Festivals and Fairs in India

Festivals and Fairs in India

Festivals and Fairs

• Festivals are an integral part of Indian life. The diversity of Indian society has resulted in a variety of festivals.

• The different religious communities, like Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jain, Buddhist etc. have their own festivals.

• Different regions of India like Kashmir, Punjab, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, Assam, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa etc. have their own festivals.

• Further, some secular festivals of all-India importance have also come into existence which is known as National Festivals.

National Festivals of India

• Republic Day (26 January)

• Independence Day (15 August)

• Gandhi Jayanti (2 October)

Hindu Festivals

Muslim Festivals

• Muharram – In the first month-Moharram ul-Haram of Hijri calendar (Mourning festival celebrated in the memory of the martyrdom of Hazrat Muhammad's daughter Fatima and son-in-law Ali's son-Hussain-in Karbla).

• Milad-un-Navi (Milad Sharif) – On the 12 day of third month-Rabi-ul-Awwal-of Hijri calendar (on the occasion of Hazrat Muhammad's birth anniversary).

• Vara-wafat (Vara Barah Le, twelve, wafat death) – On the 12th day of third month-Rabi-ul-Awwal of Hijri calendar (on the occasion of Hazrat Muhammad's death anniversary).

• Shab-4-Barat (Fate writing night) – On the 15th day of eighth month-Shabaan-of Hijri calendar (It is believed that on this night Allah writes the fate of the coming year, prevalent only in Indian Muslims).

• Ramzan (Ramdan) – Month long fasting in the ninth month-Ramzan-ul-Mubarik-of Hijri calendar (Celebrated in memory of Hazrat Muhammad's worship of Allah by staying hungry and thirsty inside a cave in Mecca for a month: In this Roza i.e. day long fast is observed throughout the day by not consuming food or water and the Roza is broken in the evening which is called 'Iftaar'; After fasting for 30 days in the month of Ramzan, Eid is celebrated on the first day of next month Shawwall).

• Eid/Eid-ul-Fitr/On Eid-i-Ramzan – The first day of tenth month-Shawwal-of Hijri calendar (Festival of happiness celebrated to commemorate the revelation of Quran Sharif to Hazrat Muhammad).

• Bakarid/Eid-ul-On Azaha/Eid-1-Qurban – 10th day of 12th month-Jil-Hija-of Hijri calendar (In memory of Hazrat Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his beloved disciple Ismaeel by divine order and his resurrection).

Note: Names of the months of Hijri calendar (Muslim calendar) – 1. Moharram-ul-Haram 2. Safar 3. Rabi-ul-Awwal 4. Rabi-ul-Thani 5. Jumada-ul-Awwal & Junada-ul-Thaniyah 6. Rajab 7. Shabaan 8. Ramzan-ul-Mabatik 9. Shawwal 10. Jikada 11. Jil-Hija

Christian Festivals

Sikh, Jain and Buddhist Festivals

Sikh Festivals

• Guru Parv – In the month of October/November (birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, first Guru of Sikhs).

• Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti – On Saptami of Shukla Paksha of Paush month in the month December/January (birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, tenth & last Guru of Sikhs).

• Lohri – On 13 January/Just 1 day before Makar Sankranti (festival celebrated to bid farewell to cold waves of winter, On this day Lohri (bonfires) made of woods is burnt).

• Vaisakhi – On first date of Vaisakh (celebrated to commemorate Khalsa panth, founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699).

Jain Festivals

• Mahavir Jayanti (Vir Trayodashi) – On trayodashi of Shukla Paksha of Chait month (birth anniversary of Mahavir Swami, 24th & last Teerthankar of Jain).

Buddhist Festivals

• Buddha Purnima – On the Purnima of Baisakh month (In the regard of Mahatma Buddha, It is notable that Mahatma Buddha was born (jaati), enlightened (Sambodhi) & died (Mahaparinirvana) on the same day of Baishakh Purnima).

