Ganesha Chaturthi (Gaṇēśa Caturthī or Vināyaka Caviti) is the Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the god Ganesha, the elephant-headed, remover of obstacles and the god of beginnings and wisdom. The festival, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between August and September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period).

The modern festival involves installing clay images of Ganesha in public pandals (temporary shrines), which are worshipped for ten days with different variety of herbal leaves, plants. These are immersed at the end of the festival in a body of water such as a lake, along with the Idol. After adding herbal and medicated plants and leaves(patri) in lakes, the water iThe modern festival involves installing clay images of Ganesha in public pandals (temporary shrines), which are worshipped for ten days with different variety of herbal leaves, plants. These are immersed at the end of the festival in a body of water such as a lake, along with the Idol. After adding herbal and medicated plants and leaves(patri) in lakes, the water in the lake becomes purified.

Ganesha Chaturthi

Diwali (or Divali, Deepavali, the "festival of lights") is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year.[3][4] Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival in India. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness.[5][6][7] The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.

and decorate their homes and offices.[8] On Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity. After puja, fireworks follow,[9] then a family feast including mithai (sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. Diwali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated. Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate

On the same night that Hindus celebrate Diwali, Jains celebrate a festival of lights to mark the attainment of moksha by Mahavira,[12][13] and Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas. Diwali is an official holiday in Nepal, India,[14] Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji and Pakistan.

Diwali

Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'. The festivals finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. HistHoli is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'. The festivals finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India. orians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.

It is said that Holi existed several centuries before Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is believed to have changed over the years. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the hIt is said that Holi existed several centuries before Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is believed to have changed over the years. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped. appiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped.

Holi

RAKSHYA BANDHAN (रक्षा� बन्धन) IS A HINDU FESTIVAL THAT CELEBRATES THE LOVE AND DUTY BETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS; THE FESTIVAL IS ALSO POPULARLY USED TO CELEBRATE ANY BROTHER-SISTER LIKE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE RELATIVES OR BIOLOGICALLY UNRELATED.[3][4] IT IS CALLED RAKHI PURNIMA, OR SIMPLY RAKHI, IN MANY PARTS OF INDIA.[5] THE FESTIVAL IS OBSERVED BY HINDUS, JAINS, AND MANY SIKHS.[1] RAKSHA BANDHAN IS PRIMARILY OBSERVED IN INDIA, MAURITIUS AND PARTS OF NEPAL. IT IS ALSO CELEBRATED BY HINDUS AND SIKHS IN PARTS OF PAKISTAN,[6] AND BY SOME PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN AROUND THE WORLD.[7]

RAKSHA BANDHAN IS AN ANCIENT FESTIVAL, AND HAS MANY MYTHS AND HISTORIC LEGENDS LINKED TO IT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE RAJPUT QUEENS PRACTISED THE CUSTOM OF SENDING RAKHI THREADS TO NEIGHBOURING RULERS AS TOKEN OF BROTHERHOOD.[8][9] ON RAKSHA BANDHAN, SISTERS TIE A RAKHI (SACRED THREAD) ON HER BROTHER'S WRIST. THIS SYMBOLIZES THE SISTER'S LOVE AND PRAYERS FOR HER BROTHER'S WELL-BEING, AND THE BROTHER'S LIFELONG VOW TO PROTECT HER.[10][11] THE FESTIVAL FALLS ON THE FULL MOON DAY (SHRAVAN POORNIMA) OF THE SHRAVAN MONTH OF THE HINDU LUNISOLAR CALENDAR.[12]

Rakshya Bandhan

One of the popular Hindu festivals, Dussehra is celebrated with pomp and gaiety. Since ages, a number of rituals are performed to please the Almighty, on the ceremonious occasion. It is the climax of the nine-day long celebrations of 'Navratris', which precede it. The festival commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. Apart from the legend from the epic Ramayana, and the story of the triumph of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, a vibrant history is associated with the festival. In this article, we have provided interesting information on the history of Dussehra. The celebration of Dussehra is rooted in the Hindu epic of Ramayana, according to which, Lord Rama, the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu, killed the ten-headed demon Ravana, in Satyug. Ravan had abducted Rama's wife Sita. Rama, along with his brother Lakshmana, follower Hanuman and an army of monkeys, headed towards Lanka (Ravana's Kingdom) in order to enter a war with Ravana and rescue Sita.

Dussehra

Onam (Malayalam: ഓണം�) is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India.[1] It is also the state festival of Kerala with State holidays on 4 days starting from Onam Eve (Uthradom) to the 3rd Onam Day.

The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the commemoration of Vamana avatara of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali who Malayalees consider as their King. In Kerala, it is the festival celebrated with most number of cultural elements such as Vallam Kali, Pulikali, Pookkalam, Onathappan, Thumbi Thullal, Onavillu, Kazhchakkula, Onapottan,[2] Atthachamayam etc. Onam is reminiscent of Kerala's agrarian past, as it is considered to be a harvest festival.

