Festivals of India

India is a land of great cultural diversity. The various regions and states in India reflect numerous characteristics that are peculiar to the place and very distinct from one another. This diversity adds to the abundant hues of the shaded mosaic of the culture of India. The culture and the heritage of the Indian sub continent can be seen and experienced through the various Festivals in India. Each festival has a flavor attached to it and depicts the nuances of the Indian culture with respect to its place of origin. Therefore in India although Diwali is celebrated in every corner of the country, one can nevertheless witness a variety of traditions and customs associated with it, that are distinct from one region to another. Learn about the Hindu festivals, the Christian festivals, Sikh festivals and Muslim festivals as celebrated in India.

Hindu festivals

Majority of the Indian population are Hindus. Therefore Hindu festivals play a significant part in the repertoire of the festivals in India. Each of these festivals have some or the other religious significance and are celebrated with great pomp and joy. In this article we shall bring forth some of the major Hindu festivals and highlight their significance for you to feast on them.

Baisakhi:
Baisakhi is one of the most important festivals especially in the North of India. It marks the beginning of a new solar year and generally falls on the 13th or 14th of April. Religious processions and traditional performances mark the festivities of the event that is also viewed as the harvest festival here. This festival is also celebrated in various other parts of the country and while it is Bihu in Assam, it is Vishu in Kerala. Along with the dissimilarity in the names, the customs and rituals associated with it also differ.

Diwali:
Diwali is the Indian festival of lights also popularly called as Deepavali. Every home on this day is decorated as a bride with millions of clay lamps lit in every corner of the country. There are several legends associated with the festival like being associated as the day of returning of Lord Rama from his exile, the day of killing of the demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna and also as the day when king Bali went to rule the nether world. Diwali is also celebrated as the new accounting year for businessmen and Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth is worshipped on this day. Firecrackers are burnt and several delicacies prepared in every home to celebrate Diwali.

Durga Puja:
Durga Puja is the most important festival for the Hindus in Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand. Goddess Durga is worshipped during this 10-day festival that also signifies her yearly homecoming. The various days, specifically the Sasthi, Saptami, Asthami, Navami and Dashami are more sacred and each day has different rituals associated with it. New clothes are worn to the traditional ‘Puja Mandap’, prayers offered to the deity and sweets and gifts exchanged between friends and family.

Dussehra:
Coinciding with the Durga Puja festivities is the Dusshera that is specifically observed all throughout the country. In the western parts of India the religious nine nights of ‘Navratri’ culminate together on the Dusshera day with all festivities reaching the highest magnitude. Dussehra celebrations are spectacularly observed especially in Mysore in Southern India and Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. In the north, effigies of Ravana are burnt marking it the victory of good over evil.

Onam:
The Hindu Festival of Onam is celebrated mainly in the South Indian state of Kerala. It is the harvest festival of the state and also marks the homecoming of the legendary king Mahabali. This 10-day festival is celebrated in the first month of the Malayalam calendar. The two quintessential elements of Onam are Onakoddi and Onam Sadya. New clothes are worn, traditional feasts held and even the traditional dance performance of ‘Thiruvathira kali’ is seen in nearly every household. The making of the ‘onapookkalam’ or flower arrangement is also very widespread.

Holi:
Celebrated as the festival of colors, Holi is a major Festival in India. It is observed across 2 days with the first day being celebrated as the day when effigies of ‘Holika’ are burnt and the next day as Dhulendi when people play with colors. Holi, like other Festivals in India also has religious significance attached to it and people worship Lord Krishna on this day who is believed to have celebrated this occasion with his ‘Gopis’. Be it the legends of Prahlad and Hiranyakashyap or the fables of Krishna and his Gopis, Holi is a festival for all.

Janmashtami:
Janmasthami or Kristhnasthami is celebrated as the birthday of lord Krishna. It is observed on the 8th day of the Hindu month of Shravana during the half dark period. Temples are decorated in numerous ways with flowers and lights and tales depicting the childhood pranks of Krishna as well as ‘Raas Lila’ or his legends with the milkmaids are performed in every neighborhood. The customary breaking of a ‘handi’ or a clay pot containing milk, curd or butter is also a classis depiction of the pranks of Krishna.

Karwa Chauth:
Celebrated in certain parts of the country but with great reverence, ‘Karva Chauth’ is a fast strictly observed by the married Hindu women for the long life and prosperity of her husband. The quintessential characteristics of the day lie in the fact that for the entire day the wife fasts without food and water, for the well being of her husband and breaks the fast only at moonrise. Traditional Puja, exchanging gifts, applying of Mehendi/ Henna and traditional feasts are the significant elements of the day.

