India's Biggest Festival That Celebrate in Whole Year.

                                                  INDIA'S BIGGEST FESTIVAL 

India is a country in which people of many different religions live. Most of the people in India are Hindus. The season of festivals celebrated by Hindus lasts for the whole year in India. Sanatan Dharma is considered to be the oldest religion in the world. The festivals celcbrated by Hindus mainly include Diwali, Holi, Mahashivratri, Lohri, Rakshabandhan, Teej, KarvaChauth, Navratri, Dussehra, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Baisakhi, Makar Sankranti, Basant Panchami, Kumbh Mela, Losar, Pongal, Onam, Christmas, Hemis, Gangaur, Rath Yatra etc. 

India is home to hundreds of rituals, festivals, and numerous religions. Communities all around the nation celebrate several of these holidays, albeit they differ in terms of their origins, themes, and modes of celebration. These are a few of India's largest festivals, honoring the subcontinent's history, customs, culture, and diversity of religious beliefs. As the list makes clear, India is recognized for adapting to and accepting the festivals of various religions and areas in addition to its own. India is known for its vibrant celebrations, complete with music, cuisine, and costumes.

DIPAWALI :-

DIPAWALI

The Festival of Lights, also known as Diwali, is a major Indian holiday that is often observed in October or November. Hindus celebrate the triumph of good over evil during this five-day holiday. Diwali is observed in North India to honor Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and his return to Ayodhya. It is a festival in South India commemorating Lord Krishna's triumph over the demon Narakasura.

India's largest festival is Diwali. Another name for Diwali is the Festival of Lights. According to mythological beliefs, on the new moon day of Kartik month, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after killing Ravana and finishing his 14 years of exile. The people of Ayodhya welcomed Lord Rama's homecoming to Ayodhya by lighting ghee lamps. Since then, India has observed this day as Diwali. Firecrackers light up the sky after prayers, ringing loudly into the night.

Hindu families start getting ready for Diwali almost two weeks in advance. Houses are given a thorough cleaning, oil lamps and electric lights are purchased, the prayer room is decorated, and flowers and mithai (Indian sweets) are stored. India comes alive with the combined celebrations of millions of pious homes throughout the country on the actual days of Diwali. In celebration of Diwali, people leave their doors wide and leave the lights on all night to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi, also known as the Goddess of Wealth, who is believed to bring good fortune and riches to those who enter. Frequently, individuals draw tiny feet outside of their houses to show the Goddess the route to their residences. Firecrackers light up the sky after prayers, ringing loudly into the night.

HOLI ( Holika Dahan) :-

HOLI

The festival of colors, Holi, is often observed in March. During Holi, people ignite bonfires, burn effigies of the wicked Holika, smear each other with colored powders and bathe each other with water and water balloons!
Similar to Diwali, this celebration has different mythological roots in the North and South. This event represents the destiny of Kama Deva, the God of Lust and Love, in the southern regions. He is said to have shot an arrow at his wife Rati in the past, but it missed and struck Lord Shiva instead. Enraged, Lord Shiva unleashed his third eye, instantly reducing Kama to ashes.

Feeling bad for leaving her widowed, Lord Shiva allowed Rati to see her spouse, even though it would never happen again in person. Rati was devastated. In contrast, Holi is a celebration of purity and devotion triumphing over evil and ego in the North. It was said that a king commanded all men in his realm to worship him as God. All save his son obeyed. The king was furious and continued attempting to murder his son, but in vain, since the boy had embraced Lord Vishnu as his ultimate master and was therefore shielded from his father's malicious plans.

It is said that one day Holika, the sister of the King, who had herself been bestowed with a boon that rendered her impervious to fire, volunteered to take the prince onto her lap and light herself on fire. But when she did that, her boon simply shielded her from her bad intentions; as a result, the prince was spared and she burned to death on the spot. Thus, effigies of Holika are burned the day before Holi amid much laughter and festivity!

RAKSHA BANDHAN :-

RAKSHA BANDHAN

Raksha Bandhan Honours the loving relationship between sisters and brothers. 'A link of protection' is what the name 'Raksha Bandhan' implies. On this day, sisters pray to God for protection from all evil, and brothers pledge to keep their sisters safe from harm. This one-day event usually takes place in August. Sisters perform a little puja for their brothers and adorn their wrists with a vibrant, frequently elaborately adorned thread known as a Rakhi. In return, brothers must promise to care for their sisters until the day they pass away and sweeten the pot with a present of some sort!

