India is a beautiful country filled with many different cultures and traditions. Twenty-eight states, eight union territories, twenty-two major languages, thousands of dialects, and so many different religions make this country diverse. That’s what makes this country unique, beautiful, and a must-visit place. The mighty Himalayas, the clear Ganges, and white sandy beaches make this country extraordinary.
The beautiful country has many ancient temples which show the brilliance of ancient Hindu architecture. The temples have exquisite and incredibly intricate carvings on the walls depicting stories. There are grand palaces and mighty forts built by the Rajput kings and the Maratha kings. There are beautiful examples of Mughal architecture as well, the Taj Mahal being the most popular one.
India is also called the land of festivals. Due to so many people of different cultures living together, there comes one festival at least every other week. So if you are visiting Incredible India to witness the celebrations, here is the list of the most important festivals celebrated with great pomp and show.
Diwali
You can’t visit India for the festivals and miss this one. Diwali, which comes from the word Deepawali means ‘rows of Diyas.’ Diyas are earthen lamps with a wick that burns using oil or ghee as fuel. It comes at the end of October or the beginning of November. This festival marks the return of Prabhu Shree Ram to his kingdom after he stayed in the forests for 14 years. Although this is a Hindu festival, Jains also celebrate it as they have some significance. Other religions also participate in the celebrations, although they may not participate in worshipping and prayers. People celebrate it by sharing sweets and delicacies and going to temples for darshan. The most beautiful thing about this festival is the whole country lights up at this time of the year. People decorate their houses and offices. Every building is illuminated with tiny LED lights and Diyas, making everything look surreal. At night, you can witness the impressive fireworks that fill up the sky, making it look amazing. Diwali is also called the festival of lights, for all the right reasons.
Holi
This is another festival which should be on your list. It is called the festival of colors. It is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Shree Krishna over the evil king Hiranyakashyapu and hence signifies the triumph of good over evil. People celebrate by playing colors with each other. The atmosphere is filled with joy and happiness. People throw powder colors and colored water at each other. They enjoy many different kinds of delicacies. People visit their friends and relatives, distribute sweets, and apply color to each other. In northern parts of the country, especially around Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, there is a tradition of ‘Lath Maar’ holi, in which the females beat up the males playfully with ‘lath,’ which means a ‘stick.’ Witness the unique festival celebrated in the beautiful country.
Dussehra
This festival is celebrated best in the eastern parts of the country, mainly Odisha and West Bengal. This festival marks the win of Prabhu Shree Ram over the mighty Ravan, after which Sita reunites with Shree Ram. This is celebrated at the beginning or mid of October, around a month before Diwali. People of eastern India celebrate it with huge pomp and show. There are giant statues of Maa Durga, which come up at pandals. People worship their god, celebrate the win of good over evil, and enjoy. Small fairs come up at different places at this time of the year. People want different kinds of foods and delicacies. Schools remain closed for a few weeks, allowing children to enjoy themselves with their families.
Ganesh Chaturthi
This festival marks the birth of Prabhu Shree Ganesh, the unique god who has the body of a human and the head of an elephant. This is because Maa Parvati created Ganesh from the turmeric off her body. When Lord Shiva and Shree Ganesh couldn’t recognize each other, they got into an argument, after which Shiva cut Shree Ganesh’s head. But he understood his mistake, and Ganesh had to be revived; he had to get another head that met certain conditions. An elephant only met the conditions, and hence the elephant’s head was used to revive him. The western part of the country, especially Maharastra, exquisitely celebrates this festival. People pray to Shree Ganesh for days after Ganesh Chaturthi, and finally, he is ‘visarjit’ in the water. People share sweets and delicacies and enjoy the joy of the festival, which lasts for around two weeks. Visit Mumbai in the months of September or August to witness the fantastic celebration of this festival.
Makar Sankranti
This festival is dedicated to Lord Surya or the Sun God. It also marks the Hindu New Year for many people. It also signifies the onset of the harvest season in India. People celebrate this festival by sharing sweets and creating joy. One huge attraction of this festival is the flying of kites. People fly kites on that day to celebrate Makar Sankranti. Kite flying competitions are held. Skies are filled with colorful kites of different shapes and sizes. People of all ages, be it kids or adults, celebrate this festival with tremendous enthusiasm. Visit the country in early to mid-January to witness this celebration.
India is an incredible country filled with people with a vast diversity of cultures and traditions. All of them celebrate many festivals, some of the same, some different. Even the same festivals are celebrated in very different ways by different kinds of people. You must visit the country to experience the warmth of the people, the joy of the festivals, and the excellent taste of authentic Indian food. Happy Holidays.
