the celebrations.
Durga Puja – Vijaya Dashami & Dussehra (October 11, Tuesday), nationwide, except Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Pondicherry
Photograph: Public.Resource.Org/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)
On this day, Durga returns to her husband’s home. Married women offer red vermillion powder to the goddess and smear it on each other during the goddess’ send off. Durga’s statues are taken out in a grand procession and ceremonially immersed in the nearest water body. People then visit relatives and friends to exchange blessings and sweets, and partake in lavish meals.
This day also features another big festival—Dussehra, which marks the defeat of the demon king Ravana. The festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil, and huge effigies of Ravana are burnt amidst much celebration and lighting of firecrackers. Plays known as Ram Leela are performed across India, featuring key scenes from the ancient epic the Ramayana.
Muharram (October 12, Wednesday), nationwide, except Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Pondicherry, Sikkim, Uttarakhand
Photograph: Rauf Shaikh/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and is marked as a sacred month. Shia Muslims see Muharram as a month of mourning to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Husain, Prophet Mohammad's grandson, in Karbala. Many Muslims fast during this period and observe it as a period of self-reflection. On the tenth day of Muharram, Ashura, the massacre at Karbala is remembered and Muslims congregate together for public expression of their grief through self-flagellation, chest beating, etc.
Lakshmi Puja (October 15, Saturday), Assam, Tripura, West Bengal
Photograph: Caitlin Regan/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)
The third day of Diwali, this is considered an auspicious day by many Hindus. The day is devoted to worshipping the Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity and happiness. Devotes clean and decorate their houses to welcome the goddess; lamps are lit and sweet treats made. Through the puja, devotes welcome her to their home and ask her to partake in the offerings laid out for her. The belief is that happier the goddess is the more blessings she will bestow on the family.
Kali Puja (October 29, Saturday), Meghalaya, Orissa, West Bengal
Photograph: Kaushik/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)
This festival is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali, an embodiment of Shakti and the ferocious form of the Goddess Durga. The puja is an invocation to the goddess, and is done so as to diminish all negative energies that stand in the way of spiritual and material prosperity. Devotees offer prayers and enact scenes from her mythological stories.
Diwali October 29, Saturday: Assam Goa, Kerala, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Tripura October 30, Sunday: Nationwide, except Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal
Photograph: Khokarahman/Wikimedia Commons (Under Creative Commons License)
Also known as the festival of lights, Diwali is a very colourful, happy festival that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil across five festive days. The festival marks King Rama’s triumphant return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon King Ravana. Families adorn their homes with colourful flowers, garlands, oil lamps, and strings of colourful lights, and exchange gifts with loved ones. Evenings are spent celebrating with firecrackers.
Balipadyami Diwali (October 31, Monday), Kashmir, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
This day of the Diwali festival celebrates the return of King Bali to earth. According to Hindu mythology Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as the dwarf Vamana, defeated Bali and pushed him into the netherworld. Through a boon, Bali, who was known for his bravery and dedication to Vishnu, is able to return on this day every year to visit his kingdom. This is considered an auspicious day for those looking to buy appliances and other goods.














