September 30 is a holiday in India. Indian Holidays (2018)

Holidays in India last almost all year round: public holidays replace religious holidays, and each region has its own calendar. If you add festivals to this, it turns out that even if you come for two weeks, you will definitely find yourself on several holidays.

In January, celebrations are held throughout India in honor of the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad; every year the exact date is calculated according to the lunar calendar and falls on the 12th day of the third month.

January 12 marks the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, a famous Indian spiritual thinker, reformer and ideologist of the national liberation movement.

The main holiday of India - Republic Day (Gantantra Diwas) is celebrated on January 26. It appeared in 1950. Festive processions are held throughout the country, the most striking of which is, of course, the procession in Delhi. In the capital, it runs along the central Raj Path Avenue to the India Gate. Bright, decorated platforms, columns of scouts and schoolchildren, musicians and dancers - such a spectacle is worth a look.

The president and prime minister are always present at the festival in Delhi, and a parade of troops from the capital's garrison is held with all the necessary attributes: a demonstration of weapons, a squadron of aircraft, etc.

A folk dance festival is also required, which attracts groups from all states. And the holiday ends with a beautiful “Clear Signal” ceremony, in which the guardsmen of the presidential guard take part. Afterwards, the orchestra performs various pieces of music that end with the last ray of sunshine. And the fireworks become the bright final point of Republic Day.

On the fifth day of the two-week cycle of the waxing moon in January or February, a festival is held in honor of Saraswati Vasant Pachami, the goddess who patronizes science and art. On this day, it is customary to bring books, musical instruments and other gifts to the statues of Saraswati. And the goddess herself is dressed in yellow clothes, however, this color is recommended for everyone to wear. Saraswati festival is considered the best day to start learning.

February 28 is National Science Day. The date commemorates the discovery of Raman scattering of light by Indian physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in 1928, for which he received the Nobel Prize.

In February-March, the holiday of the onset of spring is traditionally celebrated - Holi, which is considered one of the brightest. On this day, it is customary to sprinkle colored powders on each other.

Baha'is and Zoroastrians celebrate their New Year in March. By tradition, the holiday is also accompanied by processions and performances.

On the ninth day of the first month of the Indian year, which is the period March-April, the appearance day of Lord Ramacandra is celebrated. He is a powerful incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in the realm of an ideal king.

The birthday of Mazavir Jayanti, the founder of Jainism, is also celebrated in March-April.

Easter is celebrated in the spring, which is also calculated separately every year.

In April-May, the main Buddhist holiday takes place - Buddha's Birthday. Baisakhi, which means “first day of the new year” according to the Hindu calendar, is also celebrated during these months. This period also marks one of the main Muslim holidays, Eid ul-Azha, or the holiday of sacrifice.

In May-June, according to the lunar calendar, another important holiday for Muslims takes place, namely the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Also during these months, Muslims celebrate the day of mourning Muharram.

According to the ancient scriptures of Hinduism, May-June marks the day of the arrival of Buddha as the incarnation of God on earth, or rather, an avatar of Vishnu. However, followers of Buddhism do not recognize the connection between Buddha and Hindu gods, but consider him a man named Siddhartha Gautama who achieved enlightenment. But, nevertheless, this day is a day off in all government and public institutions in India.

August 15 marks India's Independence Day, which can be called one of the largest in the country. It appeared in 1947, when India's independence from Great Britain was declared. On this day, a flag-raising ceremony is held in all settlements of the country, festive processions and receptions are organized. It is important that this holiday unites all residents of the country, regardless of religious preferences.

In August-September, on the eighth lunar day, the appearance day of Sri Krishna is celebrated, which is a day off. Krishna is the absolute meaning of life, the supreme personality of God, the cause of everything.

Also at the end of summer, Ganesh's birthday is celebrated (Ganesh Chaturthi). In the last month of summer, the Parsi community celebrates the birthday of Zoroaster.

In September-October, Dashahra is celebrated - the day of worship of Devi. The ten-day Navratri and Dasera celebrations take place in October.

In October, Muslims celebrate the day of remembrance of the Prophet Muhammad.

In October-November, the festival of lights and the goddess of prosperity Diwali takes place, which many consider to be perhaps the most popular folk holiday. Also during these months is the New Year according to the Hindu calendar.

The month of Ramadan falls between September and November, depending on the year.

November also brings Dan-Teras, the day of worship of Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and prosperity). During this period, an important holiday is celebrated - the Birthday of Baha'i Baha'u'llah.

On November 19, Indira Gandhi's birthday and Dev Diwali (a holiday in honor of Shiva) are celebrated throughout India.

