If I am asked to remember one thing from India, probably its festivals
would come first in my mind. Although I was there for just two months
but those two months were enough for me to understand the importance of
festivals in Indian culture. India is a land of often bewildering
diversity. It is a jigsaw puzzle of people of every faith and religion,
living together to create a unique and colorful mosaic. There is a
festival for every reason and for every season. Every celebration
centers around rituals of prayer, seeking blessings, exchanging
goodwill, decorating houses, wearing new clothes, music, dance and
feasting.
I was quite surprised to see that Indian calendar is one long
procession of festivals. These are as varied in origin as they are large
in number. There are innumerable national, regional, local, religious,
seasonal and social festivities. This is not surprising considering the
fact that India is the land of gods, goddesses, saints, gurus and
prophets.
Festivals of India are described by color, gaiety, enthusiasm, feasts
and a variety of prayers exchanging goodwill, decorating houses, wearing
new clothes, music, dance and feasting.
The main festival in North India is Diwali, the most pan-Indian of all
Hindu festivals. And I was fortunate enough to attend this fest .......
a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the
lifting of spiritual darkness. The word 'Deepawali' literally means rows
of diyas or the clay lamps. This festival is celebrated in the month of
October-November.oh! I had a magnificient experience in lighting those
lamps and burning patakas ( fire works). I had a small.
In fact, I also made a list of festivals that fall in different month.
Now, I know the reasons why India symbolizes with festivals and culture.
- January
- Makar Sankranti (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Rajasthan)
- Lohri (Punjab)
- Pongal (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh),
- Thai Pusam (Tamil Nadu)
- Float Festival (Tamil Nadu)Kerala Village Fair (Kerala),
- Bikaner Festival (Bikaner)
- Pattadakal Dance Festival (Karnataka)
- Id-ul-Fittr (Across the country)
- Vasant Panchami (North India, West-Bengal )
- Feburary
- Desert Festival (Jaisalmer)
- Carnival (Goa)
- Nagaur Fest (Naugaur)
- International Yoga Week (Rishikesh)
- Elephanta Festival (Elephanta)
- Deccan Festival (Hyderabad)
- Taj Mahotsav (Agra)
- Surajkund Crafts Mela (NewDelhi)
- March
- Holi (North India)
- Gangaur Festival (Rajasthan)
- Dance festival (Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh)
- Elephant Festival (Rajasthan)
- Ellora Festival (Maharashtra)
- April
- Baisakhi (Punjab)
- Gudi Padva or Ugadi (Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka)
- Pooram (Kerala)
- Muharram (Across the country)
- Buddha Purnima (North India)
- Mewar (Rajasthan)
- August
- Independence Day (15.)
- Janamashtami (Across the country)
- Onam (Kerala)
- Nag Panchami (West-Bengal, Maharashtra, South India)
- Rakshabandhan(North india)
- Ganesh Chaturthi (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka)
- Teej (Rajasthan)
- October
- Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi (02.)
- Durga-Puja(Bengal)
- Navratri (Across the country)
- Dusshera Mela (Across the country)
- Marwar Festival (Jodhpur)
- November
- Birthday of Guru Nanak (30.)
- Karwa Chauth
(Across the country)
- Sharad Purnima (Across the country)
- Diwali (Across the
country)
- Bhai Dooj
- Pushkar Fest (Pushkar)
- Hampi Festival (Hampi)
- Chemre Festival (Ladakh)
- Thikse Festival (Ladakh)
Festivals
