Festivals

Festivals are an integral part of every religion around the world.  Different religions and cultures celebrate their own set of festivals for various reasons.  Legends, tales and sentiments are associated with festivals.

Festivals are a time to celebrate life with food; shopping, outings, and family get together, rituals and prayers.  It is something to look forward to, which perks up an otherwise mundane life.

festivals

Hindu Festivals
Hindus celebrate festivals throughout the year.  The Hindu calendar of different regions informs the dates on which the festival falls.  Some of the reasons for celebrating festivals are to herald the seasonal change, harvesting time, remembering saints, mythological events and birth of valiant mythological figures.  Giving and sharing are two valuable values that are practiced during Hindu festivals. The 12 months in the Hindu calendar and the festivals celebrated in each of these months are:

  1. Chaitra (March – April)
  2. Vaishākh (April – May)
  3. Jyaishtha (May – June)
  4. Āshādha (June – July)
  5. Shrāvana (July – August)
  6. Bhādrapad (August – September)
  7. Āshwin (September – October)
  8. Kārtik (October – November)
  9. Mārgashīrsha (November – December)
  10. Paush/Pushya (December – January)
  11. Māgh (January – February)
  12. Phālgun (February – March)

Hindu festival, rituals and pooja related general information are as follows:

  1. Aarathi
  2. Aarathi Songs Lyrics: Lakshmi, Gowri, Ganesha, Tulasi Devi,
  3. Gejjevastra
  4. Kalasha
  5. Mangala Drowya and Pooja items
  6. Manthrakshathe
  7. Morada Bagina
  8. Panchamrutha
  9. Shankranthi Yellu
  10. Thorana
  11. Visarjana Manthra
  12. Habbada Adige
  13. Hoovilya

Buddhist Festivals

  1. Buddha Poornima in Vaishakh (April – May)

Jain Festivals

  1. Mahavir Jayanthi in Chaitra

Christian Festivals

  1. New Year – January 1st
  2. Valentine’s Day – February 14th
  3. Easter – Good Friday
  4. Thanksgiving
  5. Halloween
  6. Christmas – December 25th

Muslim Festivals

  1. Ramzaan
  2. Bakrid
  3. Moharram
  4. Id Milad

Sikh Festivals

  1. Guru Nanak Jayanthi

National and State Festivals of India

  1. Republic Day – January 26th
  2. May Day – May 1st
  3. Independence Day – August 15th
  4. Teacher’s Day – September 5th
  5. Gandhi Jayanthi – October 2nd
  6. Karnataka Rajyotsava – November 1st
  7. Children’s Day – November 14th

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20 Responses to “Festivals”

  1. rambhai.com, on February 13th, 2009 at 4:31 pm Said:

    All you wanted to know about Indian Festivals…

    Festivals are an integral part of every religion around the world. Different religions and cultures celebrate their own set of festivals for various reasons. Legends, tales and sentiments are associated with festivals.

    Festivals are a time to cele…

  2. namita rao, on August 31st, 2009 at 12:49 pm Said:

    i belong to north karnataka married to a banglorean at pune.i am not aware of their culture.I was able to perform some rituals just coz i got all d informn. 4m ur website.thanks a million.
    it would b great if u cud tell me of all d rituals in dasara and diwali.i do want to perform them

  3. Nirupama Sriram, on September 1st, 2009 at 9:43 pm Said:

    Hi Namita,
    Thanks for your comments and I really appreciate your efforts to learn new customs and trying to perform the rituals. I have already posted about Dasara and Diwali, please access the following links and hope it helps -
    http://www.itslife.in/2008/09/dasara
    http://www.itslife.in/2008/10/deepavali
    Cheers!
    Nirupama

  4. namita, on September 3rd, 2009 at 3:17 pm Said:

    do v keep all the dolls 4m day one? or is it depending on whether u hav a male or female kid.anyways….i don’t hav kids rt. now,what do i do?

  5. Nirupama Sriram, on September 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 pm Said:

    Hi Namita,
    Yes all the dolls are kept on the same day . It does not matter whether you have children or not.

