Unakoti

Tripura has beautiful rock cut carvings and stone images at Unakoti, Debtamura and Pilak. Most of these carvings are huge in size and made on vertical walls exposed in the open atmosphere.
Unakoti: It is ‘Shaiba’ (Saivite) pilgrimage and dates back to 7th – 9th centuries if not earlier.

Mythology

The marvellous rock carvings, murals with their primitive beauty, waterfalls are not to be missed. Unakoti means one less than a crore and it is said that these many rock cut carvings are available here. As per Hindu mythology, when Lord Shiva was going to Kashi along with one crore gods and goddesses he made a night halt at this location. He asked all the gods and goddesses to wake up before sun rise and proceed for Kashi.

It is said that in the morning, except Shiva himself, no one else could get up so Lord Shiva set out for Kashi himself cursing the others to become stone images. As a result we have one less than a crore stone images and carvings at Unakoti.These carvings are located at a beautifully landscaped forest area with green vegetation all around which add to the beauty of the carvings. The images found at Unakoti are of two types, namely rock-carved figures and stone images.

Rock Carvings

Among the rock cut carvings, the central Shiva head and gigantic Ganesha figures deserve special mention. The central Shiva head known as ‘Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava’ is about 30 feet high including an embroidered head-dress which itself is 10 feet high. On each side of the head-dress of the central Shiva, there are two full size female figures - one of Durga standing on a lion and another female figure on the other side. In addition three enormous images of Nandi Bull are found half buried in the ground. There are various other stone as well as rock cut images at Unakoti. Every year a big fair popularly known as ‘Ashokastami Mela’ is held in the month of April which is visited by thousands of pilgrims.

Fun Facts

The state is known for its handicraft, particularly hand-woven cotton fabric, wood carvings, and bamboo products. High quality timber including sal, garjan, teak and gamar are found abundantly in the forests of Tripura.

Bamboo, wood and cane are used to create an array of furniture, utensils, hand-held fans, replicas, mats, baskets, idols and interior decoration materials. Music and dance are integral to the culture of the state. Some local musical instruments are the sarinda, chongpreng (both string instruments), and sumui (a type of flute).

Hindus believe that Tripureshwari is the patron goddess of Tripura and an aspect of Shakti. Durga puja, Kali puja, Ashokastami and the worship of the Chaturdasha deities are important festivals in the state. Some festivals represent confluence of different regional traditions, such as Ganga puja, Garia puja, Kharchi puja and Ker puja.

Tripura

Quietly nestled in the lush greenery of hills, verdant valleys and transparent waterscape, Tripura, a land of plentiful myths and legends, beckon tourists from across the globe. This state, home to nineteen indigenous tribal groups, Bengali speaking non-tribals and a diversity of culture, resembles a tiny dot on the peninsular India's map dangling between Northeast India and Bangladesh. But the wealth of Tripura's traditional art, culture, history and archaeology, flora and fauna, biodiversity and flushing meadows always cast a magnetic spell on casual visitors and tourists. The state's rich handicrafts, traditional music, diversity of cultural streams and faiths, co-existing down the annals of history in pristine peace constitute its irresistible charm as a tourist destination. Any visitor or tourist in Tripura can trace the state's glorious history in its archaeological remains, cultural heritage, exquisite sculpture and architecture spread across its landscape and return, richer by a finer aesthetic sense and sensibility.

With communities across the globe searching for roots , expressions such as ‘Cultural Identity', ‘Cultural Relativism' and ‘Cultural Mosaic' dominate scholarly discourse all around. But in the context of Tripura, it is the cultural cross-currents which unite the people in a spirit of amity and harmony. The undulating hillscape of the state-sixty percent of the Tripura’s territory is still covered with lush greenery of forest-resonate with the traditional tribal music and dances on ceremonial occasions.

 On the plains dotted with paddy fields, lakes, rivers and green-capped habitations the sombre notes of ‘Rabindra Sangeet'( Musical compositions of Rabindra Nath Tagore), ‘Nazrul Geeti' (Songs composed and tined by poet Kazi Nazrul Islam) and lilting melodies of maestro Sachin Debbarman add to the colour of life and society. The ‘Jari' and ‘Sari?dances of the Muslim community, joyous celebrations of Christmas and the quiet ambience of the ‘Buddha Purnima' enrich the cultural diversity of the state . But the essential unity underlying Tripura’s cultural diversity finds eloquent expression in adaptations across the barrier of language and heritage.

The non-tribal Bengalis have appropriated the annual weeklong worship in the temple of ‘Chaturdash Debta', a traditional festival of the indigenous tribals, in the month of July while tribals–and for that matter-the entire population enthusiastically participate in and enjoy the festivities associated with the five day ‘Durga Puja'.

