Indian Festivals

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Valentine’s Day
2008-02-04 08:17:00
"Within you, I lose myself. Without you, I find myself wanting to be lost again."Celebrated on February 14 every year, Valentine’s Day is celebrated as the festival of love. Lovers cherish this day to express their feelings to their dearly-loved ones along with flowers, gifts, cards and chocolates. The day for lovers is celebrated all over the world including Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The exchange of chocolates and flowers is traditional on Valentine's Day in America. Flowers, cards and gifts businesses make brisk trade on the occasion. People in some countries celebrate this day differently. In some North American elementary schools, students give a Valentine card or a small gift to everyone in the class. The greeting cards exchanged between students mention what they appreciate about each other. In Slovenia, a proverb says that "St Valentine brings the keys of roots," so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. This day has been celebrated in Europe since long....

Republic Day
2008-02-02 14:58:00
India celebrates January 26th every year as the Republic Day with zeal and pride all across the nation. Hoisting of the tri-colour and colorful parades at all administrative units such as the capital cities and district headquarters mark the celebration on this day. The major ceremonies are held in New Delhi and the state capitals. On this day in 1950, the India’s constitution came into force and it became a sovereign, democratic and republic state.In the country’s capital New Delhi, main celebrations are organized in the form of a majestic parade showcasing the country's military might and cultural diversity. The parade covers an eight-km route, starting from the Rashtrapati Bhavan through the picturesque Rajpath down to India Gate before winding up at the historic Red Fort.The parade consists of mechanised, mounted and marching contingents of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Paramilitary forces and Police. After the march past, models of lethal fighter jets, missiles and battle tan...
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PONGAL
2008-01-22 06:56:00
SOUTH INDIANS’ FESTIVALPongal is an important festival of south India. In the north, it is known as Sankranti. Pongal is usually celebrated in January for three successive days to commemorate the harvest festival. The festivities are known as Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Mattu Pongal on successive days. Pongal is a traditional festival of variegated colors, with ceremonies devoted to different deities.The festival serves as an occasion for farmers to express their gratitude to the Sun God and pay obeisance to the deity for its role in fostering growth of plantation. The Sun God, being very powerful, helps in the growth of paddy and other plantation. The festival is celebrated in a grand manner with much revelry. As the festival approaches nearer, people clean and decorate their houses and complete all the repair/maintenance work. During the four-day long festivities, people draw beautiful rangolis i.e., colorful columns in front of their house.Bhogi Pongal: This celebration comm...

Makar Sankranti (Uttarayana) - Worship of the Sun
2008-01-14 15:26:00
The festivals of India speak volumes about our country’s rich, traditional and cultural heritage, and these festivals have become an integral part of every Indian’s life. Decoration of homes and temples, processions on streets, folk tales and songs, dance performances, prayers and rituals signify the elaborate celebrations of a multitude of festivals in India, each made of its own unique legend and folk tale.Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious days for the Hindu people, and is celebrated all over the country in innumerable cultural forms with great fervor, devotion and gaiety. ‘Makar’ literally means Capricorn and ‘sankranti’ is the day when the Sun passes from one zodiac to another. In fact, Sankranti falls in every month and the day is considered as auspicious as it indicates a fresh start of a new month. But Makar Sankranti is held in the month of ‘Magha’ in which the Sun passes from Cancer to Capricorn. Millions of people take a dip in holy waters at pl...
More About: Worship

Lohri- Celebrated on the 13th of January
2008-01-12 07:52:00
Lohri is basically more than just a festival for Indians. It is a festival of prime importance for natives of Punjab as this festival symbolizes their love for celebrations and light-hearted flirtation. It is celebrated on the 13th of January every year and is the most prominent harvest festival of Punjab, the State more popularly known as the Breadbasket India.Lohri is the festival that prompts people to be thankful to God’s provision and celebrate His creations and gifts to mankind. In Punjab, wheat is the major crop that is sown in the month of October and then harvested in the months of March or April. January is said to be the period of rest since after this month the crops mature and the farmers are ready to gather their year’s hard labour. As a result, the people or farmers residing in Punjab have a great sense of attachment to the festival of Lohri.Lohri is celebrated as a harvest festival with spirit, joy, and enthusiasm and marks the culmination of the chilling winter....

