Land of festivals.....

India is well known all over the world for its cultural and traditional festivals. India has many cultures and religions. there is a hardly a any month when they do not celebrate. India has full of diversity in the religions, languages, cultures and castes. India is divided into various states and each and every state have its unique culture, tradition and history. People from each religion have their own cultural and traditional festivals. some festivals are celebrated on regional basis and some are celebrated all over the entire nation. each and every festival is celebrated uniquely in different ways according to its rituals beliefs and its significant history behind. each festival has its own history, legend and significance of celebration. Indian festival not only celebrated in India but also outside India by the Indian origin people with the immense passion.

 India have unity in diversity as it contains people of various religions like Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Christian and etc.
According to the religions and ritual, festivals have been categorized into following categories.

Hindu Festivals

There are lots of cultural and traditional festivals celebrated by the people of Hindu religion all over the world. Hinduism is considered as the oldest organized religion of the world as well as counted as the third largest religion of the world. Each Hindu festival celebration has a special ritual to be celebrated in that way by the act of worship, offerings to deities, offering Ganga Jal, fasting, bathing in Ganga jal in early morning, feasting, Dan, Dakshina, Puja, Katha, Hoom, aarti and so many. All the people of Hindu religion celebrate their festivals by uniting together in community without any distinction of age, caste and gender.

The dates of the Hindu festivals are fixed according to the dates of the Hindu calendar, Some of the festivals of Hindu are celebrated as the historical mythology, some for seasonal changes and some for cleaning and keeping the environment safe. Some of the festivals celebrations are limited to the specific sects or Indian subcontinent regions.

Some Hindu festivals are as follows.

1. HOLI
2. DEWALI
3. MAKAR SANKRANTI 
4. RAM NAVAMI
5. BHAI DOOJ
6. NAVRTRA..     ETC

Muslim Festivals

All the people of Muslim religion enthusiastically celebrate their all the Islamic festivals all over the world. There are many religious festivals which they celebrate with great passion and dedication by following the date of their Islamic calendar. Some of the very important Islam festivals are Ramzan (Ramadan), Id-e-Milad, Muharram, Bakr-Id and etc which they celebrate in special ways by offering prayers in the mosques, feasting, fasting and wishing to each other. Islam was founded by the spiritualist Muhammad around the 7th century which has become the 2nd largest religion worldwide. The Islam has five most significant Pillars such as “Shahadah (Faith), Salah (Prayer), Zakah (Donate), Sawm (Fasting) and Hajj (Pilgrimage)”. 

Below is the list of all Muslim festivals:

1. BARAWAFT

1. ID-UL-FITR 

1. MUHARRAM..    ETC.

Sikh Festivals

As India is considered as the country of numerous religions, cultures and traditions that’s why it is known as having unity in diversity. People of Sikh religion have lots of unique and ritual festivals which they celebrate with full courage and enjoyment. They commemorate the lives of their 10 Sikh gurus including their teachings. Some Hindu festivals are also celebrated by the people of Sikh religion having different reasons of celebration.

All the worship at the festival in Sikhism is directed towards the holy book called “the Guru Granth Sahib” which was first compiled by the Sikh guru, Guru Nanak and later edited by the Sikh Guru, Arjan. The Guru Granth of the Sikh religion has the place of deity among people and taken out on a palanquin in the public processions while celebrating any Sikh festival. They involve lots of music and religious songs, readings from the holy book, holy songs, singing of gurbani while celebrating their festivals in order to attach with God.

 Below is the list of all Sikh festivals:

1. LOHRI
2. GURU GOVIND SINGH JAYNTI
3. GURU NANAK JAYNTI
4. GURU PURAB  ETC....

Jain Festivals

People from Jain religion have lots of rituals and religious ceremonies to be celebrated as the festival. Their rituals belong to the idol worships in various ways and festivals belong to the life events of Tirthankara which involves the purification of the soul. Their rituals are divided in two parts named Karya and Kriya. According to the Jain Svetambara there are six obligatory duties called Six Avashyakas which are “Chaturvishnati-stava: praising Tirthankaras, Kayotsarga: meditation, Pratikramana: expiation of past sins, Pratyakhyana: renunciation of anything, Samyika: practising serenity and meditation and Vandan: respecting teachers and ascetics”.

According to the Jain Digambara there are six duties which are “Dana: charity, Devapuja: worship of Tirthankaras, Guru-upashti: respecting teachers and ascetics, Sanyam: controlling self by following different rules, Swadhyaya: studying spiritual texts and Tapa: austerities” which has been involved as a fundamental ritual activities of the Jains. 

Below is the list of all Jain festivals:

1. DEEP DIWALI
2. MAHAVIR JAYNTI  ETC....

Christian Festivals

As India is a land of variety of cultures and ethnicity because of celebrating lots of colorful festivals by the people of different religions. People of the Christian religion celebrate their festivals like Christmas, Easter, Good Friday and etc with big enthusiasm and fun filled activities. People from other religions also become involve in the Christmas celebrations which proves the unity in diversity of India.

There are various famous places in India where the Christian festivals are celebrated such as Goa as most of the oldest and beautiful churches are there. They do feast, prayers and processions while celebrating their festivals.

 Below is the list of all Christian festivals:

1. GOOD FRIDAY
2. EASTER
3. CHRISTMAS    ETC...

Buddhist Festivals

People from Buddhist religion celebrate their festivals well connected to their Lord Buddha and the Bodhisattvas. It is considered that the Buddhist festivals were first started by the lord Buddha and He advised his followers to be in touch with each other to strengthen their bond. Buddhist has their own beliefs and rituals of celebrating historical festivals. The do worship of the historical objects while celebrating their festivals.

Their festivals become more religious, spiritual and intellectual which are not restricted to any service of the community. 

Below is the list of all the Buddhist festivals:

1. BUDDHA PURNIMA
2. LOSAR
3. ULLAMBAN.   ETC..

AN MANY MORE RELIGIONS AND RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS ARE CELEBRATED IN INDIA. ITS A SMALL LIST OF SOME OF THEM.

THANKS....