India is a diverse nation. It is a land of many religions, languages, colors, traditions and topographies that peacefully co-exist with each other. Almost all faiths practiced in the world find themselves being engaged into in some part of the nation. Festivals are the occasions that connect people and bring them closer to each other irrespective of physical distances. India is a land of festivals. Every other day becomes a cause of celebration in lieu of the umpteen number of festivals that fill the Indian calendar all throughout the year.
Every festival tells us a story about its reason for celebration. Since Indians love celebrating, every little occasion from the harvesting of crops, welcoming of the spring season, appearance of full moon, commemorating historical events or birth days of divine beings transforms into a cause of joy and celebration.
All festivals bring along with them their own specialties with colors, music, dance and songs unique to them.
During festivals, people decorate their homes with care and love. Everybody wears new clothes, and enjoys dancing, singing and eating sweets and goodies specially prepared for the occasion.
As a sign of devotion and an act of immersion into faith and higher spiritual self, people all over India carry out practices of fasting, offering prayers and seeking blessings. Festivals in India are highly spiritual and truly religious in India that bind people to their strong cultural roots that are being passed on since antiquity from one generation to the other. They adorn India’s rich cultural heritage.
Festivals are reflective of the life style of people and hence they differ from one region to another. During the time of festivals, people come alive and celebrate life itself. Most festivals in India are common to the entire nation, however they may be spelled out and celebrated differently in different regions, yet their essence remains the same.
Also, Indian festivals follow the solar and lunar calendars and hence encounter slightly varied dates and month every year.
It is majorly celebrated by the Punjabi community of the nation on 13 February to celebrate fertility and life. Bonfires are lit, and people dance and sing around them along with throwing sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into them.
Pongal
It is predominantly celebrated in South India to celebrate the upcoming season of harvest. People take dips into holy rivers and worship the sun. In Gujarat, this festival is known by the name of Makar Sankranti and is marked by the flying of kites as a major part of its celebration.
Republic day
Every year, 26 January marks the country’s anniversary for its establishment as a republic state since 1950. New Delhi, the capital of the nation displays parades showcasing India’s strength in terms of weapons and artillery.
Holi
This is the most colorful festival, literally. People splash color and water onto each other to celebrate the advent of spring season. On the eve of this festival, huge bonfires are lit as a mark of destruction of evil demon Holika, and subsequent destruction of all evil powers.
Easter and Good Friday
In the month of April, Christians celebrate Good Friday by visiting Church to attend Mass held especially for this occasion. On the following Easter Sunday, huge processions are carried out to mark the day.
Baisakhi
It marks New Year for the state of Punjab; it is full of music and dance. It is celebrated on the 13th April. This festival also commemorates the foundation of the Sikh Brotherhood, namely The Khalsa.
Id-ul-Fitr or Ramazan Id
On this day, the Muslims feast and rejoice to mark the end of Ramazan or Ramadan when the religiously fast for a month.
Raksha Bandhan
This festival is celebrated by the Hindu community, where sisters tie Rakhi (a decorative thread) to their brothers to mark the sanctity of their relation where a brother promises to protect his sister and her honor all his life.
Independence Day
15 August is celebrated all over India as Independence Day. The whole nation holds flag hoisting ceremony to commemorate India’s hard earned independence from British rule. The prime minister of the nation delivers a speech From the Red Fort situated in Delhi.
Id-ul-Zuha or Bakra Id
This is a festival celebrated by the Muslim community to celebrate the sacrifices made by Hazrat Ibrahim. To commemorate him, all Muslim families sacrifice one animal each along with holding prayers in mosques, feasting and rejoicing.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Cities of Pune, Chennai and Mumbai predominantly celebrate this festival by carrying huge sculptures of Lord Ganesha in procession, and finally immersing them in holy rivers after 10 days.
Gandhi Jayanti
Gandhi Jayanti celebrated on October 2nd marks the day of the birth of the Father of the Nation, Mahatama Gandhi. The day is a national holiday across the country and has been declared as the International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations General Assembly.
Diwali or Deepawali
It is called the festival of lights. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and celebrated through lightening of lamps in households, offering of prayers and burning of crackers by kids. It is preceded by festivals of Navaratri and Dussera.
Gurpurab
It celebrates the birth anniversaries of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and Guru Gobind Singh. Holy verses are read and the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahiba is carried in procession.
