Festivals

India, being a multi-cultural and
multi-religious society, celebrates
holidays and festivals of various
religions.
Indian festivals speak of India's rich
cultural and traditional background.
The colorful festivals are an integral
part of every Indians. The festivals
play an important part in promoting
the traditional handicrafts and
tourism of India

A
Aarohan
Accession Day (Jammu and Kashmir)
Akaal bodhan
Akshaya Tritiya
Ambedkar Jayanti
Ambubachi Mela
Anant Chaturdashi
Ayudha Puja
v
B
Bali Jatra
Bandi Chhor Divas
Bhagoria Festival
Bhau-beej
Bhumchu
Bundeli Utsa
C
Celebrate Bandra
Chaand Raat
Chalio
Chaturmas
Cheti Chand
Chhath
Chotrul Duchen
Culfest
D
Danda nata
Dasara
Deva Devali
Dhanteras
Dhanu Jatra
Dhanurmas
Dol Purnima
Dree Festival
Drupka Teshi
Durga Puja

E
Ekadashi
F
Flare (Techno-Cultural
Fest)
Flashpoint Human Rights
Film Festival
G
Gandharvanpattu
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Jayanti
Gaura-purnima
Golu
Govardhan Puja
Gudi Padwa
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Guru Purnima
H
Haldi Kumkum
Hanuman Jayanti
Harela mela
Hornbill Festival
I
International Mango
J cont.
Jhalar
Jiuntia
Jagaddhatri
Japan Habba
K
Kalasi Jatra
Kali Puja
Kandali Festival
Kanya Puja
Kartik Poornima
Karva Chauth
Kashmiri Pandit festivals
Kathina
Khajuraho Dance Festival
Kosal Tihar
Krishna Janmashtami
Kshamavani
Kumauni Holi
Kumbh Mela

L
Lai Haraoba
Lakshmi Puja
Lath mar Holi
Lhabab Duchen
List of Sindhi festivals
Lohri
Lucknow Mahotsav
M
Magh Bihu
Maghi
Maha Shivaratri
Gita Jayanti
Mahamaham
Mahavir Jayanti
Makar Sankranti
Makara Jyothi
Mattu Pongal
Mela
Moatsü
Modhera Dance Festival
Moksha (festival)
Mopin
Muharram
Murung
N
Nag Panchami
Nagula Chaviti
Nammoor Jatre
Nandotsav
Naraka Chaturdashi
National Youth Day (India)
National Youth Festival
(India)
Navratri
Nuakhai
Nyokum
O
Odyssey (HBTI, Kanpur)
Onam
Festivals of Orissa
Prathamastami
Raja Parba
P
Pandal

P cont.
Paryushana
Pavarana
Phool Walon Ki Sair
Pindi Perunnal
Pitru Paksha
Pola (festival)
Pushkaram
Puspuni
Puthandu
R
Raksha Bandhan
Ram Barat
Rama Navami
Ratha Saptami
Ratha-Yatra
Rendezvous (festival)
Revathi Pattathanam
S
Sal Mubarak
Sammakka Saralamma
Jatara
Samvatsari
Sanjhi
Saragarhi Day
Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav
Shayani Ekadashi
Shigmo
Sindhu Darshan Festival
Sizdah Be-dar
Sonepur Cattle Fair
Sree Narayana Guru
Samadhi
Sri Narayana Jayanthi
Srijan
T
Taj Mahotsav
Techkriti
Teej
Tendong Lho Rumfaat
Thai Pongal
Thiru Edu-Vasippu
Thrissur Pooram
Tiregān
Tokhu Emong

U
Ugadi
Umang
Uposatha
V
Valla Sadhya
Van Mahotsav
Vasant Panchami
Vasanta (Ritu)
Vassa
Vat Purnima
Vesak
Vijayadashami
Vivaha Panchami
W
Wangala
Y
Yaosang
Z
Zagor (festival)
Zatra

