Festivals of India..

Bakri-Id

Bakr-id, to be rightly called Id-ul-Azha, is one of the most important Muslim festivals. This festival is observed and celebrated as a Festival of Sacrifice by Muslims all over the world. It falls on the 10th of Dhul-Hagg, the last month of the lunar year. Bakrid is celebrated in commemoration of Abraham's willingness to offer his only son as a sacrifice at God's command. On this day, goats are sacrificed as an offering. Bakrid is celebrated with great enthusiasm and vigor among Muslims. Men and women dress up in new clothes and go to mosques. They offer special prayers or 'Dua' for the peace and prosperity of all Muslims. After the prayer, sacrifice is done. Muslims greet one another 'Eid Mubarak' and share their warmth. They visit relatives and friends and exchange gifts. Special delicacies and dishes are prepared and served amongst family and friends.

History
The history of Eid-al-Adha/ Bakrid dates back to the times of Ibrahim. On the day of Bakrid, Muslims observe animal sacrifice to commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him). Ibrahim dreamt of being commanded by God to sacrifice the person dearest to him to check his obedience. Ibrahim decided to sacrifice his only son Ismail who was just 13 years old at that time. When Ibrahim revealed to him about God's command, he was surprised to see the boy not defying the fact of being sacrificed. When Ibrahim was about to sacrifice the boy, Allah voiced stating that he need not carry out His order, as he had passed the test of devotion. He was further instructed to sacrifice a lamb instead of his only son. Ibrahim, by the Grace of Allah was blessed with another son, Is-haaq (Isaac). The history of Hajj pilgrimage revolves around the surrender of Ibrahim and his family to Allah. Bakrid is a celebration of ardent faith of the believers in Allah and His word Quran. It is recommended that the sacrifice is made in the name of Allah. The offering that is sacrificed is divided into three portions: One being set apart for personal consumption, another part to be distributed amongst friends and relatives and the third part to be given to the poor and needy.

Celebrations And Rituals
Eid-al-Adha/ Bakrid holds animal sacrifice as one of the most significant aspects in its celebration. In order to honor the event of Ibrahim's attempt to sacrifice his son, Muslims commence animal sacrifice, so as to conform to Allah's command, and Allah's mercy in substituting a lamb for the child. A goat, a sheep or a cow is sacrificed according to the laid down rules. One third of the meat is retained for family, while another third is distributed among friends and relatives and the remaining one third is given in charity for the poor and the needy. People wear new clothes on this occasion. They offer their prayers in a gathering in an open area called Eidgah or a mosque. People engage in animal sacrifice, performed duly in tune with the religious laws. Muslims make it a point to see that everybody becomes a part of the Eid feast. They chant Takbir loudly before and after offering their Eid prayers; the sacrifice is made and distribution of meat takes place. The sacrificed animal needs to meet somecertain age and quality standards as otherwise the animal would be considered inappropriate for sacrifice.

Commonly Celebrated
Bakri-Id, also known as Eid-al-Adha is extremely important to Muslims and thus, they celebrate it with great zeal and enthusiasm. It is celebrated on the 10th day of the 12th month, Dhu a-Hijjah. It occurs after the Hajj pilgrimage, which is the fifth pillar of Islam, undertaken by the Muslims. It is celebrated with ritualistic fervor in Andhra Pradesh and in particular, the old city of Hyderabad.


Buddha Jayanti

Buddhism might not be as old as other religions, but is definitely the most popular. This is because of its teachings that have transformed the thinking and living of many. Many argue that Buddhism is not even a religion, but a set of teachings that an enlightened prince called Siddhartha gave. Buddha Jayanti celebrates the birth, enlightenment and salvation of this prince. It was his simplicity and love for others that captured the faith of everyone's life that he, and later his teachings, touched. In today's time, when man's faith on mysticism is in question, he bends his faith towards that of a human teaching. Although many believe that Buddha was a God, some believe he was an avatar of Vishnu (the supreme God in Hinduism). God or not, Lord Buddha is kept in the same pedestal by his followers.

History
Around 500 B.C., King Shuddhodhana and Queen Mayadevi had a son named Siddharta. It is believed that the pundits (bramhin priests) prophesied that the prince will be disenchanted by the tragedies and sorrow of the world. Whereby, he will forsake everything and go in search of the 'true wisdom'. Because of this prophesy, the king had kept the prince trapped in the four walls of the palace. In the palace, the prince was given all luxuries and comforts that one can need till 29 years of age. Then one day he convinced his charioteer to take him beyond the walls. When he went out, he was flabbergasted by the tyranny that humankind faced. He was so disturbed that he left his family and all comforts to seek the meaning of life. Years later he had finally found what he sought. It is believed that beneath a Bodhi-tree at Bodh Gaya he received his enlightenment. He formulated his teachings and eventually had hundreds of believers following them. After the age of eighty, he was said to have attained 'nirvana' in his demise. The three major events of his life: birth, enlightenment and demise, occurred on a full moon night. This night is known as the Vaisaka Purnima or simply Buddha Jayanti.

Celebrations & Rituals
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon night in the month of vaisaka (according to the Indian/Hindu calendar). It falls mostly in the month of May or April in the western calendar. As any other festival in Asia, this day too is celebrated with worshipping the figure of Lord Buddha. On the day of the festival, the monasteries are full of worshippers. Monks and followers read the Holy Scriptures through the day. People in large number parade the streets chanting prayers. Buddhists decorate their houses with lights, candles and diyas. They also put yellow, white, red and blue flags on their roofs. Candles, flowers and fruits with incense are offered to the statue of Gautam Buddha. The Mahabodhi tree, also known as the "pipal-tree" or the sacred fig tree is worshipped and offered offerings to. This is known to be the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. Conventionally, Buddhists are pure vegetarians. Those who are non-vegetarians do not take meat on this day. Kheer, a sweet-dish, is prepared at homes. Freeing of birds from cages is also a practice followed many places.

