Guest guest Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 India - The Land of Festivals Hinduism is often described as a religion of fasts, feasts and festivals. In India, the celebrations of fairs and festivals form a wondrous and joyful series of events, marking the rites of passage between birth, death and renewal. There are said to be more festivals in India than there are days of the year. There is celebration for every religious occassion, change of season and for every harvest. They are times when people gather together, linked by ties of shared social and religious beliefs. Vibrant colours, music and festivities make the country come alive throughout the year. Festivals in India are characterized by color, gaiety, enthusiasm, prayers and rituals. Foreign travelers are struck by the scale and multiplicity of Indian festivals that have evolved in the society. Fairs and festivals are moments of remembrance and commemoration of the birthdays and great deeds of gods, goddesses, hero's, heroine's, gurus, prophet's and saints. Indian Festival Calendar 2009 January February March April Mon 05 - Guru Gobind Jayanti Sun 11 - Purnima Mon 12 - Vivekanand Jayanti Tue 13 - Lohri Wed 14 - Pongal Wed 14 - Makar Sankranti Mon 26 - Amavasya Mon 26 - Republic Day Mon 09 - Purnima Mon 09 - Vasant Panchami Mon 23 - Maha Shivaratri Tue 24 - Amavasya Sat 07 - Amalaki Ekadasi Tue 10 - Holi Tue 10 - Id-e-Milad Wed 11 - Purnima Wed 11 - Dhulivandan Thu 26 - Amavasya Fri 27 - Gudi Padwa Fri 27 - Hindu New Year Fri 03 - Ram Navami Tue 07 - Mahavir Jayanti Thu 09 - Hanuman Jayanti Thu 09 - Purnima Thu 09 Baisakhi Sun 12 - Easter Sat 25 - Amavasya Mon 27 - Akshaya Tritiya May June July August Sat 09 - Buddha Jayanti Sat 09 - Purnima Thu 07 - Narasimha Jayanti Sun 10 - Mother's day Sun 24 - Amavasya Sun 07 - Purnima Sun 07 - Kabir Jayanti Mon 22 - Amavasya Wed 24 - Rath Yatra Tue 07 - Guru Purnima Wed 22 - Amavasya Wed 22 - Shravan Mas Sun 26 - Nag Panchami Wed 05 - Purnima Wed 05 - Raksha Bandhan Thu 13 - Krishna Janmashtami Sat 15 - Independence Day Thu 20 - Amavasya Sun 23 - Ganesh Chaturthi September October November December Wed 02 Onam Thu 03 - Anant Chaturdashi Fri 04 - Purnima Sat 05 - Shraadh (Pitr-Paksha) Fri 18 - Amavasya Sat 19 - Navrati Sat 26 - Kali Puja Mon 28 - Dusshera Fri 02 - Gandhi Jayanti Sun 04 - Sharad Purnima Thu 08 - Karva Chauth Thu 15 - Dhanteras Sat 17 - Diwali, Lakshmi Puja Sun 18 - Amavasya Mon 19 - Bhai Dooj Mon 02 - Purnima Mon 02 - Guru Nanak Jayanti Mon 16 - Amavasya Sat 28 - Id Tue 01 - Dattatreya Jayanti Wed 02 - Purnima Wed 16 - Amavasya Thu 31 - Purnima All Hindu festivals have a deep spiritual import or high religious significance. All great Hindu festivals have religious, social and hygienic elements in them. In every festival there is bathing in the morning before sunrise in the river or tank or well. Every individual will have to do some Japa, prayer, Kirtan, recitation of Sanskrit verses and meditation. Indian Festivals are much more than celebrations. They are windows into the history of rich Hindu legends. They reveal the mind and philosophy of a nation through the different ages. Festivals have a cultural and social aspect which many feel transcends even their spiritual significance. They bring people together in friendship and love, and help heal broken relationships. /festivals.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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