Cultural Significance of Festivals

Festivals hold a vital place in the life of rural people. They spread color in their life and keep them alive to their traditions, festivals remain the people of their high traditions and values.

1. Religious Importance: Festivals have religious importance and they are closely related to religious practices. Different Gods and Goddesses and worshiped on the occasion of different festivals.
2. Social Importance: Festivals provide occasions on which people belonging to different castes meet together and exchange their views. In this way, festivals contribute to social harmony and progress. All the differences are settled when the people exchange sweets and embrace each other.
3. Recreational Importance: Festivals provide a series of recreation to the villages, various cultural activities like dance, drama, music, wrestling, etc., and are organized at several festivals. Dramatic societies provide enough programs on the occasion of Dushehra and other festivals.
4. Artistic Importance: Grandeur is an inseparable part of the village festivals. Many kinds of decoration are done on the occasion of Janam Ashtmi and other festivals. Temples become a place of artistic importance.

Thus festivals provide natural enjoyment of religious events that are celebrated on the occasion of so many festivals are an integral part of rural life and the condition of village life without festivals is beyond imagination. Festivals bring social unity as well as a boon to the poor people who get rewards from the rich for such festive occasions.

Leading Festival of Rural India

As stated earlier, all the festivals are not celebrated throughout rural India. But most of the leading festivals are celebrated with equal enthusiasm throughout the rural part of the country.

Given below the description of some of the leading festivals of Rural India

1. Sakat: Sakat festival is celebrated to guard the villagers against various catastrophes. Mother of male children offer their prayers to Sakat Maharani to protect their children from all the evils and on the evening of the festival day the Sakat Maharani is worshipped and members of the family are served fried food on the day of this festival. Women abstain from food of this day.
2. Makar Sankranti: Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year on the 14th day of January and on this day everyone rises early in the morning and take bath mostly in the river and especially in the Ganges. Special food is prepared on these days and Brahmins are offered rice pudding, ghee, and salt. Lower caste people take rice pudding collectively.
3. Basant Panchimi: It is the Fifth (Panchami) day of Basant when this festival is celebrated. Prayers are offered to the family of God or Lord Shiva on this day. In some of the villages, villagers wear yellow clothes. But this tradition is not universal.
4. Assari: Assari festival is celebrated in the month of assar. Fried food and fruit are the food taken by the higher caste people. Whereas lower caste people take vegetables and other roots. Assari is the festival of women Cow dung lines are drawn on the walls with the belief that it makes the place immune, from an invasion of a snake. Women visit their parent’s residents and children get their heads shaved on this day.
5. Raksha Bandhan: Raksha Bandhan is celebrated by all Hindus throughout the country. On this day colorful Rakhis are tied on the right wrist of brothers by their sisters and offer some sweets and sisters are given some money in exchange. Rakhi is the symbol of the vow that the brother takes to protect his sister from all the difficulties. This festival is also celebrated by the people of lower castes.
6. Naag Panchmi: On this festival, Snake God is worshipped and it falls on the fifth day of saavan. Presents are given to married girls by their parents. Most people take fried food on this day. Many cultural activities like wrestling competitions are organized on this day.
7. Janam Asjtmi: It is believed that Lord Krishna was born on this day at midnight which falls on the eighth day of the month Bhadou. Men and women go on fast till midnight and temples are decorated to depict the happenings of Krishan’s Birth Day. The celebration of Janam Ashtmi is one of the most colorful events of Indian cultural life.
8. Holi: Holi is a kind of Hindu festival. Falling on the day of the full moon in the month of Phalgun, village boys roam in the village and collect wood at a particular place where this is to be lighting the fire and on this occasion, villagers collect together to watch the ceremony. In the evening women worship the place of bone fire. The following day is called Dhulandi on this day colors are exchanged and villagers also sing folk songs. The activities of colors are exchanged and villagers also sing folk songs. The activity of color throwing stopped at noon.
9. Shiva Ratri: Phalgun is the month in which shiva Ratri is celebrated. On this day exclusively Lord Shiva is worshipped and flowers of nature and other materials are put about the idea of Shiva. Generally, people observe fast on the day. Some people take bath in the holly river the Ganges on this day.
10. Worship of Jagannath: The idol of Jagannath has been established in the famous temple in Puri. This festival is also celebrated in most villages. Villagers believe that the worship of Jagannath leads to prosperity. People undertake a pilgrimage to puri and there they offer their prayer. Homes are cleaned properly and fried food is prepared on this day.
11. Dushehra of Jaith: On the day of this festival that falls in the months of Jaith, water is offered to Mahadeva but where the lower caste people are concerned, they offer water at the perfumed residence of the deity.
12. Teej: This festival is celebrated in some parts of the country mainly by women both married and unmarried and only fried food is taken on this day.
13. Vijay Dashmi: Vijoy Dashmi, popularly known as Dushera is one of the greatest festivals of the Hindus, like Holi and Deewali. It is believed that on this day Rama conquered, the Ravana and this established the victory of good over evil. Rama Lila is staged in the villages long before the actual day and the festival is celebrated with remarkable pomp and show. Big effigies of Ravana Kumkharana and Meghanatha are erected and at the appointed day and time on the Dushehra day, they are ablaze with fire. There is great enthusiasm, especially among the villagers on this day.
14. Diwali: Diwali is also, one of the most important festivals of Hinduism. On this day is believed that Rama returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. The houses are decorated with earthen pots made as lamps and it looks very beautiful in the evening when they are lit. Sweets are exchanged between friends and relatives.

