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FESTIVALS CELEBRATED IN INDIA

FESTIVALS CELEBRATED IN INDIA

India is a land of festivals. The people of India belongs to different religions and cultures though there is unity among them. People of India celebrate many festivals together. They also celebrate the birthdays of great persons as festivals. Some festivals are celebrated throughout the country. Some are celebrated only some particular states.

Festivals bring joy to people. It is a time to wear new clothes, decorate their homes and exchange gifts.

NATIONAL FESTIVALS

National festivals are celebrated all over India. The National festivals are Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti. These festivals are celebrated all over the country.

Independence Day

Indian people celebrate

Independence Day
Independence Day 
15th August, 1947 as their Independence Day. On this day, India got freedom from the British rule. The Prime Minister of India hoists the National Flag at the Red Fort and addresses the nation. Children attend the flag-hoisting ceremony in their schools. They, sing the National Anthem. People sing patriotic songs. They remember the supreme sacrifices made by the freedom fighters who gave them their lives for India’s freedom.

Republic Day

India was declared a

Republic Day
Republic Day
Republic on 26th January, 1950. Since then, this day is celebrated as Republic Day. A grand parade is held at Rajpath. This parade starts from Rajpath and ends at the Red Fort. The President of India takes the salute. The armed forces, police, school children and folk dancers take part in the parade. The states of India display their achievements through beautiful tableaus. The President gives away bravery awards to children at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Many government and public buildings are decorated with lights.

Gandhi Jayanti

Mahatma Gandhi,

Gandhi Jayanti
Gandhi Jayanti
the Father of the Nation, was born on 2nd October, 1869. Every year this day is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti. People from all over the country pay homage to Bapu. They chant his favourite prayers. The main function is held at Rajghat. The President, the Prime Minister and others pay respects at the ‘samadhi’ of Mahatma Gandhi.

RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS

People of various religions celebrate different festivals. These are known as religious

festivals. At this time of the year wheat, gram and mustard are ready for harvesting.

Basant Panchami is celebrated at the beginning of the spring season. On this day, Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning is worshipped. Boys and girls wear yellow coloured clothes and sing and dance with joy. Many people fly kites on this day.

Holi,

Holi celebration
Holi celebration
the festival of colours, is celebrated mainly in North India. Holi marks the end of winter.

People throw coloured power (gulal) and water on each other. On the eve of Holi, bonfires are lit. This is symbolic of the destruction of the evil Holika.


On Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie rakhi

Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan
on the wrists of their brothers and pray for their safety.

Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami is a festival that lasts for ten days. On this day, Ramlilas are staged. On this day, Lord Rama killed Ravana, the demon king with ten heads. Dussehra is celebrated as the victory of good over the evil. Effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna are burnt.

The nine days before Dussehra are called

Navratras.
Durga Puja
Durga Puja
The people of West Bengal and some other states celebrate it as Durga Puja.

Diwali, the festival of lights is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. People clean and decorate their homes. At night, they lit candles, diyas and decorative lamps. They worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. They burst crackers and other fireworks. They exchange sweets and gifts. Diwali marks the beginning of winter.

Diwali
Diwali

Guruparvs are celebrated as the birthdays of the Sikh Gurus. Huge processions are taken out through the cities. The gurudwaras are decorated with lights and prayers are held. Langars are distributed on these days.

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramzan. People fast all through the month. On this day, people offer prayers at mosques and Idgahs. When the Eid namaz is over, people wish Eid Mubarak and embrace each other. Money and clothes are distributed amongst the poor. Sewain, a

Guruparv
Guruparv

sweet dish is prepared.

Christmas is celebrated on 25th December. It is the birthday of Jesus Christ. Churches are decorated and prayers are held. People greet Merry Christmas and exchange gifts. Christmas trees are decorated with stars, bells and lights. People sing Christmas carols. Santa Claus distributes presents and sweets.

Christmas
Christmas

Pongal is celebrated in Tamil Nadu. It marks the beginning of the Tamil month,

Thai. It marks the end of rice harvesting. This festival is celebrated for three days. Pongal rice is fed to cows and the Sun God is worshiped.

This festival is called Sankranti in Karnataka and Andhra Prasdesh.

Onam is celebrated in Kerala.

Eid
Eid
It is also a harvest festival. It is celebrated in the honour of King Mahabali. People eat special food served on banana leaves. The main attraction of this festival is the snake-boat race. Decorated elephants are taken out in processions.

BIRTHDAYS

The Indian people also celebrate the birthdays of some grate people as festivals. Buddha Purnima is celebrated as the birthday of Gautam Buddha. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Mahavira.

5th Sepetember is celebrated as Teacher’s Day. It is the birthday of the second President of India, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

14th November is celebrated as Children’s Day. It is the birthday of the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Other festivals like Teej, Shivratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Chhat and Bihu are celebrated in different parts of India. Fairs are also a part of festival celebrations. In fairs, people have wheels, circus shows, puppet shows and eatables.

India is a land of 'unity in diversity' and it can be seen that though the people of India belong to different caste, religion but they celebrate the festivals together with joy.


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