A QUICK LOOK AT THE FESTIVALS OF INDIA
| Lohri, Bhogi, Bhogali Bihu | Harvest festival celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, Tamilnadu and Assam. (Winter Solstice) Makara Sankranti. The day is governed by the movement of the Sun from Cancer to Capricorn. |
| Vasanta Panchami (February – March) | Vasantha Panchami is the spring festival. In Bengal, Sarasvati the goddess of learning and art is worshipped. |
| Shivaratri (February – March) | Lord Shiva is revered, to release the devotee from the cycle of birth and rebirth. In Kashmir, the festival is held for 15 days; the thirteenth day is observed as Herath, a day of fast, followed by a family feast. |
| Holi (February – March) | Prahlad the son of Hiranyakasipu watches his demon aunt Holika, on fire by divine intervention. Holi is a festival of colour and high spirits. The bonfire suggests the destruction of the evil. |
| Mahavir Jayanthi (March -April) | The twenty-fourth tirthankara, Mahavira was born on this day. Jain shrines in Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat create a center of attention.Jain pilgrims on this day gather here to pay respect to their god. |
| Rama Navami (March – April) | Rama Navami (March – April) |
| Vaisakhi (April – May) | The Hindu year begins in some parts of the sub-continent. For the Sikhs, on this day Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa, in 1699. |
| Buddha Jayanthi (April – May) | Siddhartha (Buddha) was born on the full moon day of Vaisakha in 563 B.C. at Lumbini in Nepal. |
| Id-ul Fitr | The festival marks the end of Ramzan, with the new moon-the ninth month of the Muslim year. The holy Koran was discovered in this month. A fast is observed every day during this month, prayers are offered in mosques and Idgahs. |
| Raksha Bandhan (July – August) | The consort of Indra ties a rakhi (silken talisman) around Indra’s wrist wishing him victory. Sisters tie rakhi on the wrist of their brothers. |