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Festivals of India

Festivals of India

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Informative, colorful and animated presentation about some (specifically seven festivals are mentioned in the ppt) out of the many festivals India is known for. Hope this presentation helps you!

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Page 1: Festivals of India

Festivals of India

Page 2: Festivals of India

India, the land of varied culture and traditions, is a land of festivals and fairs. It is a land of festivity, religious as well as folkloristic. Wherever you go, to the north or south, west or east you would be able to enjoy a festival every moth or so. Be it religious or cultural, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy and join the festivity. Festivals are the time to rejoice and have fun. Following are some of India’s most enjoyed festivals.

Page 3: Festivals of India

Diwali

Diwali also known as the "festival of lights", is a five-day Hindu festival

which starts on Dhanteras. 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.Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome.

Page 4: Festivals of India
Page 5: Festivals of India

Holi Holi is a spring festival also known as festival of

colors. It is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other communities. Holi celebrations start with a Holika bonfire on the night before Holi where people gather, sing and dance. The next morning is free for all carnival of colors, where everyone plays, chases and colors each other with dry powder and colored water, with some carrying water guns and colored water-filled balloons for their water fight. Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders.

Page 6: Festivals of India
Page 7: Festivals of India

Bihu Bihu denotes a set of three different cultural

festivals of Assam and celebrated by the Assamese diaspora around the world. Though they owe their origins to ancient rites and practices they have taken definite urban features and have become popular festivals in urban and commercialized milieus in the recent decades. One includes the Assamese new year celebrated in April. Bihu is also used to imply Bihu dance and Bihu folk songs. The Rongali Bihu or the Bohag Bihu is an important festival of Assam. The most important festivals of Assam are the Bihus, celebrated with fun in abundance by all Assamese people irrespective of caste, creed, and belief.

Page 8: Festivals of India
Page 9: Festivals of India

Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesha Chaturthi is the Hindu festival

celebrated on the birthday (rebirth) of the lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. It is believed that Lord Ganesh bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees during this festival. It is the day when Ganesha was born. Ganesha is widely worshiped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new venture or at the start of travel. The festival, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi ("festival of Ganesha") is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada.

Page 10: Festivals of India
Page 11: Festivals of India

Pongal Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated in South

India at the end of the harvest season. It is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Tamils in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry and Sri Lanka. Pongal marks the beginning of the northward journey of the Sun from its southernmost-limit, a movement traditionally referred to as uttarayana. The word pongal itself refers to the "boiling over" of milk and rice during the month of Thai.Tamils thank the Sun god (Surya) for the good harvest and consecrate the first grain to him on this 'Surya Mangalyam'. Tamilians decorate their homes with banana and mango leaves and embellish the floor with decorative patterns drawn using rice flour.

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Page 13: Festivals of India

Onam Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by

the people of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India. It is also the Harvest festival of Kerala with State holidays on 4 days starting from Onam Eve (Uthradom) to the 4th Onam Day. Onam Festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the commemoration of Vamana avatara of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of mythical King Mahabali. Onam is reminiscent of Kerala's agrarian past, as it is considered to be a harvest festival.In Kerala, it is the festival celebrated with most number of cultural elements such as Vallam Kali, Pulikkali, Pookkalam, Onatthappan, Thumbi Thullal, Onavillu, Kazhchakkula, Onapottan, Atthachamayam etc.

Page 14: Festivals of India
Page 15: Festivals of India

Vishu Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala

and in the Tulunadu region. Vishu is celebrated with much fanfare and vigour in all parts of Kerala. It is considered a festival of light and fireworks, and decorating lights and bursting of firecrackers (Vishupadakkam) is part of the celebration. Other elements of Vishu include buying new clothes (Puthukodi) for the occasion, the tradition of giving money called Vishukkaineetam , and the Vishu feast or Sadya, which consist of equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items. The most important event in Vishu is the Vishukkani, which literally means "the first thing seen on the day of Vishu after waking up". The Vishukkani consists of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles intended to signify prosperity, including rice, fruits and vegetables, betel leaves, areca nut, metal mirror, yellow flowers called konna (Cassia fistula), holy texts and coins, usually in the prayer room of the house. This is arranged the night before Vishu and is the first sight seen on Vishu.

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The end… Together India celebrates as one big

family in all the festivals over all barriers put in her path…