Besides these, other important festivals are Pitra Paksh, Karva Choath Kartiks Poorniman

Meaning and Characteristics of Aesthetic Culture

Meaning 

Aesthetic culture is an integral part of the total culture of a society. It expresses the ideas, aspirations, dreams, values, and attitudes of its people. It is assumed that the aesthetic culture of the rural society helps the historical movement of old types and the emergence of a new life for the rural people. Rural sociology to understand the movement of the rural society itself as it progressed from its part shape to its present one. It will also disclose the changes in the psychological structures of the rural people and their subgroups.

Characteristics of Aesthetic Culture of Rural Society 

According to leading sociologists, the following principal arts constitute the aesthetic culture of rural society.

1. Graphic Arts like painting, drawing, engraving, and so on.
2. Plastic Arts involve the manipulation of materials.
3. Folklore comprised proverbs, myths, riddles, and music.
4. Dance and drama combine the three forms mentioned above.

Chief Characteristics of Aesthetic Culture in Subsistence Societies

Herskovief, Sorokin, Limmerman, and Galpina have given various specific characteristics of the aesthetic culture of the rural people. The following are the most important among them:

1. Art Was Fused with Life: In the opinion of Sorokin, “The arts were not sharply differentiated from religion, intellectual pursuit, and magic. Aesthetic elements entered practically all daily occupations.”
2. Every person took part in artistic activities: Present day society where the people are divided into artistic performing and the audience. In the earlier society all people such as men, children women participated in artistic activities. Then a little number of artists existed in that society. 
3. Art was a Feminist Affair: In the early societies the life of the rural people ‘had a feminist character. As a result this rural art, which was fused with the life of the rural people, also bore the impression of feminism. 
4. Simple Techniques: Rural art was the goods of the village artisan industry and the family itself often made some of these at home. This aspect is in sharp contrast to the instruments of modern art which are the products of specialized modern industries and are therefore complex, highly specialized, varied, and multiform.
5. Agrarian life processes the main constituent: Art was fused with life.  It depicted the life of the rural people in various aspects, economic, social, and religious. Agricultural characteristics are most clearly manifest in songs, music, dances, stories, literature, pantomimes, festivals, dramatic performances, and similar forms of the arts. 
6. Art creations were predominantly collective creations, collective in spirit: Rural people collectively perform on various programs such as drams, Jatra, etc. on the other hand urban people perform individually. 
7. Non-commercial: Self-sufficient economy has existed in rural society. They produce for only their consumption not for the market. The thinkers and artists used their artistic products only for their own consumption.
8. Transmission from generation to generation: In the early or pre-modern societies there were no printing presses and there did not any schools or academies. Then the younger learn from the elder about art and knowledge. In this way, art and knowledge are transferred to the younger.