Regional Festivals and Fairs

Andhra Pradesh

• Ugadi, Tirupati festival

Arunachal Pradesh

• Mopin of the Galos, Solung of the Adis, Losar of the Monpas, Dree of the Apatanis, Si-Donyi of the Tagnis, Nyokum of Nyishis, Reh of the Idu Mishmis

Assam

• Bihu (Rongali Bihu/Bohag Bihu, Bhogali Bihu/Magh Bihu & Kangali Bihu/Kati Bihu), Kherai Puja (puja of Bodos), Bathow (puja of Bodos), Ambubachi fair

Bihar

• Chhath puja, Janaki Navami, Sonepur cattle fair, Sitamarhi cattle fair

Chhattisgarh

• Hareli, Larukaj, Kaksar, Bambleshwari fair, Danteshwari fair

Goa

• Zatra at Cansaulim, Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Carnival

Gujarat

• Carnival, Garba, Ranotsav-Kutchh, Tarnetar fair, Madhavrai fair, Ambaji fair, Janmashtami, Dang Darbar, Shamiaji fair, Bhavnath fair, Chitra-vichitra fair

Haryana

• Geeta Mahotsav, Surajkund craft Mela

Himachal Pradesh

• Minjar Mela, Jwalamukhi fair, Kullu Dushera

Jharkhand

• Karma, Sarhul, Tusu or Makar

Karnataka

• Ugadi, Mahamastakabhisheka (held once every 12 years)

Kerala

• Onam, Thrissur Pooram, Attukal Pongala, Aranmula boat race

Madhya Pradesh

• Teej, Gangaur, Khajuraho dance festival, Malwa festival

Maharashtra

• Ganpati puja, Gudi Padwa, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti

Manipur

• Lai Haaoba, Cheiraoba, Ningol Chak-Kouba, Imoinu Iratpa, Gaan-Ngai, Lui-Ngai, Mera Houchongba

Meghalaya

• Pomblang Nongkrem (Khasis), Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem (Khasis), Beh dienkhlam (Jaintias), Wangala (Garos)

Mizoram

• Chapchar Kut (Kut = festival), Mim Kut, Thalfavang Kut, Anthurium Kut

Nagaland

• Hornbill festival, Sekrenyi, Monyu, Moatsu

Odisha

• Rath Yatra i.e. Car festival (Puri)

Punjab

• Holla Mohalla (Anandpur Sahib), Chappar Mela (Chappar), Baba Sheikh Farid Aagman (Faridkot), Equestrian festival (Jalandhar)

Rajasthan

• Teej, Gangaur, Urs of Ajmer Sharif, Pushkar fair (Ajmer), Camel festival (Bikaner), Khatu Shyamji fair (Sikar), Kailamata fair (Kaila, Jaipur)

Sikkim

• Losar, Losung/Namsung (new year), Saga Dava (Buddha's birth anniversary)

Tamil Nadu

• Pongal, Puthandu, Natyanjali dance festival, Thaipusam, Jallikattu Bull festival

Telangana

• Bonalu, Batu kamma

Tripura

• Karchi Puja, Ker Puja, Tripureshwari Temple festival

Uttarakhand

• Kumbh Mela (Haridwar), Devidhura Mela (Champavat), Purnagiri Mela (Champavat), Nanda Devi Mela (Almora), Gauchar Mela (Chamoli), Uttaraini Mela (Bageshwar)

Uttar Pradesh

• Kumbh Mela (Prayagraj), Cattle fair (Bateswar), Nauchandi Mela (Meerut), Garh Mukteshwar Mela

West Bengal

• Durga Puja, Ganga Sagar Yatra, Ramkrishna Utsav, Dol Purnima

Different Names of New Year

• First January – Christian Calendar

• Prathama Chaitra – Hindu Calendar

• Pahli tareekh Muharram – Muslim Calendar

• Nauroz/Nowruz – Persian/Iranian Calendar

• Gudi Padwa – Maharashtra, Goa (Marathis)

• Vishu/Kollam – Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Malayalis)

• Bohag Bihu – Assam (Assamese)

• Ugadi – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka (Telugu)

• Baisakhi – Punjab (Sikhs)

• Pohela Boishakh/Naba Barsha – Bengal (Bengalis)

• Puthandu – Tamil Nadu (Tamilian)

• Bestu Varas – Gujarat (Gujaratis)

• Pana Sankranti – Odisha (Odiyas)