Famous festivals of India
India is a land of cultural diversity. There are lots of festivals that are popular in India and irrespective of the caste or creed is celebrated with equal enthusiasm and respect. Each festival has its own significance and is backed by a historical background. In this article we are mainly talk about those festivals that are world famous as well. In India they have been declared as National Festivals and an off is observed everywhere. Irrespective of their geographical locations, Indians anywhere in the world celebrate these festivals with a great pleasure and enthusiasm.
Holi, a festival of Hindu’s, celebrated in the month of March. Holi is celebrated at that time of the year when everyone looks forward to summers after the chilly winters. This is a colourful festival where people play with colour powder and water and smear each other’s face and body. It starts early in the day and continues till afternoon. People exchange sweets, put colours on the faces of their loved ones as a gesture of love and celebration of Holi. This is the time when trees get new leaves over them and flowers begin to open. This festival is very famous in North India.
Diwali or Deepawali, a festival of Hindu’s, is celebrated in October or November depending upon the Hindu calendar and is the most famous festival of India. Diwali marks the win of good over evil. As per Hindu culture, God Rama returned to his kingdom with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman after killing Ravana and completing his 14 year long exile. On this day everyone clean their houses, perform prayers to Goddess Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and illuminate their homes with oil lamps or candles. Sweets and gifts are exchanged, fireworks are set off and people visit their family members to celebrate this festival together. This festival is celebrated in almost every part of India with equal enthusiasm.
Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan is yet another very important festival of Indians which describes the emotional bond of love between the brother and sister. In this festival, sister ties a holy thread around his brother’s wrist, which is a promise from her brother’s side that he will protect her from all the sins and will always be there beside her in times of need. This beautiful thread of a sitter’s love towards her brother is given a name ‘Rakhi’ which means a bond of protection.
Apart from these three, there are two more festivals that are famous in India.
Id-ul-fitr- or Eid is the biggest festivals of Muslims in India. They fast during the period of Ramzan and then after Eid is celebrated. It is believed that the Koran was made known to Prophet Mohammed in the month of Ramzan.
Christmas- A festival of Christians Christmas is equally famous in India. Children like to get gifts from Santa and people decorate Christmas trees in their house. India has a distinctive Christian community comprised of Methodists, Baptists but majority of them are Roman Catholics. Churches in India are decorated with flowers and candles for the Christmas Eve.