Festivals In India

Festivals are special occasions of celebration. For children, festivals are special days of fun, feasts, presents, new clothes, dancing and singing. During most of the festivals, people decorate their houses wear special clothes, prepare special food and exchange gifts. Celebrations of festivals teach us to live together happily and peacefully.

हिन्दी में पढ़िए:-  भारत के प्रमुख त्यौहार

India is a land of festivals. Most festivals occur once a year and last for a day or more.

Kinds of Festivals: 

Festivals in India are mainly of three kinds

• National festivals 
• Religious festivals and 
• Harvest festivals. 

Bastar Dushhara.

Birthdays of some saints and famous people are also celebrated. Below is an attempt to show festivals in India in a nut shell under the categories. 

National Festivals

National festivals are celebrated throughout the country by all Indians. The national festivals are Independence Day Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti.

Independence Day

On August 15 every year, we celebrate our Independence Day. It is a memorable day in the history of India. On this day in 1947, India got freedom after a long struggle with the British Empire. This national event is celebrated all over the country with the unfurling of the National Flag and singing the National Anthem.

The main function is held in Delhi at the Red Fort. The Prime Minister of India unfurls the National Flag and delivers a speech to the nation.

Republic Day

On 26 January we celebrate our Republic Day. It is on this day India was declared Democratic Republic. This is celebrated all over India. A grand parade is held at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi. The president of India takes he salute of the mach past at Rajpath and the parade passes thorough India Gate. The three units of Armed Forces are followed by tableaux from different states of India. Folk dancers from different states and school children also take part in the parade. On this day bravery medals are awarded to the Armed Forces as well.

Gandhi Jayanti

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated as a national festival on 2 October. The whole country pays homage to the “Father of the Nation”. The president, the Prime Minister and many others visit the Samadhi of Gandhiji at Rajghat in New Delhi to pay their homage.

Religious Festivals

Diwali

Diwali or Deepawali is the festival of lights. It is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama after 14 years of exile. Lamps (diyas) and rows of tiny electric bulbs light up homes and public buildings. People worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. In West Bengal, Kali, the Goddess of strength is worshipped. People exchange gifts, dry fruits and sweets. Children and adults both enjoy themselves by watching fireworks.

Christmas

The birth of Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated on December 25 all over the world. Christians go to the church for Mass. Children sing carols. People decorate Christmas trees with lights and silver stars. It is believed that Santa Claus brings gifts for children at night. People exchange greeting cards, cakes and gifts with their friends and relatives.

Id-ul-Fitr (Eid)

Id-ul-fitr is the main festival celebrated by the Muslims. During Ramzan, Muslims fast every day from sunrise to sunset. After a month long of fasting or “roza”, Id is celebrated at the sight of the new moon. All wear new clothes and offer namaz. They exchange “id Mubarak” greetings. Idi or money is given to children. A special sweet dish called “Sewian” is served to the guests. Muslims give alms to the needy.

Gurupurab

Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism. His birthday is celebrated as Gurupurab. On this day, Sighs pray at Gurudwaras and read Guru Granth Sahib. Big processions are taken out. Langar (a community meal) is offered to all.

Navroz

The parsees celebrate Navrozas their New Year Day. They visit Fire Temples. They promise to live with god thoughts, use good words and perform good deeds.

Dussehra

Dussehra is a symbol of victory of good over evil. It is celebrated for ten days. Fair are held and Ram Lela is performed. On the tenth day, effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarana and son Meghanaatha, stuffed with firecrackers are set on fire in the evening.

Durga Puja

Durga Puja is a very important festival of West Bengal. It is celebrated for ten days. Huge pandals with idols of Durga, the Goddess of strength are decorated for nine days. Arti is performed. On the tenth day, idols from all pandals are taken in a long procession and immersed in a river or sea.

Navaratri

Navaratri is a very important festival in Gujrat. It is celebrated in the honour of Goddess Durga, also called Goddess Amba. “Dandiya Raas” is the main attraction of this festival.

Holi

Face colored in Holi (Photo-Abhishek Thakur)

Holi is a festival of colours. It celebrates the victory of god over evil. To symbolize the burning of the evil, a huge bonfire is lit at mid-night (Actually, just before a dawn). Next day people enjoy squirting colored water and substance called gulal on friends, family and relatives. They dance and sing in merriment.

Raksha Bandhan

The festival of Raksha Bandhan is associated with the love between brothers and sisters. Sisters tie a tread which symbolizes safety and blessings to their brother. Brothers, in turn, give them gifts and vow to protect and care for their sisters life-long.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Special puja (worship) of Lord Ganesha, the God of wisdom and prosperity is marked with Ganesh Chaturthi. It has a special flavor in Maharashtra. An idol of Ganesha is brought home and worshipped for ten days. After ten days the idol is immersed in the sea or a river.

Festival celebrated to marked harvest.

India is land of agriculture. It is a time when crops are ready for cutting and gathering. Farmers are happy as they have got the reward of their hard work and celebrated these days as festivals. Let’s take a look at the prominent festivals being celebrated across the country to mark the harvest.

Onam

Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala. It is celebrated for ten days. It is believed that King Mahabali visits Mahabalipuram on this day. Snake-boat races and dances are the main attractions.

Pongal

Pongal is the harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu. The Sun God is worshipped. Pongal dish, the sweet rice cooked in milk is dedicated to the cattle. Bull fighting is a special attraction. This festival is celebrated as Sankranti in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karanataka and also in North India.

Baisakhi

Baisakhi is a harvest festival of Punjab. It is a holy day for Sikhs. It also marks the anniversary of Khalasa Pant founded by Guru Gobind Singh. Baisakhi fair, Bhagara dance by men and Gidda by women are special features.

Bihu

Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam. Three bihus are celebrated in a year. Each Bihu celebrated an event – sowing of seeds, transplanting of paddy and the end of harvesting period. Young girls in typical Assamese clothes sing and perform Bihu songs and dances. 

More about Indian Festivals

Festivals of India play a major role in spreading unity in diversity, with emphasis on communal harmony. 

• The Teej is the monsoon festival celebrated in Rajasthan.
• The birth-day of Lord Krishna is celebrated as Janamashthami.
• The birth-day of Lord Rama is celebrated as Ramnavami.
• Lohari is one of the important festivals of Punjab
• Buddha Purnima celebrates the birthday of Lord Buddha.
• The birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira is celebrated as Mahavir Jayanti.
• Easter is a festival of the Christians. On this day Lord Jesus Chirist had risen after his Crucifixion.

Thus, India celebrates festivals one after another round the year.