India is a land of various festivities. One festival ends
and the other one begins, and this is a cycle that continues in India
throughout the year.
Most of the important festivals and holidays in India are
regarding religious occasions. India being secular in its approach, allows
religions from various regions across the globe, to be practised here. Hence,
one can only imagine the multitude of festivals that are celebrated in India. If
you are planning a trip to this country, then you should definitely make sure
that you are here in such a time so that you can catch any one of the many
Indian festivals and holidays. In fact, in the case of India, holidays are
equivalents to festivals!
Let’s take a look at some of the most important festivals
that are celebrated in India:
Diwali
The most important festival that is celebrated with equal
pomp all across India is Diwali. Popularly known as the festival of lights,
Diwali is actually the celebration of the victory of good over evil. One of the
many myths associated with Diwali state when King Ramachandra came back to
Ayodhya, his kingdom, after defeating the King of Lanka, Ravana, the people lit
up the city streets in lamps and burst crackers, and this day came to be known
as Diwali. Diwali generally falls in the months of October or November and
schools and offices remain closed on this auspicious day. Everyone decorate
their homes with lights and lamps and light crackers on the streets on this
day.
Durga Puja
Durga Puja is a festival that celebrates the defeat of the
Demon king Mahisasura in the hands of Goddess Durga. This festival is
celebrated with great gusto all across West Bengal, for five days. It generally
falls in the month of September and October. People dress up in new clothes and
roam about in the streets visiting one idol from another. If you want to catch
this festival at its finest celebrations, then you should be in Kolkata during
this time. It is also celebrated in Delhi, Mumbai and Varanasi and a few other
places in India.
Holi
Popularly known as the festival of colours, holi is one of
the most significant festivals that are celebrated in India. People apply
colours on each other on this day in the morning and decorate their houses with
rangoli. It is a two-day festival that falls sometime between February and
March. The festival kicks off by burning the holika or the effigy of an evil
spirit, on the night before. It is widely celebrated throughout India and no
matter in which city you are you will be able to witness its celebrations.
Ratha Yatra
Generally celebrated any time between the months of June and
July, this festival marks the journey of the deity Jagannath in a well adorned
chariot from one of his homes to another. It is widely celebrated in Puri and
other parts of Orissa. It is also celebrated across West Bengal and a few
nearby states. Many tourists from across the world flock to Puri at this time
of the year.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Another very popular festival that is widely celebrated throughout
Maharashtra and especially in Mumbai is the Ganesh Chaturthi. It is most
celebrated between the months of August and September. It is a four-day
festival, that celebrates the power and prowess of the Elephant God, Ganesha,
who is also mythically believed to be the son Shiva and Parvati. People rally
on the streets with huge idols of this God and love to stay emerged in
festivities for the four days.
If you want to witness what Indian festivals and holidays
are all about, then you have to catch anyone of these festivals. Do take part
in them too, to soak in all the fun!
