India it is a country of traditions, and their festivals and customs they were not going to be less. Since the most remote antiquity they have their own calendar and every year they celebrate each and every one of their main festivities, as also happens in the West.
If you want to know what their parties and most curious customs are, stay and read this article with us. And if after finishing you still want to know more about this beautiful and diverse country, read our article yesterday: "India: Beliefs and Gods".
Indian calendar
El indian year consists of a total of 6 stations, one every two months, not every three as in the western calendar:
- Vestanta: Primavera.
- Grichma: Summer.
- Varies: Rains
- Sarah: Autumn.
- Sister: Winter.
- Sisiva: Cool.
However, indian week coincides with the western week, since it is also 7 days:
- Ravi-vara: Sunday.
- Soma-rod: Monday.
- mangala-vara: Tuesday.
- buddha-vara: Wednesday.
- Guru-rod: Thursday.
- Sukra-rod: Friday.
- sani-vara: Saturday.
Indian festivities
Here we tell you what are the main festivities that occur in India year after year. We will divide them according to the month.
Pongal - January:
It is the month of the harvests, and these, if they have been good, are celebrated with songs, dances and dances. South India celebrates the start of 'Pongal' for 3 days in a row, where freshly harvested rice is cooked and the cattle procession is organized. It depends on the area this festival is known in one way or another: in Asam it is known by 'Bhogali Bihu ' and by 'Makar Sankranti' in the rest of the country.
Republic Day (January 26):
In this national holiday the promulgation of the Constitution of India in 1950. In the city of New Delhi there is a colorful and spectacular parade (very appropriate to India), which includes everything from the latest weaponry to elephants.
Holi - March:
It is the month par excellence for the festivities of India, because they are the busiest, the most colorful and also the most beautiful. It marks the end of winter and cold, people appreciate the arrival of good weather and feel happy about it. They show it by painting their faces in colors and also their bodies. This celebration is important throughout the country but specifically in the cities of Vrindavan and Maghura.
El 'holi' it also symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
Mahavir Jayanti - April:
The Jains commemorate the birth of Vardhamana, the 24th tirthankara, born 2.500 years ago at this festival.
On this day, many pilgrims visit the Palitana and Gimar Shrine in Gujarat.
Good Friday / Easter - April:
It is a holiday in India by Christians who celebrate Easter as in the rest of the world. It begins on a Thursday and ends on a Monday, with special Masses to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
Baisakhi - April:
This festival celebrates the beginning of the Hindu year and many songs and dances are given in its name. The 'sikhs' They also do various rituals on this day to commemorate the anniversary of their organization as a brotherhood by Guru Gobind Singh.
Buddha Purnima - May:
The birth of Guatama Buddha is celebrated in different parts of the country. Buddhist monks, dressed in colorful costumes, lead processions of worshipers who carry with them sacred texts of the Buddhist faith.
Khordad Sal - May:
It is one of the main festivals in the Parsis, where they get together as a family. On this holiday the birth of the prophet is celebrated Zarathustra.
Id-ul-Fitr - June:
During this Muslim holiday, the culmination of Ramadan, the month of fasting in Muslim culture, is prayed and celebrated in mosques.
Id-ul-Zuha - August:
Muslims pray in mosques across the country in remembrance of Ibrahim's sacrifice.
Muharram - September:
Another Muslim holiday that is celebrated in this case only by the Shia community. For many it is a time of mourning for the martyrdom of Iman Hussain, grandson of the prophet Muhammad. Colorful processions are organized with replicas of Hussain's tomb in Iraq.
Gandhi Jayanti - October:
The birth of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, is commemorated. Prayers are made for his well-being and important members of politics wear wreaths to the place where he was cremated in New Delhi: Raighat.
Diwali / Deepawali - November:
It is the festival of lights, the largest and brightest of all celebrations in India. Children and adults gather in the streets to admire the fireworks during the night. Oil lamps, lights and candles illuminate buildings across the country. Families gather with their friends and neighbors to pray and celebrate.
Christmas Eve - December 24:
As in the rest of the world, Christians in India go to midnight mass to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.