Mahashivaratri:
The Mahashivaratri festival is the Hindu Festival dedicated to lord Shiva. It is generally observed around February/ March and marks a night full of traditional and religious festivities. Bathing the Shiva Lingam in milk, water and ‘bael’ leaves is the most essential part of the Mahashivaratri puja. Fasting on the day and prasad of the traditional ‘Bhang’ are the other essential aspects of this Hindu festival.

Makar Sankranti:
Celebrated in the month of January, Makar Sankranti is observed in every Hindu household and is a festival of great reverence. It has both religious as well as astrological significance attached to it. Makar Sankranti is marked as the day when the Sun starts ascending into the northern hemisphere, thus signifying a new beginning of a new life, new perspective, better wisdom and better devotion too. Every member of the household wakes up early to take bath and worship the sun god and be blessed with a prosperous year and righteous life. People also offer tributes to the ancestors to be blessed by them on this day and several fairs like the Ganga Sagar Mela also attract huge number of devotees and tourists too.

Naag Panchami:
On the Naag Panchami day, devotees worship snakes or Naag. Women fast on this day and offerings like milk, sweets and ghee are done for the snakes. It is also commonly widespread that tilling of the land is strictly prohibited on this day, origins of which can be traced to a legend that mentions that a framer while tilling his land by chance killed several serpents. The parent in order to take revenge bit the members of the farmer’s family and the only one saved from the wrought was the farmer’s daughter who was a devout worshipper of snake. She worshipped the snakes and sought forgiveness and thus managed to revive the family. Thus began the tradition of snake worshipping.

Ganesh Chaturthi:
Also popular as the Vinayaka Chaturthi, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is believed that on this day the lord, who is the patron deity of prosperity, good fortune and wisdom, confers his presence on the earth for his devotees. Temples of Maharasthra, Goa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are especially decorated on this day and devotees make beeline queues to offer tributes and prayers to the lord and seek his blessings. ‘Modak’ is particularly distributed in the ‘Puja Pandals’ as prasad.Navratri: The nine forms of Goddess Durga are particularly worshipped on the occasion of ‘Navratri’, which literally translates to nine nights of festivity. The Navratri is celebrated twice in the year coinciding with the onset of summer and winter that are significant points in the year. The blessing of the Divine Mother is sought and each day of the 9-day festival is celebrated in a characteristic way. Navratri also coincides with the Durga Puja and the diverse traditions and customs associated with the occasion make it all the more special.Pongal: Pongal is a very significant Hindu festival, especially in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated as a harvest festival and is observed in the month of January, generally coinciding with Makar Sankranti as is celebrated in the other parts of the country. This 4-day celebration has a day dedicated to the different aspects and importance. On the first day, old clothes etc are burnt to signify the end of the old and mark the beginning of everything new. On the second day rice, milk and jaggery is boiled over in new pots signifying prosperity in the coming year. It is an auspicious sign to watch the milk boil over the pot. The third day signifies honoring the cattle. And on the 4th day people visit friends and relatives and exchange gifts too.

Rakhi:
The celebration of Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi glorifies the bond between a brother and sister. Owing its significance that can be traced to antiquity, this festival is celebrated in many parts of the country in traditional zeal. On the Raksha Bandhan day, sisters tie a Rakhi on the wrists of her brothers seeking their promise to protect her in terms of crisis. In return, the brothers shower her with presents and ensure her with love and defense. In every home, people sit for the customary Puja before the Rakhi ceremony begins. It is a day of feasting and festivity for all.

Ramnavami :
This is the day dedicated to the Hindu lord Rama, and is celebrated as his birthday. Devotees on this day observe strict fast and visit temples and shrines to offer prayers to the lord. Tales of the birth of Lord Rama, his childhood, his marriage, his exile and his victory over Ravana, all these significant events related to the life of Rama are especially narrated on this day by the elders in the family. On this day processions are led following the idols of Lord Rama and Sita and it also marks the end of the Navratri, the festival of nine nights.

Christian Festivals

Owing to its secular nature, Christian festivals in India are celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor all throughout the country and even in the non- Christian households. Festivals like Good Friday and Easter and Christmas are celebrated across the country in the highest magnitude and people visit churches and cathedrals and attend the mass to honor Lord Jesus, especially on each of these occasions.

