India has an
extraordinary festive calendar encompassing colorful
rituals and
parades from
some of the world's major religions, reflecting India's rich cultural background. The festivals listed
below are just a few of the major festivals celebrated throughout the year; many festivals are
planned around the full moon because it is considered to be good luck.
Republic Day (January)
Celebrated all over the country each year on
26th January to
mark the day in
1950 when India became a Republic. The most
spectacular celebrations are held in the country's capital,
Delhi.
There is a huge military parade and floats that represent all the
different parts of India, which is televised across the country. The
parade is marked in conclusion by the military bands beating a
retreat.
Eid al Adha
The second of the Eid festivals, Eid al Adha is the
Festival of Sacrifice, commemorating
Abraham's great test of faith before God. Abraham (Ibraham) was about to sacrifice his son to
God, but at the last minute God stopped him and Abraham sacrificed a goat instead. It is said to
be the most important festival in the Islamic calendar, marking the return of pilgrimage to Mecca.
The feast lasts for three days in which Muslims sacrifice a goat or ram, they will have a third of the
animal for their family the rest is given to the poor.
Holi (March/April)
Holi, the
Festival of Colors is celebrated each year on the first day after the full moon in March
and traditionally marks the beginning of spring and a good harvest.
Holi also has its roots deep in Hindu mythology. There was a king who disliked his son's worship
of Vishnu. The king tried to kill his son, but each time failed. The king's sister, Holika who was
supposed to be immune to fire sat with the boy on a fire. She burnt but the prince was saved. On
the night of the full moon bonfires are lit with effigies of the evil Holika, after whom the festival was
named, on top. The fires represent the death of the wicked Holika and are meant to clean the air of
evil spirits in preparation for the following day's festivities.
Widely associated with throwing colored powder (gulal) and
water, Holi is a huge excuse for Indians to have massive
amounts of fun. Adults and children alike indulge in a day of
silliness but also a day of peace. At midday the chaos stops and
people go to bathe and spend time with their families eating
sweets. In the places where Lord Krishna lived Holi is celebrated
to mark the eternal love of Krishna and his wife Radha and is
spread over 16 days!
Shivaratri (March/April)
Celebrated during the dark half of either February or March, Shivaratri or
Night of Shiva takes
place mostly at night in honour of Lord Shiva and his marriage to Parvarti. Lord Shiva the
Destroyer is worshipped by many Hindus and is believed to have a magnanimous heart. On this
occasion, worshippers fast some not even drinking water and repeat mantras, sing hymns all in
honour Shiva. It is believed that those who on this day offer the name of Shiva with devotion and
concentration will be
forgiven their sins and be liberated from the cycle of birth and death.
Mahavir Jayanti (April/May)
Mahavira, also known as Vadhamana, was the 24th Jain Tirthankara (
Jain Prophet), the founder of
Jainism and is acclaimed as one of the
greatest prophets of peace. Mahavir Jayanti is the
celebration of his birth. It is the most important event in the Jain calendar and is celebrated by
pilgrimage to sacred sites including Girnat and Paitana in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Baisakha (April/May)
Baisakhi signifies the beginning of a New Year for the
Punjabi community. It was on this day that
the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa (the Sikh brotherhood) in 1699. Sikhs
therefore, celebrate this festival as a collective birthday, with joyous music and dancing
Buddha Jayanti/Vaishaakha Poornima (May)
Celebrated each year on the full moon this festival marks the birth, enlightenment and death of
Gautam Buddha the founder of Buddhism.
Milad-un-Nabi
Falling each year on the 12 Rabbi-ul-Awwal of the Islamic lunar calendar, this festival celebrates
the life and death of the
Prophet Mohammed, who is regarded to have been a great blessing to
humanity. It is to the Prophet Mohammed that the holy Quran was revealed.
Because the festival marks both his birth and death it is a relatively quiet event, with public
gatherings in mosques where leaders tell the faithful about the Prophet's life and when parents
teach their children about his characteristics. Songs are sung and often mosques are decorated.
Independence Day (August)
At midnight on 14th August 1947 Mahatma Gandhi declared India independent from the British
Empire. This is celebrated each year on 15th August.
Raksha bandhan (August)
Raksha bandhan, or Rakhi as it is popularly called, is celebrated in the month of August on the
day of the full moon. Literally meaning "
Ties of protection", it commemorates the bond between
siblings of the opposite sex. The practice often extends more generally to people of the opposite
sex who are not biologically related, or people of the opposite sex who are not related as siblings.
It has also been interpreted as a pledge by the strong to protect the weak.
Rakhi is widely celebrated across the nation. On the morning of the festival, women of all ages put
a tikka of vermilion on their brother's foreheads, tie a ceremonial rakhi - which may be a colorful
thread, a simple bracelet, or a decorative string - on their brother's wrists, and offer them mithai
(sweets) after an arati (prayer). The brothers, in return, promise to love and protect their sisters,
and gift them some money as a token of their affection.
Janmashtami (August/September)
Often called Krishna Jayanti this festival celebrates
Lord Krishna's birth. It is a happy festival
celebrated with much abandonment and in some places, like Mathura where Krishna was born,
celebrations last for a month. Krishna was the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, who gave the
teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita; of all the many Hindu deities he is arguably the most beloved.
