By: Anil Kumar By: Anil Kumar YadavYadav

List of Selected Festivals Hindu Festivals• Baisakhi

• Basant Panchami

• Diwali

• Durga Puja

• Holi

• Janmasthami

• Karwa Chauth

• Mahashivaratri

• Makar Sankranti

• Naag Panchmi

• Ganesh Puja

• Navratri

• Rakhi

• Ramnavami

Christian Festivals

17. Christmas 18. Ester 19. Good Friday

Sikh Festivals

20. Guru Nanak Jayanti 21.Lohri

Muslim Festival

22.Bakra Eid 23. Eid-ul-fitr 24. Muhorram

Buddhist Festival

25. Buddha Purnima

Jain Festival

26. Mahavir Jayanti

National Festivals

27.Independence Day

28.Republic Day

29.Gandhi Jayanti

DiwaliDiwali

The festival of Diwali is celebrated by Indians throughout the world in a joyous mood, with zeal and enthusiasm. The festival is predominated by colorful display of lights, bursting of crackers, cleanliness, sweets, lots of shopping, happiness. The festive spirit brings people of different communities closer, to celebrate the vibrant festival in the most blissful and lively way. Like most of the festivals in India, Diwali too has its base in mythology and there is a very interesting history about this festival. Go through the following lines to get information on the history of Diwali.

HOliHOli

• Holi is a festival submerged in the spirit of unity and harmony. It is a custom to send wishes to your relatives and associates on the occasion of the festival. This brings people closer and gives them an opportunity to share their feelings with each other

• The traditional method of greeting someone is through a hug and exchange of sweets.

• Dipped in hues of love and trust has come the festival of Holi.• Nashe me aaj rang jao, rango ke sath khushiyan manao. Bado

ka lo asshirwaad, bacchon ko do duwaen...pyar, mohabbat, aman se manao, ye Holi ka tyohar.

NavratriNavratri

• Durga Puja is the one of the most prominent festivals in the country. It is extensively celebrated in the Northern and Eastern states of the country, especially in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, and Tripura. In Bengal, the Durga Puja is celebrated with great pomp and show.

• 'Nav' means 'nine' and 'ratri' means 'night'. Thus, 'Navratri' means 'nine nights'. There are many legends attached to the conception of Navratri like all Indian festivals.

Karwa ChauthKarwa Chauth

•Karwa Chauth is celebrated mostly by the married women in North India. On this day, they observe a fast, praying for the long life, well being and prosperity of their husband. They break their fast in the evening, after moonrise. On this sacred festival, people come together and socialize with friends and family, exchange gifts and share home-cooked meals. It also provides an opportunity to all married women, to get close to their in-laws. Karwa Chauth is the festival which reflects joy, splendor, brightness and happiness of a married life.

Rakhi Rakhi

• One of such festival is Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan, which reflects the sweet and sour relationship of brother and a sister. Though brothers and sisters share and enjoy the bond of love between them throughout the year, but Rakhi is the day when they get an opportunity to express their tender love and feelings for each other. Rakhi also makes them commemorate their loving memories, loyalty, closeness, trust and friendship that is ever lasting and pure.

Ganesha ChaturthiGanesha Chaturthi

Ganesha Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival. It is the birthday of Ganesha who is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom,

• The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 20 August and 15 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period).

• While celebrated all over India, it is most elaborate in western and southern India. Outside India, it is celebrated widely in Nepal and by Hindus in the United States, Canada and Fiji.

ShivratriShivratri

• Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with great devotion and religious fervor by Hindus, in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the Hindu Gods forming the Trinity

• According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri is the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. It is also believed that Lord Shiva performed ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction on this auspicious night of Shivaratri.

JanmashtamiJanmashtami

• Janmashtami also known as Gokulashtami marks the celebration of the birth of Lord Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna was born in the 'Rohini' nakshatram (star) to King Vasudeva and Devaki Devi on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Sravana. This festival is also known as Sri Krishna Jayanti and Krishnashtmi

Eid ul FitrEid ul Fitr

• Eid ul Fitr or the 'festival of fast breaking' is the most celebratory of all Muslim festivals. The term 'Eid' has been derived from the Arabic word 'oud', which means 'the return' and hence, signifies the return of the festival each year. The festival is significant as much for its timing, as for its religious implications. It is celebrated after the long fasting month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar), on the first day of the Shawwal month of the Hijri year (Islamic calendar). Legend says that the Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Mohammed in the last ten days of Ramadan.

MuharramMuharram

• Muharram is observed by the Muslim community across the world in commemoration of the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Imam Hussain along with his family and followers, who were killed in the Battle of Karbala in AD 680. The Prophet's son-in-law Ali, and Ali's elder son Hassan, are also remembered during this period as having suffered and died for righteous causes. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar which marks the beginning of the new Islamic year. It is also one of the four months wherein fighting is strictly prohibited as the word Muharram has been derived from ‘haram’ which means “forbidden”.