Importance of the Temple in Village Life

A temple besides being a place of worship is also a place where the intelligent priest influence and guides the villagers. The forecasts and premonition of the priest fluencies the village life to a very great extent. The importance of temples can be studied under the following heads:

1. Religious Importance: Basically the temple is a religious place where village men, women, and children offer their prayers to the god. The prayers (Kirtans Bhajans Path etc.) are arranged by the temple priests who at the end distribute sweets. Besides this, daily routine congregations are invited and prayers are organized, it is a commonplace village assembly that signifies unity among the villagers.
2. Social Importance: Temple is a place where the congregation comprising individuals of different castes and groups gather to participate in the organized ceremony. This is how the temple becomes a place where the people belonging to different castes get an opportunity to exchange each other views. When people talk together much tension in their respective minds is reduced. Several programs of social welfare are also conducted in the village temples, sometimes funds are collected at the temple and these funds are spent on so many public works in the village.
3. Moral Importance: Morality flows from the village temple and villagers realize it in their daily life. The village priest is often called to intervene in such a disputed problem in which there is a question of morality or righteousness.
4. Cultural Importance: Temple is a place where cultural festivities are organized. The villager’s cultural life is enriched by the village temple. Group devotional songs and congregations are held to keep the village alive with its cultural traditions. Musical Instruments are used on all such occasions and dances are also performed before the deity. Many village rituals are performed in the temple. The marriages performed in the village temple are sacred and unavoidable. Women visit the temples to propitiate about their husbands and children and on the fulfillment of a desire to visit the temple and offer their presents and prayers.
5. Educational Importance: Temples in ancient India were the source of knowledge and centers of education. Even today many basic schools are run in the temples, it was believed by the people that if they were taught by the priest their religious and moral attitudes would become sound. Not only children, but the priests also teach Youngman and women in so many fields much depends upon the intelligence and personality of the priest, and once it is effective, his words are taken for granted without the slightest doubt.
6. Recreational Importance: Temples, provide healthy recreation to the villagers through their various organized programs. The village temple situated outside the village often becomes a suitable place for holding village gymnasia and other games it is also due belief that for success the participants must take the blessings of God, especially lord Hanumana. Competitions in wrestling are organized and villagers gather in large numbers to please their eyes and acclaim the performances of other participants.
7. Judicial Importance: The village priest is treated as the messenger of god, who alone can do Justice, village priest in this capacity is called to do justice in certain complicated and entangled problems, priest also recommends punishment to get rid of a sin committed by an individual.

This discussion signifies the crucial role of the temples in villages. The life of the villagers is not only influenced but dominated by the village temple. It is a place of unity and aspirations.

Influence of Religion on Rural life

The life of rural people and religious practices are so mixed that it is very difficult to separate Indian rural religion from social life. Generally speaking, all social activities have some religious bearing on the other. The major rural institutions, such as family, marriage, and case are related to religion. Religion dominates the life of villagers and it is respected in the thoughts and conduct of the rural people. It is very difficult to understand the motive of rural people unless their religious background is studied comprehensively.

Influence of Religion on Rural Life

In order to understand the influences of religion on Indian rural life, it is essential to analyze various aspects of rural religion, an attempt of which is being made below:

1. Rural Gods and Goddesses

So many Gods and Goddesses are worshipped by the people in rural India. Following are the most common Gods and Goddess worshipped by the folks.

A.God and Goddesses of Hindus

• Lord Shiva is the most important God worshipped by the people in rural India. Shiva is worshipped under different names. The most famous names used for Lord Shiva are Sankara and Bholebaba.
• Hanuman the legendary figure belonging to satyug is another important God worshiped by Hindus. This deity is worshipped with the belief that Hunuman is a key figure in preventing many kinds of disasters. Like Shiva, Hanuman is worshipped by people of all castes.
• Sun God is also worshipped by the rural people, villagers worship Sun God immediately after taking bath and the devotees offer water to the Sun God.

Besides the above three Gods, other, Gods worshipped in the villages are Rama, Krishna, Agni, Valmiki, Jagannath, etc.

Among the goddesses, Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, and Saraswati are the most important goddesses worshipped by the rural people. Kali is worshipped to get rid of diseases, Lakshmi is worshipped as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity while Durga keeps away disaster and evil spirits. Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge, and Lord Ganesha is the premise deity in the sense that this deity is worshipped on all occasions before offering prayers or worshipping God and goddess.

B. Non-Hindu Gods and Goddesses

In addition to the above Gods and Goddesses worshiped by the Hindus, there are some deities that do not belong to the Hindu religion but are worshipped by rural people such deities are Shitala Maharani who is worshipped to get rid of smallpox and other epidemics. Bhuiyan Devi and Sati Maharani etc. besides these, many saints are worshipped which vary from region.

There are many Gods and Goddesses that are worshipped by the rural people and such deities are local, the place of worship of such deities is generally out of the village.

