|
India
is a land of often bewildering diversity. It is a jigsaw
puzzle of people of every faith and religion, living
together to create a unique and colourful mosaic. There
is a festival for every reason and for every season.
Every celebration centres around rituals of prayer,
seeking blessings, exchanging goodwill, decorating houses,
wearing new clothes, music, dance and feasting.
Here
is a list of Indian festivals according to months of
an year...
Makar Sankaranti (Maharashtra,
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh)
It
is a celebration of spring on the occasion of the 'ascent'
of the sun to the north (Uttarayana). It is a day of
goodwill and friendship. People exchange gifts and sweets.
Lohri
(Punjab)
In
the North Makar Sankaranti is called Lohri. It is the
only Hindu festival which falls regularly on 14th of
January every year. It is celebrated by making bonfire
and performing group dances.
Pongal
(Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh)
In the South Sankaranti becomes Pongal. It
is a celebration of the harvest which is observed for
three days in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Thai
Pusam (Tamil Nadu)
This festival usually
takes place in the temples dedicated to Kartikeya and
Mariamman where trenches od burning coal are laid out
for dedicated devotees to walk over.
Float
Festival (Tamil Nadu)
The magnificent festival is celebrated in Madurai on
the full moon. The icons of two deities, the god Sunderesa
and Goddess meenakshi, with pearl crowns on their head
and riding on a golden bull are taken out in splendid
procession.
Kerala Village Fair (Kerala)
Mid-January is the
time for cultural events in the lush villages around
kovalam. Traditional thatch houses are decorated during
this 10 days long festival.
Bikaner
Festival (Rajasthan)
The festival starts off with a magnificent procession
of bedecked camels. Camels are beautifully decorated
and is a fascination for onlookers.
Pattadakal
Dance Festival
It is a festival of dance held at Pattadakal (Karnataka),
the ancient capital of the Chalukyan kings.
Id-ul-Fittr
(All over India)
Celebrated at the end of Ramzan, the Muslim month of
fasting. The faithful gather at the Mosque to pray.
Friends and relatives meet to exchange gifts.
Vasant Panchami (North India
and West Bengal)
It is a ceremonial welcome to spring on the fifth day
of the waxing moon of Magh, when Saraswati, Shiva-Durga
and Vishnu-Lakshmi are worshipped.
Fairs and Festivals in
|