 Deepavali, popularly
known as the "festival
of lights," is
a festival celebrated
between mid-October
and mid-December for
different reasons.
 For Hindus, Diwali is one
of the most important
festivals of the year and
is celebrated in families
by performing
traditional activities
together in their homes

 It begins in late Ashvin (between September and October)
and ends in early Kartika (between October and
November). The days in Ashvin are in theKrishna
Paksha ("dark fortnight") of that month, while the days in
Kartik are in its Shukla Paksha ("bright fortnight"). The
first day is Dhan Teras. The last day is Yama Dvitiya,
which signifies the second day of the light half of Kartika.
 THE REASONS TO CELEBRATE DEEPAWALI:
 The return of Rama after 14 years
of Vanvas (banishment). To welcome his
return, diyas (ghee lamps) were lit in rows of 20.
 The killing of Narakasura: Celebrated as Naraka
Chaturdashi, one day before Diwali, it commemorates the
killing of the evil demon Narakasura
 Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali and is
the day Krishna defeated Indra, the deity of thunder and
rain.
 Return of Pandavas after 12 years of Vanvas and one year
of agyatavas (living incognito).

1. Govatsa Dwadashi or Vasu
Baras (27 Ashvin or 12 Krishna
Paksha Ashvin)
2. Dhanatrayodashi or Dhan teras or
Dhanwantari Triodasi (28 Ashvin or
13 Krishna Paksha Ashvin)
3. Naraka Chaturdashi (29 Ashvin or
4. Lakshmi Puja (30 Ashvin or
5. Bali Pratipada and Govardhan
Puja (1 Kartika or 1 Shukla
Paksha Kartika)
6. Yama Dwitiya or Bhaiduj (also
Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or
Bhayitika) (2 Kartika or 2 Shukla
Paksha Kartika)

 Ratha Yatra or the Car Festival is a huge Hindu
festival associated with Lord Jagannath held
at Puri in the state of Orissa, India.

 This annual festival is celebrated on Ashad
Shukla Dwitiya (second day in bright fortnight
of Ashad month). The festival commemorates
Lord Jagannath's annual visit to Gundicha
mata's temple via aunt's home (Mausi Maa
Temple which is near Balagandi Chaka in Puri).
 As part of Rath Yatra, the idols of Lord Puri
Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Subhadra are
taken out in a procession to Gundicha Temple
and remain there for nine days. Then the idols
or Rath Yatra returns to Puri Jagannath temple.
The return journey of Puri Jagannath Rath
Yatra is known as Bahuda Yatra.
 This is the only day when devotees who are not
allowed in the temple premises such as non-
Hindus and foreigners can get their glimpse of
the deities
 The three chariots of Balarama, Subhadra and
Jagannatha are newly constructed every year
with wood of specified trees like phassi, dhasa.
 Lord Jagannatha’s Chariot is called
Nandighosaausa. The Chariot of Lord
Balarama, called the Taladhwaja.The Chariot of
Subhadra, known as Dwarpadalana

 Around each of the chariots are nine Parsva devatas,
painted wooden images representing different deities on
the chariots’ sides. Each of the chariots is attached to
four horses. These are of different colours – white ones
for Balarama, dark ones for Jagannatha, and red ones for
Subhadra. Each chariot has a charioteer called Sarathi.
The three charioteers attached to the chariots of
Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra respectively are
Daruka , Matali and Arjuna.
 The sanctity of the festival is such that even a touch of
the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled
is considered enough to confer the results of several
pious deeds or penance for ages.

 Makar Sankranti or Pongal marks the transition of
the Sun into Makar rasi. It marks the gradual
increase of the duration of the day.
Pongal is the first day of Uttarayana and coincides
with the beginning of the Tamil month of Thai.
 According to the Puranas, on this day Surya(Sun)
visits the house of his son Shani(Saturn), who is the
lord of the Makar rashi(Zodiac Capricorn). This
day thus symbolizes the importance of the special
relationship between father and son.
 It was on this day when Lord Vishnu ended the ever
increasing terror of the Asuras(Demons) by
finishing them off and burying their heads under
the Mandara Parvata. So this occasion also
represents the end of 'negativities' and beginning of
an era of righteous living.

