Religion and Festivals of India

Religion and Festivals of India are the identity and culture of India. India’s Sanskriti and traditions largely depend on the history of its religion and festivals. India has a vibrant culture. in India, people of different religions celebrate different festivals. Due to different types of religions, different types of festivals can be seen here.

India is a nation that is united in diversity with its history, culture, traditions, devotion, religious diversity, travel destinations, culture, and one more thing that separates it from the rest of the world and that is its religious festivals. Different types of religion and festivals are persist in India and celebrated in every state of India but here we will discuss some such festivals which are celebrated with great pomp and show in India.

Here are some major festivals of India which are followed by some major religious communities…

OVERVIEW OF FESTIVALS

RELIGION	FESTIVALS
HINDU	Diwali, Holi, Dussehra, Raksha Bandhan and bhai dooj, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi,Teej, Navratri, Karwachauth, Maha Shiv ratri
MUSLIM	Eid-ul-fitra, Eid-ul-adha, Eid milad-un-nabi, Shabe e qadra, Shab e meraj, Muharram
SIKKH	Lohri, Baisakh
CHRISTIAN	Christmas day, Easter and good Friday
JAIN	Mahavir jayanti, Gyana panchmi
BUDDHIST	Buddha punima, Saga dawa
PARSI	Papeti

DIWALI

 (DIWALI )

Diwali is a unique and vast festival of Hindu religion which is celebrated with great pomp not only in India but also in many countries of the world. According to the Puranas, this is considered to be the earliest festival in India. When Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after killing Ravana. the people of Ayodhya showed hospitality to him by lighting earthen lamps, and since then this day has been celebrated as Diwali. In this way, the festival is also called the festival of lamps.

This festival shows light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and victory of truth over falsehood. On this day, the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and Ganesha is done and along with it, the Aarti of Lord Kuber is also done. It is believed that doing so brings happiness, prosperity, and the destruction of evil in the house.

During Diwali, everyone, including children, worships wearing the new clothes. People decorate their houses with electric lights and earthen lamps on this day, distribute sweets to each other, offer prayers to God, and at night they show their enthusiasm for the festival by bursting crackers.

HOLI

(HOLI)

Holi is the second most celebrated festival of Hinduism, which is liked not only by Hindus but by people of all the religions of India. On this festival, people apply colors to each other and say happy Holi, hence it is also called the festival of colors. In some villages of Maharashtra, it is known by the name Rangpanchmi. it is the different festival among all religion and festivals.

A day before Holi, Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Lord Shankar, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu are worshiped at night, and after that burning Holika is celebrated. It is believed that with the burning of Holika, all evil is destroyed.

On this day, everyone wears white clothes worships God in the morning, and starts playing Holi by applying colors to God. Balloons filled with colored water, gulal,(dry pink color) sprinklers, thandai (a beverage that is intoxicating), and sweets are the main part of the festival without which the festival is incomplete.

DUSSEHRA

(DUSSEHRA)

The day Lord Ram killed Ravana is celebrated as Dussehra in Hindu society. This festival is celebrated at the end of the 9-day-long festival Navratri. To celebrate this festival, Ram Lila is organized at different places in India during Navratri.

Idols of Ravan and his brother Meghnath and Kumbhakaran are made and at the end of Ramlila, Ravan is killed by Ram with a burnt stone. Goddess Durga is worshiped on Dussehra.

RAKSHA BANDHAN AND BHAI DOOJ

(RAKSHA BANDHAN )

This festival of brother and sister is celebrated all over India. On this day, sisters apply tilak (red color with rice and marigold flowers) on their brother’s forehead, feed him, sweets, tie Rakhi (a colored thread) on his wrist to remove his arti and the brother promises to protect him in return, and also gives gifts to the sisters.

This tradition of tying Rakhi has been going on since the time of Goddess and god. According to the Puran, when the Lord Krishna went to kill the evil demon Shishupal, his finger got hurt and Draupadi tied a piece of cloth on his finger. Then Krishna promised her that he would protect her forever for life and hence this bond of brothers and sisters started being celebrated as Raksha Bandhan. and therefore it is considered a sacred festival amongst all religions and festivals in India.

JANMASHTAMI

(JANMASHTMI)

The birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, known as the incarnation of Vishnu, is celebrated as Janmashtami throughout India. On this occasion, Krishna temples in India are stunningly decorated and devotees come to seek blessings and prayers from Krishna. People of the Hindu community decorate the idol of Krishna in their homes on Janmashtami, wear his clothes and with great enthusiasm decorate their ornaments and flute on Krishna.

Apart from this, the women in the houses are made to dress their children like Krishna so that it seems as if the real Krishna has come to their house. subsequently, Dahi Handi(earthen pot with yogurt) is also organized at the city streets, temples, etc. in which yogurt is placed in an earthen pot and is hung on high and men and women break the Dahi Handi. The arrangement of the dahi handi is seen in this way, as if Lord Krishna used to steal butter from the handi and eat it when he was a child.

