"Early Autumn"

Vietnam
Trung Thu

This festival is for children. Weeks before the festival bakers are busy making hundreds of mooncakes of sticky rice, filled with unusual fillings such as peanuts, sugar, lotus seed, duck egg yolks, raisins and watermelon seeds. Baked and sold in colorful boxes, many are presented as gifts.

Also made in advance are colorful lanterns in the form of boats, dragons, hares, toads, lobsters, carp, lobsters, and many other fanciful creatures. In the evening, children light little candles and place them inside lanterns made of cellophane paper and swing them around on sticks.

Source:   Customs and Culture of Vietnam by Ann Crawford. Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle, 1966, p. 20.

This day is a celebration of Sun Wu-Kung, the Monkey God.

The Monkey God, Ts' oi T'in Tai Send Yeh, is seen in many Chinese temples in Singapore. Most of these places of worship are unpretentious to look at and may be nothing more than dilapidated shops or attap huts.

The birthday of the Monkey God is celebrated annually in Singapore on the sixteenth day of the eighth moon, usually lasting two days.

Source:   Chinese Temples in Singapore by Leon Comber. Singapore: Eastern University Press, 1958, p. 35.

During the Tij fast, this day honors the elephant-headed god Ganesh. It occurs on the fourth day of the bright lunar fortnight.

According to some Puranas, Parvati, before taking her bath inside, had her son Ganesa guard the entry to the house. Shortly afterwards, Siva attempted to enter the house and was prevented by Ganesa. In rage, Siva cut the neck of Ganesa. When Parvati saw this, she wept bitterly and requested that Siva bring Ganesa back to life. Siva agreed and brought the head of an elephant and attached it to Ganesa. Since then, Ganesa has been worshipped as an elephant-headed god by all Hindus.

Ganesa is the god of wisdom and success, and the remover of all obstacles. In most Hindu homes, an idol of Ganesa is installed over the main doorway, to ward off evil. He is propitiated at the commencement of every important endeavor, with people bowing or paying their obeisance by uttering 'Shri Ganesayanamah' ("I bow to Lord Ganesa").

On Ganesh Chauthi, people awaken early and at noon, worship the image of the god with various offerings, including sweet balls. Beautifully decorated images are taken out in processions, accompanied by religious songs and music. These images are worshipped regularly for several days and then immersed in the river.

Source:   The Festivals of India by Brijendra Nath Sharma. New Delhi: Abhinav, 1978, pp. 107-108.

Nepal

After dark, everyone must stay inside on this evening. Catching sight of the ill-omened crescent moon is said to bring disaster. This is, however, an auspicious night for thieves.

Source:   Ganesh Chata: The Elephant God Curses the Moon in The Festivals of Nepal by Mary M. Anderson. London: Allen & Unwin, 1971, pp. 121-126.

This is a day to honor fathers, both living and dead. All who can visit Gokarna, near Kathmandu, pay tribute to their dead fathers at the Shiva Lingam there. Those with living fathers visit their homes, bring sweets, and share a feast. This occurs on the last day of the dark fortnight.

Nepal

Pilgrimages are made to Gokarneswar Mahadev to worship at the Shiva Lingam. Worshippers bathe in the shallow waters there and leave offerings. Pindas, small rice balls, are offered to the souls of the dead by immersing them in the river or by giving them to a sacred cow.

Source:   Gokarna Aunsi: Nepal Father's Day in The Festivals of Nepal by Mary M. Anderson. London: Allen & Unwin, 1971, pp. 112-115.

Bhadra
Krishna Jayanti (Lord Krishna's birthday)

Nepal

During the seventh day of the dark lunar fortnight of Bhadra, worshippers carry Krishna images through the streets. Musicians accompany these processions, and colored pictures of Krishna's adventures are posted on the walls, with Krishna images set in places of honor.

Devotees also dance on this occasion. On the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadra, devotees, particularly women, get up early and set out for their pilgrimage to the Krishna Temple at Durbar Square at Lalitpur. The central venue for all kinds of religious singing and dancing on this auspicious day is the Krishna Temple, known for the intricate art on its stone.

The countrywomen's participation in traditional dance performances around the temple begin early in the morning and go on until late at night.

Source:   The Festivals of Nepal by Mary M. Anderson. London: Allen & Unwin, 1971, p. 107.
The Nepal Festivals, Part 1 by Dhurba K. Deep. Bhotahity, Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar, 1978, p. 67.

Pet crickets and other insects are released from their cages on a day in late August or early September.

Japan

A picturesque rite passed down from feudal days, this festival is held in temple and shrine precincts, public parks, and many gardens. People gather in these chosen spots where they take insects in tiny bamboo cages, some purchased from insect vendors for this ceremony, and set these insects free. As part of the ceremony, the liberator waits for the insect to get its bearing, realize its freedom, then listen to it as it chirps.

Source:   Japanese Festivals by Helen Bauer and Sherwin Carlquist. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1965, p. 185.

"Early Autumn" painting by Nihon-ga. To view painting by Nihon-ga's gallery, or for further information, please click on the banner below.