Christmas:
Celebrated on 25th December, Christmas is the birthday of lord Jesus. Several days prior to the actual event, preparations begin in the churches and homes and people are seen shopping, preparing delicacies and singing Christmas carols. On Christmas Eve visiting the church for the midnight mass becomes mandatory and getting together for the grand Christmas Dinner is also not unknown. On Christmas Day, people visit the church and also distribute alms to the needy making it a very much essential part of the festivals in India.

Easter:
One of the most prominent Christian festivals, Easter marks the day when Christ rose after his crucifixion. It is also celebrated to end the month long fasting and several delicacies are prepared for the day especially the Easter eggs.

Good Friday:
The Good Friday marks the day of crucifixion of Christ in Golgotha. It is celebrated in India in every Christian household and the day marks fasting, and prayer services are held to mourn the death of Christ. In India, it is observed as a public holiday and people remember the sacrifices of Christ for the betterment of Humanity and humans. Easter mirrors the teachings of Jesus that finally good will prevail over the evil and hatred can be overcome with love.

Sikh Festivals

The Indian treasure trove of festivals is incomplete without the mention of Sikh festivals. Adding its own flavor and hue are these Sikh festivals that besides reflecting the lifestyle of Punjab, also mirrors the joyful nature of the people. With an inherent religious essence in all of them, these festivals are celebrated in the highest magnitude all over the state of Punjab as well as in other states like Delhi, Haryana etc. Some of the important Sikh Festivals have been mentioned below for you:

Guru Nanak Jayanti:
The birthday of the first guru of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev, is celebrated as the Guru Nanak Jayanti that is generally observed around October/ November. On this day Sikh’s as well as several non Sikh’s also make it a point to visit the Gurudwara to pay tributes to the great Guru. Processions called ‘Prabhat Pheri’ are taken out and the non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib also called the ‘Akhand Path’ takes place in all Gurudwaras. Devotees also take part in the community services and the distribution of ‘Langar’ or free food is also widespread.

Guru Purab:
Guru Nanak Jayanti or the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev is celebrated with great fanfare and reverence everywhere in the state of Punjab. This Sikh festival is also called as Guru Purab. On the occasion of this festival, every Gurudwara is decorated with lights, flowers and also earthen lamps. People also decorate their homes to mark the festivities. ‘Akhand Path’ or the non- stop reading of the holy Guru Granth Sahib, distribution of ‘Langar’ and taking part in the religious processions mark the other celebrations of this day. The ambiance everywhere is religious and the Sikhs celebrated Guru Purab also by visiting the holy Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Holla Mohalla:
Celebrated a day after the festival of Holi, Anandpur Sahib in Punjab is the place to be on Holla Mohalla. The traditional practices of mock battles and martial art display are still held here on Holla Mohalla. The grand display of the martial traditions of the Nihang Sikh’s attracts millions of onlookers and devotees every year. Kirtans, reading of the Guru Granth Sahib and also religious processions are taken out during this Sikh festival.

Lohri:
This Sikh festival is celebrated in the month of January as the harvest festival of Punjab. It is an outdoor festival and friends and family get together to celebrate in the evening in front of a bonfire. It is an age-old tradition for young boys to sing ‘Lohri’ songs and go from door to door during the day and to collect peanuts, ‘gacchak’ and popcorns etc called as Lohri. In the evening when the entire family gets together to celebrate the occasion, the Lohri as well as other food items are thrown into the fire as an offering. Especially in the families where there has been a wedding or the birth of a male child, Lohri is celebrated in the highest magnitude.

Muslim Festivals

The Islam religion is the second most popular religion of the world and the Muslims of India celebrate all the Muslim festivals with great reverence and elaboration. Lending traditional sentiments to each of these Muslim festivals, the various occasions are religious in nature and are celebrated in every Muslim household. The most popular Muslim Festivals are Bakra Eid, Eid-ul-Fitr and Muhorram. To know about the significance of these festivals, read on…

Bakra Eid:
Popularly referred to as the Bakrid or Eid-Ul-Zuha, Bakra Eid is celebrated on the 10th day in the Zil Hijja month according to the Muslim calendar. The highlight of this festival lies in going on pilgrimage to Mecca called the Haj. Millions of devotees every year throng to Mecca to offer prayers and take part in the religious ceremonies. As per a legend, Hazrat Ibrahim had dreamt that Allah asked him to sacrifice his most beloved thing. As it was his son who he loved more than anything, he sacrificed him on this day only to find that it was a ram that he had sacrificed and not his son. Thus it became a tradition to sacrifice a ram/ goat or a camel on Bakra Eid and distribute it among friends and family.

