essay on Indian festival
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India is a country wherein every season, in every part of the year around and in every part of the country one or the other fair or festival is being held. But for the holding of a fair or a festival, there is a fair season or a proper occasion assigned to it. Then there is also a seasonal value of such a festival.
Deepawali is one such festival that has a symbolic as well as a rational and recreational value.
The rainy season is at its wane. The slushy drains and lanes are drying up; the humidity and heat of the weather are gradually subsiding and the temperate shiver in the cool breeze begins to give us an indication of the advent of winter. India is the only country where there are marked seasons that keep changing at the appointed time of the year. After the blistering heat of the summers April, May, and June and with the advent of July clouds begin hovering in the sky and the rainy season gives us a much-needed relief.
The parched earth thirsting for a shower gets the much-awaited downpour there is the flooding of rivers and the rivulets, the grass grows green, the trees and bushes wear a washed look. That is the rainy season which gradually subsides to usher the other season the winter in the month of October and November. And it is only so welcome when this refreshing cool shiver of the wintry breeze marks the advent of the festival of Deepawali the festival of the row of lights. This is a festival which comes fifteen days after the Vijay Dashmi. The day of the conquest of Ravana the Demon king by Ram. Hence it has got associated with the celebration of this victory symbolized also as the victory of the Good over the Evil.
Among all the Indian festivals Deepawali or Diwali as it is commonly called is a festival of great festivity. Prior to the advent of the day of this festival, houses are cleaned; every nook and comer of the house is supposed to be got rid of all the dust and dirt; the walls are whitewashed or painted and floors are washed and t cleaned. It is in this manner that the entire house is disinfected; necessary as it is after the soggy, slushy rainy season which gives rise to insects and germs particularly in the nooks and comers of the house. This is actually an annual cleaning activity of the house and its surroundings; a necessary activity for a healthy living.
Associated as all this is with the celebration of the victory of Ram over Ravana and Ram’s arrival after it to Ayodhya, the ritual and the revelry has its social and hygienic value. That is how every such festival in our country has been so planned to get associated with life and living.
The festival is celebrated by lighting lamps in a row over the housetops; overall the wall tops and parapets of the house. Originally these used to be the earthen lamps filled with mustard oil and a wick dipped in the oil. These while illuminating the houses presenting a festive look also attracted worms and insects which had grown in large numbers during the rainy season and which got self-immolated, in this manner striking a natural balance in the eco-system.
This is a festival when Hindus worship Lord Ganesh the God of Commonweal and Goddess Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. It is actually in this part of the season that the previous crops had been harvested and thrashed and stored and the fresh seeds of a fresh crop are sown in the fields. India has been an agricultural country where crops have ever been the source of wealth and prosperity and of commonwealth. Thus this worship of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi has also its very symbolic significance.
Festivals are larger than life celebrations of various things. They occur at regular intervals and helping in breaking the monotony of life. Furthermore, they give you the chance to celebrate the little and big things in life. Festivals are the carriers of peace and joy in the communities. All nations of the world have certain religious and cultural festivals. However, India is one of the largest countries to celebrate numerous festivals. As India is a very cultural and diverse country, so are the festivals. They divide into three general categories of national, religious and seasonal.

Types of Indian Festivals
As we can divide the Indian festivals into national, religious and seasonal, we see how they differ from each other. In general, national festivals are celebrated in honor of reputable people and events. The religious ones follow legends of faiths and their beliefs. The seasonal ones are celebrated with each season that we experience that varies from region to region.
National Festivals
The National festivals include Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and more. These festivals are celebrated all over India. All the citizens of the country celebrate them irrespective of the religion, caste, creed, and sex. Everyone celebrates them with great patriotism. These festivals are gazetted holidays all over the country and are enjoyed with great enthusiasm.
Moreover, they help in setting aside the differences of the countrymen and unite each other like never before. The capital of India, New Delhi is the seat of national festivals. For instance, it witnesses the grand parade of the Republic Day. The flag hoisting takes place in New Delhi, which is broadcasted on national television for the whole country to see.
Religious Festivals
The religious festivals are one of the most famous festivals not only throughout India but over the world. Some of the most prominent religious festivals are Diwali, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Christmas, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Holi and many more. Diwali and Holi are the most prominent festivals of the Hindu religion. They are very colorful and full of lights.
Next up, Eid-Ul-Fitr is an Islamic festival which celebrates the end of Ramadan. It is about delectable dishes and family gatherings. Christmas celebrates the birthday of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, it is about Christmas trees and Santa Claus. Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrates the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev.
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Seasonal Festivals
Finally, the particular regions of the country celebrate seasonal festivals. For instance, Bihu is a festival of Assam. Likewise, Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal. In addition, there is Basant Panchami which people celebrate through North India and West Bengal as well.
Importance of Festivals
Festivals are very important. They make us forget our cultural and religious differences. They unite people and they come together for the sole purpose of celebration and happiness. Other than that, festivals also help us embrace our culture and religion. They are very helpful in breaking the monotony of life.
Moreover, people look forward to festivals all-round the year. Festivals spark joy and give people something to look forward to. In addition, people also repair their homes and paint them that look like brand new. It beautifies the look of the locality.
In short, festivals fill our lives with colors and enthusiasm. They bring us closer every year and eliminate any feelings of communal hatred. Further, they strengthen the bonds of the community and remove the malice from people’s hearts. Therefore, festivals are quite important and must be celebrated with passion.