 Maharaja Bhagiratha, performed
great penance to bring Ganga down
to the earth for the redemption of
60,000 sons of Maharaj Sagar, who
were burnt to ashes at the Kapil
Muni Ashram, near the present
day Ganga Sagar
 ,Bhishma, declared his intent to
leave his mortal coil on this day. He
had the boon of Ichha-Mrityu(death
at his will) from his father, so he
kept lying on the bed of arrows till
this day and then left his mortal coil
on this day.
 Since the festival is celebrated in
mid winter, food prepared for this
festival is such that it keeps the
body warm and gives high
energy.Laddu of til made with
Jaggery is a specialty of the
festival. In the western Indian state
of Maharashtra it is called
'Tilgul'oil on Makar Sankranti day.

 Vaisakhi is a harvest festival which is celebrated on the
thirteenth day of April according to the solar calendar.
This day marks the beginning of the Hindu solar new
year. In fact this day is celebrated all over the country
as new year day under different names. It is celebrated
in North India, particularly in Punjab and Haryana,
when the rabi crop is ready for harvesting.
 Baisakhi has a special meaning for the Sikhs. On this
day in 1699, their tenth Guru Gobind Singh organized
the order of the Khalsa and administered amrit (nectar)
to his first batch of five disciples making them Singhs,
a martial community
 This day is once again of immense religious import to
the Buddhists because Gautama Buddha attained
enlightenment and Nirvana on this auspicious day.

 In Kerala, the festival is called 'Vishu‘
 Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya
Samaj on Baisakhi in 1875
 It usually falls on April 13, falling on April 14
once every thirty-six years. It coincides with
'Rongali Bihu' in Assam, 'Naba Barsha' in Bengal,
Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and 'Pooram Vishu' in
Keralahi.

 Krishna Janmashtami is
observed on the Ashtami tithi,
the eighth day of the dark half
or Krishna Paksha of the month
of Shraavana in the Hindu
calendar, when
the Rohini Nakshatra is
ascendant. The festival always
falls within mid-August to mid-
September in the Gregorian
calendar and marks the birth
of Krishna.

 Rasa lila, dramatic enactments
of the life of Krishna, are a
special feature in regions
of Mathura and Vrindavan,
and regions
following Vaishnavism in
Manipur
 The Dahi Handi celebrate
God's playful and mischievous
side, where teams of young
men form human pyramids to
reach a high-hanging pot of
butter and break it. This
tradition, also known as uriadi,
is a major event in Tamil Nadu
on Gokulashtami.

 Vasant Panchami sometimes
referred to as Saraswati Puja or
Shree Panchami , is a Hindu
festival worshipping Saraswati, the
goddess
of knowledge, music and art. It is
celebrated every year on the fifth
day (Panchami) of the Indian
month Magh (January-February),
 Traditionally during this festival
children are taught to write their
first words; brahmins are fed;
ancestor worship (Pitr-tarpan) is
performed; the god of
love Kamadeva is worshipped; and
most educational institutions
organise special prayer for
Saraswati he first day of spring.

 Navratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of a
Hindu deity Shakti. The word Navaratri literally
means nine nights.
 During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms
of Shakti/Devi are worshiped. The 10th day is
commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.
 The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn
are two very important junctions of climatic and solar
influence.
 Navarathri is celebrated five times a year. They
are Vasanta Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri,
the Sharada Navaratri, and
the Paush/Magha Navaratri.

