Ganesh Chaturathi

Ganesha Chaturthi, the great Ganesha festival, also known as 'Vinayak Chaturthi' or 'Vinayak Chavithi' is celebrated by Hindus around the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is observed during the Hindu month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) and the grandest and most elaborate of them, especially in the western India state of Maharashtra, lasts for 10 days, ending on the day of 'Ananta Chaturdashi'.A life-like clay model of Lord Ganesha is made 2-3 months prior to the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The size of this idol may vary from 3/4th of an inch to over 25 feet.

On the day of the festival, it is placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents for people to view and pay their homage. The priest, usually clad in red silk dhoti and shawl, then invokes life into the idol amidst the chanting of mantras. This ritual is called 'pranapratishtha'. After this the 'shhodashopachara' (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery, 21 'modakas' (rice flour preparation), 21 'durva' (trefoil) blades and red flowers are offered. The idol is anointed with red unguent or sandal paste (rakta chandan). Throughout the ceremony, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted.For 10 days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha is worshipped. On the 11th day, the image is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man. All join in this final procession shouting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (O father Ganesha, come again early next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idol to the river to immerse it.
Pitchengine

The whole community comes to worship Ganesha in beautifully done tents. These also serve as the venue for free medical checkup, blood donation camps, charity for the poor, dramatic performances, films, devotional songs, etc. during the days of the festival.

Diwali

India is pre-dominantly a Hindu country and a large number of Hindu festivals are celebrated across the nation. The largest Hindu festival is Diwali - the festival of lights.Diwali festival, India is celebrated throughout the nation in different ways and patterns. However, there are certain rituals and traditions associated with Diwali that are commonly followed throughout the country. The festival is celebrated in the months of October or November and marks the defeat of evil Ravana at the hands of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The festival is celebrated for five consecutive days and also marks the end of Narkasura at the hands Lord Krishna. The festival is mainly celebrated to mark the end of the evil and disperse darkness and spread the light of peace, goodwill and knowledge.

Diwali also consists of Lakshmi Puja, wherein Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of power, prosperity and wealth is worshiped.Diwali festival, India is more than just a Hindu festival and has cut religious boundaries to be celebrated at a national level. For Diwali, people clean their homes and adorn them with bright and colorful lanterns of various shapes and sizes. The homes are also adorned with numerous oil lamps and other colorful electric lights, which illuminate the homes and make them, look very pretty. One of the major attractions of Diwali is the firecrackers and aerial fireworks, which are especially popular among children and youngsters. It is the time when families indulge in shopping for new clothes, appliances and other home decor. The magnitude of the festival has grown in size and the festival is now celebrated even in different countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and several other countries.
Dussehra
Janmashtami
Makar sankaranti/ Basant panchami
Independence day

Dussehra

Dussehra is one of such festivals that commands immense popularity all over the country and thus earns a public holiday. Dussehra is a Hindu festival celebrated during the month of September and October.
Dussehra Festival, India is celebrated to mark the victory of good over the evil. The celebration is based on the mythology that Goddess Durga won over the demon Mahishasura somewhere in the southern parts of India. Another mythology attached to the Dussehra is the victory of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana because he abducted his wife Sita. Thus from ages the festival is celebrated with equal zeal as it was there with the victorious. The festival is also called as "Vijayadashami" because this word signifies victory in the Sanskrit language.

Dussehra festival, India follows the ten-day Navratri festival. The Navratri festival is marked in different style in different parts of India. Generally in many parts of India this festival see worshipping of various forms of Goddess Durga. The culmination of the ten-day festival results in the Dussehra. On this day the idol of the goddess is drowned in the local water body. The other important part of the celebration is the burning of the effigy of the demon Ravana. In the interiors of the country the countrymen stage a show called Ram Leela. Generally the actors of this show enact the story of Ram fighting against Ravana and emerging victorious.Dussehra Festival, India is one of the biggest festivals celebrated all over the country with almost all the regions participating. It brings along joy and happiness for all and sundry.



Makarsakranti!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Janmashtami!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Makar Sankaranti/Basant Panchami

Kites

Makar Sankranti is a festival of India that comes on January 14 every year. Sankranti is spelled and pronounced as Sankranthi in South India. Hence it is called Makar Sankranthi in South India. The Hub pages also spell it as Makar Sankranthi.Makar is a rashi (Zodiac) and Sankranti means transition. Hence, Makar Sankranti means transition of the Sun from the zodiac Makar. People go to Ganga sagar near Kolkata, West Bengal, to take a bath on Makar Sankranti. Kumbh Mela also starts on the day of Makar Sankranti and people go for bath in holy Ganga. Large numbers of people are expected to assemble in Haridwar this year for Kumbh bath on January 14, 2010, the day of Makar Sankranti. Kumbh Mela will start from Makar Sankranti at Haridwar.

Makar Sankranti is also a kite flying festival or kite festival in many parts of India. Gujarat and Jaipur in Rajasthan is famous for their kite festivals. Jaipur organizes international kite festival every year. Makar Sankranti is a popular word in Rajasthan where as Utran (derived from Uttarayan in Sanskrit language) is in Gujarat. Basant Panchami is also popular for kite festival in some places of India. Kolkata celebrates kite festival on Vishwakarma puja but not on Makar Sankranti.Kite is called Patang in Hindi language. Hence the festival is also referred as Patang utsav in India. Patang is also called guddi in many places in northern India. Special type of thread is used to fly kites and that is called Manjha.