Write a paragraph on Indian a land of festivals
Answers
Among all the countries of the world, India is the one with a large geographical area, supporting people from all communities and religions of the world. We celebrate festivals of each religion with equal zeal and vigor, and this also proves each time how our unity lies in diversity.
India's rich heritage has been built over the centuries and this has led to a huge variety in Indian life, soul and festivals. There is a great diversity in the Indian regions and these diversities have brought about an assortment of rituals and festivals too.
Each religion follows its own calendar for deciding the day on which the festival is to be celebrated. For example, the Hindu festivals are determined by the lunar Hindu calendar. Thus the dates of the Hindu festivals do not match with the solar Georgian calendar.
Since India has a large Hindu population, it is natural that most of its festivals are Hindu festivals. Since the Hindus personify nature and human feelings, they have about 3.3 millions gods and goddess, and thus a number of festivals to worship them.We often see that some festivals are more popular in a particular region. Chhat, for instance,is a festival chiefly celebrated in Bihar whereas Diwali is celebrated all over India.
The festivals which are celebrated throughout India are called national festivals, and the whole of India comes together to celebrate it. Diwali is the festival of Hindus but you won't find a single Muslim or a Christian child who stays at home when all his friends and neighbors are busting crackers at the local park!
Again do you think that on Christmas Eve, when all the churches and restaurants are dressed up for a long party, the people belonging to the other communities stay back at home and gaze at the festivities going on? No, not at all! They are out there partying as hard as, if not harder than their Christian friends! This is where the strength of India lies – in its diversity lies it unity.
Chronologically speaking, in the month of January, there is the festival of Sankranti or Makar Sankranti which is celebrated as Pongal in south India. There may be differences in the rituals that are observed but the essence behind the celebration is the same.
Few days after Sankranti, Asia's largest fair, Kumbh Mela, is organized. Thaipuram is also celebrated towards the end of January or beginning of February in Tamilnadu. In January end another festival, Muharram, is observed through out India.
Basant Panchami is celebrated in the northern regions to celebrate the advent of spring whereas in eastern India this day is celebrated as Saraswati Puja, by offering prayers to the goddess of learning and wisdom.
Immediately after Saraswati puja, the Indians celebrate Mahashivratri and Holi, the festival of colors.
April brings with it the occasion of Baisakhi and Ram Navami. It is celebrated with pomp in northern parts to celebrate the new crop season. The fields are lush with ripe crops and this again calls for celebration! Along this time comes Good Friday and Easter. These are national holidays and the whole of India comes together to observe these occasions.
Along the western coast of India, Ugadi (which is called Gudi Padua in Maharastra)is celebrated. Just after this, the whole India unites with the Jain community to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti together. Hanuman Jayanti is also celebrated at the same time in the northen part of india.