I. Vasanta Navaratri: Basanta Navaratri, also known as Vasant
Navaratri, is the festival of nine days dedicated to the nine forms of
Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the spring season (March–April). It is also
known as Chaitra Navaratri. The nine days of festival is also known as
Raama Navratri.
II. Gupta Navaratri: Gupta Navaratri, also referred as Ashadha or
Gayatri or Shakambhari Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine
forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Ashadha (June–
July). Gupta Navaratri is observed during the Ashadha Shukla Paksha
(waxing phase of moon).
III. Sharada Navaratri: This is the most important of the Navaratris. It is
simply called Maha Navaratri (the Great Navratri) and is celebrated
in the month of Ashvina. Also known as Sharad Navaratri, as it is
celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, September–October).
IV. Paush Navaratri: Paush Navaratri is nine days dedicated to the nine
forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Paush (December–
January). Paush Navaratri is observed during the Paush Shukla
Paksha (waxing phase of moon).
V. . Magha Navaratri: Magha Navaratri, also referred as Gupta
Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother
Goddess) in the month of Magha (January–February). Magha
Navaratri is observed during the Magha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase
of moon).

Nine forms of Shakti are
worshipped during the Navaratris.
The Devis worshipped depend on
the tradition of the region.:
1.Durga, the inaccessible one
2.Bhadrakali
3.Amba or Jagadamba, Mother of
the universe
4.Annapoorna devi, The one who
bestows grains (anna) in plenty
(purna: used as subjective)
5.Sarvamangala, The one who gives
joy (mangal) to all (sarva)
6.Bhairavi
7.Chandika or Chandi
8.Lalita
9.Bhavani
10.Mookambika

 Commences on the first and ends on the tenth day
of the bright half of the lunar month
Aswayuja/Asvina.

 Navarathri is celebrated in different ways
throughout India. In North India, all three
Navaratris are celebrated with much fervor
by fasting on all nine days and worshiping
the Mother Goddess in her different forms
 The last four days of Sharad Navaratri take
on a particularly dramatic form in the
states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal,
Orissa, Assam in East India where they are
celebrated as Durga Puja
 In Western India, particularly in the state
of Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with the
famous Garba and Dandiya-Raas dance.
 In North India, as the culmination of the
Ramlila which is enacted ceremoniously
during Dussehra, the effigies of Ravana,
Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burnt
to celebrate the victory of good (Rama)
over evil forces on the 'Vijaya Dashami'
day.

IF THERE
ARE NO
GIRLS THE
FESTIVE
NATURE OF
NAVRATRI
WONT BE
THERE!!!

 Gudi Padwa is the Marathi name
for Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. This day is also
the first day of Chaitra Navratri and
Ghatasthapana also known as Kalash Sthapana
is done on this day
 A Gudhi is also hoisted on this occasion giving
this festival its name.
 This new moon day has special meaning
from Astronomy point of view. The Sun is
supposed to be in first point of Aries, (Hamal)
which is first sign of zodiac and is a natural
beginning of spring

 Being the first day of the first month of a
year, Gudhi Padwa is the New Year's Day
for Marathi people.
 the Gudhi Padwa is celebrated at the end of
the Rabi season. Gudhi Padwa is one of
the Saade-Teen Muhurta
 According to the Brahma Purana, this is the
day on which Brahma created the world
after the deluge and time began to tick from
this day forth.

 Guru Purnima is the day devotees offer puja
(worship) to their Guru. This was also the day
when Vyasa, author of the Mahabharata was born.
 The word guru is derived from two words, 'Gu' and
'Ru' . The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or
ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that
darkness
 . It falls on the day of full moon, Purnima, in the
month of Ashadh(June–July) of the Shaka
Samvat, Indian national calendar and Hindu
calendar.
 Students of the Indian classical music, which also
follows the Guru shishya parampara, celebrate this
festival, around the world.

 The Hindu spiritual Gurus
are revered on this day by
remembering their life and
teachings. The festivities are
usually followed by feast for
the disciples, shishya, where
the prasad and charnamrita
literally nectar of the feet, the
symbolic wash of Guru's feet,
which represents his
grace, kripa is distributed.
 mantra that is particularly
used on this day is "Gurur
Brahma, Gurur Vishnu,
Gurur Devo Maheshwara,
Guru Sakshat Parabrahmah
Tasmai Shree Guru Veh
Namah".

 Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence
of Lord Shiva. It is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day of
the Maagha orPhalguna month of the Hindu calendar
 The festival is principally celebrated by offerings
of Bael or Bilva/Vilvamleaves to Lord Shiva.
 According to a legend, Parvati performed tapas, prayed and
meditated on this day to ward off any evil that might befall her
husband on the moonless night .
 Another legend of the day is that Shiva and Shakti married each
other.
 There is one more legend associated with Samudra Manthan
(churning of ocean), a process in which the asuras (demons) and the
gods joined hands to churn out amrut(nectar) from the depths of the
ocean, using a mountain and a snake as a rope. Pot of poison came out
of the ocean. This poison was so potent that it has the power to destroy
the whole universe. Shiva drank the Halahala to eliminate its
destructive capacity .The poison was so potent that it changed the
color of His neck to blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called
Neelkanta.

•From the very early morning,
Shiva temples are flocked by
devotees, young and old, who
come to perform the traditional
Shivalinga worship (puja) and
hence hope for favours from the
god.
• Tripundra refers to the three
horizontal stripes of holy ash
applied to the forehead by
worshippers of Lord Shiva.
These stripes symbolise spiritual
knowledge, purity
and penance (spiritual practice of
Yoga), so also they represent the
three eyes of Lord Shiva.

 Also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi or Ashadhi. This holy
day is of special significance to Vaishnavas, followers of
Hindu preserver god Vishnu. On this day images of
Vishnu and Lakshmi are worshipped.
 It is believed that Vishnu falls asleep in Ksheersagar -
cosmic ocean of milk - on Sheshanāga, the cosmic serpent

 This day, a huge yatra or religious procession of pilgrims
known as Pandharpur Ashadi Ekadasi Waari
Yatra culminates at Pandharpur, in Solapur district in
south Maharashtra, situated on the banks of the Bhima
River. Pandharpur is main center of worship of the
deity Vithoba, a local form of Vishnu
 Some of them carry Palkhis (palanquins) with the images
of the saints of Maharashtra. Dnyaneshwar's image is
carried from Alandi, Tukaram's from Dehu, Eknath's
from Paithan, Nivruttinath's
from Trimbakeshwar, Muktabai's
from Muktainagar, Sopan's from Sasvad and Saint
Gajanan Maharaj from Shegaon.
 These pilgrims are referred to as Warkaris. They
sing Abhangas (chanting hymns) of Saint Tukaram and
Saint Dnyaneshwar, dedicated to Vithoba.

 Ram Navami also known as Sri Rama Navami is
a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of
Lord Rama to King Dasharatha and
Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya
 The SreeRama Navami festival falls in the Shukla
Paksha on the Navami, the ninth day of the month
ofChaitra in the Hindu calendar. Thus it is also
known as Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami, and
marks the end of the nine-day Chaitra-
Navratri celebrations.
 Rama is the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, who
takes birth by His own will, on Bhuloka (Earth)
whenAdharma rules over Dharma. He protects all
his devotees by vanquishing the roots of Adharma.
Rama decided to incarnate to destroy an Asura or
person with demonic and evil designs,
called Ravana

 This day also marks the
end of the nine-day utsava
called Chaitra
Navaratri (Maharashtra)
or Vasanthothsava (Karnat
aka, Andhra Pradesh &
Tamil Nadu) (festival
of Spring), which starts
with Gudi
Padwa (Maharashtra).
 ". Sri Rama Navami
generally occurs in the
months of March and
April. Celebrations and
festivities begin with
prayer to the Surya Deva
early in the morning

 The festival, also known as Ganeshotsav ("festival of
Ganesha") is observed in the Hindu calendar month
of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shuklachaturthi .
 Ganesh Chaturthi (Marathi: गणेश चतुर्थी), also known
as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is the Hindu festival of Ganesha , the
son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his
presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this
festival
 n 1893, Lokmanya Tilak transformed the annual domestic
festival into a large, well-organized public event. Tilak
recognized the wide appeal of the deity Ganesha as "the god
for everybody", and popularized Ganesh Chaturthi as a
national festival in order "to bridge the gap
between Brahmins and 'non-Brahmins' and find a context in
which to build a new grassroots unity between them", and
generate nationalistic fervour among people in Maharashtra
against the British colonial rule