Commonly Celebrated
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated throughout the world, but most dominantly in the South-Asian countries. In India, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Saanchi and Khushinagar are the most important places of celebrations in Buddha Purnima. The festival at Sarnath attracts large number of devotees who flock to this temple and perform important religious activities. Prayers, sermons and recitation of Buddhist scriptures are a part of the occasion. Lumbini in Rupandehi district is considered to be the birth place of Lord Buddha. On the special occasion a big fair is held for celebration.

Christmas

Christmas is believed to be a western festival. There have been age long debates on whether or not India had Christianity as a religion before the European invasion. Whichever be the case, it seems easier to believe that Europeans brought Christianity to the country. However, even if it did exist before they came, surely the customs must not have been similar as that of the Europeans. Today what we see, especially in urban India, is without doubt an adaptation of the western celebration; in an Indianized way. But wherever it came from, it brings us a time of sheer happiness and togetherness. Celebrated on the 25th day of the month of December every year, Christmas is celebrated with much pomp and show. It marks the birth of Jesus Christ, savior of mankind. Every family, Christian or non-Christian, revel in the merriment and indulge in activities to enjoy the Yuletide.

History
Christmas is signified as the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was believed to be the son of God, born as a human. The story goes back to the first book in 'The Bible' where Adam and Eve committed their first sin. The only consequence of sin was death. It was then told by God that a savior will be born to save humankind from sin. Birth of Jesus Christ is most important event in the entire Christian mythology. This is why Christmas is said to be the only festival of the Christians. According to the Bible, Mary was engaged to marry Joseph who was a carpenter. But one day an angel visited her and told her that she will conceive a child and she is to name him "Jesus". He was born near a village called Bethlehem. Since they were traveling at that point of time, they had no place to stay. So Jesus was born in a stable nearby. The western, which is the universal, dating system, is based on this very event. B.C means Before Christ and A.D. meaning Anno Domini which means "the year of our Lord" according to the Gregorian calendar. So 2000 A.D. mean 2000th year of our Lord. Stating this against the secular nature, today the international use of this system has been rejected. It is replaced by C.E. and B.C.E. (Common Era and Before Common Era).

Celebrations and Rituals
Christmas is the season of holiday in most countries. In Europe it is also the season of shopping. People shop like crazy during Christmas. That is why it is also the season of gifts! It is time to get together and spend some quality family time. The celebrations start on Christmas Eve, otherwise, the evening before Christmas. People usually sit up till 12 to wish each other "Merry Christmas!" The house is decorated with Christmas tree, bells, angels, lights and so on. Christmas morning all the children run to the Christmas tree to find the gifts that "Santa Clause" might have left for them. People make tarts and cakes. Plum cakes are the most famous during Christmas. Indian urban celebrations might vary a little in terms of food and clothing, but the spirit of the festival more or less remains the same. In Hindi, Christmas is known as Bada Din.

Commonly Celebrated
The exact date and month of the birth of Christ is not known to anyone. But owing the importance of the event in Christianity it was given a date. December 25th is celebrated as the birthday of Christ. Christmas was dominantly celebrated in the West. But today, it is celebrated throughout the world in many different ways. All regions put their own flavors together with the conventional rituals and celebrate Yuletide in their own unique way.

Deepavali

India celebrates a festival almost every month and thus, has been rightly called the Country of Festivals. There are about ten major festivals that Indians celebrate with great vigor. Amongst them, Deepavali is the last but the most lavish and vibrant of all Indian festivals. Deepavali is popularly known as the festival of lights. It signifies the triumph of good over evil. The word 'Deepavali' comes from the words 'Deepa' and 'Aval'i; which means row of lights in Sanskrit. It is truly the most awaited Indian festival. While cleaning the house, preparing lavish food, lighting lamps or diyas and performing pooja are the main activities of the festival, adults and children engage in bursting crackers also to rejoice and make merry.

History
Deepavali is celebrated in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. In each of these the significance varies. For Jains the day marks as the day when Mahavira attained nirvana in 527 B.C. Sikhs associate Deepavali or Diwali with the release of their sixth guru from prison named Guru Hargobind. Hindus celebrate Diwali for more than one reason. The most popular association is with day that Ram, the son Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya, returned from his banishment after 14 years. His return was welcomed by deep or diya that were lit in ghee. Another association is with the death of Narakasura by Krishna's wife Satyabhama. This is celebrated one day before Deepavali as Naraka Chaturdashi. The other is the Govardhan Puja. This is celebrated one day after Deepavali. This day holds the significance of Krishna defeating Indra.

Celebrations and Rituals
Celebrations and ritual for the festival begins days and weeks in advance. Every household indulges in a list of activities that marks the occasion. Cleaning of the house and office forms the priority. It is believed that the house should be neat and clean for the Goddess of wealth Laxmi, to give her blessings. As such, one week before the festivity, the house is cleaned and kept tidy. Rangoli' motifs are made on the entrance, to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. Celebrations last for five days. On day one, which is known as Dhanteras, people indulge in lighting lamps and candles. It is considered auspicious to buy gold and silver on this day. Many people opt for buying new utensils on this day.On the second day of Diwali, people illuminate their homes with diyas and burst crackers, thus setting the mood for the oncoming of the festival. The third day is the main day wherein people wear new clothes and indulge in ceremonious activities. The whole house is illuminated with 'diyas' and candles. Fireworks and crackers take a major part on this day celebrations. Later the next day, 'Govardhan-Puja' or 'Annakoot' is practiced. The deities are bathed with milk and adorned with precious clothes and ornaments. The fifth day is the last day of the festival and is called ' Bhai Duj '. On this day, sisters invite their brothers and their family to their homes and treat them with delicacies. In turn, brothers offer them with gifts and sweets.

