There are various kinds of festivals in the world celebrated by different countries exhibiting the different cultures, social and religious , the world encompasses in itself. Here are some important festivals that are celebrated in countries which are the part of the Continent of Asia:

Also Read: National Festivals of India – Part– 2

Gion Festival of Japan

The Gion Festival, a well known among festivals of Asia, is celebrated in the month of July in Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto was once the capital of Japan and people come here to celebrate this festival from around the world from ancient times.

The Gion Festival has a story behind its origin. In the year 869 a terrible disease swept Kyoto and the emperor prayed to the God for mercy. The king, after visiting the Gion shrine, offered there sixty six spears, one representing each province in the empire. After this, the disease disappeared and emperor ordered a huge procession in happiness. For this parade floats were made that were known as hoko. These are huge boxes weighing nearly ten tons. They are supported by wheels that are about 2.5 matre in diameter. One boy is chosen to be the festival’s page boy every year and he is dressed in the robes of a priest and get special attention. When the procession starts, he sits in his place of honour on the hoko and young men pull the ropes attached to it to move the hoko. Elders dressed in ancient court costumes had the parade. Good luck charms were thrown to the people by the men from top of the hoko. These charms are made up of straw, by wrapping it in bamboo leaves. Process end to the point from where it began, in the evening and the hoko is stored for the following year.

Must Read: National Festivals of India  Part 1

Thingyan Festival of Myanmar

Thingyan is the festival celebrated in Myanmar as its new year. For them, New Year Day, falls in the month of Tagu-the first month of the Myanmar calendar- and corresponds to April.

It is also known as the water festival or Atar Festival. Thingyan means change-changing from one place to another.

Atar means period of time during which old year is changed into new year. This festival is about five hundred years old and originally, water was gently sprinkled on people using twigs as a blessing to wash away the past year’s sins and to make spirit and mind clean for the upcoming year.

Today, this festival is a lot of fun, as people throw buckets of water at each other and even at strangers. The streets are decorated and people sitting in big floats splash water on everyone passing by. There is also traditional singing and dancing in  the evening featuring traditional Thingyan dance. Most of the Burmese are Theravada Buddhists and they follow the tradition of washing the hair of elders and customs such as letting loose fish and cattle, on the third day of festival.

Tet Festival of Vietnam

Tet Festival is the New Year festival of Vietnam and generally it is celebrated for about a weak. As the other festivals of Asia, preparations for Tet Festival begins month ahead with cleaning of houses and streets and shops selling clothes, candle, food and flowers.

They believe that Gods go back to heaven to report on the family some days before the festival. People send them with special ceremonies as they believe them to be good spirits who protect them. People keep a bamboo pole in front of the house to keep away bad spirits when the Gods are away.

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Firecracker Festival of Vietnam

As a part of Tet celebrations, the village of Dong ky celebrates the Firecracker Festival. The sixteen families are chosen each year who put up a fire cracker display after spending whole year and money on the plans of this event. Sometimes such huge firecrackers are made that it takes many men to carry them.The procession of crackers are taken along which ends up at a place where a tripod is set up to hoist the fire cracker.

After litting up the sixteen crackers, the priests and elders judge and decide the winning family that put up the best display.

Dasain Festival of Nepal

In the month of October, a ten day festival namely Dasain is celebrated in Nepal. There is a story behind this festival. A long time ago, two demons, Madhu and Kaitava, ruled the earth and kept people under their terror. The Gods decided to end this fear and for this, Durga, the Goddess of power, disguised herself as Kali. Kali is the goddess of war and she challenged them on a duet. In the battle with Kali, the demons Madhu and Kaitava were killed and peace returned to the land.

Today, during the ten days of Dasain, Nepalese celebrate this occasion with puja. On the tenth day, a procession of weapons and a sword dance to commemorate Durga’s war, is performed.

Must Read: 10 Major Festivals of India

Kandy Perahera of Sri Lanka

A sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha is housed in a place named Kandly in Sri Lanka. The Kandy Esala Perahera is the procession in honour of that relic of Buddha and is celebrated in the month of August. This festival is said to be older than two thousand years. Kandy, which is a hill city, becomes the centre of pageantry for ten nights and a day during the festival and the temples are decorated for this purpose.

Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year,well  known among the festivals of India, is also known as the spring Festival. The whole country celebrates a three day holiday and the celebrations from then on lasts almost two weeks. The preparations starts with cleaning of houses to get rid of bad luck of the past year. People do not sweep for first few days of New Year as they believe that all the new luck may sweep away. A general feast for the kitchen God is prepared a week before the Festival as the kitchen God keeps a watch on the fortunes of the family.The elder members of the family  give children red envelops with money in it called ‘hongbao’.