GANESH CHATURTHI

 ( GANESH CHATURTHI)

Among all the religion and festivals of India, one festival is Ganesh Chaturthi which is also called Vinayak Chaturthi. This festival celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesh, lasts for 10 days. The festival begins by bringing the idol of Ganesha home.

It is also installed in temples or pandals in which devotees contribute in large quantities and this festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. On the tenth day, the idol of Ganesha is taken down and immersed in holy water, and with this, the festival ends.

TEEJ

This festival is celebrated in different parts of India as the day when Lord Shiva embraced the love of Goddess Parvati. Since goddess Parvati and lord Shiva are also considered to be the epitome of love, hence in the festival of Teej, people seek the blessings of Parvati and Shiva to live a happy married life. Married women and girls observe fast on this day and worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

NAVRATRI

(NAVRATRI)

Navratri is another big festival celebrated by Hindus which lasts for 9 days and 9 nights, as the name suggests. During Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshiped and praised for her protection against evil. Navratri begins with the arrival of winter.

KARWACHAUTH

In North India, this festival is celebrated with great devotion and gaiety. In this festival, women keep fast for the long life and safety of their husbands. Before sunrise, women eat sargi (food) and the whole day without eating and drinking anything they pray for their husband’s long life at night when the moon comes out, they take down the aarti of their husband and take food from the husband’s hands.

This festival is a festival of devotion. Other than this, women apply henna on their hands and do complete makeup.

MAHA SHIV RATRI

   (MAHA SHIV RATRI)

Mahashivratri is a Hindu annual festival which is celebrated with great pomp and joy throughout the country. considered a foundation among all religions and festivals Mahashivratri is celebrated in memory of Lord Shiva, one of the three gods of the Hindu religion. According to the ancients, it is believed that this was the night when Lord Shiva performed the Brahmandi Nritya(classical dance). On this day, Shiva married Parvati and on the same day of Mahashivratri, Shiva defeated the demon of darkness and ignorance Tripurasur.

On the occasion of Mahashivratri, people go to the temple pray to Shiva, and observe fast. Consecration of Shivalinga is also done on this festival.

EID-UL-FITRA

 ( EID)

The biggest festival celebrated by the Muslim community of India is Eid ul Fitra, which is also known as Meethi Eid or Badi Eid. This festival is celebrated for three days long with great enthusiasm not only by Muslims but also by Hindus and people of other communities. Keeping fast for a month long period (Ramadan) Eid is a gift from God to the fasting people.

During the festival of Eid, people offer Eid namaz at Eidgah. People give fitra (money) to the poor, they go to each other’s house wearing new clothes, have Eid (embrace each other), and give sweets and Eidi (money or gifts) to each other. Homemade sinwaiy (a traditional sweet dish) is the main attraction of this festival.

EID-UL-ADHA/EID-UL-AZHA

Eid ul Adha is also known as Eid ul azha. As the name suggests, it means to sacrifice, so on Eid ul Azha, people sacrifice animals (goats, camels, buffaloes, sheep, lambs) for God. Namaz is offered and meat is distributed at each other’s houses (especially poor people’house). They prepare different kinds of non veg dishes and invite their relatives for the feast. In Eid ul Azha the sacrifice lasts for three days.

EID MILAD-UN-NABI

(EID MILAD-UN-NABI)

The birthday of the beloved Prophet Muhammad, the founder of the Muslim religion, is celebrated all over the world as Eid Mulad-un-nabi. According to the Quran, it is celebrated on the 12th date of Bara Wafat, the third month of the Muslim calendar. All Muslims celebrate this day with zeal and enthusiasm. Men take out a procession during the day time of this festival in which everyone gathers together to show their love for the beloved Prophet Mohammed and expand the Muslim religion by taking out processions in the streets.

Since the birthday and parda(when he hide himself from all over the world) of prophet mohommad both are same day on eid milad un nabi, hence during the day, the Muslim community mourns and during the night, decorations are offered in every street and people come to see this decorations. This decorations is a symbol of arrival beloved prophet mohommad.

SHABE-E-QADRA

As can be seen from the name Shabe Qadra, Shab means night and Qadra means tauba (regret for sins), the night of repentance. According to the Muslim calendar, this night falls on the 14th night of Shaban and is the most different of all the nights. The Muslim community stays up all night, repenting their sins to God, asking for blessings and praying all night.

Next day in the morning, these people fast and worship. In the evening of shab-e-Qadra, the graveyard is decorated like a bride and people sit on the graves of their loved ones and pray for them. It is believed that it is the night when almighty determines how many people will die and born in the next year. it is the signal festival which is celebrated for selfinspection, regret for sins among in throughtout religion and festivals of india.

SHAB-E-MERAJ

Shab e Meraj is the night when the founder of the Muslim religion, the beloved Prophet Muhammad, went to Allah on the 27th night of rajab(a month of muslim calander) and talked to Allah. This journey of Shab e Meraj was not in physical.

