With its different types of architecture, languages and customs, India is undoubtedly one of the most diverse and cultural countries in the world. It is also evident that in a country like this, people celebrate and commemorate festivals in different ways etching every festival unique in India’s cultural landscape. Various reasons can promote and sustain a cause for celebration. Fairs and festivals bring people together from social and varied sections of society. Building a bond with family, relatives, coworkers, and friends while coming together could be the common thread for the people celebrating all the diverse festivals in India. In this blog, we will discuss a few major festivals celebrated in India, their history, and the rituals that make a great experience.
Religious Celebrations and Customs
India is one such country where the majority of the population practices a certain religion as compared to other nations around the globe. Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, etc., with their many followers all strengthen the unity of India and her people’s belief in the country’s diversity and longer more with an appeal for mutual respect and freedom to practice. Cultures as expansive as different religions will often lead to kinship, especially during ceremonies that are of religious importance. Be it across the globe or in one country, all religions tend to have their festivals and customs and all are equally important Largely speaking in India, every major religion has at least 2-3 popular holidays throughout the year. The different sects within the religions also boost the prospect of growing festivals from within a certain religion. Examples of such festivals will include Christmas, Basant Panchami, Eid al-Fitr, Guru Nanak Jayanti, etc. Looking at this from a political aspect, these festivals are often promoted to help one grow as an individual and at the same time bind the diversity of the Indian people.
Cultural Festivals
Cultural fests such as the Jaipur Literature Festival, Goa Carnival and Surajkund Mela are a celebration of the artistic traditions of India. These not only attract the local crowd, but a foreign crowd as well that comes to witness the vibrant cultures of India.
Major Festivals in India
Diwali: The Festival of Lights
Diwali or Deepavali is the festival of lights with a splash of colours, celebrated in many different forms all across the world. The festival in Hinduism celebrates the victory of good over evil and light over darkness with diyas (oil lamps) on homes with decorative rangoli around them.
The festival is spread over five days;
Dhanteras: Buying certain metals like gold and buying utensils is believed to bring luck and prosperity.
Naraka Chaturdashi: Marked as Lord Krishna’s killing of the demon Narakasura.
Main Diwali: Veneration of Goddess Lakshmi and her son, Lord Ganesha.
Govardhan Puja: The day recognizes Lord Krishna’s protection.
Bhai Dooj: A celebration of the bond between siblings.
The Diwali celebrations are about exchanging gifts, and firecrackers, eating sweets and making the best of it when it comes to everyone.
Holi: The Festival of Colors Holi qualifies as one of the most colourful and joyous among the many festivals of light and colours. It is a spring festival that commemorates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. The night preceding Holi, called Holika Dahan, is a bonfire night that denotes the pressure of goodness over evil. On the day of Holi, people decorate themselves with coloured powders, powders known as gulal, or coloured water, while humming and dancing to Holi songs: the people in the festival stand united regardless of their caste, creed and age. Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha Come next in the line are these two important Eid festivals for Muslims in India, Eid-ul-Fitr, a celebration after Ramadan, and Eid-ul-Adha is the festival of sacrifice. Eid-ul-Fitr: The day that Muslims eat and give thanks after fasting for the month, during the festival which is the final day of Ramadan. Various sweets including seviyan and dates are served at the time. Eid-ul-Adha: Celebrating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, prayers are said during this time and meat is given to those who need it. These are exceptionally charitable, sharing, and devoted festivals.
Christmas: The Celebration of the Birth of Christ
Christmas, which is celebrated by Christians all over India is in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmastime is always a matter of significance for Christians, as it is during this Holy time that the Churches are ornamented with beautiful decorations and the midnight mass is carried out. Most observed in towns like Goa and Kerala, Christmas is also celebrated with presents, singing carols and eating cakes among other activities.
In India’s nine-day Navratri festivities observed in the name of goddess Durga, Indians get to express their unconditional faith and belief in the supreme power. Garba and Dandiya Raas are popular in the region of Gujarat while in West Bengal the last day of the festival is celebrated with mime and puja mahdaiya with grand processions accompanied by creative pandals.
Dussehra the tenth-day festival is about Lord Rama overthrowing Ravana symbolizing goodness emerging victorious over evil. The effigies of Ravana are made and placed all around the country and are lit on fire together with some artistic activity.
Cultural Festivals in India
Pushkar Camel Fair
The Camel Fair in Pushkar Rajasthan has its fame in the list of cultural festivals in India. The festive event interests thousands of people and contains an element of trading animals, performing cultural dances and selling arts and crafts.
Goa Carnival
Known to be marked by Portuguese customs, the carnival in Goa is accompanied by float parades, music, dance, and delicious food. It comes before the period of Lent that is marked with abstinence and moderation.
Jaipur Literature Festival
As referred to as the “widest bookshelf which one can ever imagine”, the Jaipur Literature Festival pulls together writers, readers and thinkers from every part of the globe with festivities that centre on art, literature and intelligent debate.
Harvest Festivals of India
Pongal: Tamil Nadu’s Harvest Festival
Celebrated in the Tamil Nadu state, Pongal is intensely focused on the harvest. The festival is a four-day celebration, with each day of the festival having different practices:
Bhogi Pongal: involves discarding old things and welcoming new ones.
Surya Pongal: involves praying to the Sun God.
Mattu Pongal: the wearing of cattle.
Kaanum Pongal: the day when the people go to the homes of others and eat the festive meal.
Adding to the momentum, some of the more enticing and delectable dishes such as sweet Pongal are served on this occasion.
Baisakhi: The Harvest Festival of Punjab
Baisakhi is celebrated to mark the availability of rabi crops and this is an important period in Sikh culture as it is the date which represents when Guru Gobind Singh captivated Khalsa Panth. The day marks a special occasion during which Bhangra and Gidda dances fairs and langars are held.
Makar Sankranti
In full observance, Makar Sankranti marks and is celebrated by millions of people across the country when the sun gives way to Capricorn. The day is known by different names; Uttarayan in the state of Gujarat, Lohri in Punjab and Pongal in the south of India in Tamil Nadu. Some integral parts of the festival include launching kites, making delicious sweet til laddoos, and mong bathing in holy rivers.
Festivals of Light and Color – India
There are many other festivals apart from Diwali and Holi which are hosted in India Gur Nanak Jayanti – procession and decorated Gurdwaras celebrating the birth of Guru Nanak. On this date, the festival’s fervour is closer to Christmas in December.
Onam – a harvest festival of Kerala that is more famous for its floral adornment, classical dances, and boat races.
Chhat Puja – Devoted to Surya, the Sun God this festival encompasses fasting and offering prayers at dawn and dusk.
The Festivals of India and Their Popularity Across Borders
Different parts of India celebrate different festivals that make up the colourful patchwork that Indian culture is. No wonder, tourists come to India- be it the artistic pandals of Durga Puja in Kolkata or the camel fair in Pushkar. The comparison with the Great World Expo may not be an exaggeration. These are not only field days for the eyes; they are full-fledged festivals.
Final Words
India is a colourful nation with a rich history, diversity and beautiful culture. The Festivals of india are an example of all that as they are made up of many religions, traditions, cultures and people. From Deepawali to Curating the India Goa Carnival with the Jaipur Literature Festival, the country has many more popular tourist attractions.
The celebrations and Festivals of India have a message for all mankind: unity in diversity. You do not have to be an Indian to be inspired by the pitch of happiness and cultural vibrancy that the festivals depict.
Let us celebrate these moments with pride and passion. And in the process, we imprint on our minds a deep burden…. a deep burden to protect and nurture our spirit at all times.