Also Read: Fun facts about New Year

Lantern Festival of China

The Lantern Festival, that holds its place among the festivals of Asia, is the feast of the First Full Moon which is now celebrated as on the first full moon after the New Year.

Lots of lamps of different shapes are hung out on the streets and people gather to look at them. The jugglers and acrobats perform around the streets entertaining people. Lion dance is also a part of this festival, which is performed by two dancers hiding under lion costume and they make the lion jump and roll on the beat of drums.

Mid-Autum Festival of China

This festival, forming a part of the festivals of Asia, is celebrated after the harvest in China as an occasion of thanks giving, of the moon and beauty of autumn. The farmers after harvest have the free time to enjoy the beauty of nature and they celebrate this festival at that time.

New Year of Tibel

Tibetans have a culture, even after it has been made a part of China, that goes back centuries. The Tibetian culture is very different from that of Chinese culture as they still maintain many traditions,  that are special to them. The New Year Festival of Tibet is known as Losar. People of Tibet follow a type of Buddhism called Lamaism. Monks dress in masks and costumes and dances to depict the struggle between God and evils in the Festivals. People hang thangkas before a festival to remove evil spirits from their houses. Thangkas are paintings on fabric made in special way.

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Dynasties of Ancient India like Nanda dynasty, Mauryan Dynasty, The Pandyas, The Cholas have come into the list of Dynasties of Ancient India. Following list is giving an insight into the Dynasties of Ancient India.

Dynasties of Ancient India

Haryanka Dynasty

• Bimbisara was the founder, who expanded the Magadha kingdom by annexing Anga and entering into matrimonial alliances with Kosala and Vaishali. He was contemporary of Buddha. Capital-Rajgir (Girivraja).
• Ajatshatru, came to power by killing his father. Annexed Vaishali, Kosala and Lichchhavi kingdom.
• Udayin founded the new capital, Patliputra.

Must Read: Social Conditions in the Era of Mauryan Imperialism

Shishunaga Dynasty

• Founded by Shishunaga; Kalashoka or Kakavarin convened 2^nd Buddhist council. Their greatest achievement was destruction of Avanti.

Nanda Dynasty

• Consider non-Kshatriyan dynasty, founded by Mahapadma Nanda. Alexander attacked during Dhana Nanda reign.
• Cyrus was the first foreign invader of India.
• Alexander, the king of Macedonia, invaded India in 326 BC and fought the Battle of Hydapses (Jhelum) with Porus (Purushottam) of Paurava dynasty.

Mauryan Dynasty

Chandragupta Maurya – The first ruler who overthrew Nanda dynasty with the help of Chanakya.

• He has been called Sandrocottus by Greek scholars.
• Chandragupta defeated Seleucus Nikator, the general of Alexander (30 BC), who later sent Megasthenese the author of ‘Indica’- to Chandragupta’s court.
• Mother was Mura– a Shudra woman in Nanda’s court.
• Mudrarakshasa was written by Vishakhadatta, describes about machinations of Chanakya against Chandragupta’s enemy.
• Chandragupta maintained six wings armed forces.
• He adopted Jainism and went to Sravanabelagola with Bhadrabahu. Bindusara was called Amitraghat by Greek writers; Greek ambassador, Deimachos visited his court; said to conquer the ‘land between the two seas’ – The Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Also Read: Centralized Administration of Mauryan Empire

Ashoka

• Ashoka was appointed the Viceroy of Texila and Ujjain by his father Bindusara.
• He was called Devanampriya – dear to Gods.
• The name Ashoka occurs only in copies of Minor Rock Edict I.
• Languages (script) used on inscriptions – Brahmi (Sub-continent, deciphered by James Princep in AD 1837), Aramic and Kharosti (North-Western India), and Greek (Afghanistan).
• Kalinga War (261 BC) mentioned in 13^th Major Rock Edict – converted Asoka to Buddhism under Upagupta.
• Sanchi Stupa was built by Ashoka.
• Sri Lanka is called Tamrapani in Ashokan inscription.

The Indo-Greeks

• The most famous Indo-Greeks was Menader (165-145 BC) also called Milinda, his capital was Sakala (modern Sialkot) in Punjab.
• Converted to Buddhism by Nagasena as per Milindapanho – a pali text.
• Greek were first to issue coins attributable to king, and also the first to issue gold coins in India; introduced Hellenistic art.