To celebrate this day, people of the Muslim community keep fast on the 27th of Rajab and worship of almighty Allah.

MUHARRAM

The first month of the calendar of Islam (new year of Muslims) is celebrated by the name of Muharram. On the 10th of Muharram, the grandson of the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Hassan, Hussain) was martyred in a battle. Muharram is celebrated as a sign of mourning. People express their grief by making crowns and playing akhada. On this day people keep fast, prepare drinks (sharbat) and pray to almighty Allah.

LOHRI

 ( LOHRI)

Lohri festival is celebrated in whole India by Sikhs and Hindu community. it is celebrated a fixed date on 14th January. This festival is a thanksgiving to the farmers, which is given to the Sikhs in the form of this festival after harvesting the Rabi crop.

In this festival, people light a bonfire at night and put food crops like Gajak, Chikki, Popcorn, Puffed rice, Sugarcane etc. in it to pay homage to the crops. After that people come together and dance, celebrate Lohri with each other and wish.

BAISAKHI

 ( BAISAKHI)

Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhs, founded the Khalsa Panth on 13th April in 1699, since then every year on 13th April has been celebrated as Baisakhi by the Sikhs and Hindu community.

it is the only festival which gratitude for food in all religion and festivals in India. On this festival, Sikh people thank the earth for providing food. Apart from this, folk dances like Bhangda, Gidda etc. are performed together by men and women during the festival. Decorating houses and Gurudwaras, making delicious dishes is also an important part of the festival.

CHRISTMAS

 (X-MAS TREE)

Christian has only singal huge festival among all over culture, society , religion and festivals in India. Every year the festival of Christmas is celebrated all over the world on a fixed date, 25th December. This is the biggest festival of the Christian community because this day is the birthday of Jesus Christ.

Mall, church, streets, restaurants, beaches everywhere decoration is seen. This festival is celebrated on the nights of 24th to 25th December. Champagne, cake, delicious cookies, feast are a part of the festival. subsequently, this festival is considered incomplete without the X-MAS tree. Exchanging gifts among each other is also a part of this festival.

EASTER AND GOOD FRIDAY

(EASTER)

The festival of Easter holds great importance for Christians and it also has religious importance. Christians celebrate this festival in honor of Jesus Christ’s revive on the third day after being crucified by the Roman authorities.

Decorating colorful easter eggs, wearing new clothes, exchanging gifts, cooking delicious food etc. are the main traditions of the festival. The festival of Easter is celebrated all over the world on Good Friday in April every year. In the areas of Goa, Kerala and Puducherry, this festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. miracle of revive of yishu masih only seen in christian community among all over the religion and festivals of India.

 MAHAVEER JAYANTI

            (MAHAVEER JAYANTI)

Mahaveer Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord Mahaveer, the 24th Teerthankar and founder of Jainism. It is celebrated on the 13th day of the rising moon of Chaitra (april) month.

The huge festival of the Jain community, Mahaveer Jayanti is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm by taking out processions, in which people join together and chant bhajan kirtans and give alms to the poor.

GYAN PANCHMI

It is celebrated on the 5th day of Kartik month which is also known as Gyan Divas(knowledge day). On this day the holy book is presented. This festival is celebrated in Jain society  with the aim of spreading knowledge on illiteracy.

BUDDHA PURNIMA

                             (BUDDHA PURNIMA)

Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the Purnima of Vaishakh (May)month of Hindu calendar. On this day, the birthday of Gautam Buddha, a follower of Buddhism, is celebrated. Not only in India but also all over the world, devotees of Gautam Buddha celebrate this day by propagating his teachings and properties.  the idols of Buddha is worshiped and chants his name.

SAGA DAWA

Another festival is celebrated by the people of the Buddha community which is mostly celebrated in Sikkim with a great pomp. This festival is celebrated to commemorate the enlightenment of Lord Gautam Buddha.

This festival is celebrated in India between May and June. During this festival offering water and incense sticks into the heads of Buddhists. Apart from this, turning of the prayer wheels, and chanting of mantras are also the main attractions of the festival. this festival was found strange of entire religion and festivals of India.

PAPETI

It is an important festival for people who believe in the Parsi religion.  Parsi people wear traditional clothes and worship in the fire temple on this day. make Treditional parsi food such as, patrani maachi (kele ke patte me lipti hui machli), sali boti (aaloo chips ke sath maans) aur faluda etc.

On this day people go to each other’s houses, distribute sweets, and show their enthusiasm towards the festival. According to the Jarostreyan calendar, the new year of the Parsi religion begins on this day.

India, a land of diverse religions and vibrant festivals, showcases its rich cultural tapestry through celebrations that unite hearts and communities. From Diwali’s glowing lamps to Holi’s splash of colors, every festival reflects the nation’s spiritual depth and joy. Religion and festivals of India are not just traditions; they embody the spirit of harmony and togetherness. By embracing this diversity, India continues to inspire the world with its unity in celebrating faith, culture and shared heritage.

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