Festivals of India
There are a great variety of festivals in our country. They are celebrated by different Communities.
The birth day of Lord Krishna is celebrated as Gokulashtami. The streets are filled with men and boys singing. They hold hands and form a long chain as they dance. The men make a pyramid by climbing on are another’s shoulders. The man right on the top of human pyramid breaks the pot hung high up above the street. They find money inside the pot which they share among themselves.
The important festival of the Muslims in the Ramzan Id. After fasting for a month, all Muslims gather together to offer prayers. Then they visit their relatives and friends end exchange greetings.
The Sikhs celebrate the birth day of Guru Nanak, a great saint of the Sikhs.
The Parsi’s important festival is the Pateleti. They celebrate that on the eve of their new year. They wear lovely new dresses and go to their Jain temple to pray.
The Christmas is the birth day of Lord Jesus Christ. it is celebrated by all Christians. They have beautifully decorated Christmas trees and parties where Santa Claus comes to give gifts to all Children.
Every one’s favourite festival is the Diwali. Throughout our country all Hindus, rich and poor celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. Even the poorest homes are decorated with rows of clay lamps lit with oil. There is the great excitement in bursting fire crackers and’ letting off all sorts of lovely fireworks. Piles of Diwali, sweets are made at home and distributed among friends and relatives.
Diwali is the most important day for Hindu business-men and shop keepers because it is the beginning of their business year.
Holi is another colourful and seasonal festival. People spray colour on one another. The colours they spray represent the bright look that nature puts on in spring.
Another important festival that is very popular and interesting is celebrated in the southern parts of India, known as the harvest festival. Pongal as it is called is a three day festival.
The first day being for the destruction of the old and renovating the new. The second day is in appreciation of the services rendered by the farm animals. The horns of the animals are painted anew and they are decorated in full and fed lavishly. They third day the workers pay a visit to their masters singing and dancing and receive sumptuous gifts from them. After the harvest the fruits of labour are shared and distributed evenly. It is also a. very colourful and gay festival.