Eid-ul-Fitr:
Eid-ul-Fitr is the most significant Muslim festival as it marks the end of the month long fasting and is traditional in nature. In every Muslim household, new clothes are presented to the children and money called ‘Eidee’ is also given to the younger members of the family. Special prayers are offered to the lord and a wide selection of delicacies is prepared in every family. On seeing the new moon, the fast is broken and festivities begin. The entire ambience resonates with Eid Mubarak! - The traditional way of greeting each other on this day.

Muhorram:
Muhorram is celebrated on the first month of the Hijri year and is a festival to mourn the death of the great warriors who laid down their lives for preserving the religion. On this day, Muslims especially belonging to the Shia community offer prayers, observe fasts, give alms to the poor and the needy and also take out grand processions. Reading of the ‘Quran’ and singing elegies in honor of the dead martyrs are also very popular elements of Muhorram.

General Festivals

Besides all the religious festivals belonging to the various faiths and religions, there are numerous general festivals celebrated in India that do not necessarily belong to any religion but are observed by every community, caste and class of people. These general festivals are celebrated to honor the various relationships and that make our life so very special and the observance of these festivals also enable people from the various walks and communities of life to come together on one pedestal. Some of the popular general festivals as celebrated in India are mentioned below for you:

Father’s Day:
Festivals in India belongs to various genres, religious, regional as well as general. Out of the general festivals, Father’s Day is one of the most special occasions. Dedicated to the father, children on this day specially make it a point to pamper their dad with gifts and presents and also wish them and express their gratitude. One can make the day a very extraordinary one for the father and also do stuff to make them feel they are special.

Halloween:
, irrespective of the faith they belong to, celebrate Halloween. Although the concept is not so popular in India, it is slowly gaining momentum especially in the urban areas. Halloween is celebrated especially in several countries in Europe and the US. It is observed as a day when the distinction between the live and the dead dissolved and Halloween parties are thrown in several urban Indian cities to mark the occasion. People dress themselves as ghosts and witches, and wearing of scary masks and mimicking is the order of the day!

Mother’s Day:
Mother’s Day is celebrated in India with great fanfare. Every store, every gift shop and every mall is especially full with children belonging to the various age groups, buying gifts and presents for their mother. In India goddess Durga and Kali and their various forms are also worshipped as Mother and this tradition has been followed since ages. However, the modern Mother’s Day is celebrated on a more personal level and each year on the second Sunday in May, Mothers are gifted with flowers, gifts and mothers day cards stating I love you!

New Year:
New Year in India is celebrated on different days and according to different rituals, across the different regions. While in the east it is celebrated in April and called as Bihu in Assam and Nabo Barsho in Bengal, down south it is referred to as Vishu in Kerala and as Gudi Padva in Maharashtra. While in Kashmir, New Year is celebrated as Nau Roz, in Punjab it is celebrated as Baisakhi. However, arrangements to welcome the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar are also very commonly widespread. 31st December and 1st January marks the occasions of New Year Eve and New Year respectively and people burst crackers, enjoy light works and attend New Year parties to celebrate the event.

Thanks Giving:
The festival of Thanks Giving is one of the prime festivals in India especially celebrated in the state of Goa. The Christian households start preparing for this day, several days in advance and a platform depicting the altar is constructed that is decorated with flowers, candles and other articles. It is a ceremony to express gratitude to God over good harvest, special blessings for the family and other such significant happenings in the family. Thanks giving festival in India is also related to the harvest festivals that are celebrated in the country like Baisakhi, Bihu, Pongal, Onam and Lohri.

Valentine’s Day:
Celebrated on the 14th February every year, Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular festivals in the country, especially among the youngsters. Gifting of red roses to express love is highly practiced on this day. Couples celebrate this day of togetherness by gifting each other chocolates and flowers, Valentine’s Day cards and other items as well. Everywhere in India, one can see couples frequenting restaurants, movie halls, discos and pubs to celebrate the day.

National Festivals

Along with the religious and community festivals, there are various festivals in India that are celebrated on a national level. Several days from the National festivals list are observed as national holidays, and majority of the government offices and other organizations remain closed on this day. These days are celebrated to commemorate events of national importance. To name a few National festivals will be to talk on the below mentioned occasions:

Children’s Day:
Owing to the fact that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was very fond of children and dreamt big for the future generation of India, every year since his death in 1963, his birth anniversary is celebrated as Children’s Day in India. It is a big event especially in the schools as cultural programmes and competitions etc are held for the children and even gifts and sweets are distributed in every school. As it is the day for the children, parents and teachers leave no scope of pampering them and making them feel really special.

