BAHIRPARIMARJANA IN INDIAN FESTIVALS

India, the land of diversified traditions and practices has various methods  of celebrating festivals. Festivals are the essential part of everyday life. Almost all the Indian fests have been not only the occasion for being harmonious and keep united socially, understand the essentials of mythology and spiritual lightning. Par from these it has rational view of maintaining ones health throughout the year.

 
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One who reads treatises are better than the one who knows about dharma. One who masters meaning of treatises is better than the one who only reads. One who is Jnani or scholar is better than the one who masters it but apart from these entire one who practices it is the best. Therefore understanding the objectives behind every practice is now needed. Here are some of festivals which have been systematically placed for everyone to practice and celebrate for the achievement of complete health. 

 

UGADI  -This is the New Year for all Hindus. It occurs during Vasantha rutu, kapha prakopa kala. Abhyanga with taila is said to be done compulsory as snehana karma followed by taking bath with the water put in with neem leaves and intake of neem leaves and jaggery which are kapha chedakas.

 

DEEPAWALI  -The trayosdashi day is meant to keep the water ready for the next day i.e narakachaturdashi .on this day the abhyanga karma before sunrise is been in practice. In some southern regions even sugandha dravyas are used for lepana and then followed by snana.This festival is during the sharath –hemantha sandhi and so prepares our body to get ready for next upcoming winter season wherein kapha chaya may take place.

RATHASAPTHAMI-   This is also one of the festivals during vasantha rutu wherin the practice of keeping the leaves of Arka (Calotropis gigantea) on shoulders and performing snana karma is in practice. The kapha shamana is again foreseen here.

DASARA  -A 9 day festival and devi pooja as a ritual.in some southern parts of India the leaves of shami is used to in water to take bath. This fest is in sharath rutu and has a concept of pitta shamana during sharath ruthu.

SANKRANTHI  -This festival during the month of January is in hemanth-shishira sandhi kala where the winter is along with scorching sun (beginning of uttarayana kala) adding up to more dryness .The custom of tila taila abhyanga and also intake of tila and jaggery makes the body acquire snehana  and maintain the state of doshas.

 

NAGARAPANCHAMI  - In certain parts of Karnataka during this festival which is around the month of august i.e varsha rutu the custom of milk poured for rituals on the god (naga) is also poured on the back and drops of it is put into the eyes. Here godugdha which is a peeyusha as sheetha veerya balances the vata prakopa due to varsha rutu especially in the region of akshi.

 

TULASI POOJA  - After deepawali on the next day of tulasi pooja  the amalaki (emblica officinalis )which is used for pooja is then crushed and used for bath in some parts of northern Karnataka. This is again for tridosha shamana and to give alpa snehana to the skin which is rough and dry. 

 

HOLI  -The festival of colours where the natural colours made of  flowers of tesu and palasha. Ancient India was fully aware of the benefits of the fragrant natural colours for our skin and health and also there therapeutic value. The ingredients of Gulal were purposely chosen for their emollient qualities. In Vrindavan, Holi is still played with actual flower petals chosen for their fragrance and colour such as rajnigandha and rose Red Sandal Wood Powder / Raktachandan / Lalchandan (Pterocarpus santalinus) has a beautiful red colour, is extremely beneficial for the skin and is used in face packs, etc. This can be used instead of Red Gulal  Dry red hibiscus flowers in shade and powder to make a lovely red colour. To increase the bulk add any flour to it  Sinduria, called Annato in English has a water chestnut shaped fruit which contains lovely brick colour red seeds. These yield both dry and wet colours. Crush the berries (fruits) of the Indigo plant and add to water for desired colour strength. In some Indigo species the leaves when boiled in water yield a rich blue.Red hibiscus flowers soaked in water overnight give a red which also has medicinal value. The Palita Madar / Pangri / Indian Coral tree/ (Erythrina indica), found commonly in coastal regions, has large red flowers. Soak the flowers in water overnight. Boil wood of Madder Tree in water for a deep red.this festival celebrated during start of vasantha rutu gives more glow . 

 

On the day of homas or yajnas the gomootra or pancagavya sprinkled over the body and the place around is also a sort of bahirparimarjana karma.

 

      Thus here is a view of concept in our festivals only regarding bahirparimarjana karma as a ritual to be performed according to customs, regions and seasons. Therefore no practices or traditions given by ancestors are untrue until and unless it is given a superstition picture.