8 Popular Festivals in India
1. Diwali
Diwali is a five day festival that represents the start of the
Hindu New Year. It's known as the "Festival of Lights" for all the
fireworks, small clay lamps, and candles that are lit during the
celebrations. These lights are said to represent the victory of good
over evil, and brightness over darkness. The candlelight makes Diwali a
very warm and atmospheric festival, and it's observed with much joy and
happiness.
2. Ganesh Chaturthi
The spectacular eleven day Ganesh Chaturthi festival honors the birth of the beloved Hindu elephant-headed god, Lord Ganesha.
The start of the festival sees huge, elaborately crafted statutes of
Ganesha installed in homes and podiums, which have been especially
constructed and beautifully decorated. At the end of the festival, the
statutes are paraded through the streets, accompanied by much singing
and dancing, and then submerged in the ocean.
3. Holi
Holi is a two day festival that also celebrates the victory of
good over evil, as well as the abundance of the spring harvest season.
It's commonly referred to as the "Festival of Colors". People
exuberantly throw colored powder and water all over each other, have
parties, and dance under water sprinklers. Bhang (a paste made
from cannabis plants) is also traditionally consumed during the
celebrations. Holi is a very carefree festival that's great fun to
participate in if you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.
4. Navaratri, Dussehra, and Durga Puja
The first nine days of this festival are known as Navaratri,
and are filled with dance in honor of the Mother Goddess. The tenth
day, called Dussehra, is devoted to celebrating the defeat of the demon
king Ravana by Lord Rama. It also coincides with the victory of the revered warrior Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura.
In eastern India, the festival is observed as Durga Puja. Huge statues of the Goddess are made and immersed in the holy Ganges River. The festival is an extremely social and theatrical event, with drama, dance, and cultural performances held throughout the country.
In eastern India, the festival is observed as Durga Puja. Huge statues of the Goddess are made and immersed in the holy Ganges River. The festival is an extremely social and theatrical event, with drama, dance, and cultural performances held throughout the country.
5. Onam
Onam is a traditional ten day harvest festival that marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali.
It’s a festival rich in culture and heritage. People strikingly
decorate the ground in front of their houses with flowers arranged in
beautiful patterns to welcome the King. The festival is also celebrated
with new clothes, feasts served on banana leaves, dancing, sports,
games, and snake boat races.
6. Krishna Janmashtami/Govinda
Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Govinda, commemorates the birthday of Lord Krishna.
An extremely fun part of the festival involves people climbing on each
other and forming a human pyramid to try and reach and break open clay
pots filled with curd, which have been strung up high from buildings.
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