Celebrants fast until midnight when offerings are made to Krishna; there is singing and the recital
of divine leelas. On this day women don't cook, instead cold food is served; it is thought that this is
representative of Krishna's childhood allowing the women to spend more time with their children.
Durga Puja (October)
Celebrated twice a year at important climatic and solar changes,
the beginning of summer and the beginning winter, Durga Puja
is the
festival of the Divine Mother. It is a huge event across India,
but possibly most important in Bengal. It is perhaps the greatest
Hindu festival where God is worshipped as a woman and there
is much emphasis on the importance of maternal relationships.
Durga Puja celebrated in Asvina marks the victory of the warrior
goddess Durga over the buffalo headed demon, Mahishavina.
Durga is a form of Shakti, the Mother Goddess, and an
incarnation of the consort of Shiva. She is often depicted with ten arms holding ten weapons and
sitting on a lion. The festival takes place over nine days and nights in which the various
manifestations if the Mother Goddess are worshipped. Over the first three days Durga, which
means, she who is difficult to reach, is worshiped. For the next three days it is Lakshmi who is
worshipped and the final three days are dedicated to Sarsawati and then there is the celebration
of Navratri (Festival of Nine Nights). The Mother Goddess Durga is worshipped in all her forms for
her grace as well as for her terror. On the final day statues of Durga are paraded through the
streets and then submerged in water.
Daughter of the Himalayas
The significance of the nine days of the festival is attributed to when Shiva granted Durga only nine
days to visit her own mother, who it is said lived in the Himalayas. Therefore Durga Puja is
celebrated with much joy and sadness. Many Hindus use this time to get together with family and
save all year for the celebrations.
Dussehra (September/October)
Dussehra or Vijay Dashmi is celebrated with great joy and festivity for 10 continuous days during
the month of September or October. Dussehra celebrates
Lord Ram's victory over ten-headed Ravana,
the evil king of Lanka who abducted Rama's wife, Sita, and was subsequently
vanquished in battle. It is also considered to be a symbol of the
victory of Good over Evil.
During the ten days of celebrations, the story of Lord Ram is enacted in dances and dramas
(Ramlila, the story of Rama) all over North India. On the last (tenth) day, effigies of Ravana, his
brother Kumbhkaran, and his son, Meghnath, are packed with firecrackers and burnt at sunset.
Large crowds gather to watch the effigies being burnt.
During Navratri or the nine days preceding Dussera people worship the Mother Goddess or 'Devi
Ma'. In Gujarat Navratri is a community affair. Young girls, resplendent in chaniya cholis dance
away the night doing the traditional Garbha dance or Dandiya Raas.
Karva Chauth (October/November)
Karva Chauth is a Hindu festival celebrated in Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. On
this day
married women keep a
fast for the
welfare,
prosperity,
longevity and well being of
their
husbands. This festival comes 9 days before Diwali on 'kartik ki chauth', the fourth day of the dark
moon. There is great festivity on this day. Early in the morning, before sunrise, the women bathe,
wear new clothes and eat a meal of select grains and fruit. For the rest of the day, they abstain
from food and even water, though the more strict rules of observance are not always kept.
They pray to Shiva and Parvati, hoping that their own married lives will be as successful as that of
the divine couple. In every neighborhood, women gather together in the afternoon to perform a
puja and to recite the story of 'Karva Chauth'. Most women are dressed in beautiful red or pink
clothes and traditional jewelry. Moonrise is eagerly awaited. Once the moon is sighted, women
gather on the terrace and pray for their husband and family's welfare, an elderly woman in the
house narrates the story of Karva Chauth, and all the fasting women end their fast with a sip of
water.
Diwali/Deepavali (October/November)
Diwali, one of the most
popular Indian festival, celebrates the
return of Lord Rama and Sita from exile. Diwali is also called as
the
festival of lights. It usually falls between 15th October and
15th November. It is celebrated because on that day hundreds of
years ago lord ram returned home to Ayodhya after 14 years of
being into exile. The day is celebrated by lighting lamps, diyas,
visiting relatives, feasting, and huge fireworks displays.
Ramadan
Ramadan is celebrated by
Muslims all over the world during the ninth month of the Islamic
calendar. For an entire month they will fast during daylight hours and spend time contemplating
and worshipping. It is a time that focuses as much on religion as family. In the evening, when it is
dark they eat a small meal called iftar and spend time with family and friends. It is a period of self-
sacrifice and devotion to Allah.
The reason for Ramadan is because this is the time that Muslims believe that the Prophet
Mohammed, when he was in the desert contemplating his religion, received the teachings of the
Quran from Allah. Each night of Ramadan prayers, called tarawith, are said and by the end of the
month all of the Qur'an has been recited.
Eid al Fitr
Eid al Fitr, which literally translates as feast of fast breaking, marks the
end of Ramadan and is
marked by huge celebrations. Muslims exchange gifts with family and friends and give gifts to
mosques and the poor.
Christmas (December)
Nearly 3% of India's population are
Christian but irrespective of that Christmas is celebrated
widely by people of all religions and by those without any. In India, just like in many places in the
West, Christmas has become a secular event. It is celebrated differently across the country, with
mango and banana leaves used as decoration in some parts of the country and poinsettias and
candles on Christmas Eve in others. But the traditional giving of gifts is followed everywhere and it
is a time of great celebration and for families.