The Shakas

• The most famous ruler was Rudradaman I (AD 130-150), who repaired Sudarshana lake in Kathiawar region, issued first ever inscription in Chaste Sanskrit (junagarh inscription). He defeated Satvahanas twice.
• Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain, was the only one who defeated the Shakas. To commemorate the victory, he started Vikram Samvat in 57 BC.
• The Parthians – the most famous king was Gondophernes (AD 19-45), in whose reign St. Thomas visited India to Propagate Christianity.

Have a Look at: Timeline of Maurya Empire

The Kushans

• Also called Yeuchi or Tocharians were nomadic people from the Steppes.
• Kanishka was the greatest of the Kushans, who started the Saka Era in AD 78.
• Kushans were the first ruler to issue goldcoins on wide scale known for metallic purity.
• In the riyal court of Kanishka, a host of scholars found patronage, like parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosha, Nagarjuna, Charak 9Physician) and Mathura.

The Sunga Dynasty (185 BC – 73 BC)

• Sunga Dynasty was established by Pushyamitra Sunga.
• They were basically Brahmins. This period saw the revival of Bhagvatism.
• Patanjali, wrote ‘Mahabhasya’, at this time.
• In arts, the Bharhut stupa is the most famous monument of the Sunga period.

The Kanva Dynasty (73 BC – 28 BC)

• In 73 BC, devabhuti, the last ruler of the Sunga dynasty, was murdered by his minister Vasudeva, who usurped the throne and founded the Kanva dynasty. Replaced by Satvahans.

The Satavahanas (or Andhras)

• Simuka (60BC – 37 BC) was the founder of the Satavahanas dynasty.
• Satavahanas were finally succeeded by the Ikshvakus in AD 3^rd
• Under the Satavahanas, many chaityas 9worship halls) and viharas (monasteries) were cut out from rocks mainly in North-West Deccan or Maharashtra the famous examples were nasik, Kanheri and Karle.
• The official language of the Satavahanas was Prakrit.
• The Satavahanas issued coins of lead (mainly), copper, bronze and potin.
• Gautamiputra Satakarni was an important king.

The Pandyas

• Their capital was Madurai. The Pandyas were first mentioned by Megasthanese, famous for pearls.
• Trade with Raman Empire, sent embassies to emperor Augustus.

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The Cholas

• The Chola kingdom called as Cholamandalam was situated to the North-East of Pandya kingdom between Pennar and velar rivers.
• Capital was kaveripattanam/puhar.

The Cheras

• Their capital was Vanji (also called Kerala country). It owed its important trade with Romans.

Sangam Age

• Sangam Age corresponds to the post-Maurya and pre-Gupta period. Sangam was a college or assembly of Tamil poets held under Royal Patronage.

There Sangams were held

(i) at Madurai chaired by Agastya.

(ii) at Kapatpuram, chaired by Tolkappiyar.

(iii) at Madurai, chaired by Nakkirar.

• Kural by Tiruvalluvar is called the ‘fifth Veda’ of The Bible of Tamil Land.

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The prosperity of the Harappan Civilization, that was discovered in 1920-22 when two of its most important sites were excavated, was based on its flourishing economic activities such as agriculture, arts and crafts, and trade. In fact the whole period of the Harappan Civilazation is divided into three distinct phases:

(i) Early Harappan Phase (3500BC – 1900 BC) – It was distinguished by some town-planning in the form of mud structures, elementary trade, arts and crafts, etc.

(ii) Mature Harappan Phase (2600 BC – 1900 BC) – this period was characterized by well developed towns with burnt brick structures, inland and foreign trade, numerous types of crafts, etc; and

(iii) Late Harappan Phase (1900 BC – 1400 BC) – this phase marked the decline of the Civilization during which many cities of this great Harappan Civilization were abandoned and the trade disappeared creating the gradual decay of the important urban features.

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Agriculture in the Harappan Civilization

It has been well established by the historian archaeologists that the fertile Indus alluvium contributed not only to the surplus in agricultural production but it also assisted the people of the Harappan Civilization to get involved in exchange, both internal and external, with others and also expand crafts and industries.

That the base of the Harappan Civilization was agriculture and cattle-rearing (pastoralism) became evident by the discovery of the granaries at sites like Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro and Lothal that served as the storehouse for grains.

Although, there is no evidence of tools which were used for agriculture, in Kalibangan the plough-marks or furrows have been observed indication to plough cultivation. In Banawali in Hisar district of Haryana a terracotta plough has also been found giving strength to the idea of plough cultivation.

The people of the Harappan Civilization carried on irrigation on a small scale by drawing water from wells or by deflecting river water into channels.