Raksha Bandhan is considered a symbol of the sacred relationship of love between brother and sister. On the day of Raksha Bandhan, the sister ties a Rakhi on her brother's wrist and takes a promise from the brother to protect her.

MAHA SHIVRATRI :-

MAHA SHIV RATRI

According to tradition, the Asuras, or demons, and the Gods worked together to use a mountain and a snake as ropes to churn out Amrut, or the nectar of life, from the ocean's depths. Among the things that came out, was a kettle of poison. The entire cosmos could be destroyed by this poison due to its extreme potency. Upon realizing their actions, the Gods and Demons fled in various directions to protect themselves, since none of them have the ability to halt the poison's spread. Lord Shiva proceeded to the location and consumed the poison at the gods' request. Startled, the Lord's spouse, Goddess Parvati, secured a noose around his neck, preventing the poison from penetrating his body below the neck. Nevertheless, the poison was so strong that it turned his neck and face blue.

The precise translation of Shivaratri is "the night of Shiva" or "the great night of Shiva." Thousands of devotees swarm to Shiva temples to gift Lord Shiva Bael or Bilva/Vilvam leaves. Some Hindus only eat one meal a day, while others refrain from eating anything at all. After taking a bath, people congregate around Shiva temples, smear holy ashes on their bodies, and continue to pray to Lord Shiva. To keep people up all night, there is a lot of singing and dancing. Cannabis, or "bhang," is also ingested during the festivities.

DUSSEHRA :- 

DUSSEHRA (VIJAYADASHMI)

Hindus celebrate the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana on the occasion of Dussehra. It also represents Goddess Durga's triumph over Mahishasura, the buffalo demon. Thus, it is fundamentally a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. The Hindu autumn lunar month of Ashvin, which corresponds to September or October in the Western calendar, has its tenth day on which Dussehra is celebrated. As Navratri, the first nine days are observed. There is a lot of fasting, feasting, singing, and dancing during the entire ten-day period. In addition, dusshera signifies the unofficial end of summer and the start of winter. The purpose of Dussehra is to remember how Lord Rama slew Ravana. The Puranic narrative states that Lord Rama triumphed over evil on this day, which is why it is also observed as Vijayadashami.

NAVARATRI / DURGA PUJA :-

NAVRATRI POOJAN

In India, Navratri puja is observed with great fervor. There are nine different goddesses worshipped over the nine days of Navratri. In India, Navratri is observed twice a year. Hindu mythology states that Lord Shiva encircled the entire globe while weeping after Mata Sati passed away, holding her in his lap. Lord Shiva continued to weep until Lord Vishnu used his Sudrashan Chakra to cut Mata Sati's body into nine parts. Only then did Lord Shiva stop weeping. And Shakti Peethas were formed wherever the fragments of Mata Sati fell to the earth.

The nine-day Navratri festival is celebrated over three days, during which time devotees worship Ma Durga, the Goddess of Valor; Ma Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge; and Ma Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. For the nine days leading up to Navratari, Hindus prioritize eating and fasting over their regular daily routines. The religious dances performed in the evenings honor Goddess Durga Maa. During Navratri, Gujaratis perform their traditional dances, Garba and Dandiya-Raas. The women folk sing traditional melodies, called "Garbas," as they dance in a circle. Young men and women play Garba with tremendous enthusiasm while sporting vibrant traditional clothes. Navratri has a very distinct and colorful atmosphere.

KRISHNA JANMASHATAMI :-

JANMASHTAMI

The name Janmashtami (birth + eighth day) refers to the celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna, a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, on the eighth day of a lunar fortnight in August or September. Since Lord Krishna was rumored to have been a mischievous youngster who adored milk, butter, and ghee, women fast, prepare various milk-based desserts, and present them to the Lord. In addition, they make prayer rooms at home or go to temples to offer prayers to Lord Krishna.

Dahi Handi is one of the Janmashtami customs. This is greeted with great fervor and excitement. Buttermilk is kept in a clay pot that is suspended far above the ground. Men who have been training for weeks before the event attempt to climb the pot in the form of a human pyramid. The person at the top of the human pyramid hits the handi with a blunt item in an attempt to break it. When that occurs, buttermilk or coconut water is poured over the whole group, signifying their success achieved together. In order to obtain the huge benefits that come with successfully shattering the highest handis, handis are placed across the city, and groups known as "Govinda Pathaks" drive around in trucks attempting to smash as many of the handis as they can during the day.