Gandhi Jayanti:
Celebrated on 2nd October, on the occasion of the Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi Jayanti is one of the major National Festivals of India. It is observed as a national holiday and people especially visit ‘Raj Ghat’ the place where he was cremated to pay tributes to the departed soul. Prayer services are also held in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and several competitions and contests belonging to the socio-political genre are held in educational institutions.

Independence Day:
The Independence day is the most important day for every Indian. It is celebrated as the day of liberation of India from Great Britain. Celebrated on the 15th of August, the day is observed as a national holiday. The tri-color national flag is hoisted in every government office and significant centers, sweets are distributed in schools and in Red Fort in Delhi, elaborate ceremonies of flag hoisting takes place. Besides hoisting the flag, the Prime Minister of India also gives his speech to the nation and also pays tributes to the warriors and leaders of freedom struggle. Kite flying on the Independence Day is also a major part of the festivities held.

Republic Day:
To mark the beginning of a sovereign nation, India, the Republic Day was celebrated on the 26th January 1950. To commemorate the adoption of the Indian constitution on this day, every year on this day the elaborate ceremonies of the Republic Day take place in New Delhi. The annual military and cultural parades along the ‘Rajpath’ as well as the flag hoisting by the President are the highlights of the day. This national festival is a national holiday in India, as well.

Teacher’s Day:
To commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, 5th September is celebrated as the Teacher’s Day. Dr. Radhakrishnan was the 2nd President of India and a great scholar who made the country proud on several occasions. Owing to the desire of many of his students and close friends, his birthday came to be celebrated as the Teacher’s Day that also depicts a part of his career as a teacher. The entire country pays homage to the great teacher on his birthday and the students hold special programmes in the schools and educational organizations to commemorate the event as well as honor the teachers.

Buddhist Festivals

Festivals in India are not restricted to only a few festivals particularly followed by a handful of people. It also includes the festivals belonging to the various faiths and religion and the beauty of it all lies in celebrating them in perfect harmony and its specific place in the repertoire of festivals of India. There are several Buddhist festivals that are celebrated across the country with the same keenness and passion. These Buddhist festivals revolve around the life and teachings of the great Buddha and are observed by the non- Buddhist communities as well.

Buddha Purnima:
One of the major days for Buddhists, Buddha Purnima is celebrated as the birthday of lord Buddha that is generally observed around April/ May on the full moon night. The Buddha Purnima is celebrated by various names in the countries that have a substantial population practicing this faith. This Buddhist festival is called as Wesak in Sri Lanka and Vaisakha Purnima in several parts of India. Prayer services and group meditations mark the celebrations of this day. Simplicity and peace for all, the elements that Buddha preached about through his teachings are greatly practiced on this day as well and hence the revelry is kept simple and subtle. However the decoration in the homes and Buddhist shrines, with flowers, colorful lights and lanterns are also not uncommon.

Hemis Gompa:
This is a significant Buddhist festival that attracts numerous travelers and devotees to take part in the Hemis Gompa festival and fair in Leh. To commemorate the birthday of Guru Padmasambhava, the 2-day ‘Hemis Gompa’ festival is organized every year. The focal point of the celebrations lies in the cultural programmes performed by the local dancers as well as the traditional music played here. Guru padmasambhava and his teachings are reminisced on this day and people offer their prayers and tributes in front of his statue during the Hemis Gompa festival.

Losar:
Losar is the New Year day in Tibetan according to the Tibetan calendar and is a 15-day event. The first 3 days are most important with significant rituals and ceremonies being observed on these days. As the Tibetan calendar is based upon lunar calculations, the first month according to the lunar calendar is the month of Losar. It was earlier celebrated as a framer’s festival and today the entire family takes part in the grand community festival. People start preparing for this Buddhist festival, days in advance and monasteries and Buddhist shrines are especially decorated to mark the event. Other than the religious aspects there are also several light hearted elements associated with Losar like what you find inside your dough ball will reflect your character and how the New Year will be for you.

Ullambana:
Ullambana is a grand Buddhist festival celebrated in the highest magnitude in countries like China, Japan and Cambodia etc. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month according to lunar calendar. The Ullambana is associated with several legends and beliefs and it is believed that on this day the gates of hell are opened for the dead to come and visit their relatives. Therefore it has become a tradition to present various offerings to the dead to please them and to bring in good luck.
It can be very vividly seen on the surface that Festivals in India complete the cultural mosaic of the country. At the same time it is also wonderful to witness the cultural harmony and the happy coexisting of all these festivals and the spectator can really feast on this aspect and comprehend the Indian essence in a better way.