 Ganesha is worshiped for 10 days from Bhadrapada
Shudha Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, On the
11th day, the statue is taken through the streets in a
procession accompanied with dancing, singing, and
fanfare to be immersed in a river or the sea
symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey
towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with
him the misfortunes of his devotees
 At individual homes the Visarjan/Nimajjanam is also
done on 3rd, 5th or 7th day as per the family
tradition. All join in this final procession shouting
"Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhachya Varshi Laukar
ya”.
 The main sweet dish during the festival is the
modak.Another popular sweet dish is the karanji.

 Parvati created Ganesha out
of sandalwood paste that she
used for her bath and
breathed life into the figure.
She then set him to stand
guard at her door while she
bathed. Lord Shiva returned
and, as Ganesha didn't know
him, he didn't allow him to
enter. Lord Shiva became
enraged, severed the head of
the child and entered his
house. After realizing that he
had beheaded his own son,
Lord Shiva fixed the head of
an elephant in place of
Ganesha's head. In this way,
Lord Ganesha came to be
depicted as the elephant-
headed God.

WEAR
HELMET!!!
EVERYBODY
DOESN’T
GET A
REPLACEMENT
AS ME!!

 Onam is a Hindu festival and the state festival
of Kerala celebrated by the people of Kerala, India.
The festival commemorates
the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent
homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It
falls during the month of Chingam (August–
September) and lasts for ten days.

 According to the legend, Kerala witnessed its
golden era during the reign of King Mahabali.
The subjects under Mahabli's reign was happy
and prosperous and the king was highly
regarded, so much so that even the gods under
Indra became jealous of Mahabali
 Vishnu assumed the form of a dwarf: Vamana.
Vamana requested three steps of land for him to
live in. He had grown so huge that he could step
from heaven to earth, and earth to the lower
worlds in two simple steps.
King Mahabali unable to fulfill the promise of
three paces of land to the Supreme God, offers
his head for the third step. Thus, Vamana places
his foot on King Mahabali's head and sends him
down to the netherworld.

 In the meantime, with the grace of Vishnu, Mahabali
visited his people on an annual basis. Vishnu served
Mahabali as a gatekeeper in Patala as the Lord himself
serves his greatest devotees.It is this visit of Mahabali
that is celebrated as Onam every year.
 Another popular feature of Onam is Vallamkali, the
Snake Boat Race, held on the Pamba River, in which
decorative boats oared by hundreds of boatmen race
amidst chanting of songs and cheering by spectators and
viewers.
 There is also a tradition to play games, collectively called
Onakalikal, on Onam. Men go in for rigorous sports like
Talappanthukali (played with a ball), Ambeyyal
(Archery), Kutukutu and combats called Kayyankali and
Attakalam. Women indulge in cultural activities.

 "Vat Purnima'' or Wata
Pournima is a celebration
observed in the states
of Gujarat, Maharashtra,
and Karnataka, India.
Pournima means "full moon"
and is celebrated on the full
moon day (the 15th) of the
month of Jyeshta on the Hindu
Calendar, which falls in June
on the Gregorian Calendar.
Women pray for the prosperity
and longevity of their husbands
by tying threads around
a banyan tree (wata) known as
Peepal Puja on this day.[1] It
honoursSavitri, the legendary
wife who rescued her
husband's soul from the ruler
of the departed, Yama.

 Raksha Bandhan, (the bond of protection) or Rakhi, is a
festival primarily observed in India, which celebrates
the relationship between brothers and sisters
 The central ceremony involves the tying of
a rakhi (sacred thread) by a sister on her brother's
wrist. This symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for
her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow
to protect her.
 The festival falls on the full moon day (Shravan
Poornima) of the Shravan month of the Hindu lunisolar
calendar
 It grew in popularity after Rani Karnavati, the widowed
queen of Chittor, sent a rakhi to
the Mughal emperor Humayun when she required his
help.