Among the chief ford crops the people of the Harappan Civilization grew were: wheat, barley, mustard, peas, sesasum, jejube, etc. However, from Lothal and Rangpur the evidence of rice has come in the form of husks embedded in pottery. The finding of a piece of woven cloth at Mohanjo-Daro suggests that cotton was one among other important crops. As far as the Harappan diet is concerned it has been founded that apart from cereals, fish and animal meat also formed a part of it.

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Industries and Crafts in the Harappan Civilization

The conclusion that except iron the Harappan pople were aware of almost all the metals gets strength from the evidences that suggest they manufactured gold and silver objects. The gold objects they made were beads, armlets, needles and other ornaments. However, the use of silver was more common then gold; a large quantity of silver ornaments, dishes have been discovered.

A number of copper tools and weapons, which commonly included axe, saws, chisels, knives, spearheads and arrowheads, were also discovered. It is imperative to mention here that the Harappans produced weapons that were mostly defensive in nature as there is no evidence of weapons like swords etc. Stone tools, that were commonly used, were also made in large quantities.

Copper was brought mainly from Khetri in Rajasthan. In the case of gold and silver, it has been speculated that gold might have been obtained from the Himalayan river beds and South India, and Silver from Mesopotamia.

The evidence of the use of the bronze, although in limited manner, has also been found. The bronze ‘dancing girl’, figurine, discovered at Mohenzodaro, is the most famous example concerning the bronze metal. This ‘dancing girl’ figurine is ‘a nude female figure, with right arm on the hip and left arm hanging in a dancing pose’, wearing a large number of bangles.

One of the most important crafts in the Harappan Civilization was the bead making. Precious and semi-precious stones such as agate and carnelian were used in making beads. Steatite was used for bead-making. At Chanhudaro and Lothal have been found the evidence of beadmakers’ shops, it has also been found that in beads, bracelets and other decoretions the use of ivory carving and inlaying were also in practice. All this shows the masterly skill that the Harappans possessed in a variety of arts and crafts.

At the site of Mohenjodaro, a well-known piece of art, a stone sculpture of a bearded man, was discovered; the eyes of the sculpture are half closed, indicating perhaps the posture of meditation, and across his left shoulder is an embroidered cloak. According to some scholars it could be the bust of a priest.

A large number of terracotta figurines of male and females, which outnumber those of males and are believed to represent the worship of mother goddess, have been is covered from various Harappan Sites. Apart from these, many varieties of models of birds, monkeys, dogs, sheep, cattle, humped and humpless bulls have also been found.

The most important industries during the period of the Harappan Civilization also included pottery-making. Potteries were mainly wheel- made and were treated with a red coating and had decorations in black. The painted designs include horizontal lines of varied thickness, leaf patterns, palm and papal trees. Depicted on potteries the figures of birds, fishes and animals.

More than two thousand seals of various kinds, which were generally square in shape and were made of steatite, have been discovered from the different sites. It is imperative here to mention that although the seals belonging to the Harappan Civilization depict a number of animals, there is no representation of horse on these.

Apart from various kinds of animals the seals of the Harappan Civilization also enclose some signs in the Harappan script that has not been deciphered so far. Moreover, the most famous of the seals is the one that has a horned male duty represented on it; many scholars have identified the figure with the ancient form of the God Pashupati (Lord of beasts).

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Trade in the Harappan Civilization

During the period of the Harappan Civilization the trading network, both within the country (internal) and foreign (external) was a significant characteristic of the Harappan urban economy. A village- town (urban- rural) interrelationship developed due to the dependency of the urban population for the supply of food and many other necessary products on the surrounding countryside. In the similar fashion, the craftsmen belonging to urban areas required markets to sell their goods in other areas; it necessitated the contact between the towns.

As various kinds of metals and precious stones, which were needed by craftsmen to make goods, were not available locally, they had to be brought from outside. Lapis-lazuli, the precious stones used for making beads, was located in Badakshan mines in North-east Afghanistan. Turquoise and Jade have been brought from Central Asia.

In the field of external trade the people of the Harappan Civilization were engaged with Mesopotamia largely through Oman and Behrain in the Persian Gulf. This has been confirmed by the presence of artefacts, belonging to the Harappan Civilization, such as beads, seals, dice, etc. in these regions; in Mesopotamia cities like Susa, Ur, etc. about two dozens of Harappan seals have been found. Apart from seals, other artifacts belonging to the Harappan Civilization which have been discovered comprise potteries, etched carnelian beads and dices with Harappan features.

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