GANESHA CHATHURTHI :-

GANESHA CHATHURATHI

Lord Ganesha's birthday is commemorated on Ganesha Chaturthi. Within Hinduism, one of the most well-known deities is Lord Ganesha, also known as Ganpati. Because he is regarded as an avatar of both Shiva and Vishnu, he is revered by both Shiva and Vishnu devotees. Jains and Buddhists alike believe in Ganpati. Many clay or metal idols in various sizes up to twenty feet in height occasionally are created in the lead-up to this celebration. These Lord Ganesha figurines are purchased by people and placed in their homes.

The idols are then worshipped for a maximum of eleven days, following which they are paraded through the streets of the town or city (mostly in the state of Maharashtra) and submerged in a river, sea, or well in grandiose ceremonial processions. Pandas have been competing to be the finest in recent years by attempting to outdo each other in terms of the size of the idol, the quantity of cash and jewels presented to it, and the quantity of devotees they can draw.

MAKAR SAKRANTI :-

MAKAR SANKRANTI

Literally translating as "the turning of the sun into Capricorn (Makar) in the sky," Makar Sankrati also marks the beginning of harvest season for most of North India. The people of Punjab and Haryana celebrate the festival of Lohri with dhol and bhangra dances and folk songs of Lohri, while the people of Gujarat, M.P., Maharashtra, and even Rajasthan celebrate it as Uttarayan (sun's journey to north) by flying kites in the newly active wind currents. As a result, this event is essentially celebrated by people of many various religions in many different places, including Hindus, Sikhs, and even Jain Gujaratis.

Every year, Makar Sankrati, Uttarayan, and Lohri fall on the same English date: January 14 or 15. While colorful kites fill the skies around Gujarat, Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Waterfront stages a month-long kite flying event. People also walk on their terraces in other towns and neighboring states, where they indulge in chikki, which are candied dry fruit crunches, and Undhiyu-Puri (Gujarat) or Pooran poli (Maharashtra).

BAISAKHI :-

BAISAKHI

The ancient harvest festival of Baisakhi is observed throughout the northern Indian subcontinent, particularly in the state of Punjab. In addition, it is observed as the Khalsa Panth's founding day and the Sikh New Year. Baisakhi celebrations have a long history dating back to 1699. On March 30, 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikhs' then-guru, paid a visit to the famous Baisakhi Day assembly of Sikhs at Keshgarh Sahib, close to Anandpur. Thousands of people had gathered to ask for the blessings of their Guru. Exiting the tent, Guru Gobind Singh brandished an unsheathed sword.

He called on those who were willing to offer their life and said that every great deed was preceded by a tremendous sacrifice after giving a stirring speech aimed at inspiring courage in the assembled crowd. During the third call of the Guru, a young man presented himself. After escorting the man inside his tent, the Guru reappeared by himself brandishing a bloodied sword. Then he requested one more volunteer. This process was carried out four more times till a total of five Sikhs entered the tent and each time the Guru emerged without them. That their guru had murdered five innocent Sikhs startled everyone in the room. The people were now shown all five of the men by the Guru. The fact that all five of the men were still alive and dressed in saffron-colored clothing startled everyone in attendance. The Guru called these five guys Panj Piara, which means 'Beloved Five'. The custom of ending the day with celebration is still followed today.

BASANT PANCHAMI :-

BASANT PANCHAMI

The fifth day that greets spring is known as Basant Panchami, an Indian spring celebration. Depending on the local customs and culture, it is typically observed as a lovely day in various parts of the nation on late January or early February. While Saraswati Pooja is celebrated on this day to honor and worship the Goddess of Knowledge and Arts in regions of Eastern India like Assam, Bihar, and West Bengal, people in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan honor Shiv and Gauri.

In the Vaishnav communities across the nation, Basant Panchami marks the start of the Holi festival, during which the Lord is showered with gulal and abir every day for 40 days, until it is officially the day of Holi, at the Shrinathji Temple of Nathdwara and all Bhakti Marg Krishna temples in Mathura, Vrindavan, and other cities.

KUMBH MELA :- 

KUMBH MELA

Held every three years in one of the four cities: Ujjain, Allahabad, Varanasi, or Haridwar, the Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world possibly THE largest. Hindus travel from all over the world to the city where the Kumbh Mela is held to bathe in the sacred river that flows by. They view it as the greatest blessing of this lifetime. Hermits and sages who never leave their Himalayan caves emerge in loincloths and mated hair to pray and take a dip in the river; it's a spiritual experience that surpasses all others. 

