India:a land of festivals

Deepavali: The festival of light Deepavali or Diwali is the festival of light celebrated in many parts of India. One of the most popular festivals in India, it symbolizes the victory of light over dark. Here light represents the good and dark represents the bad. So it is a celebration of the victory of good over the evil. It also signifies the victory of knowledge over ignorance. Deepavali is celebrated by lighting earthen pots( Diyas ), bursting crackers and distributing sweets. It is a major festival in India; though it is celebrated all over the country, it has a major significance in Northern India. Beautiful Earthen Pots( Diyas ) being lighted during Diwali night The History       The Diwali festival is likely a fusion of harvest festivals in ancient India. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts such as the Padma Purana, the Skanda Purana, both of which were completed in the second half of the 1st millennium CE. The  diyas  (lamps) are mentioned in Skanda Kishore P

Bhai Dooj: The Symbol of Love Between Brother and Sister Bhai Dooj/Bhai Phota/Bhau Beej is a Hindu festival celebrated by a majority of people from Indian subcontinent and Nepal on the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha of the Hindu Calender. It is generally celebrated after Diwali in India and in Nepal at the Tihar festival. The celebrations at this festival are similar to Raksha Bandhan. On this day, brothers give gifts to sisters and sisters pray for the longevity and well being of their brothers. Brothers being applied Tilak on Forehead by sisters The Tradition On the day of the festival, sisters invite their brothers for a sumptuous meal. Many dishes are prepared which are given to their brothers and also to the guests. The ceremony signifies the duty of a brother to protect his sister, and sisters pray for their brothers' well being and prosperity.       Carrying forward the ceremony, sisters perform Aarti, that is preparing the Aarti Thali ; a plate(made o

Chhath Puja: The festival of Sun  Chhath Puja is a really important festival in Northern India, especially in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, as well as some central regions of Nepal. It's an ancient Hindu Vedic festival. In this festival, the tradition is to watch the sunrise and worship the sun god. Not only in Bihar, but this festival can be seen celebrated in many parts of India. People from different sects and communities celebrate is with much joy and festivity. It is considered to be the most eco-friendly Hindu Festival. Traditions and Rituals                                   As compared to some other festivals of India, Chhath Puja is not comprised of worshipping any statue . It is instead a tradition of worshipping the sun god. The rituals are rigorous and observed over a period of four days. It includes holy bathing, staying in the water for a long time,( Vratta ) and offering Prasad to the sun god. People who celebrate it get up very e