November-December marks the end of Ramadan, in honor of which the Ramadan-Eid holiday is held.

These are only the main holidays that are celebrated at the state level. In each state and region, this list is much longer, however, when traveling around India, you can see this for yourself.

The Indian calendar is a continuous series of holidays and festivals. All Indian holidays have an ancient history and are divided into state, religious and regional. Holidays in India are so colorful and popular that they attract thousands of tourists every year. Today we will tell you about the most significant events so that you can plan your vacation based on your preferences.

Kite Festival

On January 14, tourists will be able to watch thousands of paper kites being launched into the air by amateurs and professionals. The festival is organized in the state of Gujarat, the city of Ahmedabad. In the same city there is a kite museum; tourists usually visit this place before going to the festival. At the museum you can learn about Australian inventor Lawrence Hargrave. This man invented the paper kite, which in turn became the prototype of the first biplane.

Anyone can take part in the festival. During the festival, everyone tries to stand out and wow the crowd with a unique kite design, design or color. If you do not want to take part in the festival, you can watch the colorful show. For this purpose, special platforms for spectators are installed in the city. Sometimes local residents set up an observation deck on the roof of a house or commercial building.

Pongal

The harvest festival is celebrated annually on January 15, usually preceded by the winter solstice. During this celebration, the fields begin to bloom, so local residents hope for prosperity and a good harvest. To thank the Sun God for the harvest, Hindus prepare sweet rice and serve it to guests. For local residents, this holiday is very important; according to legend, the gods descend to earth every year, on whom the harvest this year will depend.

The festival is celebrated everywhere and lasts 4 days. The first day of the holiday is celebrated with family. The next day, men present gifts to the gods, and women decorate the home and courtyard. On the third day, mass celebrations take place; games with bulls are held in almost every city. A bag of coins is tied to the animal's horns and the men must get it without using violence. On the fourth day, a feast is organized with the family.

Holi holiday

The festival of colors is the most popular and awaited celebration in India. It is celebrated when a full month appears, in 2016 it is March 23. Everyone knows that during the festival it is necessary to sprinkle colored powder and pour colored water on everyone. Hindus believe that the festival of Holi appeared thanks to God Shiva. Once upon a time, Shiva punished Kama (God of Love) because he prevented him from meditating. Shiva destroyed the God of love and after that Kama had no body left. The divine wives persuaded Shiva to allow the God of love to use his body for 3 months every year. When Kama gets a body, everything around is transformed and the residents celebrate the holiday of love.

Through crushed paint and colored water, Holi symbolizes the blossoming of nature. Local residents believe that the more different colors a person wears, the closer he is to God Kama. In large cities, on the main square they show a dance that is quite explicit for Hindus. With its help, boys and girls tell another legend that is known about the festival of colors. It says that the son of the God of love Krishna flirted with a shepherdess. He distracted her and sprinkled paint on her, after which the girl became offended, and Krishna began to ask for forgiveness. The cowherd girl forgave Krishna only after she also sprinkled colored powder on him.

The Holi holiday in India is notable not only for the bright colors that need to be sprinkled on everyone around. On March 23, locals and tourists can drink bhang, a drink made from juice, milk and hemp leaves. Bhang helps many people relax and enjoy the celebration.

Holi is celebrated in different ways in different states of India. For example, in the southern states of the state the holiday is quite modest. Adults and elderly people usually celebrate the festival of colors at home, with family. Only boys and girls go outside. The Holi holiday is the Bengali New Year, so parents prepare gifts and sweets for their kids, the children will see them only in the morning.

In the center of the state, orange flags are hung or lights are lit on Holi. This tradition is primarily due to the fact that “Holi” translated from the local language means “burning” and flags also symbolize flame.

The festival of colors is most celebrated in the northern part of India. Every building in this location will have decorations in pink, red and purple. On Holi, most houses are repainted in the brightest colors and fresh flowers are scattered everywhere. There are a lot of sellers of colored powder, water dyes and water cannons here. However, local residents prefer to prepare for the celebration on their own. To celebrate Holi, most tourists come to the city of Vrindavan. Here the festival of colors lasts for several days, people gather near the steps of the temple and dance.