Christmas
Christmas is celebrated by the Indian Christian community. Goa is a perfect place to be during Christmas. People indulge in feasting, singing and dancing. They also attend the Church and carol singing is also performed.
Last Updated on 09/19/2011
Every festival tells us a story about its reason for celebration. Since Indians love celebrating, every little occasion from the harvesting of crops, welcoming of the spring season, appearance of full moon, commemorating historical events or birth days of divine beings transforms into a cause of joy and celebration.
All festivals bring along with them their own specialties with colors, music, dance and songs unique to them.
During festivals, people decorate their homes with care and love. Everybody wears new clothes, and enjoys dancing, singing and eating sweets and goodies specially prepared for the occasion.
As a sign of devotion and an act of immersion into faith and higher spiritual self, people all over India carry out practices of fasting, offering prayers and seeking blessings. Festivals in India are highly spiritual and truly religious in India that bind people to their strong cultural roots that are being passed on since antiquity from one generation to the other. They adorn India’s rich cultural heritage.
Festivals are reflective of the life style of people and hence they differ from one region to another. During the time of festivals, people come alive and celebrate life itself. Most festivals in India are common to the entire nation, however they may be spelled out and celebrated differently in different regions, yet their essence remains the same.
Also, Indian festivals follow the solar and lunar calendars and hence encounter slightly varied dates and month every year.
List of Indian Festivals
LohriIt is majorly celebrated by the Punjabi community of the nation on 13 February to celebrate fertility and life. Bonfires are lit, and people dance and sing around them along with throwing sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into them.
Pongal
It is predominantly celebrated in South India to celebrate the upcoming season of harvest. People take dips into holy rivers and worship the sun. In Gujarat, this festival is known by the name of Makar Sankranti and is marked by the flying of kites as a major part of its celebration.
Republic day
Every year, 26 January marks the country’s anniversary for its establishment as a republic state since 1950. New Delhi, the capital of the nation displays parades showcasing India’s strength in terms of weapons and artillery.
Holi
This is the most colorful festival, literally. People splash color and water onto each other to celebrate the advent of spring season. On the eve of this festival, huge bonfires are lit as a mark of destruction of evil demon Holika, and subsequent destruction of all evil powers.
Easter and Good Friday
In the month of April, Christians celebrate Good Friday by visiting Church to attend Mass held especially for this occasion. On the following Easter Sunday, huge processions are carried out to mark the day.
Baisakhi
It marks New Year for the state of Punjab; it is full of music and dance. It is celebrated on the 13th April. This festival also commemorates the foundation of the Sikh Brotherhood, namely The Khalsa.
Id-ul-Fitr or Ramazan Id
On this day, the Muslims feast and rejoice to mark the end of Ramazan or Ramadan when the religiously fast for a month.
Raksha Bandhan
This festival is celebrated by the Hindu community, where sisters tie Rakhi (a decorative thread) to their brothers to mark the sanctity of their relation where a brother promises to protect his sister and her honor all his life.
Independence Day
15 August is celebrated all over India as Independence Day. The whole nation holds flag hoisting ceremony to commemorate India’s hard earned independence from British rule. The prime minister of the nation delivers a speech From the Red Fort situated in Delhi.
Id-ul-Zuha or Bakra Id
This is a festival celebrated by the Muslim community to celebrate the sacrifices made by Hazrat Ibrahim. To commemorate him, all Muslim families sacrifice one animal each along with holding prayers in mosques, feasting and rejoicing.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Cities of Pune, Chennai and Mumbai predominantly celebrate this festival by carrying huge sculptures of Lord Ganesha in procession, and finally immersing them in holy rivers after 10 days.
Gandhi Jayanti
Gandhi Jayanti celebrated on October 2nd marks the day of the birth of the Father of the Nation, Mahatama Gandhi. The day is a national holiday across the country and has been declared as the International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations General Assembly.
Diwali or Deepawali
It is called the festival of lights. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and celebrated through lightening of lamps in households, offering of prayers and burning of crackers by kids. It is preceded by festivals of Navaratri and Dussera.
Gurpurab
It celebrates the birth anniversaries of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and Guru Gobind Singh. Holy verses are read and the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahiba is carried in procession.
Christmas
Christmas is celebrated by the Indian Christian community. Goa is a perfect place to be during Christmas. People indulge in feasting, singing and dancing. They also attend the Church and carol singing is also performed.
Last Updated on 09/19/2011
| Festival in India | |
