Festivals In India

Festivals In India

India is a land of festivals, where people from different - different religions celebrate their different - different festivals in their own way. A lot of festivals celebrated in India which is a true manifestation of its rich culture and tradition. In India, the people of every religion and community celebrate their culture. People celebrate festivals around the year.

In India, people celebrate festivals state wise, religion and community wise so every day is a new festival. There are a lot of festivals but some of them are very famous in western countries. Also, a lot of people want to participate in these festivals like Diwali (a festival of lights), Holi ( festival of colors), Rakhi(The festival for brother and sister bond), Baisakhi (the festival of rich culture and tradition), Ganpati( eleven days, dedicated to Lord Ganesha ), Durga Pooja (Nine days for fast, faith and devotion), etc.

For Indians, festivals are not just a festival that is a way to be happy and to show their feelings and emotions regarding their culture. People put all the energy, they spent a lot of money to celebrate these festivals. People especially go shopping they buy new clothes, jewelry sweets, and decoration items, etc it is a strong part of the Indian economy. Indian markets always grow due to festivals and merchants, shopkeepers and businessmen have eagerly waited for festivals.

In this busy and fast life, everybody is busy with their work but the festivals connect us to each other. Festival in India means vacations for the people they visit their relatives and enjoy the moments. You can also enjoy lots of gazette holidays and can plan a trip across the country.

 

Diwali – The grand festival of lights

Diwali is one of the most loved Hindu festivals in India,  Is celebrated in the month of Kartik(either October or November) every year. According to Hindu mythology, this festival is celebrated due to the return of Lord Ram with Sita and his brother Lakshman after a long exile of 14 years. On the occasion of Diwali houses and shops decorated with clay lamps, lights, candles, flowers, Mango leaves, and rangoli(beautifully decorated designs on the floor). It is the most celebrated festival in India. People wear new clothes, participate in family pooja, firecrackers, and share sweets and gifts as a greeting with family, relatives, and friends.

 

Holi – Festival of Beautiful Colors''

By Steve McCurry

 Holi is a festival of colors that comes in the month of Falgun (almost March) every year. According to Hindu mythology, Holi is a significance for the victory of goodness on evil. On Holi eve, people make Holika bonfire and celebrate the Holika Dahan ( bonfire) by performing pooja and dancing. On the day of Holi people celebrate the Holi by applying colors on each other faces with carrying water guns and water-filled balloons. People make different types of dishes and enjoy dancing and beautiful colors. Holi makes people equal all were covered with colored faces. It defeats all the evils – no one is poor or rich. No racism, everybody is just a human being. When you will visit in someone home they will offer you Gujiya (sweets). Holi is a festival that connects- color to color, friend to friend, family to family, Relatives to relatives.

Rakhi – The festival of brother and sister bond

Rakhi is one of the famous festivals, in the list of festivals in India. It signifies the love and the bond between brother and sister. On the occasion of Rakhi, a sister performs Aarti (prayer) to brother, applies tika (making a colored mark on forehead), and ties a rakhi (a sacred thread) on his wrest and the brother takes a pledge that he will protect his sister. Bhai Dooj is another festival that is similar to the rakhi. It comes after Diwali every year.

Baisakhi – The festival of rich culture and tradition.

Baisakhi is one of the most famous festivals in India which is specially celebrated in Punjab by the Sikh community. It is celebrated every year when the new crops of rabi come, Baisakhi is a way of welcoming the new crops. On the day of Baisakhi people perform the dance with excitement. It represents the happy, rich culture and tradition of India.

Pongal – The festival of rangoli and savories

Pongal is a four-day-long harvest festival that is celebrated in South India. It is a famous festival in south India. On the occasion of Pongal people make Pongal dish, they wear their traditional attire. People celebrate this festival by making Kolam designs (traditional designs made on the floor by rice, colors, powder, and flower petals), sweets and savories, cattle races, etc.

Onam – Welcoming the Supreme Warrior Mahabali

Onam is one of the national festivals of India; Onam is celebrated annually, all over India with its origin in the Kerala state. It is 10 days festival, which fills the hearts of people with gaiety and brings them together to be a part of this cultural festival. It signifies the homecoming of the legendary king Mhabali (grandson of Prahlad). During Onam, people wear traditional dress, decorate the house with Pookalam (designs on the floor), and prepare Onasadya (a meal which includes 13 dishes). People celebrate this festival by performing Kathakali dance, Kaikottikali (clap dance), and Vallamkali (snake boat race), etc.

Festivals play a very important role in our life. In this new busy era, we all forget the social life we are just living our life in cell phones/the internet. We are losing physical interaction but festivals give us a chance to live our social life. It provides us a way to be happy and infective with our family and relatives.

“Festival is a way to show love and respect towards nature, people and things”.