Faridabad Festivals Reflect the Growing Economy of the Town
By: David H.
Submitted: 2009-10-12 22:29:40 | Word Count: 599
Despite the city s industrialization, the people remained joyous and participative in the celebrations held. They continue to uplift the religion, culture and traditions of Indians in their festivals and fairs.
The entire year celebrations and festivals celebrated in Faridabad reflect the people s culture and respect for Indian religion.
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The first festival is Lohri, the celebration of fire and fertility. It is very important for women and grooms. The people throw rice puffs and popcorns into bonfire flame while they dance and sing folk songs. Families get together and enjoy dinner with sarson ka saag and makki ki roti. It is ended with prayers to Agri for good harvest. Agri is the God of Fire.
This festival involves the presad composed of til, gajak, gur, moonphali and phaliya. It is also a celebration that marks the end of winter season. It is celebrated every 13th of January.
The second celebration is Basant Panchami or Vasant Panchami. It honors the Saraswati, goddess of wisdom. In this time, people fly colorful kites day and night. Kites are mostly dominated by yellow colors. Haryana is filled with mustard fields as seen in the land acres. The people also enjoy sweet safru flavored yellow rice as dish.
The third celebration is the Holi. It is a 2 day celebration during springtime around March. It is also referred as Dolyanta or Boshonto Utsav. The first night involves Karma Dahana, the burning of demoness Holka in huge bonfires. The second day is the Dhulhuti. It is when people gather and throw colored water at one another.
The fourth celebration is the Gangore festival. It is another springtime festival falling in the month of March to April. It is observed to honor Gauri, the goddess of abundance. People gather in a procession while singing praise songs followed by a water immersion ritual of Gangore and Ishar images.
The fifth celebration is the Surajkund Crafts Mela. It is held every February in Surajkund, Faridabad. It features the best handlooms and handicrafts tradition in the country. This is held to invite tourists, educate and share techniques and skills in crafting. The fourth night includes food festival, lots of dancing and singing among the participants. It is specifically held at Natyashala theatre, a 35 minute drive from Indira Gandhi Airport. The festival started in 1981.
As seen by the festivals celebrated, the Faridabad people are a picture of hardworking and fun loving individuals. The town is a melting pot of several ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. The unity shown in the celebrations is the same value that shows in the kind of industrialization they are currently having. They treasure the Old Faridabad by the kind of culture ancestors have passed to them.
They face the new generation and have learned to provide ways to improve their way of life. Modernization is achieved by the several productions of tractors, motorcycles, switchgears, refrigerators, shoes and tires. They are also popular for the Henna production in agriculture sector.
In order for the town to become more organized, it was divided into five subdivisions, the Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Palwal, Hodal and Hathin. An officer heads these subdivisions. Another major project is set up by Haryana government to Faridabad involves the Industrial Model Township. In this project, they will work hand in hand to promote more development with Rohtak. Industrial, commercial, residential operations will be improved thru the aid of foreign investors.
Land acquisition laws are also taken into consideration since more people are migrating in the town. Since it is close to Delhi, the land value is currently rising and giving more revenue to the Haryana economy.
