Indian festivals are displayed throughout the year as diverse as the country's landscapes and as vibrant as its people. Festivals and fairs are an integral part of Indian culture, serving as an expression of our beliefs and emotions. India is a secular country, and holidays are declared for a variety of festivals associated with various faiths and communities. Religious festivals in India encompass a myriad of faiths, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and others. While these festivals are primarily observed by specific religious communities, India’s cultural diversity ensures that people from different backgrounds often participate in the celebrations.

Historical Background

The Aryan Vedic tradition of celebrating festivals can be traced back to the Vedic era. Many sources of knowledge on festivals when celebrations were held to honour gods, plants, rivers, and mountains may be found in the Vedic scriptures and literature. Prayers, fasting, and social and cultural significance are all part of India's festivals. India's festivals feature music, dancing, and theatre performances as well as strenuous physical activities. Similarly, Muslims also celebrate several festivals, many of which are related to the Shia faith. The most notable celebrations are Imam Husain's martyrdom and the Prophet's birthday.

Categories of Indian Festivals

India is a land of diverse cultures and traditions, which is beautifully reflected in its wide array of festivals, these festivals are categorized into different types based on their significance and origins.

1. Religious Festivals: India is home to various religions, and each religion celebrates its own set of festivals. For example, Diwali is a Hindu festival, Eid is celebrated by Muslims, Christmas is celebrated by Christians, and Guru Nanak Jayanti is a Sikh festival.

2. Harvest Festivals: These festivals are celebrated to mark the harvest season and express gratitude towards nature. Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Baisakhi in Punjab, and Onam in Kerala are some examples of harvest festivals.

3. National Festivals: These festivals are celebrated across the country and hold historical or cultural significance. Independence Day, Republic Day, and Gandhi Jayanti are prominent national festivals in India.

4. Seasonal Festivals: These festivals are celebrated to welcome different seasons. Holi marks the arrival of spring, while Makar Sankranti celebrates the transition of the sun into Capricorn.

5. Cultural Festivals: These festivals showcase the cultural heritage of different regions. Raja Parba in Odisha, Navratri in Gujarat, Durga Puja in West Bengal, and Bihu in Assam are examples of cultural festivals.

Some of the Prominent Festivals of India

Makar Sankranti - It is celebrated on January 14. This marks the beginning of ‘Uttarayana’ or the half year long northern sojourn of the Sun. It is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as the three-day long Pongal festival, and in Karnataka and Northern India as Makar Sankranti. Kite flying is a special feature of the cities of Ahmedabad and Jaipur on this day.

Lesser-known fact – A Hindu deity named Sankranti killed a demon named Sankarasur on this day. The following day is known as Kairdin or Kinkrant, when the Devi killed a demon named Kinkarasur.

Lohri - It is celebrated on the last day of the Pausha month (12-13 January). It coincides with Pongal and Makar Sankranti marking the culmination of winter. It is believed that this is the coldest day of the year. Rice-flakes, popcorns and sweets made from jaggery (gur) and sesame seed like “Gajak” and “Revadi” are tossed into the bonfire.

Lesser-known fact - Women dressed in Patiala suits perform a folk dance around the bonfire during Lohri.

Bihu - People of Assam, irrespective of caste and creed celebrate three kinds of Bihu. All these three kinds of Bihu relate to each other. Bohag Bihu is celebrated in mid-April; second in line is Magh Bihu observed in mid-January; and the third one Kati Bihu is commemorated in mid-October. Bohag Bihu heralds the coming of the New Year in the Assamese calendar. Magh Bihu is basically related with agriculture. It is observed when the paddy crop is harvested. Kati Bihu is celebrated on the last day of the Ahin month of Assamese calendar, on this day people perform rituals during paddy fields to wish for good paddy crop.

Lesser-known Fact - The Bihu dance was traditionally performed outdoors by local farming communities in fields, groves, forests, or on the banks of rivers and it dates back to 3500 BCE.

Onam - It is celebrated in the Hindu month of Sravana on the day of Sravana Nakshatra (September-October). Onam is Kerala’s major festival which commemorates the appearance of Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali. Onam is celebrated to assure King Mahabali that all remains well in his land, and that his people are happy and prosperous. On the eve of Thiru Onam, the second and the most important day of the 4-day Onam festival, everything is cleaned and decorated in preparation for king Mahabali’s visit. Kumarakom boat race is the most admired boat race to take place on the Vembanad Lake in September during the Onam Festival.

Interesting fact – ‘Pulikali’ a folk dance performed on the fourth day of Onam, where devotees paint their faces and bodies to look like tigers and dance to traditional percussion instruments.

