Festivals are an integral part of Indian culture. They play an important part in promoting communal togetherness.
Festivals are those very special occasions when people get together and indulge in traditional ceremonies and rituals. In India numerous festivals are celebrated.
Many festivals mark the birth anniversary’s of Gods. Ganesh Chathurthi is the festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha. Huge clay idols of Lord Ganesh are brought home with much fanfare. After ten days the idols are immersed in the sea amidst a lot of firecrackers and festivities. Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna.
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In Maharashtra, dahi handi that commemorates Janmashtami involves a pot of curd (now replaced by a pot of money) tied up several feet high between two tall buildings.
Groups of youth make pyramids standing one on top of the other to get to the pot. Tableaus depicting the birth of the Gods are common to all festivals that commemorate the birth of Gods.
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One of the most important festivals of the Hindus is Diwali – the festival of lights. It is celebrated with lights, crackers, sweets and feasts all over India. It marks the beginning of the New Year. Goddess Laxmi is worshipped on this day.
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New account books are also inaugurated on this day. Bhai dooj marks the end of the Diwali festivities.
Holi is the festival of colours. Fun and frolic marks this festival. People throw gullal (coloured powder) on each other. On the day before, a bonfire is lit; fire symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
The nine auspicious days which fall in the month of Ashwin are celebrated as Navratri. In Gujarat these nine days are celebrated on a grand scale with the dandiya raas. Men and women dress in traditional finery and dance all night long. During these nine days the goddess is worshipped.
Raksha bandhan is another festival that is very dear to the people of India .On this day, sisters tie a rakhi, a little string, on the wrist of their brothers which is symbolically meant to keep brothers safe from harm. Brothers give gifts to their sisters and promise to protect them.
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Christians celebrate Christmas with midnight mass. Muslims celebrate Ramzan Eid. Muslims fast during the entire month of Ramzan. Parsis celebrate Pateti which marks the beginning of the Parsi New Year by offering their prayers at the fire temple.
The main occupation of the people in different states of India is agriculture, so harvest festivals are celebrated on a big scale.
Pongal is the harvest festival celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu and Makara Sankranti is the harvest festival celebrated in Western India. The most beautiful aspect of this day is the multicolored kites that cover the sky.
In Punjab the harvest festival is celebrated as Baisakhi. Folk dances are performed with much gusto and gaiety. Men perform the Bhangra and the women do the Gidda dance. People celebrate this day with new clothes, deliciously mouthwatering food, dancing, singing and visiting family and friends.
Indian festivals are largely bright and happy. Colourful lanterns festoon the homes. While strings of paper adorn the walls, colourful flowers adorn the places of worship. Some people draw colourful rangolis outside their homes which are works of art. While lanterns light up the homes, fire crackers brighten up the skies.
Everyone comes together to celebrate festivals irrespective of their castes or creed. Music blares from loud systems and often youth are found breaking into dance near road side pandals. Dance, music, prayer and sweets form an integral part of all festivities and impart the gaiety and glee that Indian festivals are famous for.