Dussehra

Giant effigies of Ravana, Meghnada, and Kumbhakarna being built days before indicate the arrival of one of the most significant and highly revered festivals of India - Dussehra, preceded by the nine-day Navratri. The sights of these huge and full effigies pass on the message of preparing for the festivities that highlight this auspicious festival. Dussehra, the celebration of victory over evil, is a devout festival of the Hindus, marked on the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Ashwin, as per the Hindu calendar, at the end of the nine days of Navratri. Also referred to as Vijaya Dashmi, Dasara, or Dashain, this holy occasion brings together families and friends to indulge in the worship and devotion of Goddess Durga and her nine forms, apart from celebrating the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king, Ravana. Though this blissful occasion is observed across the country, larger-than-life celebrations are held in Delhi and Varanasi, the most popular places to witness them.

History of Dussehra
An auspicious day to begin new ventures and initiate people into learning, Dusshera has many myths and legends associated with its celebration. The most famous and prominent legend is the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king, Ravana and rescuing his wife, Sita from the latter's kingdom. It was on this day of Dussehra that Rama, guided by his brother Lakshman, their follower Hanuman, and an army of monkeys, fought a battle at Lanka to rescue Sita from the clutches of the fierce and forceful Ravana. This victory of Rama of freeing Sita and demolishing Ravana is celebrated as Dussehra and on the 30th day of Ashwin.

The defeat of the powerful Mahishasura by the beautiful Goddess Durga is regarded as another legend linked with celebrating Dussehra. On one occasion, all the demons, or Asuras, tried to win over the Devas, or Gods, and capture heaven, but failed. Mahishasura, one of the demons, appeared in the form of a buffalo and acquired great power. With his support, the Asuras succeeded in defeating the Devas and ruled the heaven. As a result, the Devas - Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva combined their energies and gave birth to a single Shakti, known as Durga. She, riding on a lion, fought Mahishasura for nine days and nights, and finally on the tenth day, successfully defeated and killed him. Therefore, Dussehra is also called Navratra or Durgotsava, to celebrate Durga's victory.

The third story connected to Dussehra is the rebirth of Sati as Parvati and her union with her parents. Sati was the daughter of the Lord of the Earth, Daksha, and Menaka. She admired Lord Shiva and worshipped him as her future husband. Pleased with her worship and dedication, Shiva married Sati, even though Daksha was not satisfied with the marriage. As such, he did not invite the couple to the yagna he had arranged for everyone. Ashamed of her father's behavior, Sati set herself on fire and died. Distressed by her death, Shiva picked Sati's body on his shoulders and started dancing. With this, the world was under the verge of destruction. To save the earth, Lord Narayana appeared and cut Sati's body into pieces using his Chakra. The pieces, falling from the shoulders, got scattered to different parts of the country. As the last piece fell from his shoulders, Lord Narayana revived Sati, who was reborn as Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya and the first form of Durga. On Lord Narayana's request, Lord Shiva forgave Daksha. Thereafter, peace was restored, and it is believed that since then, Durga with her children, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kartikeya, Ganesh, and two 'sakhis' - Jaya and Vijaya, visits her parents every year during Durga Puja.

Celebrations and Rituals
Dussehra marks the end of the Navratri festival. Celebrated on the tenth day of Navratri, large effigies of the ten-headed Ravana, king of Lanka, his brother Kumbhakarna, and son Meghnad, are erected in large grounds and set ablaze until they turn into ashes, at sunset. They are stuffed with fire crackers containing phosphorus to purify the atmosphere, thereby illuminating the sky, leaving everyone awestruck. This is commonly seen in many part of North India, particularly Varanasi and Delhi. Local actors dress up as Lord Rama, his consort Sita, and his brother Lakshman. The person dressed as Rama shoots an arrow of fire at the navel of Ravana to burn its effigy. As the huge structure is burnt into ashes, one can hear shouts of merriment and triumph from the spectators present. Meanwhile, Chandi Homa or Durga Homa is performed at temples with the same purpose in mind. The intention of burning Ravana is to eliminate ten bad qualities from household, represented by the ten heads of Ravana. These are Kama vasana (lust), Krodha (anger), Moha (delusion), Lobha (greed), Mada (over pride), Matsara (jealousy), Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (will), and Ahankara (ego). The hot summer season is believed to come to an end after burning down the effigies of the three demons. Houses and shops are decked up with flower studded strings called torans, or floral gateways. Similar kinds of festivities can be witnessed in other parts of India.

Commonly Celebrated
Dussehra, also known as Vijaya Dashmi, marks the end of Navratri, the festival of nine days celebrating Rama's victory over the demon Ravana. This devout festival also commemorates the triumph of warrior Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. A plethora of rituals and customs mark this religious occasion, which is, in itself, a unique spectacle to view. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the lunar month of Ashwin or Ashwayuja, as per the Hindu calendar. This generally falls in the months of September or October in the Gregorian calendar. The nine-day Navratri culminates with the celebration of Vijaya Dashmi.

Easter

Easter is a very significant day in the Christian religion. It defines and redefines the entire scriptures of Christianity. The three events in the life of Jesus Christ mark the three days of significance among Christians: birth, death and resurrection. Birth is Christmas, death is Good Friday and resurrection from the dead is celebrated as Easter. Although Christians are divided into numerous denominations, these days hold significance among all. According to the scriptures Easter marks the return of hope in the lives of humankind; hope of forgiveness and an eternal life. For, it is believed that Jesus Christ died for the sins of humans, sparing them the punishment of their sins, which was death, thereby, claiming the victory over Satan and his evil schemes of tempting humans to commit sin so that they would never return to God.

