About Indian Festival

India's rich and vibrant cultural diversity is best reflected in its festivals, which are celebrated with great fervor all over the country. The geographical and typographical variety of India results in an enriched mix of festivals that are celebrated by people of various castes and culture. While there are some common festivals celebrated by people of all walks of life, there are also some region centric festivals, which too are quite invigorating in nature. Here's a look at some of them. 

DEEPAWALI / DIWALI

Diwali (also spelled Dewali in certain regions) or Deepawali popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. The festival starts with Dhanteras, day on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya, the third day of Diwali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees.

BAKRI-ID

There are various festivals in the Muslim calendar. But Bakriid or Id-ul-Zuha is one of the most celebrated festivals among Muslims all over the world. It is a day

of sacrifice for the Muslims. According to the legends, it all started with a dream in which Allah directed the patriarch Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail. It was Ibrahim's faith in Allah and his son's faith in his father that were on test. Before performing the sacrifice Ismail tied a cloth around his father's eyes. But when Ibrahim opened his eyes he found his son safe and sound.

CHRISTMAS

The festival of Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and conveys his message of love, tolerance and brotherhood. It's a celebration of humanity and mankind. 'though Christmas is a primary festival of the Christian calendar but still it has a special significance in everyone's life. It is celebrated as a universal festival throughout the nation. The first mention of 25th December as the birth date of Jesus occurred in 336 A.D. in an early Roman calendar. That day onwards this date is celebrated as the birth date of Jesus. In India this festival has a special significance since India is known for its unity in diversity worldwide

HOLI

The festival of colors is one of the most popular festivals of the country. It

is celebrated during the spring season and embodies all the festivity, liveliness and exuberance of the season. Holi is the festival of young hearts. The festival is associated with various legends but the most popular among them is the tale of Hollika. It is actually the great festival of Hindus, where farmers and rural people can celebrate the prosperity and abundance in life that comes with the harvest season. The festival of colors, Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March or April every year. People smear each other's faces with colored powder known as 'Gulal' and 'Abeer' and throw colored water or 'Rang' on each other.

BAISAKHI

Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi is celebrating the birth of the Sikhs which is celebrated across the northern Indian subcontinent, especially in the Punjab region by the Sikh nation as this day commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa. Since agriculture is the backbone of the Indian sub-continent, it provides livelihood to the majority of people in the rural areas of the country. The festival of harvest is given special importance in the calendar of events. Vaisakhi/Baisakhi is one of the important festivals celebrated with fun and fervor by the people living in the northern parts of the country. Apart from being a harvest festival, it holds religious significance too.

GOOD FRIDAY

Good Friday (from the senses pious, holy of the word 'good'), is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during holy week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Black Friday, or Easter Friday, though the latter properly refers to the Friday in Easter week. •

RAKHI

The Rakhi festival or Raksha Bandhan has a special significance in hearts of brothers and sisters. The silken thread of Rakhi symbolises the love between siblings. The Rakhi Festival symbolises all aspects of protection of the good from evil forces. Rakhi is meant to sweeten the ties of brother and sister. Rakhi is celebrated with great joy and excitement all around India. Known as Raksha Bandhan in other parts of the country, Rakhi festival showcases the love, affection and feeling of brotherhood. Raksha Bandhan usually falls in late August. The main ritual consists of tying the 'Rakhi' knot on to a brother's wrist.

PONGAL

Pongal is regarded as a harvest festival of South India. It is one of the most important and popular Hindu festivals. The four-day long harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, Pongal is all about paying gratitude eto nature and takes its name from the Tamil word meaning 'to boil' and is held in the month of Thai (January-February) it is celebrated from January 13 to 16 every year. The festival marks a period of plenty, peace and happiness. While each of its days has a special religious significance, most urban people celebrate second day as the main festival. Pongal is the only festival of Hindus that follows a solar calendar.

BARAH WAFAT CELEBRATION

Id-e-Milad is a festival of both rejoicing and mourning. The festival of Id-e-Milad popularly known as Barah Wafat the twelfth day is one of the important festival in the Muslim calendar. The day commemorates the birth and also the death anniversary of Prophet Mohammed. It falls on the twelfth day of the third month Rabi-ul-Awwal of the Muslim calendar, which is usually in September and October. The word 'barah' signifies the twelve days of the Prophet's sickness. During these twelve days, priests and learned men deliver sermons and Koranic texts in mosques, focusing on the life and noble deeds of the Prophet.

ONAM

The festival of Onam portrays the rich cultural heritage of Kerala, its golden past, rich traditions and prosperous present. It is the spirit of Onam that attracts tourist not only across India but also from other parts of the world. High-spirited people of Kerala celebrate Onam with gaiety and fervor. The festival is celebrated for a period of ten days, starting from the first day Atham and continuing till tenth and the biggest day called Thiru Onam. It is the most famous festival of South India. All in Kerala celebrates Onam irrespective of their social status, religion, caste and age. According to legends it celebrates the return of King Mahabali, the kind demon king who once ruled the land. Intricate floral carpets called Pookalam mark the first day of the festival. The biggest and the most happening day in the carnival of Onam is Thiruvonam.

EASTER

Easter or Pascha is a Christian festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as described in the New Testament. Easter is preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. The last week of Lent is called Holy Week, and it contains the days of the Easter Triduu in, including Maundy Thursday, commemorating Maundy and the Last Supper, as well as Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Easter is followed by a fifty-day period called Eastertide or the Easter Season, ending with Pentecost Sunday. The festival is referred to in English by a variety of different names including Easter Day, Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day and Resurrection Sunday. Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar.

GURU NANAK JAYANTI

One of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism, Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Prakash Utsav, marks the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. Apart from Sikhs, the Nanakpanthi Hindus and other followers of Guru Nanak's philosophy also celebrate this festival. The festivities in the Sikh religion revolve around the anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus. The birthday of Guru Nanak Sahib falls on Kartik Poornima, i.e., the day of the full moon in the month of Kartik. In the Gregorian Calendar, the birthday of Guru Nanak usually falls in the month of November, but its date varies from year to year, based on the traditional dates of the Indian calendar.

LOHRI

 Lohri is an extremely popular festival celebrated by the Punjabis. 'Ibis agricultural winter festival is celebrated throughout Punjab and in parts of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu. The origins of Lohri are many and link the festival to the Punjab. Many people believe the festival began as a celebration of the eve of the winter solstice. With time, the festival spread to the states adjoining Punjab - Sindh, Jammu, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. Other communities also participate in the festival - such as the Bengali and Oriya communities. 

MAHAVIR JAYANTI

In Jainism, Mahavir Jayanti, also known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, is the most important religious holiday. It celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara. On the Gregorian calendar, the holiday occurs either in March or April. Local statues of Mahavira are given a ceremonial bath called the abhisheka. During the day, many Jams engage in some sort of charitable act in the name of Mahavira while others travel to temples to meditate and offer prayers.