In India, Holi ends the day after the full moon appears. Usually people start going home around 16:00, most locals go to the nearest river to wash off the paint. The festival of colors equalizes all residents of India and erases differences between castes. Most tourists want to go to the Holi holiday because at this time everyone is as relaxed as possible, no one thinks about their problems and people enjoy simple things.

independence Day

In India, Independence Day is the most important holiday and is celebrated on August 15th. Hindus began to celebrate this event after 1947, when they separated from Great Britain. On the day of signing the Act of Independence, the Prime Minister hoisted the tricolor flag of India. Every year, a flag raising ceremony is held in cities and villages of the state. On August 15, politicians give a ceremonial speech and local residents reminisce about how poorly Indians lived before 1947. The holiday involves mass celebrations, the celebration is celebrated by all local residents, regardless of religion.

Diwali

The Festival of Lights symbolizes the victory of good over evil. The holiday begins to be celebrated on October 29, the celebration continues for 5 days. Legend connects the festival of lights with the coronation of King Rama, who at one time championed the virtues of marriage and considered the bond between husband and wife inextricable. Locals believe that during the reign of Rama, India came out of darkness, which is why everyone lights up lights during Diwali. In that day Hindus pray, smear themselves with coconut oil and in the evening light all the candles in the house. During the celebration, it is customary to give gifts to loved ones.

Vijaya Ekadasi

All Indian locals know the story of the Ramayana, which tells the story of the love of Rami and Sita. We know this story in the retelling of the great writer A.S. Pushkin from the work “Ruslan and Lyudmila”. However, the Ramayana is a myth, not a fairy tale. This story is considered an example of divine love, which only intensifies during separation. The festival of Vijaya Ekadashi is associated with myth and is a religious celebration. You can find out the history of this holiday by hiring a guide; this day is celebrated on March 5th.

Sunny New Year

The Hindu Solar New Year is celebrated on April 14th. Local residents believe that several thousand years ago the Goddess Ganga came to earth. On the holiday, residents gather near the Ganges River and perform rituals for the remission of sins. Celebrations are usually held in temples and other holy places. On April 14, it is customary to decorate your home with flowers and also display flags with the Goddess Ganga. Children and young people wear garlands of flowers on the holiday. During the sunny New Year, it is customary to congratulate everyone on the holiday. Performances will be organized for residents and tourists in the main squares of the city. Fireworks are always set off in the evening.

Dashahra

On October 11, India celebrates the most significant holiday for the local population. Dashahra lasts for 10 days, 9 of which are reserved for prayer. On the 10th day, everyone worships the Mother Goddess Devi. In the north of the country, this day is celebrated in the same way as the victory of God Rama, that is, they light candles everywhere and decorate their homes. In major cities of India, dances and performances are held that narrate the achievements of Rama. Also on October 11, it is customary to read excerpts from the Ramayana.

In the eastern part of the country, after 9 days of prayers, believers take the image of the Goddess, decorate it with garlands and take it to the nearest body of water. Then a ritual will be performed during which the men place the image of the Goddess on their shoulders and immerse it in water. On the days of Dashahr, it is customary to congratulate loved ones and give gifts.

Mahatma Gandhi's birthday

This holiday is dedicated to the great leader of the national liberation movement; many call this man the Father of the Nation. The celebration takes place on October 2. Gandhi led a movement that fought discrimination and racial classification. In 1915, the leader began to fight the authorities. He believed that Hindus and Muslims should be equal, was ready to eliminate social inequality and opposed untouchability of high-ranking citizens. In 1948, Gandhi was assassinated in the temple by a crazed Hindu. Mahatma Gandhi's birthday is celebrated in all localities, but the leader's grave is located in Delhi, where fresh flowers are regularly brought.

Holidays in India are not easy marks on the calendar; each of them carries a sacred meaning and gives a chance to start looking at many things differently.

– a very culturally rich and multinational state. Therefore, a huge number of holidays of different cultures, traditions, and beliefs are celebrated throughout the country. Multi-day festivals and colorful Indian folk festivities are held annually.

National Indian holidays

If we talk about state public holidays that do not belong to any particular nationality, but are celebrated throughout the country, then there are only three of them in India. Indian Independence Day celebrated annually on August 15th. Second public holiday - Republic Day. It is celebrated on January 26th. The whole country celebrates Gandhi's birthday on October 2.

In addition, holidays of different religions, beliefs and nationalities are celebrated in different provinces of the country. The most popular and numerous are the holidays of the Hindu religion. The largest of them is Diwali, is marked by a multi-day festival of lights (the very name of the celebration is translated from Sanskrit as “bunch of fire”). Numerous celebrations mark the victory of light over darkness and are accompanied by carnival processions, fireworks, songs and dances. Diwali is usually celebrated in the month of October or November and lasts for five days.