History/Significance
The story of Easter, Good Friday and Christmas are connected and starts as soon as the first book named Genesis in "The Bible". When Eve and Adam commit their first sin, God comes to them and abandons them from the Garden of Eden. Here he also says that a savior will be born from a woman's womb in the form of a human being. This savior will save humanity from all sins and its consequence. So Jesus was born and lived a life without sin. Then He was crucified for the crimes that He did not commit. Because He sacrificed himself for the sin of humans and He was without sin, He came back to life on the third day. So it is believed that He was crucified on Friday (Good Friday) and rose again on Sunday. This was termed as His resurrection. Later, He was believed to have been lifted up to the heavens in His flesh and body.

Celebrations And Rituals
The rituals of Easter start from one month or forty days before the exact date. Forty days before Easter, Christians keep a fast known as Lent, during which they give up something that they cherish most. This can be anything, right from giving up eating meat or even chocolate to eating just once a day. The point of this fast is to spend time in penance and prayer. Although traditionally this fast is for forty days, some people also keep it for one week or a day. The Sunday that comes before Easter is known as the Palm Sunday. It was the day Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. It is called Palm Sunday because palm leaves were spread out for him welcome. The Friday after this is the Good Friday, the day of crucifixion. Usually evening prayers are held on this day to remember the sacrifice of Jesus. Holy Communion is held on this day. It is a ritual that commemorates the last supper Jesus had with his disciples when he told them that he was going to be crucified. Wine and bread are taken as holy sacraments wherein the wine signifies blood and bread signifies flesh. The Saturday is kept as a day to be spent in prayer. On the Sunday of Easter, usually a very early morning church service is kept.

Commonly Celebrated
Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday that falls after the full moon. This is according to the Jewish Lunar calendar. Usually according to the Gregorian calendar, it falls somewhere in April. It is celebrated throughout the world wherever there are Christians. It is celebrated in many different ways. As Christianity has spread throughout the world, each region has its own cultures and traditions pertaining to the festival. As Christians put it, Easter symbolizes God's unconditional love for humankind. It also symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It brings forth a time of repentance and forgiveness. Every Christian household rejoices this Sunday morning with a renewed hope of starting afresh.

Gandhi Jayanti

On October 2nd each year the nation pays homage to "Bapu" otherwise also known as the "Father of the Nation" who played a significant role in Indian Independence. Mohandas Karamachand Gandhi also referred as 'Gandhiji' was an iconic figure in India and around the globe for his unique practices of non-violence or ahimsa. He believed in the power of non-violence and in the philosophy of truth known as "Satyagraha" and adopted these beliefs in his leadership that helped in achieving India's Independence. With his strong philosophy on non-violence and truth he proved the world that the path ahead may not be the easy, but it is certainly the most effective methods of achieving the goals. It was this belief that got him noticed and appreciated by historians as one of the greatest freedom fighters that the world had ever seen. As such, India observes a national holiday on this day to pay reverence to this great soul. Besides his contribution towards the country's freedom struggle, Gandhi will always be remembered around the globe for his distinctive ideologies that inspired many great leaders, such as Martin Luther King, James Lawson, Nelson Mandela, all of whom drew inspiration from Gandhi's non-violence theory.

History
When Gandhi was in South Africa during the 1890's, he was subjected to the injustice of the colonial imperialism in the nation. He was a victim of racial discrimination and social bigotry that plagued the nation that had not only impacted him, but also led to his social activism. In 1894, he was responsible for forming the Natal Indian Congress in South Africa with the help of the Indian community which later, molded into a strong political party in the country. In 1906 when his political members conducting a peaceful protest were subjected to harsh and violent treatment by the local government, he formed the idea of "Satyagraha", meaning the force of truth. When he left for India, Gandhi witnessed similar treatment in the country and carried out his work to help protest against the dominance of the British Raj. In the years to come his non-violence principle was witnessed, first in 1920 when the Non-Cooperation Movement took place and later seen in the Dandi March in 1930 as well as in the The Quit India Movement. Gandhi may have not been a martyr in the true sense but he dedicated his entire life to attain freedom by resisting violence. Thus, Gandhi Jayanthi is an important day for all Indians.

Celebrations and Rituals
Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar. A legendary leader, he revolutionized the meaning of freedom fighting around the globe. On this day, people in the country hold several prayer services and community functions to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation. Art lover hold exhibition that reflect the Gandhian principles of life and freedom, an interpretation of Gandhi's ideologies on canvas. This way, they honor his contribution towards India's freedom struggle in an aesthetic manner. In some places awards are given away to non-violence projects or acts in honor of him. Special speeches are given addressing his life and work of Gandhi with the view to educate young minds on his ideas and beliefs.


Holi

Each year when holi is celebrated you know that spring has emerged and it is time to break free from your winter cocoons and bask in the sunny weather. The atmosphere is ecstatic with people spreading there infectious good cheer to others and the ambiance seeming to have an effect on the greenery with bountiful, colorful blooms seen all around. It is a commonly established fact that there is no other Hindu festival that is as fun-filled, lively and energetic as Holi. With an overdose of music, dance, games, mirth, and lots of color to indulge in, Holi is definitely one of the most awaited festivals of the year. Speaking of Holi one cannot forget to mention the 'pichkaris' and the pool of colored water to splash into, definitely a fun way to cool off the heat wave. The festival has something for everyone. Also, Holi give a perfect opportunity to treat the taste buds with the delectable 'Gujhias' and 'Papris' and of course who can forget to mention 'bhang' a milky drink that could give a high.

