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 Indian Festivals Indians love celebrating. Every little occasion from the harvesting of crops, welcoming the spring or rain, to seeing the full moon lends itself to joyous celebrations splashed with colors, music, folk dances and songs. Even the birthdays of divine beings are celebrated thus. The homes are neatly decorated, new dresses are worn for every occasion, prayers offered to Gods, and lot of sweets and goodies are cooked. Most of these festivals are common to most part of India however they may be known by different names in different parts of the country. Different cultures also mean that different rituals are followed. Time for celebration:
January: Republic Day Celebrating the anniversary of India's establishment as a Republic 26th January 1950, all the state capitals resound with the beating of drums and parading of the army.
February- March: Maha Shivaratri This is a day of fasting dedicated to Lord Shiva, the third deity of the Hindu trinity. Holi This is one of the most exuberant and colorful of all festivals. Jamshed-i Navroz is the New Year's Day for the Parsi community who adhere to the Falsi calendar and celebrate with feasting. Mahavir Jayanti is a major Jain festival and commemorates the birth anniversary of Mahavira, the 24th and last Jain Tirthankar. Ram Navami is the day of Rama's birth and is celebrated as a day of great piety, with the chanting of prayers and the singing of ballads.
April: Baisakhi The solar new year's day is observed on this day throughout northern India, which is also the new year's day of Tamil Nadu. Id-ul-Fitr or Ramazan Id is a day of feasting and rejoicing as it marks the end of the end of Ramazan (Ramadan), the Muslim time of fasting.
May - June:
July: Naga Panchami This festival is dedicated to Ananata, the serpent whose coils Lord Vishnu rests between universes.
August: Independence Day The anniversary of India's independence commemorates the day on August 15th. It is celebrated all over the country with meetings and flag-hosting ceremonies.
September: Id-ul-Zuha or Bakrid celebrates the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of God. Onam Onam is celebrated Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Ganesh Chaturthi This festival is dedicated to the popular elephant headed God, Ganesha. Pune, Madras, and Bombay are the important centers of celebration. Ladakh Festival: Ladakh (in the mighty Himalayas) is a blend of various cultures- Central Asian, Tibetan, Northern India etc. Sports (polo and archery), its folk dances and songs, its age-old social and cultural ceremonies, its art and handicrafts, all come alive in a colorful kaleidoscope.
September - October: Diwali or Deepawali This is perhaps the happiest of Hindu festivals. Countless number of lamps are lighted at night, giving the impression that the stars have descended on earth. Gandhi Jayanthi: A solemn celebration marking the birth date of Gandhiji, the father of the nation. Gurpurab: The birth anniversaries of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism (October-November), and of Guru Gobind Singh, the last Guru (December-January)
November: Guru Nanak Jayanthi is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion.
December:
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Fast
Facts: - India has more festivals (and public holidays) than any other country in the world. - Being a melting pot of religions, India celebrates a public holiday for festivals of almost all the major religions of the world. |
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