Festivals in India

It is said that we should celebrate life rather than merely holidays. In a nation like India, life is linked with festivals since there are so many of them, reflecting our culture and customs. These festivities bring with them a rush of excitement and enthusiasm, breaking the monotony of daily life.

Surprisingly, practically every significant and minor event in India is marked by a celebration. You’ll never run out of reasons and seasons to rejoice, whether it’s the entrance of spring, the harvesting of crops, or anything else. Experiencing the country’s celebratory atmosphere is equivalent to celebrating life, with a plethora of colours, music, dancing, songs, food, and friends bundled into a healthy package that provides complete satisfaction.

The Festival of Lights (Diwali)

Diwali, a pan-Indian holiday known for illuminating our life, is now joyfully celebrated worldwide. The celebration is celebrated in every corner of the country, sending a strong message of good triumphing over evil. The festival of lights is celebrated by commencing the day with an auspicious pooja and embracing the night with beautiful traditional clothing, sweets, and brilliant ideas. Electric light garlands and colourful rangolis adorn the exteriors of the homes. The holiday of Diwali might help you rekindle the flame of brotherhood and goodness within you.

Holi, the Colour Festival

The mood of the colourful festival of Holi is like Pandora’s box of healthy fun and good-natured mischief. This festival is steadily gaining traction on a global scale. Holi is a festival in which people throw and apply colourful powders on one other in various vibrant hues. Throughout the event, water pistols and water balloons are used as friendly weapons to throw and splash water on each other. So let the pinks, greens, and reds of Holi wash over you and wash away your worries for the day.

Vijayadasami-Dussehra

The nine days of Navrati conclude on the 10th day of Dussehra. The burning of the effigies of Ravan and his two brothers, which represents Lord Rama’s destruction of Ravan in the epic Ramayana, is the festival’s main feature. The puppets are loaded with firecrackers, culminating in a cacophony of loud noises when the entire construction, which stands about 100 feet tall, collapses. In some places, the days leading up to Dussehra are commemorated by street performances called Ramlila that depict the complete Ramayana.

Durga Puja (also known as Durgotsava or Navratri)

Durga Puja, a celebration honouring the mighty Goddess Durga, is a prominent Bengali holiday in India. The celebration is marked by the decoration of massive pandals in the centre of which sits a lavishly decked idol of Goddess Durga. There is a lot of dancing, singing, and good fun at the festival. Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata are a must-see; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a festival at its most vibrant.

Lord Krishna’s Birth (Janmashtami)

The birthday of Lord Krishna, a beloved Hindu God, is celebrated as Janmashtami in North India. However, the primary celebrations occur in Vrindavan and Mathura, where Krishna was born. In other parts of the country, the holiday is being celebrated with zeal, with local community activities dedicated to the stories and anecdotes of Krishna, which are portrayed artistically.

Vinayaka Chathurti-Ganesh Chaturthi

The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi is a culturally saturated milieu that is prominently observed in Maharashtra. The event lasts for ten days, with the final day being the most exciting. Giant Ganesha statues are transported to the seashore for the Visarjan procession, which involves drowning the idol in the water. There is a lot of dancing and singing on the walk from one’s house to the beach.

Kerala’s Harvest Festival, Onam

The Onam celebration, a significant event in Kerala, is a colourful occasion. Women wear beautiful white & golden border sarees while males decorate their homes with varied floral arrangements. Theatrical productions performed by artists dressed as tigers and hunters are highlights of the festival.

Rakhi or “Bond of Protection” is the Raksha Bandhan.

Raksha Bandhan is a holiday that honours the lifelong link between brothers and sisters. Sisters tie an auspicious thread to their brother’s wrist to symbolise protection that the brother bestows on her at this festival. In exchange, her brother provides her with various presents and treats. People dress up in fancy clothes during this festival and consume traditional delicacies.

Maha Shivratri- Shiva’s Great Night

Shivratri, which means “Night of Shiva,” is a Hindu celebration dedicated to Lord Shiva, the destroyer. People go to Shiva temples to pray & chant auspicious chants during this occasion. To show their dedication to the Almighty, some individuals even fast for the entire day. Devotees come to Shiva temples to bask in the brilliant atmosphere of Lord Shiva during Maha Shivratri.

Punjabi Folk Festival in Lodhi

Lodhi, a North Indian harvest festival, is a colourful event marked by friendliness and cooperation. The celebration is held in January to commemorate the winter harvest. It is celebrated at night around a warm bonfire, where people consume popcorn and peanuts while relishing in the glow of the fire and their love for one another.

Conclusion

Celebrate the myriad shades of India via the prism of festivals, each of which should be celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm! One of the key reasons why “variety, thy name is India” is such a well-known phrase is the zeal to celebrate all of India’s major festivals. Every event in India is celebrated with much pomp and circumstance, whether Christmas bells ringing or Diwali diyas lighting up the rooms. The top ten holidays in India have a united hurrah of celebrations since they are celebrated with zeal across the country. Nonetheless, these festivals enhance India’s beauty, so make sure you attend at least 15 of the most well-known ones to mark not only your calendar but your existence with their names.