History
Like many Hindu festivals Holi also has a tale of its past that reflect the culture and heritage. According to the scriptures King Hiranyakashipu a demon, had been granted a boon by Lord "Brahma after many years of penance". The boon released the demon king from the cycle of life and death, thus making him immortal. According to the conditions laid down by the king he could not die during day, nightfall, at the hands of a women, man or animal, on earth, sky, inside the house or outside and not by any weapon. He soon became supercilious and started to attack innocent people in heaven and earth. His boon gave him the belief that he was superior to the gods and forced people to start worshipping him. However, his own son Prahlada, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, refused to worship him as God almighty. This, in turn, angered king Hiranyakashipu so much so that he decided that Prahlad should be executed. Despite many attempts Prahlada managed to survive every time due to Vishnu's mystical powers. Finally, Hiranyakashipu orders his son to be seated on the lap of his sister Holika under a burning fire, knowing well in hand that she could not die because of the special boon that prevented from being harmed by fire. But once the fire was lit, miraculously Prahlada survived, while his demon sister Holika died. Since then, the festival of Holi came to be celebrated in the country. According to many spiritual leaders there are other versions on how the celebrations took place, a few of them believe that it was Lord Krishna who actually popularized this festival.

Celebrations and Rituals
The main reason for Holi to be called as the festival of color is because of the different colors that are smeared on people. Also, since it is often referred to as the festival of spring, it is believed that people celebrate the arrival of spring with color and good cheer. Apart from the color, the festival of Holi has certain rituals for which people begin to prepare much in advance. It starts with the formation of Holika Dahan where several huge wooden logs are combined together where friends and relatives stop by pouring oil around the wooden logs. In the evening the logs are lit and burnt down. The act signifies the destruction of evil over good and also symbolizes the power of true devotion. On the next day celebration is first started with customary prayer to the gods before people are seen outdoors playing with colors. In Mathura, the 'matka cermony' takes place. In this, a huge earthen pot filled with milk is tied to unreachable heights. A group of young men form a human pyramid to reach the pot and break it. Large amounts of colored water are thrown to deter them from being successful. This is a fun and cheerful event that is commonly seen in this part of the country.

Commonly Celebrated
Holi is a popular festival and is celebrated each year with great pomp and gaiety around different parts of the country. It is usually falls on the full moon day on the month of "Phalgum" which is in the month of March. Holi dates change each year according to the Indian Hindu calendar which is also known as (Panchang). Although Holi is celebrated throughout the country, it is very popular in the northern parts of the country compared to southern India. Barsana, Mathura, Vrindavan and Gorakpur are some of the place to sink deep to the experience the spirit of Holi.


Id- Milad

Id- Milad is an important Muslim festival celebrated on the birth anniversary of the Islamic prophet known as Muhammad. It is also referred as Mawlid an-Nabi and Milad an-Nabi in Arabic the word "Mawlid" is an Arabic word, which literally means to give birth or bear a child. The festival is not new but many centuries old and is practiced in a majority of Muslim countries. The early celebrations have been influenced by the Sufi saints in Egypt with public orations followed by a feast. In the olden days this festival was first originally celebrated only by a group of people belonging to the ruling class Muslims known as Shia's. In the following years to come the festival was spread to other Islamic cities and the festival was adopted by the Sunni's in time. It was not until the 1910 did Id-Milad came to be recognized officially as a festival and was declared a national holiday in many Muslim countries.

History
The history of Id-Milad dates back to the 8th century in Mecca, when the residence of Prophet Muhammad was transformed into a prayer house by one of his successors. After his death the celebrations of Id-Milad became more popular and it first became the official festival in Egypt during the 11th century. During this period, the festival was restricted only to Shia's who were the ruling tribe in the region and was not extended to the general public. Soon in the 12th century the festival was adopted by the other countries such as Morocco, Syria, Spain, Turkey and other places around the globe. Although the festival currently forms an important part of the Islamic culture and heritage, it was formerly subjected to certain disapproval by some of their saints. Some of them believe that new innovations of such carnivals were deemed improper in Islam and strictly prohibited. But since this was the celebrations of Prophet Muhammad birthday the person who narrated the holy text, Quran, celebrating his birthday was supported by many ancient Sufi saints. They claimed that the celebration did not involve activities outside the practices of the Islamic law such as consuming alcohol and forbidden food and dancing etc. Even though it did not hold much importance to the earliest Muslim populations in the 8th century, it soon became a significant event for the followers of Muhammad and who gave rise to the origin of this religion.

Celebrations and Rituals
In the ancient period, the festival was performed differently compared to the way it is been done currently. As it first started in the 11th century in Egypt by the leading clan, they played an important role in the celebration. The day of the festival would begin with a prayer, religious orations followed by recitations of verse from the Quran and lastly the day would end with a large public feast. However, in the years to come, the celebrations began to witness the influence of the Sufi practices such as animal scarifies procession during nightfall, public discourses and a banquet to its public. Awards and gifts were also given to the ruling clan to honor them as they were believed to be caliph, a representative of Muhammad. Today, however the festival takes place in the morning with prayer, a procession and large gathering in mosques. Young children are narrated stories of Muhammad about his life and preaching's as mentioned in the Quran. The day ends with donations towards the needy people and friends and family are invited to be a part of the celebrations.

Common Celebrated
Id-Milad is commonly celebrated in all Muslim ruling countries to honor Prophet Muhammad who introduced Islam and revolutionized the religious scene in the Middle East in the following years. Id-Milad is not only celebrated in Muslim countries but also in other non-Muslim places where there is a large population of Islamic followers. India, Britain and Canada are seen celebrating this day with the same fervor and enthusiasm. Most educational and governmental offices are closed on this day, in India. Kenya and Tanzania also celebrates this festival. Despite being a Muslim country, Saudi Arabia has not declared Id-Milad as a national holiday.