Onam is an ancient festival which still survives in modern times. Kerala's rice harvest festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers, which fall on the month of Chingam, celebrates the Asura King Mahabali's annual visit from Patala (the underworld). Onam is unique since Mahabali has been revered by the people of Kerala since prehistory.The King is so much attached to his kingdom that it is believed that he comes annually from the nether world to see his people living happily. It is in honour of King Mahabali that Onam is celebrated. The deity Vamana, also called Onatthappan,[3] is also revered during this time by installing a clay figure next to the floral carpet (Pookalam)

Onam

Rama Nawami (Devanāgarī: रा�म नवम�; IAST: Rāma navamī) is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of the god Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya. Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, is one of the oldest avatars of Lord Vishnu having a human form. The holy day falls in the Shukla Paksha on the Navami, the ninth day of the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. Thus it is also known as Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami, and marks the end of the nine-day Chaitra-Navaratri (Vasanta Navaratri) celebrations. Rama navami is one of the most important Hindu festivals.

At some places the festival lasts the whole nine days of the Navaratri, thus the period is called 'Sri Rama Navaratra'.[5][6] It is marked by continuous recitals, Akhand Paath, mostly of the Ramacharitamanas, organized several days in advance to culminate on this day, with elaborate bhajan, kirtan and distribution of prasad after the puja and aarti. Images of the infant Rama are placed on cradles and rocked by devotees. Community meals are also organized.

Rama Nawami

KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI (DEVANAGARI कृ ष्ण जन्मा�ष्टमा� KṚṢṆA JANMĀṢṬAMĪ), ALSO KNOWN AS KRISHNASHTAMI, SAATAM AATHAM, GOKULASHTAMI, ASHTAMI ROHINI, SRIKRISHNA JAYANTI, SREE JAYANTI OR SOMETIMES SIMPLY AS JANMASHTAMI, IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF THE HINDU DEITY KRISHNA, THE EIGHTH AVATAR OF VISHNU.[2]

THE FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED ON THE EIGHTH DAY (ASHTAMI) OF THE KRISHNA PAKSHA (DARK FORTNIGHT) OF THE MONTH OF SHRAVANA (AUGUST–SEPTEMBER) IN THE HINDU CALENDAR. RASA LILA, DRAMATIC ENACTMENTS OF THE LIFE OF KRISHNA, ARE A SPECIAL FEATURE IN REGIONS OF MATHURA AND VRINDAVAN, AND REGIONS FOLLOWING VAISHNAVISM IN MANIPUR.[3] WHILE THE RASA LILA RE-CREATES THE FLIRTATIOUS ASPECTS OF KRISHNA'S YOUTHFUL DAYS, THE DAHI HANDI CELEBRATE GOD'S PLAYFUL AND MISCHIEVOUS SIDE, WHERE TEAMS OF YOUNG MEN FORM HUMAN TOWERS TO REACH A HIGH-HANGING POT OF BUTTER AND BREAK IT. THIS TRADITION, ALSO KNOWN AS URIADI, IS A MAJOR EVENT IN TAMIL NADU ON GOKULASHTAMI. KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI IS FOLLOWED BY THE FESTIVAL NANDOTSAV, WHICH CELEBRATES THE OCCASION WHEN NANDA BABA DISTRIBUTED GIFTS TO THE COMMUNITY IN HONOUR OF THE BIRTH.[4]

Krishna Janmashtami

INDEPENDENCE DAY, OBSERVED ANNUALLY ON 15, AUGUST, IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN INDIA COMMEMORATING THE NATION'S INDEPENDENCE FROM THE BRITISH EMPIRE ON 15 AUGUST 1947. INDIA ATTAINED INDEPENDENCE FOLLOWING AN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT NOTED FOR LARGELY NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE LED BY THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC).[1] INDEPENDENCE COINCIDED WITH THE PARTITION OF INDIA, IN WHICH THE BRITISH INDIAN EMPIRE WAS DIVIDED ALONG RELIGIOUS LINES INTO THE DOMINIONS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN; THE PARTITION WAS ACCOMPANIED BY VIOLENT RIOTS AND MASS CASUALTIES, AND THE DISPLACEMENT OF NEARLY 15 MILLION PEOPLE DUE TO SECTARIAN VIOLENCE.

ON 15 AUGUST 1947, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU, WHO HAD BECOME THE FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA THAT DAY, RAISED THE INDIAN NATIONAL FLAG ABOVE THE LAHORE GATE OF THE RED FORT IN DELHI. ON EACH SUBSEQUENT INDEPENDENCE DAY, THE PRIME MINISTER HAS RAISED THE FLAG AND GIVEN A SPEECH.

THE HOLIDAY IS OBSERVED THROUGHOUT INDIA WITH FLAG-HOISTING CEREMONIES, PARADES AND CULTURAL EVENTS. INDIANS CELEBRATE THE DAY BY DISPLAYING THE NATIONAL FLAG ON THEIR ATTIRE, ACCESSORIES, HOMES AND VEHICLES; BY LISTENING TO PATRIOTIC SONGS, WATCHING PATRIOTIC MOVIES; AND BONDING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BOOKS AND FILMS FEATURE THE INDEPENDENCE AND PARTITION IN THEIR NARRATIVE. SEPARATIST AND MILITANT ORGANISATIONS HAVE OFTEN CARRIED OUT TERRORIST ATTACKS ON AND AROUND 15 AUGUST, AND OTHERS HAVE DECLARED STRIKES AND USED BLACK FLAGS TO BOYCOTT THE CELEBRATION.

Independence day