Navratri, Durga Pooja, Dussehra - These are celebrated in the month of Ashvin (September-October). These are important festivals for the Hindus in most of India. First nine days are celebrated as Navratri. The Navratri festivities of Gujarat, with its music and dance (Garba) are of exceptional appeal. Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami forms famous Durga Pooja celebration; while the tenth day, known as Vijaya Dashami is observed as Dussehra in various parts of India. The basic concept behind all of them remains the same, that is- “Victory of good over the evil”

Lesser-known fact - Dussehra’s name comes from the Sanskrit word Dash Hara, which means “the defeat of the Sun” in English. The sun would not have risen again if Ravana hadn’t been defeated.

Holi - Holi is the festival of colour. On this day, coloured powder and coloured water are sprinkled by people on each other. This spring festival, falls in the month of Phalguna on the, day of Purnima (February-March), was known in ancient times as ‘Madan-Utsav.’ The Holi of Braj (the Mathura-Brindavan region of Uttar Pradesh), is marked by several days of festivals. At Anandpur Sahib, in Punjab, the day following Holi is marked by festivities, mock-battles, and archery and fencing contests by a sect of the Sikh community.

Interesting fact - Holi festival was originally identified as a celebration of agriculture, fertile land and fruitful spring harvests. Its religious origins start with the story of Holika, which signifies the victory of good over evil.

Deepavali - India’s ‘Festival of Light’ (Deepavali) falls after Dussehra on the Amavasya or ‘New Moon’ night of the Hindu month of Kartik (October-November). Coinciding with the approach of winter, and the sowing of the winter-crop in many parts of India, people celebrate the return of Rama to Ayodhya, after 14 years of exile, and after slaying Ravana. For many in South India, Deepavali commemorates the slaying of Naraka by Krishna. Practically every village, town and city are illuminated with earthen lamps, candles, and electric bulbs to welcome Maa Lakshmi. Jains also celebrate Deepavali ten days after Deepavali as part of Moksha celebrations of their 24th Tirthankara, Mahavira.

Lesser-known fact – Leicester City holds the largest Deepavali Celebrations outside of India and every year tens of thousands of people gather in the streets of Leicester for fireworks, music, and dancing.

Ganesha pooja - Its observed in the honour of Ganesha. It is celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). Clay images of Ganesha are made and sold to worshippers. The images are sanctified and worshipped for ten days after which they are immersed in a tank or river.

Unknown facts – Some people avoid looking at the moon during Ganesha Chaturthi because of a story about Ganesh cursing the moon. The story goes that Ganesha ate so many laddoos at his birthday feast that he toppled over and the moon laughed at him.

Eid-ul Fitr - It marks the end of the holy month of Ramzan, during which pious Muslims have fasted from dawn to sunset. It is celebrated on the 1st Rabi-ul Awwal of Arabic calendar. It is a day of celebrations, feasting and wearing new clothes. People offer prayers at Idgahs.

Eid-ul Zuha- It is also called Bakr Eid. This commemorates the sacrifice of Ibrahim (Abraham of the Bible and of the Jewish tradition). Ibrahim was ordered by God to offer his son Ismail as a sacrifice. A sacrifice of a goat or ram is made by each Muslim family symbolizing Ibrahim’s offering and faith in God. Eid prayers follow, along with feasting and rejoicing.

Muharram - It is a solemn occasion commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain along with his followers at Karbala. It is a ten days observance of intense mourning by sections of the Muslim community. ‘Tazias’ made of paper and bamboo (symbolizing the tomb at Karbala), are carried in procession. A horse, representing Imam Hussain’s horse, Dul Dul, accompanies the procession

Christmas- The birth anniversary of Jesus Christ (25th December) is celebrated by Christians in India amidst Church services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, singing of carols, exchange of gifts and feasting. The day after Christmas is observed by giving alms to the needy. Churches, Cathedrals, and homes are decorated, and scenes depicting the infant Christ are put up.

Good Friday- Christians observe Good Friday (March-April) with Church services and the singing of hymns in memory of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ on this day. A long period of fasting and prayer, known as Lent, precedes Good Friday. This comes to an end on Easter Day.

Buddha Jayanti- It is a celebration of the anniversary of the birth, enlightenment, and ‘Nirvana’ of Gautama Buddha. Buddha Purnima (April-May) is marked by chanting of verses from dawn to late-night, and ceremonial offerings at Buddhist shrines. The celebrations are noteworthy at Sarnath near Varanasi where Buddha preached his very first sermon, at Bodhgaya in Bihar where he became the ‘Enlightened One’ i.e. Buddha, and in Sikkim and Ladakh.

Mahavira Jayanti - It is celebrated in the month of April. It celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of present Avasarpiṇi. The idol of Lord Mahavira is carried out on a chariot. Many devotees visit temples dedicated to Mahavira to meditate and offer prayers.

In today's society, Indian festivals are celebrated with greater enthusiasm all over the world. India’s festivals are the determinants of understanding Indian Culture; also a kaleidoscope of emotions, traditions, and shared experiences, making them an integral part of the country’s identity.

MAJOR FESTIVALS OF INDIA

India celebrates a large number of festivals, the entire nation gets vibrant and colourful as it resurrects itself from the repetitive and tiresome routine.