This process has gained in momentum by the catholicity of culture practised by the kings of Manikya dynasty who ruled the state for more than five centuries and their magnanimous espousal of cultural cross-currents. The inevitable fall-out of this was the domination of Indian film and popular music spanning five decades by maestro Sachin Debbarman, a scion of Tripura’s royal family and the overwhelming appreciation showered on a troupe of Reang tribal girls who enthralled a Japanese audience with delicately rhythmic performance of their traditional ‘Hozagiri' dance in an auditorium of Tokyo.

Food habits and popular tastes in Tripura

Tripura’s cultural diversity is reflected in the food habits of the tribal and non-tribal people. Leaving aside the rich spicy food or even two or three varieties of Chinese cuisine served in restaurants in urban centres, the non-tribal Bengalis of Tripura live on rice, fish, chicken, mutton and pork though a small section of Muslims consume beef which is not easily available in the state. However, the non-tribals take great pains in preparing spicy curries of a large variety of fishes available in plenty within the state and also imported from Bangladesh. The most popular and delicious preparation of fish is, however, the boiled ‘Hilsa’ punched with mustard seed and green chilly.

Wah (Lamp) Festival

The people of Mog community observe austerity from the full moon of Bengali month of Ashad down to the full moon Bengali month of Ashwin.

 Generally no auspicious occasion of Ashad down to the full moon of Bengali month of Ashwin. Generally no auspicious occasion like marriage is celebrated during the period.

 Even the married women do not go to their parents' house during this time. 'Way' festival is celebrated on the day of full moon of the Bengali month of Ashwin. Lamps dedicated to the Lord Buddha are launched on this day. The young boys and girls stand in rows with lamps in hand to worship the Lord Buddha. The youngsters indulge in merriment through songs and dances in the premises of Buddha temple. The traditional dance of the Mog community is known as 'Way Dance' or 'Lamp Dance'.

Holi

The colourful festival of Holi is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima which comes in February end or early March. Holi festival has an ancient origin, legends and it celebrates the victory of 'good' over 'bad'. This year Holi will be celebrated on March 17 across India with lot of fun and joy, just like its celebrated every year

Legend has it that, Hiranyakashyap wanted everyone in his kingdom to worship only him but to his great discontent, his son; Prahlad was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiaranyakashyap got enraged and commanded his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had a boon whereby she could go into fire without causing any harm to herself. Nevertheless, she was not conscious that the boon worked only when she enters the fire alone. As an outcome she paid a price for her evil desires, Prahlad was saved by the grace of the God for his intense devotion. The festival, as a result, celebrates the triumph of good over evil and also the accomplishment of true devotion.

The colourful festival of Holi is celebrated by diverse names in this huge and culturally diverse country. The traditions followed for the festival vary a little and at times a lot as one moves from one state to other learning the mixture of aspects of the festival.

Nowhere is it celebrated with so much appeal and fervour as in Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon - the places connected with the birth and childhood of Lord Krishna. At Barsana Holi assumes the name of Lathmaar Holi. Here, women of Barsana give a hard time to men of Nandgaon as they come to play Holi with them. Women pull the ill-fated captives, beat them, dress them in a female clothing - yet all is in the spirit of Holi.

Women of Haryana, especially the bhabhis too get an upper hand on the day as they get a social permit to beat their devars and take a sweet settling of scores for all the naughtiness they have played on them. This revengeful tradition is called the Dulandi Holi.

Known for their love for life, Sikhs celebrate Holi in their own style and elan. At Punjab, they call it 'Hola Mohalla.' They shout, and shout their hearts out following a peculiar tradition. Besides, they also exhibit their martial arts specially 'kushti' on this day and make merry with the colours in the evening. Mouthwatering halwas, puris, gujias, a preparation of raw jack fruit and malpuas are of course, an essential part of the festivities. The only difference is that they do not light a bonfire. For Sikhs, Holi calls for the show of their physical strength and military competence as they get together at Anandpur Sahib a day after Holi to commemorate Hola Mohalla. The custom was started by the tenth and last guru of Sikh religion, Guru Gobind Singh ji and is being religiously carried forward

The most pleasurable custom of Holi, of course, apart from the play of colours is the tradition of breaking the pot. It is celebrated with much fan fair in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Here a pot of buttermilk is hung far above the ground on the streets. Men form a gigantic human pyramid and one on the top breaks the pot with his head. All this while women keep singing Holi folk songs and throwing buckets and buckets of water. The tradition has its roots in the naughty nature of Lord Krishna who was so fond of butter milk that he used to steal it from all available houses in the village. To hide the butter from young Krishna, womenfolk used to hang it high.

Holi is celebrated in the most dignified manner in the state of Bengal. At Vishwa Bharti University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore founded the tradition of celebrating Holi as 'Basant Utsav' or 'Spring Festival'. Students decorate the campus with intricate rangolis and carry out prabhat pheris in the morning.