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti- a pious festival of Sikhs
2008-01-11 11:16:00
Whether the event is Vaisakhi (Khalsa Sajna Diwas), Dewali (Bandi Chhor Diwas), or the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib (Sahidi Diwas), Sikhs assemble and commemorate their respectable Gurus and worship to pay homage to their worthy Martyrs. Gurpurabs, as they are more commonly known, are celebrated with immense devotion by the Sikh community all over the globe.Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, is one pious festival of the Sikhs which is celebrated with great fervour. The festival witnesses a huge convoy of Sikhs who congregate to offer extraordinary prayers at Gurudwaras. Guru Gobind Singh was born at Patna Sahib on 22nd December. Generally, his birthday is celebrated in the month of December or in January. At times it falls twice a year as per the Hindu Bikrami Calendar. However, the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh comes on January 5 every year according to the Nanakshahi Calendar.It is chronicled that after the death of his father Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru felt ob...
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New Year Celebrations
2008-01-04 13:10:00
Welcome 2008: New Year New Hope New Year is a festive occasion for all. Much before the arrival of new year, people start making preparations to celebrate this gala event. The basic idea is to give a warm welcome to the new year and cherish golden moments of the past. New year is perceived differently by people. Some take it as a time to look back and remember the positive happenings in life. They take them as a motivation and promise themselves to keep doing good work in the future as well. Also, they take note of the negativities that had an adverse effect on their level of performance. They do so with the aim of learning from their mistake. While, there are others who crib about the fact that they have lost one more year of their life. New year celebrations usually revolve around friends and family. It is the time when the entire family gets together and enjoys to the fullest. Special food is prepared, songs are sung and people especially youngsters party. Elde...
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Chatt Pooja
2007-11-13 06:37:00
Chatt pooja is a Hindu festival celebrated especially by Biharis. The event occurs twice a year – once, on the sixth day of ‘Chaitra’ (as per the Hindu lunar month) which falls in the month of March and secondly in ‘Kartik‘, which falls in November or remembered as an occasion a week after Diwali. The word “Chatt” means the number six in Hindi It is, however, not concentrated in Bihar but is equally popular in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and in some northeast regions of India. People in parts of Nepal, particularly in the Terai region, also celebrate this festival.Other parts of India too do not remain untouched by this festive colour. Biharis migrated from their native place to several parts of the country celebrate them with equal zing. Chatt Pooja has been recognised on national level. Where the Delhi government has sanctioned holiday for this day, Mumbai witness unofficial jam packed beaches.The Chatt festival is dedicated to the Sun god. It is a be...

Bhai Dooj
2007-11-13 06:36:00
Bhai dooj is a Hindu festival which is celebrated two days after Diwali, the festival of lights. Bhai dooj (in Hindi), is known as Bhaubeej in Marathi, Bhai beej in Gujarati, Bhai phota in Bengali. It occurs on a new moon night in Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. Usually it falls in October/November. This festival is celebrated by sisters for the well being and long life of their brothers. They offer prayers and good wishes to their brothers. On the day, sisters worship and pray for their brothers. They put an auspicious tilak, made from vermilion or sandalwood paste, on the forehead of their brothers and perform aarti of theirs as a mark of love and protection from evil forces. If the sister is elder, brother touches her feet and she blesses her brother with rice grains and dubya grass. It is a belief that anyone who receives a tilak from his sister on this day is saved the agony of evils or hell-fire. Sisiters prepare sumptuous, mouth-watering food including sweets for brot...

Diwali
2007-11-13 06:35:00
Diwali is one of the major Indian festivals celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and infact all creeds of people. Known as the festival of lights, Diwali is observed on the new moon day of Kartika, as per the Hindu calendar that falls in the months of October and November. The celebrations commence two days prior and ends two days later than this religiously fixed date. Diwali, colloquially called Deepawali, is celebrated exactly 20 days after Dussehra. In 2007, the festival is celebrated on November 9. People celebrate Diwali by decorating their homes with lights, fireworks, gift-giving, worship, prayers and religious rituals. On the occasion, people purchase gold, gifts and household appliances. People distribute food and sweets as acts of charity during the festival. Companies offer huge discounts on products during Diwali to attract customers. Business communities start their financial year on Diwali and open new account books on this day. Offices and schools remain closed on t...
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Durga Pooja
2007-10-15 14:27:00
Now Durga Pooja is very much near so its urgently required to put more details of pooja date, pooja process, regional values etc. Also we should start for diwali...‘Durga Pooja’, the words that runs a thrill in every heart and body of a Bengali is the immensely cherished occasion much awaited throughout the year. Though the essence of this auspicious festival starts from the eastern part of the country (West Bengal), it spreads across every region and religion binding them with a common fervor of celebration.According to the lunar movements in Hindu Bengali calendar, Durga pooja falls in the autumn months of September/ October. Though the preparations like buying new clothes and setting up and decoration of pandals starts a month ago or before, the celebration mood commences with the Mahalaya, seven days before the main pooja. Mahalaya is the heralding note for the homecoming of Ma Durga as the air gets heavy with the soothing fragrance of shefali flowers and river banks covered...

Navratra: A Glimpse of Indian Culture
2007-09-27 07:36:00
Navratra is celebrated each year and the name signifies ‘nine days’ of the festival. This story begins with fifteen years of Lord Ram’s exile that ends up with a war with Ravana. It is believed that this war lasted for nine days and on the tenth day of war, Ram won by killing Ravana. On Dussehra, huge models of Ravana are exploded with fire crackers. People start reading Ramayana with the aim of completing it in nine days. It is believed that celebration of Navratra is of symbolic importance as it is considered to be a celebration of good over evil. During Navratra days, people perform a special dance known as ‘Garbha’. It is popular folk dance of Gujarat. The ethnic dress code in Garba is chania choli for females and male’s dress code is dhoti-kurta. This garba dance in done through out Navratra days. The other form of folk dance that is played during this festive day is Dandia or stick dance. Dandia dance is done holding sticks in h...
More About: Culture , Indian , Glimpse