Festivals of India
Colour, contribution, enthusiasm, prayers
and rituals are the characteristics of the Festivals of India. The
travellers are attracted to the scale and elaboration of the merrymaking
that populate the cultural scene of the country. The various festivals in
the country can be categorised on the national, regional, local, religious,
seasonal and social grounds.
The Indian Festivals
Ganesha Utsav
This is a ten-day festival, jubilated during the bright half of Bhadrapad
(August - September), celebrates the birth of Ganesha. It is featured with a
grand procession of the elephant-headed god. Ganesha Chatturthi is
celebrated with immense fun and entertainment in the state of Maharashtra.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights
This is one of the oldest and the most important Hindu festivals falling in
the month of Kartik (October-November), which celebrates the return of Rama
to Ayodhya after an exile of 14 years. Diwali or Deepawali also marks the
beginning of the New Year and is celebrated with the lighting of lamps,
burning of crackers. The festival of Deepawali is celebrated in almost all
the parts of India.
Hanuman Jayanti, the Birth of Lord Hanuman, the Monkey God
Celebrated mostly in North India, celebrates the birth of the monkey god,
Hanuman, during Chaitra (March-April). The festival also highlights the
figurative acceptance of the human race's peaceful co-existence with nature
and the worship of an animal.
Krishna Janmashtami, the Birth of Lord Krishna
Krishna Janmashtami falls during the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadra
(August-September) and is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Krishna to
bring an end to the injustice of Kansa. The festival is marked by fasts,
prayers and the enactment of incidents from Krishna's childhood.
Shiva Ratri, the Great Night of Shiva
Jubilated on the new moon night in the month of Phalguna (February-March),
this Hindu festival is committed to Lord Shiva.
Ramanavami, the Birth of Lord Rama
This Hindu festival goes on for nine days where it is celebrated in the
bright fortnight in the month of Chaitra (March-April) and commemorates the
birth of Lord Rama who took birth to annihilate the demon King Ravana.
Makara Sankranti, Return of the Sun to the North
Makara Sankranti celebrates the Entry of the sun into the Tropic of
Capricorn in the month of Magha (January-February).
Durga Puja, The Victory of Good over Evil
Celebrated in the month of Ashvina (September-October) in the state of West
Bengal, Durga Puja is a nine-day festival (of which five days from Sashthi
to Dashami are the most celebrate one in West Bengal) of the Hindus. It
highlights the winning of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura
after a long battle, bringing forth the victory of good over evil.
Christmas, the Birth Anniversary of Jesus Christ
The most important and the most rejoiced festival of Christians is
Christmas celebrated on the 25th of December. The festival marks the birth
of lord Jesus and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country.
Id, the Festival of the Muslim Community
The sizeable Muslim communities have their Ids in common with Muslims
across the world. Idu'l Fitr, Idu'l Zuha and Id-i-Milad are the three
festive occasions widely celebrated by Muslims in India.