In other parts of Bengal, Holi is celebrated as Dol Yatra where the idols of Radha and Krishna are positioned on a decorated palanquin and taken out in a parade.

In the north east, Manipuris celebrate the festival in a colourful manner for six continuous days. Here, the centuries old Yaosang Festival of Manipur combined with Holi with the introduction of Vaishnavism in the eighteenth century. The highlight of the festival here is a special Manipuri dance, called 'Thabal Chongba'.

It is the festival which produces the spirit of brotherhood and brings people close - and this is what matters most than anything else.

What boosts the spirit of Holi though is the practice of consuming the intoxicating bhang. It is usually consumed with thandai or as pakoras. People go high on it and enjoy the festival to the hilt. Other Holi delicacies include gujiya, mathri, malpua, puranpoli, dahi badas, etc. After a frenzied play of colours people love to gorge them up.

Deepawali

Deepawali or Diwali is the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It's the festival of lights (deep = light and avali = a row i.e., a row of lights) that's marked by four days of celebration, which literally illumines the country with its brilliance, and dazzles all with its joy. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is separated by a different tradition, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.

The Origin of Diwali

Historically, the origin of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali or 'Deepawali.' Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength. Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day. In Jainism, Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana. Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers.

Diwali Celebrations across India:

The markets of Gujarat liven up almost a whole month in advance for Diwali shoppers; from Jewelery; clothes; sweets; gift articles; shoes; etc to fire crackers; everything is in demand and plentiful in supply. It's a mad frenzy of shopping everywhere, in the days leading up to the festival.

Gujaratis start celebrations on the night before Diwali by creating designs - usually depicting nature or the gods - from natural powder colours in verandas. These are called "rangoli" and are supposed to welcome Goddess Lakshmi to the house. In a way they are a means of competition and pride amongst their creators. Also, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses.

On Diwali day the clothes worn are usually Jhabba (kurta)-dhotis or Jhabba-legengas for the men, while the women are in saris. A visit to the temple is customary. The day is spent preparing food and sweets. Shops are open, but business comes to a halt on Dhanteras, two days before Diwali, and doesn't resume until Labh Pancham, the fifth day of the newyear. For traders and businessmen, this is the time for a vacation. Diwali evening is celebrated by lighting up streets and markets, and bursting crackers.

In Tamil Nadu Diwali commemorates the death of Narakasura at the hands of Lord Sri Krishna. Typical Deepavali celebrations begin with waking up early in the morning, before sun rise, followed by an oil-bath. The bathing tradition involves extensive massaging of warm til-oil containing pepper corns, betel leaves. New clothes are typically worn as a part of celebrations. After the bath, a home-made medicine known as "Deepavali Lehiyam" is consumed, which is supposed to aid in smoothening digestive problems that may ensue due to feasting that occurs later in the day.

Diwali is celebrated with great joy in Odisha. Rows of oil lamps, candles adorn the thresholds of all houses. Tarpanam is done in the morning of diwali. A rangoli(Muruja) of a sailboat is made on the ground. The boat has seven chambers in north, ten chamber in east, and twelve chamber in south. The east chamber are meant for gods, north chamber for seer or Rishi and south chambers for manes and forefathers. Over the drawing of each different chamber several items are kept – cotton, mustard, salt, asparagus root, turmeric, sweets, cakes and a wild creeper. Over the central chamber are the offerings meant for [prasad]. Perched over the prasad is a jute stem with a cloth wick tied around the edge. It is lit at the beginning of the puja.

Dev Deepavali is celebrated on the 15^th day after Diwali, on Kartik Purnima. The festival is celebrated as a welcome to the Gods and Goddesses on Earth on the banks of the Holy Ganges.  The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department organizes a four day festival and showcases the heritage and culture of Varanasi. The day is celebrated with offering prayers to the Holy Ganges. The prayers are offered by chanting vedic scriptures, hymns and lighting big Diyas (clay pots). The Ganges looks ablaze with so many diyas lit on its banks. It’s a breathtaking sight as thousands of diyas flicker.

Diwali in Nepal

Diwali is known as "Tihar" or "Swanti" in Nepal. It is celebrated during the October/November period. Here the festival is celebrated for five days and the traditions vary from those followed in India.

In Nepal, family gathering is more significant during Diwali. People in the community play "Deusi and Bhailo" which is a kind of singing and dancing forming a group. People go to all the houses in the community and play songs and dance, and give blessings to the visited house, whereas the home owner gives gifts like rice, Roti, fruits and money. After the festival, people donate some part of the collected money and food to the charity or welfare groups and with the rest of the money and food, they go for a picnic. People also play swing called Dore Ping made out of thick ropes and Pirke Ping or Rangate Ping made out of wood.