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 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

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
  4. Thanksgiving
  5. Halloween
  6. Good Friday
  7. 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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6 Responses to “Festivals”

  1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. thank q so much

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