paragraph in 150 to 200 words on topic..
how celebration of festivals has undergone great changes.
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In Indian culture, there was a time when there used to be a festival every day of the year – 365 festivals in a year – because a festival is a tool to bring life to a state of exuberance and enthusiasm. That was the significance and importance of festivals. Festivals were different and differently celebrated across all the regions, depending upon that region’s geographical and climatic conditions. But, the time has changed and so has the way of celebrating festivals.
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi that just went by is one such festival, which was initially started as one grand family affair. Historical records reveal that Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations were initiated in Maharashtra by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, to promote culture and nationalism. After the end of Peshwa rule, Ganesh Chaturthi remained a family affair in Maharashtra from the period of 1818 to 1892. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, an Indian nationalist, social reformer and freedom fighter, brought back the tradition of Ganesh Chaturthi in around 1857 and reshaped the annual Ganesh festival from private family celebrations into a grand public event. It was a meeting ground for people from all castes and communities at a time when the British discouraged social and political gatherings to control the population.
The festival of Dussehra marks the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasura. Since the harvest season begins in India and Nepal at this time, the Durga is invoked by religious rituals to begin the harvest season and renew the fertility of the soil. Many Hindus observe the festival with social gatherings and food offerings to the gods at home and in temples throughout India and Nepal.
There many small and big folk tales related to the celebration of Navaratri and Dussehra.
In our state of Telangana, the ritual we perform to celebrate these nine nights is called Bathukamma.