C.  Worship of Plants, Trees, and Animals

There is a practice among many villagers to worship trees, plants, and animals, as they are considered divine, the trees, which are offered water and worshipped are Banyan, Neem, and Pipal. Tulsi plant is worshipped nearly throughout rural India and it is held in high esteem of religious considerations.

The cow is worshipped by the Hindus as the sacred mother and its dung is used for purifying the place of worship. In many places, ox and snakes are also worshipped and later as the conclusion of Lord Shiva.

2. Practicability of Indian Religion:

Indian religion is thoroughly practical and Indian people are predominantly religious-minded. The rural people of India are far more deeply involved than urban people in the field of religious activities and worship. To quote Sir Har Court Butler, “The Indians are essentially religious as Europeans are also essentially secular; Religion is still the alpha and the omega of Indian life.” Indian people are concerned to be the only of their kind who seek salvation from this earthly world and their religion provides the ladder for climbing this difficult destination.

The world is considered transitory and an appearance. Reality is an escape from the world and forms the forms which make existence in the world necessary, this observation of Olper tries to discard Indian Religion as beyond the level of practicality and declares it to be escapist other writers like Oscar Lewis prefer Indian religion as most practical and realistic.

3. Belief in Ghosts and Witches: 

Superstitions and mystic aspects of Rural Religion. The rural people believe in Ghosts and witches. There exist different ways to please them as well as rid of them, whenever a man or woman meets an untimely death. It is considered that the soul of the dead is dissatisfied and roams in the village in some form or the other. The soul of a dead man becomes a ghost and the soul of a dead woman becomes a witch. In any case of mental abnormality or reflection by a man or woman in a village is not treated as a mental disease, but it is taken as the effect of either a ghost or a witch and it is treated in a most peculiar manner by a witch doctor called ojha, who is supposed to ward off the haunting ghost or which witch with the power of magic and mantras. The techniques of these Ojhas sometime are so cruel that the affected person has to bear extreme physical torture that may even lead to his death. These Ojhas give some metallic piece to either tie around the arm or wear around the neck to keep the willing spirit away.

4. Belief in Noble Souls: 

Rural people in India believe in good souls without any discrimination and it is considered that these souls help living being in various ways. Such souls are considered to be of dead saints, it is believed that after death if the soul of a saint haunts the village it would protect the village in all respects.

5. The factor of Auspicious and Inauspicious Faith in Dreams: 

Village people believe in so many superstitions concerning the performance of a particular work and journey etc. particular days and months are considered auspicious for doing or undertaking any ventures. Local pundits are contacted to suggest an auspicious day for a ritual and these pundits calculate after consulting patra, a document, and advice the interested parties about the sense; many things like travel on Monday and Saturday in the eastern direction are considered inauspicious. 

People in rural India believe in dreams and it is in some way related to good or bad. However, the interpretation of such dreams is not common everywhere. In general, whatever a person dreams after 4 am is considered to be something related to good or bad in the future. The belief in dreams is basically due to illiteracy and superstition among the villagers.

6. Belief in Omens: 

Rural people assign much importance to good and bad omens particularly when some ritual is to be performed. Bad omens are of various types, for instance, it is a bad omen for a man on the journey if he comes across a one-eyed man during his travel. If anyone sneezes when stepping out of the house, it is considered better to wait for some time. If a cat crosses the way of a person, it is a bad omen for him. Similarly if one looks into an empty pot success is believed. But when a washer man or a dead body or even a donkey meets, it is a good omen.

7. Religious Practices in Dietary Habits: 

In rural India, food is another aspect that is related to the notion of auspiciousness and in auspiciousness. It is considered necessary to take bath before taking a morning meal and different ingredients on different days it is considered good to take beta on Sunday and curd on Tuesday.

8. Superstition and Mystic belief in National phenomena: 

Villagers in India have their own peculiar way of interpreting national phenomena. For instance, Solar and lunar eclipses are treated as the catastrophes of Rahu and Ketu (the legendary figures). It is believed that a black snake (called Shesh Naga) holds the earth on its fangs and any earth tremor and earthquake is taken as the movements of one of the several fangs or undulation of the snake’s excessive rain or no rain is taken as the effect of the rain God India’s anger. The reasons behind these beliefs are some legendary tales as well as the ignorance of the villagers.

Apart from this, the villagers have their own assumptions, about the supernatural. Thus religion in rural India is remarkably full of superstitions and assumptions. It is not escapist but practical in its message as well as its approach to the creation, function, and end of a man’s life.