Holi is a religious spring festival
celebrated by Hindus. It is also known
as Phagwah and Festival of Colors.
Holi is celebrated at the end of the
winter season on the last full moon day
of the lunar
month Phalguna (February/March),
(Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls
in the later part of February or March
Hiranyakashipu is the great king of
demons, he had been granted a boon
by Brahma, which made it almost
impossible for him to be killed.

 He demanded that people stop
worshipping Gods and start praising
respectfully to him.According to this belief,
Hiranyakashipu's own son, Prahlada, was a
devotee of Lord Vishnu. In spite of several
threats from Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada
continued offering prayers to Lord Vishnu.
 He ordered young Prahlada to sit on a pyre in
the lap of Holika, Hiranyakashipu's demoness
sister, who also could not die because she had a
boon preventing her from being burned by fire.
Prahlada readily accepted his father's orders,
and prayed to Lord Vishnu to keep him safe.
When the fire started, everyone watched in
amazement as Holika burnt to death, while
Prahlada survived unharmed. The salvation of
Prahlada and burning of Holika is celebrated as
Holi.

 There is alternative story detailing
the origin of Holi. This story is
about Kamadeva, a God of love.
Kama's body was destroyed when
he shot his weapon at Shiva in order
to disrupt his meditation and
help Parvati to marry Shiva. Shiva
then opened his third eye, the gaze
of which was so powerful that
Kama's body was reduced to ashes.
For the sake of Kama's
wife Rati (passion), Shiva restored
him, but only as a mental image,
representing the true emotional and
spiritual state of love rather than
physical lust. The Holi bonfire is
believed to be celebrated in
commemoration of this event.

Rangapanchami occurs a few days later
on a Panchami (fifth day of the full
moon), marking the end of festivities
involving colors.
The tradition of playing colors on Holi
draws its roots from a legend of Radha
and Krishna. It is said that young
Krishna was jealous of Radha's fair
complexion since he himself was very
dark. He narrated his woe to mother
Yashoda, who teasingly asked him to
color Radha's face in which ever color he
wanted. In a mischievous mood, Krishna
applied color on Radha's face. The
tradition of applying color on one's
beloved is being religiously followed till
date.

 Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha
Teej is a Hindu and Jain holy day, that
falls on the third Tithi (Lunar day) of
Bright Half (Shukla Paksha) of the
pan-Indian month of Vaishakhaand one
of the four most important days
for Hindus.
 It is an auspicious day of the birthday
of Lord Parasurama who is the sixth
incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
 On this day Veda Vyas and Lord
Ganesha began to write Mahabharata
 It was also on this day that Goddess
Annapoorna was born.

 Fasts are kept on this day
and pujas are performed. In
charity, fan, rice, salt, ghee,
sugar, vegetables, tamarind,
fruit, clothes, are given.
Vishnu is worshipped on this
day. Tulsi water is sprinkled
in the nearby are of the idol
while performing aarti.
 On the day of ‘Akshay
Trutiya’, a king or those who
have the responsibility of
taking care of the subjects,
should perform ‘puja’, with
gratitude and devotion, of
the picture of ‘Vaibhav-
Lakshmi’

The commonness in all the celebration is that it
celebrates humanity. Some of the common
rituals, which are followed in most of the
festivals, are processions in the streets,
decoration of homes and sacred places such as
temples and traditional and folk song and
dance performances. Most religious festivals
have elaborate prayers, traditions, customs and
rituals attached to them. The elaborate
celebration and the multitude of festivals in
India, each with their own unique legends and
significances often awe the foreigners who
come to visit India.

 Bharatiya festivals and holy days are designed to
reveal the greatness and integrity of Indian culture
 I desire that our festivals and the holy days should
be observed in the right spirit, with an
understanding of their inner significance.

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