India is a diverse country with different cultures, traditions and religions. Hence, it is celebrated with many colorful and vibrant festivals throughout the year. Here are a few of the major festivals celebrated in India:
Diwali
Diwali, also known as the “festival of lights”, is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs (Mehta, 2018). It is celebrated in October or November and marks the victory of good over evil and light over darkness (Mehta, 2018). During this festival, homes and streets are decorated with lights and diyas, and people exchange sweets and gifts with their loved ones.
Holi
Holi is a Hindu festival celebrated in February or March and is also known as the “festival of colors” (Pandey, 2016). It marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated by smearing colored powder and water on each other, singing and dancing to the beats of dhol and celebrating with food and drinks (Pandey, 2016).
Navaratri
Navaratri is a Hindu festival that is celebrated for nine nights and ten days in September or October (Singh, 2019). It is dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga and her different forms (Singh, 2019). The festival is celebrated with dance and music, especially the Garba and Dandiya Raas dance forms.
Ram Navami
Ram Navami is a Hindu festival celebrated in honor of Lord Rama and marks his birth anniversary (Sharma, 2019). It is celebrated in March or April and is an important festival for the followers of the Ramayana (Sharma, 2019).
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim festival that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting (Ahmed, 2018). It is celebrated with prayers, feasting and exchanging gifts with loved ones (Ahmed, 2018).
Christmas
Christmas is a Christian festival that is celebrated on December 25th to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ (Smith, 2019). It is celebrated by decorating trees, exchanging gifts, and attending church services (Smith, 2019).
