India is best known for its festival and culture in the entire world. The country has numerous religions and hundreds of festivals. Some of these biggest festivals are shared by communities across the country, albeit with the variation on their history and way of celebration.
Here Are Top 10 Biggest Festivals Of India.
10.Baisakhi-Dates: April 13, 2017
As the festival has incredible significance in Sikh religion, in this day major activities are organized in Gurdwaras. Baisakhi is recognized with significant of bhangra dancing, feasting, folk music, and Fairs. The area surrounding the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Sikhs visit and bath holy Sarovar before entering Gurdwaras, to mark the auspicious occasion. The Baisakhi meals are arranged all over Punjab and are an event emphasize for many people. Traditional dress up in their clothes, and perform and dancing.
9.Ganesha Chaturthi- Dates: August 25-September 5, 2017
Ganesh Chaturthi, another one of main Hindu religious festivals of India, The festival remembers Lord Ganesha’s birthday and enjoys as the god of better beginnings, prosperity and obstacle eliminator. It is a 10-day affair of colorful festivities. The start of the festival sees huge, elaborately crafted idol of Ganesha installed in homes, which have been especially beautifully decorated. The festival ends on the 10th day, wherein the idol is carried in a procession with music and group chanting, then immersed in nearby river or ocean
8.Krishna Janmashtami- Date: August 15, 2017
Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Govinda, commemorates the birthday of Lord Krishna. A most enjoyable moment of the eve engages groups of guys climbing on each other to form like pyramid try to reach and break clay pots filled with curd, which has been strung up high from buildings.
7.Dussehra- Dates: September 21-30, 2017
Dussehra also referred to as Vijayadashami, is most famous festivals of India. It is celebrated in different forms countrywide. Ramlila(enactment of scenes from Ramayana) is held everywhere for 10 days. It’s concluded with “Ravan Dahan” the big event of the burning of effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakaran.
Durga Puja is celebrated by Bengalis, throughout the country. The 10 days of fast, feast, and worship of Goddess Durga are accompanied by cultural songs, dances, and dramas. Huge and beautiful Durga idols are made and placed in specially made artistic Pandals. People dress in traditional clothes and go around the pandal – hoping, praying, and feasting.
6.Chaitra Navaratri (Ram Navami) Dates: 5 April 2017
Ram Navami that celebrates the birth of Lord Sri Ram. Rama Navami falls on the ninth day of Chaitra Masa Sukla paksha Navami. Rama Navami falls on the ninth day of a Hindu lunar year, which usually falls in March or April. People keep a fast throughout the day, breaking it only at night with fruit. Hindus also fast for nine days and “Ramcharitmanas” is recited at various places.
Ram Navami is a gazetted holiday in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh etc.
5.Raksha Bandhan- Dates: 07 August 2017-04-27
This festival Signifies the strong bonding of a brother and sister. During Rakhi, a sister performs Aarti, applies tilak, and ties a sacred thread “rakhi” on the brother’s wrist wishing his well being. The brother, in return, vows to care for the sister. Another festival which has similarity to Rakhi is Bhaidooj which after Diwali.
4.Ramadan / Eid-ul-Fitr Dates: 26 June 2017
Ramadan is designed to show Muslims about patience, spirituality, humbleness and submissiveness to God. Muslims fast as an honor to God and offer more prayer than regular. the dates of Ramadan differ, moving in reverse by about 11 days each year depending on the moon During the Ramadan month, the nights are stuffed with feasting and celebrations. The streets in Islamic places get covered with food vendors and feasting continues whole the night with entire family members coming out to participate in the celebrations.
3.Maha Shivaratri- Dates: 24 February 2017
Maha Shivaratri is a major festival in Hinduism celebrated annually in honor of Lord Shiva. One that is serious and marks a remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. The devotees keep awake all night. Others visit one of the Shiva temples or go on pilgrimage to Jyotirlingams.
Offerings of fruits, bael leaves, milk and sweets to God Shiva are made, some perform all-day fasting with a Vedic/ Tantrik worship of Shiva, and some perform Yoga. In Shiva temples, “Om Namah Shivaya”, the sacred mantra of GodShiva, is chanted through the day.
2.Holi- Dates: 12 and 13 March 2017
Holi is the popular festival of India as known as a festival of colors, celebrated with a lot of fervour across the country. It signifies the victory of goodness (Prince Prahlad) over evil (Holika) and the arrival of spring season.
On the event of Holi, people make huge Holika bonfires and sing and dance around it. On the day of Holi, people gather in open areas and apply dry and wet colors of multiple hues to each other, with some carrying water guns and colored water filled balloons.
1.Diwali ( Deepavali)- Date: 19 October 2107
Diwali is the biggest significant religious festival among Hindus. it is called as the festival of lights. To honor and celebrate Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman returning from Sri Lanka and to illuminate their path, villagers light Diyas to celebrate the triumph of good over evil Furthermore, Deepavali is related to the celebration of Goddess Lakshmi, who is venerated amongst Hindus as the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and hope over despair.
Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate, and decorate their homes and offices, all the fireworks, clay lamps, and candles that are lit. The candlelight makes Diwali a very warm and atmospheric festival, and it’s observed with much delight and happiness. At most places, Diwali is celebrated for 5 days.
Summary: The people of India are very religious and joyous, which helps in maintain the balance and charm of the country and unifying the citizens.
