Hindu Festivals

Makar Sankranti/Pongal
Makar Sankranti is celebrated on the first day of Magha month(January 14) of Hindu calendar. Makar Sankranti is a celebration of transition of Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn and as also the northward movement of Sun (Uttaryana). In North India, this festival involves the "daan" (offering) of "Khichadi" made of rice and lentils; fruits, and "Til" (Sesame seeds) sweets. In Maharashtra, "Til" and "Gud" (Jaggery) are cooked and offered to God.

In South India, it is called "Pongal" and rice and pulses are boiled in milk and ghee and offered to the family deity. The main deity is Sun God and this is a festival mainly celebrated by farmers.

Basant Panchami/Saraswati Pooja
Basant/Vasant Panchami is also called the Festival of kites and it falls on the fifth day of light half (Shukla Paksha) of Magha month (January-February) of Hindu calendar. This day is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge and consort of Lord Brahma. Goddess Saraswati is worshiped by students and teachers to grant them knowledge and memory.

She personifies knowledge(arts, sciences, music and crafts), creativity and inspiration. People wear yellow clothes, offer yellow food and flowers and books, instruments etc. are also worshipped. This day heralds the beginning of Spring/Vasant.

Maha Shiv Ratri
Maha Shiv Ratri ("The night of Shiva") is celebrated on the I3th (or I4th) day of the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of 'Phalgun' (February-March) month of the Hindu calendar. The ceremonies take place chiefly at night and it is believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati. Offerings of milk, Madar (milkweed) flowers, Bel patra are made to Lord Shiva and people fast the whole day to celebrate this festival. Abhishkes of Lord Shiva are done throughout the day where the Shiva Lingam is bathed with Panchamrita. In Kashmir, this is a fifteen day festival and rituals are performed to propitiate Lord Shiva using green walnuts.

Holi
Holi is the festival of colours that celebrates the end of winter and also the first day of Hindu New Year. It is celebrated on the last day (15th/Poornima) of "Phalgun" month of Hindu calendar. Natural and synthetic colours are used to paint each other. The main myth attached to Holi is the tale of the death of Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashyapu whose young son Prahlad was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Holika had a boon that she would not die of fire and so she sat on a pyre of fire with her nephew Prahlad so that he may die. But amazingly, Holika died and Prahlad survived. Thus, Holi also symbolises the victory of God fearing people over demonic qualities.

Navratri
Navratri is celebrated by nine days of worship of Devi Durga and all her manifestations. It is celebrated in the light half (Shukla Paksha) of the months of Chaitra (March-April) and Ashwin (September-October). In Northern India, the Chaitra Navratri are celebrated as a victory of Devi Durga over Mahishasura and the Ashwin Navratri is celebrated as a battle and victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. However, in Bengal, the Ashwin Navratri is celebrated as Durga's victory and death of Mahishasura. Navratri symbolises the victory of good over bad. On all nine days, people fast and different forms of Durga are worshipped. In Gujarat and Maharashtra, "dandiya" dance is common during Navratri.

Ramnavami
The birth of Lord Rama on the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri is celebrated as ramnavmi. Ramnavami is one of the most important festivals of the Vaishnav sect of Hindus. Pooja and Abhishek is offered to Lord Rama and temples are decorated in his honour.

Janamashtami
Janmashtami is celebrated as the birth of Lord Krishna on Ashtami (8th day) of dark half (Krishna Paksha) of Bhadon month (August/September) of the Hindu calendar. Temples and homes are beautifully decorated and lit. An attractive feature of the celebrations are cribs & other decorations depicting stories of Lord Krishna's childhood. People fast for the entire day and at 12 midnight, the birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated with abhishek of Lord with panchamrita, aarti, pooja and blowing of conch shells (Shankhas).

Raksha Bandhan/Rakhi
Raksha Bandhan/Rakhi is a unique festival of India that revolves around the deep love between brothers and sisters. Sisters tie a sacred thread or a Rakhi to their brother's wrist and in turn the brother gives them gifts, money etc. The tying of thread symbolises the trust placed by a sister in her brother and a promise by the brother that he would always be there to protect her.

Onam
Onam is the main festival of Kerala and is celebrated during the Malayalam month of "Chingam" (August-September). The festival is celebrated in memory of the golden age of rule of King Mahabali. His popularity was not liked by the gods. Thus, Lord Vishnu took the avatar of Vamana (dwarf incarnation of Vishnu) and expelled King Mahabali. However, Mahabali was allowed to visit his dear subjects every year and that day is celebrated as Onam. The festival is celebrated with joy, merriment and lots of offerings to Mahabali.

Dusshera/Vijayadashmi
Dusshera or Vijayadashmi is celebrated on the tenth day of Ashwin Navratri (September-October). In Bengal, it is a celebration of killing of Mahishasura by Goddess Durga and is called "Bijoya" or "Vijaydashmi". In Northern India, it is celebrated as the day Lord Rama killed Ravana. Effigies of Ravana, his son- Meghnada and Ravana's brother- Kumbhakaran are burnt all over Northern India as a symbol of victory of good over evil.

Diwali/Deepawali
Diwali or the festival of lights is celebrated all over India on 15th day (Amavasya) of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) of the Hindu month of Ashwin (October - November) every year. It symbolises the victory of knowledge over ignorance, of good over evil. It is said that Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya on this day and since it was Amavasya (new moon), the populace of Ayodhya welcomed back their king by lighting lamps. Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped on Diwali and it is a festival full of joy, gaiety and lights.

This festival is celebrated over a five day period- Dhanteras (on the 13th day of Ashwin Krishna Paksha), Narak Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali (on the 14th day), Diwali (15th day), Govardhan (1st day of Kartik Shukla Paksha) and Bhai Dooj (2nd day of Kartik month).

Bhai Dooj
This festival is celebrated on the 2nd day of light fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of Kartik month (October-November) of Hindu calendar. It is a festival of brothers and sisters where sisters pray to Lord Ganesha for long lives of their brothers. The brothers gift their sisters with ornaments, gifts and money.