India is a country with thousands of distinct cultures and religions. Located at the southern part of the continent, India is considered the land of the festival, according to Travel Triangle. They have numerous festivals celebrated every year because of their diverse groups. This would be their moments of togetherness, joining people with different religions and traditions, and showing cooperation and mutual respect.
While every part of the country has its own mini festivals, each of them showcases unique Indian culture. Their celebrations signify different beliefs that are meant to honor certain gods and goddesses. All their events have interesting stories of victory that connect to their ancient deities.
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Here are the top widely celebrated festivals in the country.
Temple Festival or Thrissur Pooram
Mostly celebrated in Kerala, the Temple festival is held to honor the local gods and goddesses. According to Trip Savvy, the festival was started in early 1700 by the country’s king of Cochin, Raja Rama Varma. It begins when the moon rises with the Pooram star, usually in April or May.
The celebration is held in the temple spaces, and the main attraction of the event is the vast procession of beautifully decorated elephants along with drummers and colorful floats. After the parade, there are enchanting musical performances and other religious rites. It is said to be an incredible performance with approximately 250 artists.
Onam, the Festival of Rain Flowers
One of the most celebrated festivals in India is the Onam. It celebrates fertility and prosperity. They connect it to the celebration of a good harvest, according to Travelogy India. During this time of the year, according to legend, the mythical king Mahabali comes to check on them. The celebration lasts for ten days, but the first and the last days are the most important.
During Onam, people wear cultural dresses, but women specifically wear white Sarees with seams. They beautify houses with beautiful patterns of flower arrangements. They usually place it on the ground in front of their homes. During the first and last days of the celebration, they perform several rituals and prepare 13 dishes. There are also events like a snake boat race, Kaikottikali or Clap Dance, and Pulikali procession where artists are dressed and painted like hunters and tigers.
Pongal
Pongal is a four-day long celebration that starts either on the 14th or 15th of January. It is the thanksgiving to nature for the first harvest of the year, which signifies prosperity in the household. This is one of the famous Indian festivals that include people boiling milk in a clay pot, as ‘Pongal’ means to boil over. They also prepare sweet dishes with rice cooked in milk. They then offer this to the god of the sun.
Throughout the celebration, people wear traditional attire. Also, the festival includes dancing, bonfires, sweets, and savories. The key attractions are the Koram designs on houses and the cattle race. As part of the celebration, the ingredients for their sweet dishes such as sugarcane, cereal, and turmeric should be harvested during the event, according to Travelogy India.
Holi
Commonly known worldwide as the festival of colors, Holi signifies the victory of good over evil according to Travel Triangle. It also represents the arrival of spring. India celebrates it during the full moon of Phalgun month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar, which is equivalent to March of the Gregorian Calendar.
The celebration starts on the eve of Holi day, when people make huge Holika bonfires, then dance and sing around it. During the day, people are gathered in an open field and make fun of each other by throwing color powder and squirting water guns. According to Trip Savvy, the activity is associated with their Lord Krishna, who is said to love pranking village girls by wetting them with colors and water.
Navaratri Festival/ Durga Puja
Navaratri, also known as Durga Puja, is a ten-day long celebration to honor the mother goddess of Indian culture, Durga, and its victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. During the event, there will be a display of huge statues of Durga. The celebration ends by placing the ten-handed idols in canopies. A procession is then held by the local rivers along with the loud sound of drumbeats.
The event starts on the 10th day of Ashwina Shukla paksha of the Hindu calendar, which falls between the month of September or October. The celebration displays the interesting religious beliefs of the country. If you come as a tourist, you would appreciate the people in their traditional dresses, the happy cultural songs, and music, drama, and dancing.
Conclusion
The festivals mentioned above are just a few of the many festivals celebrated in India. It is interesting to note that Indians have preserved their traditions and culture despite the constant changes offered by the modern world. While they embrace innovations and advancement, they have not failed to acknowledge their gods and goddess, which they believe to be the reason for their existence.
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