Id- Ramzan

Amongst the many Muslim festivals in the country, it is Id-Ramzan which is said to be the most popular festival and holds great religious significance to Muslims across the globe. Id-Ramzan is also known as Eid ul-Fitr and sometimes plainly referred to as Eid. It is said to be most holy month in the Islamic calendar. The main reason for it being pronounced as the most scared month is because it is been said in the holy book, Quran that it was during these thirty day when Prophet Muhammad was blessed with spiritual knowledge of Islam. Although fasting is a common practice in this month, there a number of other practices that has to be strictly adhered to during this month such as regular prayers, patience, charity and giving up materialist desires. During this month, a person is said to spend his time enlivening with the spiritual practices of the Quran, in order to free one from the worldly yearning and create a stronger platform between man and god. Read the article below known the common information about this festival.

History
Legend has it that in the year 610 AD when Prophet Muhammad was meditating on Mount Hira that Angel Gabriel appeared in front of him and referred him as Muhammad and pronounced him as the 'Messenger of God'. The Angel enlightened him on the preaching's of Quran and declared that he will be spiritual guiding light for men and women by spreading the message of Allah. It has been believed that this incident took place in month of Ramadan which gave rise to the formation of a new religion. Muhammad was at first very disturbed and misunderstood it as an evil forces. It took many people to convince him before he accepted and followed the spiritual path. Many of his followers have said that Muhammad used to be visited frequently by the seraph Gariel during the remaining years of his life to teach him the recitals of the Quran. He would often refer to the preaching's as a set of conventional rules that the Lord almighty would want his people on earth to adhere too and lead their lives based on these code of conducts. It was his strong belief that it was the only way that will lead a Muslim to path of righteousness. In the years to come Muhammad declared the month of Ramadan as the most holy days in the calendar and requested his disciples to pay homage to Allah for the divine knowledge given to them. He asked his devotees to observe a pious way of life by abstaining from taking food, devoting there time towards prayers and refraining from indulging in any kind of austerities. Thus, this how the festival came into existence and even today, holds great importance to the Muslim people.

Celebrations and Rituals
The festival of Eid -ul Fitr is mainly a three-day festival which takes place towards the end of the month, but before this one has to observe a set of rules laid down in the sacred text. The month long ritual involves waking up in the morning before the crack of dawn and beginning the day with morning prayers and sehri (meal before sun rise). During the day, Muslims abstain themselves from eating any food and water and break their fast only after sunset. During these days Muslims are asked to lead an honorable life, to forgive and forget their rivals made during the year. The main aim of fasting is to remind oneself of the sufferings. Fasting also gives an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. It also helps them feel the peace that comes along with spiritual devotion. The month-long fast ends on the day of Eid. On the day of Eid Muslims begin there day by opening there fast and attending prayer sermons. After attaining there discourses, they hold large communal gatherings inviting friends and family to be a part of their banquet. In some countries, men and women share gifts among their relatives and friends on this day.

Commonly Celebrated
Unlike Id-Milad, Eid ul-Fitr is an important festival and is celebrated across many parts of the globe. On this day many non-Muslim countries even declare Eid ul-Fitr as a gazetted holiday. This day is celebrated differently in each part of the globe with a few variations. Apart from the Muslim countries, Australia, Nigeria, Fiji, South Africa, China, India, United Kingdom, America, Canada, South Asia, Doha etc are some of the places where Ramadan is celebrated. Ramadan is celebrated according to the Islamic calendar that falls on the ninth month of the Islamic year. It doesn't matter which religion you practice but you have to be a part of Ramadan celebrations to experience Islamic culture. The festivities give you an opportunity to savor in the local delights and in the true meaning of Ramadan. Each year this fiesta takes place with great zest and euphoria among different parts of the globe.

Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami is the celebration of the birth of Lord Shri Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is believed to have been born about five thousand years ago in Mathura in 'Dwapar Yuga'. Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti, Krishnashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami and sometimes simply as Janmashtami. It is essentially a Hindu festival. The festival is generally observed on Ashtami tithi, the eighth day of the dark half or Krishna Paksha of the month of Bhadrapada in the Hindu calendar, when the Rohini Nakshatra is ascendant. This is usually in the months of August and September in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and vigor by Hindus all over India and abroad. People observe fast the whole day, sing hymns and conduct prayers at midnight to rejoice the birth of Lord. Ras lila, dramatic enactments of the life of Krishna, are a special feature that is showcased in every part of the country, as it re-creates the flirtatious aspects of Krishna's youthful days. Another interesting aspect of Krishna Janmashtami is the practice of Dahi-Handi. This game portrays the playful and mischievous side of Krishna, where teams of young men form human pyramids to reach a high-hanging pot of butter and break it.

History
According to the Puranas Krishna took birth on the 8th lunar day (Ashtami) of the waning moon of the month of Smvana at midnight, upon the moon's entrance into Rohini asterism. This day is marked as Janmashtami. Krishna is one of the most worshipped Gods in India and belongs to the Hindu Trinity. He is believed to be one of the eight incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The story of birth of Krishna is an intriguing one. The story goes like this: One day Mother Earth was appalled by the number of sins that were being committed on her surface. She went to Brahma that God of the Gods and appealed to him for help. Brahma, after listening to her, appealed to Lord Vishnu who said that He would take birth on earth and His avatar will destroy every kind of sin that was being committed on earth then.

During that time, Mathura was in miserable state as Kansa, brother of Devki, had put his father, King Ugrasen in prison and declared himself the new king. To put an end to his evil rule, Lord Vishnu decided to take birth in the human form. As such, at the wedding ceremony of Devki and Vasudev, there was a divine prophecy which proclaimed that Vasudeva's eighth son would kill Kansa. To protect himself, Kansa rushed to kill his sister but gave up the idea of killing after being assured by Vasudev that he will hand over all his children to Kansa. Kansa put his brother-in-law and sister in prison. Kansa killed all the six infants as soon as they were born. The seventh child (Balram) was saved due to divine intervention, when he was transferred from Devki's womb to that of Rohini's (other wife of Vasudev).