The finest astrologers in India convene, aghoris proliferate, and numerous other religious bodies unite. The same locations host the Mahakumbh Mela every 12 years, where the number of pilgrims surpasses even that of Kumbh, with over 30 million coming each day.

ONAM :- 

ONAM FESTIVAL

Onam is the harvest festival celebrated in South India, especially in Kerala. It also honors and worships Lord Vishnu's Vaaman avatar, who appeared as a dwarf brahmin and tried King Mahabali's level of devotion. After successfully offering Vaaman all of his country, the skies, the netherworlds, and finally his own head, the king finally returns home on Onam.

Keralans celebrate with grandeur, decorating their homes with rangoli and dressing their ladies in elegant white sarees. Sweets and feasts are prepared.

DEV DIWALI :-

DEV DIWALI

When Diwali falls on a new moon night, people celebrate Dev Diwali, also called Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi or Dev-Utthapan. In several regions of India, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, it is regarded as an extension of the Diwali festival.

While Dev Diwali in Gujarat consists of reliving the festival and popping crackers, Kartik Poornima is the name given to the celebration in Varanasi. After Diwali, houses all around are still decked out, with lights remaining up. On Dev Diwali as well, diyas are lit.
Dev Diwali also serves as a representation of the day that Lord Krishna wed Devi Tulsi in Vaishnavite and Jain homes. In order to commemorate this day, temples both home and temple-based undertake Tulsi vivah, which involves joining the form of Lord Krishna with a tulsi bush.

LOSAR :-

LOSAR FESTIVAL

At the end of January, people celebrate Losar, also known as the Tibetan New Year, in the country's northeast and north, particularly in the state of Ladakh. Losar is a festival that symbolizes the exquisite dramas and dances with animal and dragon costumes through rituals, old chants, and customs. Following is the Metho ceremony, in which participants carry lit torches through the streets of Ladakh while reciting traditional hymns and making prayers for protection from evil and prosperity in the upcoming year.

RATH YATRA :-

RATH YATRA (JAGANNATH)

One of South India's largest festival parades is the Rath Yatra, often known as the chariot festival. It takes place at Puri, where brother Balram, sister Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath, a manifestation of Lord Krishna, are driven through the town amidst much fanfare, song, and dancing. Travelers and pilgrims from all over the world flock here to take in the splendor. Every year, thousands of devotees and chariot pullers participate in the parade, which is televised live on local, national, and worldwide television networks. Rath Yatra is observed in July, however the exact day varies based on the Vikram Samvat calendar.

CHRISTMAS :-

CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a big deal in India, not just because of Western culture and imperialism, but also because the country was formerly colonized by a kingdom that sent a lot of missionaries there. During the Christmas festival, cities such as Goa, Pondicherry, Kerala, Kolkata, and others come to life just like any other Western city. There is a lovely festive atmosphere all around, the streets are decorated with fairy lights, Christmas trees are set up on corners, and kids are singing songs outside of churches. Mumbai joins in the festivities as well, with Bandra serving as the centre for everything Christmas-related, including shopping, night mass, and celebrations. Everywhere there are festivities at the start of the New Year. There are beach parties, lavish hotel parties, VIP access to upscale DJs, and parties held at homes. You name it: Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai. Both large and small cities unite to wish the world a happy new year at midnight and extend their own congrats to everyone else celebrating.

GANGAUR :-

GANGAUR

One of the biggest and most popular celebrations in Rajasthan, with origins in Gan and Gaur, or Shiv and Gauri. Women of various ages, married and young maidens alike, celebrate this event. They pray for a husband of their dreams and revere this heavenly couple as the epitome of fertility, love, and marriage. Adorned in elaborate traditional Rajasthani attire such as poshak, bor tikas, sheesh pattis, bajuband, chuddlas, and payals, women craft clay idols of Gan and Gaur, paint them, embellish them with exquisite clothing and jewellery, present them with specially prepared meals, and culminate the celebration by leading them to a lake or pond's ghat where they will be submerged.

The celebration, which takes place in the months of March and April during Chaitra paksh, is primarily celebrated in Mewadi cities like Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, etc. Just a few days separate the festival from Holi, so you can plan your trip to Rajasthan to coincide with both celebrations.

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