Festivals of India – 2008

July 11, 2008 28 Comments

Festivals of India

India is a land of festivals, and no month passes by without a festival being celebrated. There is a lot of pomp, splendour and gaiety associated with each festival. Sharing of gifts, gift articles and tokens of money are a part of such celebrations. Some of the major festivals are mentioned below with a description of each festival mentioned underneath.

Raksha Bandhan / Rakhi – 16th August 2008

Raksha Bandhan is an Indian festival in which sisters tie a sacred thread of protection around their brother’s wrists. By accepting a thread from his sister, the brother is bound to protect his sister from harm.

The frail rakhi thread is considered stronger than iron chains in India as it binds brothers and sisters in a bond of everlasting trust and love. Sisters apply ‘tikka’ on their brother’s foreheads and brothers reciprocate by giving them gifts and tokens of cash.

In turn, sisters buy gifts and sweets for their brothers. The meaning of this festival has expanded, so those who do not have brothers tie rakhis to others and initiate a new brother-sister relationship that usually continues for a lifetime…

Janmashtami – 28th August, 2008

Janmashtami is the festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna on the eight day of the Hindu month of Shravana, which coincides with the 28th of August according to the Gregorian calendar.

Ganesh Chaturthi – 03rd September 2008

Ganesh Chathurthi is the festival that celebrates the birth of Ganesha the son of Siva and Parvati. This festival starts on the fourth day (Shukla Chaturthi) of the waxing period of the moon in the Hindu month of Bhaadrapada, and lasts 10 days in most regions of India. People also celebrate this festival by exchanging gifts and cards amongst each other.

Teacher’s Day – 05th September 2008

Teacher’s day in India is celebrated on the birth anniversary of the second president of India Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. School students commemorate this day by conducting various academic activities and celebrations as an act of thanks and remembrance to their teachers. On this day, children offer cards and gifts to their teachers as a token of love and appreciation.

Onam – 12th September 2008

Onam is the annual harvest festival celebrated in the State of Kerala. It falls during the month of Chingam, the first month of the Malayalee calendar, and lasts for 10 days. People send special Onam gifts like jewellery, flowers, apparel, aesthetic indoor decoration, and cards to each other to celebrate the occasion.

Grandparent’s Day – 14th September 2008

Grandparent’s day is a secular festival that is celebrated to honour and strengthen family values and the role that grandparents play in the family. People celebrate this festival by giving gifts and cards to their grandparents.

Durga Puja – 29th September – 9th October 2008

Durga Puja is celebrated with pomp and splendour all over India especially in West Bengal in worship of Goddess Durga. People purchase new clothes, jewellery, and other finery to participate in the Durga Puja celebrations.

Navratri – 30th September – 9th October 2008

Navratri, meaning nine nights, is the worship of nine forms of Shakti, or divine energy of the Goddess Durga. This festival lasts nine nights and is celebrated during the commencement of Sharad Ritu – i.e the winter months of September and October. People purchase new clothes like chaniya cholis, jewellery, and other finery to participate in the Navratri celebrations.

Id-ul-Fitr – 02nd October 2008

Id-ul-Fitr is a festival that commemorates the end of fasting during Islamic holy month of Ramadan or Ramzan. This festival lasts three days and beings the day after Ramzan ends. The commencement of this festival is verified by the sighting of the new moon. Muslims buy new clothes and exchange sweets as part of the gaieties.

Boss’s Day – 16th October 2008

Boss’s day is celebrated to thank bosses for their motivation and encouragement to their staff and employees. People celebrate this day by giving cards and gifts to their bosses.

Dhanteras – 26th October 2008

Dhanteras is an auspicious day is celebrated on the 13th day of the dark fortnight (shukla paksh) of the month of Kartik. It is celebrated either in worship of Goddess Lakshmi – the Goddess of wealth or in the honour of Dhanavantari – the physician of the Gods.

On this day, Hindus purchase auspicious items like gold, silver, jewellery, utensils, and other precious metals in keeping with the traditional convention. People also send gifts like sweets, silver coins, crockery and utensils, jewellery, and cooking accessories to each other as part of celebrating Dhanteras.

Diwali – 28th October 2008

Diwali is the Indian festival of lights. It is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Ram and His wife Sita to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. On this day, people light lamps and burst crackers. It is symbolic of the victory of good over evil. People also send gifts like sweets, dry fruits, gift hampers, diwali decor, diwali puja thali and such to each other.

Bhai Dooj – 30th October 2008

Also called Bhaiya Dooj, this festival is celebrated two days after Diwali in the Hindu month of Kartik. Sisters apply auspicious ‘tikka’ on their brother’s foreheads and brothers promise to protect them and keep them away from harm. Towards the end of this custom, they exchange gifts and sweets for each other.

Children’s Day – 14th November 2008

Children’s day in India is celebrated on 14 November 2008 – the birthday of India’s first Prime Minister – Jawahar Lal Nehru. Celebrating this day means giving children the right to enjoy their childhood and grow to become healthy and educated children of the country.

Thanksgiving Gifts – 22nd November 2008

Thanksgiving Day is a traditional North American Holiday, which is a form of harvest festival. It is celebration as a way of thanks for whatever one has at the end of the harvest season.

Christmas – 25th December, 2008

Christmas is traditionally celebrated on 25th December of every year with aplomb and much gaiety as the birth of Jesus Christ. Although a Christian holiday, it is also observed as a cultural holiday the world over. On this day, Jesus was born in a manger. He has millions of followers all across the world. People celebrate Christmas by attending mass in churches and giving Holy Christmas gifts to each other.

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