As Devki conceived the eighth child, everything around was imbued with benevolence and majestic beauty. Lord Krishna was born in the divine form with lotus like eyes, his palms bearing the signs of a lotus, while his sole has a swastika sign. He was adorned with jewels and was wearing a crown. Just as he was born at midnight, a chain of events astonished Vasudev, when he saw the gates of the cell flow open and all the guards fast asleep. He immediately thought of Nand, his close friend in Gokul and decided to hand over his child to him in order to save him from the clutch of Kansa. Crossing the River Yamuna, Vasudev reached Nand's residence and exchanged his son with Nand's daughter. Upon reaching the prison, the door got locked behind him and he was chained again as if nothing happened in between. The guards also woke up and after hearing the cry of the baby, informed Kansa about the birth of the eighth child. Just as Kansa rushed to kill the baby, it slipped out of his hand and flew towards the sky, proclaiming that the annihilator of Kansa was born and was safe.

Celebrations
Hindus all over India observe fast on this day and recite the life story and teachings of Sri Krishna noted in the form of 'shlokas' in Bhagwad Gita. Temples of Lord Krishna are decorated most beautifully and children are adorned as Lord Krishna and Radhika, his spiritual beloved. Krishna Leela or the plays depicting scenes from Krishna's life, especially childhood, are performed. At midnight, when Lord Krishna was believed to have taken birth, an 'aarti' is performed and people break their fasts by feasting on sweets and delicious dishes prepared especially for the occasion. In many parts, the idol of baby Krishna is installed in a swing and offered sumptuous food, especially 'Makkhan' (butter) and 'Mishri' (sugar cubes).

Popular Places
Janmashtami is one such festival that is celebrated equally in North and South India. Preparations for the same start weeks in advance. Different parts of the country celebrate the festival differently. In South India, the celebrations are most prevalent in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In both the places, the idol of Lord Krishna is placed in a decorated mantapa. Bhakshanam (snacks and sweets in Sanskrit), are specially prepared for the festival, and offered to Lord Krishna. Along with it, fruits that are his favorites are also offered. In some parts of Karnataka, chakli, avalakki and bellada panaka are prepared especially for the festival. In North India, celebrations are no less than being called extravagant and splendid. While Gokul and Vridnavan (Lord's birth and growing up place) witness flocks of visitors coming to the place to celebrate the festival at Krishna janamabhoomi, the other parts organize different events and practice different rituals to mark the occasion. In the cities of Mumbai and Pune, dahi-handi is organized wherein a group of men form human pyramid to reach a high-hanging pot of butter and break it. In the city of Dwarka in Gujarat and the eastern states of Orissa and West Bengal, people celebrate it with fasting and doing puja at midnight. Though the rituals practiced vary from one region to the other, the spirit and devotion to the Lord is same everywhere. Thus, it wouldn't be wrong to say that Krishna is the most loved and celebrated God in India.

Mahavir Jayanti

Mahavir Jayanti is the most important Jain festival. It celebrates the birth of Saint Mahavir in a small town called Vaishali. The importance of the festival owes to the fact that Saint Mahavir was the founder of Jainism as a religion. It is a peaceful religion that cherishes simplicity. Their core values are such that they do not believe in killing even an insect. The mood of this festival is also without any kind of drama, just a quite celebration with respect to their saint. There are dominantly four types of Jains: Digambars and Svetambaras, Deravasis and Sthanakvasis. The worship rituals of Jains are not very elaborate or striking as their leader Mahavir was against idol worship in its ideal sense. Out of the four sects only Deravasis go to temples, while the others regard their ideal faith to be purest when internalized.

History/Significance
Mahavir Jain was born in the 5th century B.C. He was born in a palace of Vaishali to King Siddhartha and Queen Trisala. During the pregnancy, the queen is said to have had dreams of auspicious nature. The number of dreams varies in belief of each sect. After running his kingdom faithfully till 30 years of his age, the great saint gave up all luxuries and comforts of palace for penance. For twelve long years the saint had been under penance. At this time he was enlightened. He was known to be the 24th and the last tirthankara to have received enlightenment. He gave up all redundancies of life. He would eat on his palms refusing to use a plate. He also gave up wearing clothes. Getting rid of these rudimentary materials he focused on the real things and the real meaning of life. He preached the importance of truth and non-violence along with the message of not owning anything and not stealing. He later formulated all his teachings into a religion that he names Jainism.

Celebrations And Rituals
The festival is celebrated throughout the country among Jain communities. Although they believe in simplicity and avoid grandiosity, there are some significant ceremonies that they uphold. One of the most significant traditions of this day is the visit to various tirthankar statues and temples. There are processions with pictures and images of Mahavir. The temples have varied pujas to honor the statue of Mahavir by flowers, rice, fruits and abhishek it with milk. There are places of gathering or temples where the core values and message of Mahavira is preached. Some places his life history is also told. Some of the believers also observe a fast on this day. Kheer is prepared in most houses as a sweet dish.

Commonly Celebrated
Lord Mahavira, as it is believed in Jainism was born somewhere around the 5th century B.C. His birth date according to Lunar calendar is on the thirteenth day of the month of rising moon called Chaitr. According to the Gregorian calendar it falls somewhere in the month of April. The most important places of celebration of Mahavir Jayanti are Gujarat and Rajasthan. Gujarat is said to have to maximum number of Jain shrines. They are also the states where highest numbers of Jains reside. In India, Gujarat holds the biggest fair for this festival. Palitana and Girnar are some of the most significant places of worship of the state. Yet Vaishali, in Bihar, being the birth place of Mahavir, has its own importance and also celebrates this Jayanti significantly.   

