Diwali : Celebrated in the month of October/November, Diwali is the biggest festival of Hindus all over the world. It is known as the 'Festival of Lights'. The festival is celebrated by rich- poor, young or old through out the country with great spirit and enthusiasm. It commemorates the Lord Rama's return to his kingdom- Ayodhya, after the exile of 14 years. It celebrates the victory of good over bad. Diwali is celebrated for five days. Homes are decorated with diyas or lamps. Gifts are exchanged among the people and sweets are distributed by everyone. People burn crackers and perform Lashmi puja in the evening.
Holi : Holi is the most colourful and oldest festival of the Hindus. It is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima (in the month of March). It marks the arrival of spring and the death of Holika. People dance in joy and smear color on each other. Young ones go out in the streets, play pranks, throw colour water balloons on each other and shout Holi hai means 'It's Holi'. Normally it is celebrated for two days. On the first day bonfires are lit and on the second day colours are sprayed. Holi is celebrated for 16 days in Mathura. Hindus all over the world eagerly wait for this festival.
Eid-ul-Fitr : Eid-ul-Fitr is the festival of Fast Breaking. Muslims gather in the mosques to offer prayer to the Allha. It is celebrated to mark the end of Ramzan. The festival lasts for three days, but the first day is the most important. People give gifts to one another and exchange greetings of 'Eid Mubarak'. Homes are decorated with bright colours. Giving special charity on this occasion is obligatory. Muslims prepare luxurious feasts on this day. It is the day of happiness and rejoicing.
Pongal : Pongal is the harvest festival celebrated in the month of January. People offer prayers to the Sun God and rain God on this day. It is mainly celebrated in South India. It is a four day festival. In the north it is called as Sankranti. In certain areas cattle races are held to enliven the atmosphere. When the harvest is over people thanks God, earth and their cattle. Homes are decorated with the rangaloi of rice flours. This festival is mostly celebrated in the villages.
Durga Pooja : Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the Bengali's in India. It is celebrated in the month of Kartik or Ashwin (in the month of September and October). Devotees offer prayers to the ten armed Goddess Durga. Itwas Durga who vanqui shed the buffalo demon Mahishasura. People pray that the Goddess Durga arrives on an elephant and departs on boat. The arrival of Goddess Durga on elephant signifies good harvest and the departure on boat signifies good harvest and flood. The streets enliven with the sounds of drums. People decorate their homes, wear new clothes and prepare mouth water delicacies for them.
Ganesh Chaturthi : Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of the Lord Ganesh. It is celebrated for five to ten days. It falls on the forth day of the Bhadrapada (between August and September). It is celebrated with lot of devotion in all the parts of India especially in Maharashtra. The grand processions is carried out by the people, carrying the immense idol of the Lord Ganesh, which is immersed in the water. The houses and temples are cleaned and white washed properly before the idol of Ganesh is installed. Every community makes its own pandals. People usually fasts during these days and distribute sweets to one another.
Onam : Onam is the biggest festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala. It falls in between August and September. The festival marks the home coming of the legendary King Mahabali. Snake Boat race and the Kathakali dance enliven the atmosphere of this day. It is most important harvest festival, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world. Carnival of Onam lasts for ten days, which is carried out with drum, music and dance performances. People offer prayers to the Lord Vishnu on this day.
Christmas : Christmas is the birth anniversary of Jesus. It is the annual holiday all over the world. It is celebrated on the 25th December every year. People decorate their houses with the small clay oil- burning lamps. X- Mas trees are beautifully decorated with the stars, lights, glitters, tinsels, toys, plastic fruits and gifts. Churches are fully filled with the red flowers and are decorated with poinsettias on the Christmas Eve.Christians in Mumbai display manger in front of their front window and are also seen hanging mango leaves on their rooftops. Carol singing enliven the Christmas festival with great enthusiasm. People exchange gifts and prepare delicious cakes on this occasion.
Maha Shivratri : It is celebrated on the sixth night of the dark Phalgun (February or March) every year. It is the same night when Lord Shiva performed Tandava. People keep fast on this day and offer prayers, milk, sweets and flowers to the idol of the Lord Shiva. It is celebrated through out the country, but is most popular in Uttar Pradesh. It is also believed that on this day Shivaji and Parvati tied knot. All the ceremonies takes place during the night. Temples are beautifully decorated with lights on this moonless night.