    You can display the dolls on all the 9 days or start to display from Saraswathi pooja day onwards up to Vijayadashami day.

    Happy Dasara and enjoy arranging the dolls.
    Nirupama

  6. namita, on September 4th, 2009 at 10:30 am Said:

    thank q so much

  7. namita rao, on April 14th, 2010 at 5:06 pm Said:

    would u describe about adhik masa n d rituals 2 b followed during d same

  8. Nirupama Sriram, on April 14th, 2010 at 7:23 pm Said:

    Namita,
    Sorry, I don’t know the rituals to be followed during this time. But I know that whatever phala / blessings that you get during this time is doubled. For Example: If you conduct a homa then the phala from this will be doubled.
    Regards,
    Nirupama

  9. Nirupama Sriram, on April 20th, 2010 at 10:05 pm Said:

    Hi Namita,
    I asked our family achar/purohit about your question and he told me the following:
    1. You can chant Vishnusahasranama with 33 others during the month.
    2. You can give 33 Bananas or 33 Mangoes or 33 Coconut along with 33 Betel Leaves and 33 Betel Nuts to anyone you like as dana / gift.
    3. You can give 33 Besan laddoos or 33 Karchikayi
    4. He says anything you to do to god during this month you will be blessed 3 times more.
    Regards,
    Nirupama

  10. Niveditha Rao, on July 15th, 2010 at 9:21 am Said:

    Hi Nirupama,

    Your blog is simply superb! Please post articles on what all things/items needs to be purchased for Karnataka brahmin wedding.Like pooja items, how to decorate and make nice items to be kept for vara pooje, dhare etc. how to make morada baagina, kashi yatre chatri, tamboola,aarathi plate etc look more beautiful.. My sis’s marriage is nearing.. Please help me!!!!!! Thanks in advance…

    -Niveditha.

  11. Nirupama Sriram, on July 15th, 2010 at 8:25 pm Said:

    Niveditha, creating a post on a marriage requires lots of time and resources. It cannot be done immediately. I will post it sometime in the future.

    Give my best wishes to your sister.
    Enjoy the wedding,
    Nirupama

  12. Niveditha Rao, on July 20th, 2010 at 10:08 am Said:

    Dear Nirupama,

    Yeah I understand that it takes more time n resources. But IF POSSIBLE please post atleast some among those or simple textual information without pictures[It is okay without pictures] just as reminders if we have forgot any.. n it is okay if u post in next 4 or 5 months also.. :-)

    Thanks,
    Niveditha.

  13. Nirupama Sriram, on July 21st, 2010 at 9:08 am Said:

    I will try my best Niveditha

  14. Greeshma, on July 30th, 2010 at 2:49 pm Said:

    if u have any idea about lakshmi gaddugegalu/rangolis particularly kept for lakshmi pooje/varamahalakshmi habba… pls post them

    Thanks,
    Greeshma

  15. Nirupama Sriram, on July 30th, 2010 at 6:19 pm Said:

    Greeshma, sorry I have no idea of the rangoli that you are referring.

  16. Deeksha N, on August 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 am Said:

    Hi Nirupama,

    Can u please post articles on festive season recipes separately.. Nice site.. was searching for a site for brahmin recipes and Vrathas.. Post some more as my thirst for varieties in all fields is insatiable like u.. :-P

    Rgrds,
    Deeksha

  17. Nirupama Sriram, on August 2nd, 2010 at 9:08 pm Said:

    Thank you Deeksha for leaving this note. Please check the following link for festival recipes – http://www.itslife.in/2009/09/habbada-adige

  18. Greeshma, on August 9th, 2010 at 9:20 am Said:

    Hi Nirupama,

    Pl post articles on how many uddharanes of water should be put to panchapatre during any pooja/vratha? I usually get confused with this..

    Thanx,
    Greeshma.

  19. Nirupama Sriram, on August 9th, 2010 at 5:48 pm Said:

    Greeshma, even I get confused regarding this. I usually follow instructions of the priest.

  20. namita, on August 21st, 2010 at 9:53 pm Said:

    where all is bellad achhu used???

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