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan is the festival meant to tighten the knot of relation between a brother and a sister. It is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Shravan (month according to Hindi calendar) which comes in the month of August. Raksha Bandhan is also known as 'Rakhi'. In this festival, sisters tie an auspicious thread on the wrist of their brothers. Raksha Bandhan means 'Bond of Protection'. This festival is celebrated to protect brothers from evil things and sisters also pray to God for the well-being and long life of their brothers. On this day, girls wear new clothes and don't eat anything before tying the rakhi on their brothers' wrist. They put red vermillion (tika) on their brothers' forehead, give them sweets to eat and tie the rakhi on their wrist. Brothers, on the other hand, give gifts on Rakhi as the token of love and blessings to their sisters. This festival sweetens the relation of brother and sister.

History of Rakhi
There are many stories related with Raksha Bandhan. One story comes from the epic Mahabharata, in which Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas tied a strip of her sari around Lord Krishna's wrist to stop it from bleeding which was wounded in the battlefield. Seeing this, Lord Krishna was deeply touched and he confirmed Draupadi as his sister. He promised to protect her from all evils and help her anytime when she will be in any problem. Lord Krishna saved her prestige at the time of 'Chir Haran' which happened with her in the court of King Dhritarashtra, where in the gambling Pandavas lost her to the Kauravas. Another story related to this festival is of Rani Karnavati of Chittor and Mughal Emperor Humayun. When the widowed queen Rani Karnavati realized that her land is going to be conquered by the Emperor Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi to the Emperor Humayun. He became emotional and came to save the Rani and her kingdom but he was too late.

According to another legend, the Demon King Bali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, who, in turn, had taken up the task to guard his kingdom, leaving his own abode in Vaikunth. Goddess Lakshmi who desired to accompany her lord back to her abode, disguised as a woman and seek refuge till her husband came back. During the celebrations of Shravan Purnima, Lakshmi tied the sacred thread to the King. When asked about her identity and her purpose, she revealed the truth. Touched by this, he sacrificed all he had for the Lord and his devoted wife. Thus, the festival came to be known as Baleva, that is Bali Raja's devotion to the Lord. It is said that since then it has been a tradition to invite sisters in Shravan Purnima for the thread tying ceremony or the Raksha Bandhan.

Popularity
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, girls and married women put mehndi on their hands. Both, brothers and sisters wear traditional dresses. Raksha Bandhan or the festival of 'Rakhi' also emphasizes on the relations of married women with their natal homes. Today, the practice has taken a more universal and humanitarian form where women and girls tie rakhi to the soldiers, the jailed convicts or other abandoned social sects to make them feel loved and wanted. They also tie 'rakhi' on the Prime Minister's wrist to take the promise of protection. Especially, in northern and western part of India, many girls tie rakhi around the wrists of boys and men who have no sisters and treat them as their 'God-Brothers'. Earlier, rakhi used to be in the form of silk thread and now it comes in every type such as rakhi made of gold, silver and sandalwood. Along with this, for small children rakhi is now available with their favorite cartoons.


Republic Day

The 26th of January marks as one of the most important days in the yearly calendar for every Indian. Celebrated as the Republic Day of India, it was on 26th January, 1950 that the country truly became a sovereign nation. Its significance in our daily lives is more than it being just a holiday. In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to say that this day is the reason for whatever we are today. Everything we have as a free-state today is because of this red-letter day. If today we have certain rights as citizens of India, it is because of the Constitution that was formed with utmost care. We might want to blame government for everything that goes wrong, but the Constitution remains flawless. It is the backbone of the country that holds it together. As such, Republic Day is celebrated with a lot of national fervor, zeal and enthusiasm.

History
Although we officially received independence from the British Raj by 1947, we had still no rules to live by. It was necessary to lay down certain laws for our land to create a livable society. Hence, 26 January 1950 was the day we when the Constitution of India was brought to force. The Constitution was drafted with Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar heading as the chairman of the Drafting Committee. It was not a simple thing to write the law that could be accepted by the diversity of India. The procedure started on 4 November 1947, when the first draft of the Constitution was submitted to the Assembly. It took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days with 166 open public sessions, for the assembly to adopt the final Constitution. This set of rules and regulations were passed as the law of the land on 26 November 1949 and were brought to complete effect on 26 January 1950. As such, this day is marked as the freedom attained in its entirety to the nation.

Celebrations and Rituals
The most important celebration of Republic Day is the Republic Day Parade. It is held at the India Gate in Delhi. The parade starts from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to Rajpath then to India Gate and finally ending at the Red Fort of Delhi. Patriotic songs are played. Jhaanki from all states with colorful vibrancies are displayed. There are cultural performances by the students and professionals. The President of India, along with other prominent leaders and dignitaries preside over the whole show. After all the rituals of the Republic Day, the national anthem is played with gun salutes to the National flag. Awards of honor like Veer Chakra, Param Veer Chakra and Maha Veer Chakra and so on are given to soldiers by the President of India. This program is aired live on Doordarshan, the national network of the country. In many schools colleges and government organizations, the national flag is hoisted early in the morning; followed by cultural programs. For schools, the government provides sweets to be distributed after the cultural programs are over. Parents are invited to these functions where their children perform on stage.

Commonly Celebrated
As mentioned earlier, Republic Day is celebrated on the 26th of January. It is an occasion that every nook and corner of the India celebrates. Be it a village, town, or city every place is drenched with the hues of the tri color. Most people wear flags as badges. Celebrities also come on stage under different banners and perform to honor the occasion.