Among other major Indian celebrations, mention should be made of the “festival of colors” - Holi(floating date). It has already become known throughout the world and is celebrated in many parts of it. Other Hindu holidays: Pongal(holiday of gratitude for the harvest, January 15), Rama Navami(appearance day of Rama, April 13), K rishna-janmashtami(Krishna's appearance day, August 24).

Indian holidays and rituals

India is also one of the countries where the proportion of Muslim population is very large. are the second in the number of people celebrating. The dates of celebrations in this religion are tied to the lunar calendar (Hijri), and therefore change from year to year. Among the most important Muslim holidays celebrated in India is the festival of breaking the fast. Eid al Adha, which marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan, as well as the Feast of Sacrifice Eid al-Adha.

The Indian calendar is an almost continuous series of state, religious, folk and other holidays and festivals.

Several different celebrations can coincide within one day. And since many of them are celebrated according to a special schedule (lunar or religious), often in different years even the same holiday is celebrated in different months.

1st of January- New Year.
January 26- Gantantra Diwas, Republic Day. The main national holiday of India.
February 4- Swami Vivekananda's birthday.
February 17- Festival in honor of Saraswati Vasant Pachami.
February 26- Purim holiday.
28th of February- National Science Day.
February March- Holi, the celebration of the onset of spring.
March 8- International Women's Day and Birthday of Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
March 17- St. Patrick's Day.
21 March- New Year for the Baha'is.
March 21-22- Navruz (Jamshed navaroz), New Year for Zoroastrians.
March 24- Palm Sunday.
March, April- Mahavira Jayanti, Birthday of the founder of Jainism.
March, April- Easter.
April 21- Ramnavani festival in honor of Rama.
April May- Buddha Jayanti, Buddha's Birthday, the main holiday of Buddhists.
April May- Baisakhi, the first day of the Hindu New Year and one of the main holidays of Sikhism.
April May- Id-ul-Azkha (Id-ul-Zukha, Bakr-id), the Feast of Sacrifice is one of the two main holidays of Muslims.
1st of May- Labor Day.
9th May- Rabindranath Tagore's birthday.
May 11- National Technology Day.
May- Trinity.
May June- Eid-e-Milad (Mawlid al-Nabi), Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
May June- Muharram (Tajiya), Day of Mourning for Muslims.
July 24- Guru Purnima, Guru Worship Day.
August 15- Independence Day, Swatantrata Diwas is a national holiday.
August 20- Rajiv Gandhi's birthday.
Aug. Sept- Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday.
Aug. Sept- Ganesh Chaturthi (Vinayaka), Ganesh's birthday.
August- Khordad Sal, Zarathushtra's birthday is the main holiday of the Parsi community.
September (7)- Jewish New Year.
September 5-7- Teacher's Day.
16 of September- Yom Kippur holiday.
September October- Dashahra (Dussehra, Dussehra, Durga Puja), the day of worship of Devi, one of the most popular holidays.
October- 10-day Navratri and Dasera celebrations.
2 October- Gandhi Jayanti, Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday.
October- Eid-n-Milad (Barakh Wafat), days of remembrance of the Prophet Muhammad.
October November- Diwali (Deepavali, Bandi Khor Diwas), the Festival of Lights and the Goddess of Prosperity Diwali, one of the most popular folk festivals and the last day of the year according to the Hindu calendar.
October November- Annakut or Bestu Varsh, New Year according to the Hindu calendar.
November- The beginning of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims.
November 2- Dan Teras, Day of worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth.
November 12- Birthday of the founder of Baha'ism, Baha-Ullah.
November 14- Children's Day (Bal Diwas) and Jawaharlal Nehru's Birthday.
November 19- Indira Gandhi's birthday and Dev Diwali (Tripurari Purnima) is a holiday in honor of Shiva, a day of internal purification.
December 17- Ramadan-Eid (Idu "letter Fitr, Eid-ul-Fitr), the holiday of the end of the month of Ramadan. December 25 - Christmas.

Remember the most important thing: according to Indian customs, on the first day of the new year you should not be irritable, dissatisfied or grumpy. It is believed that the whole year will turn out exactly as it began. In this case, it is completely logical to start the year on the shores of a warm ocean...

The state of Goa, with its incomparable beaches of fine white sand, mesmeric sunsets and permissiveness reigning here, has always been considered the pearl of India and a favorite holiday destination. Exotic nature, abundance of varied food, wine and non-alcoholic drinks, excellent climate in the winter season firmly keep Goa one of the first places in the ranking of the most popular resorts in South Asia.

The very name Goa in some circles is associated with the hedonistic beach pastime so popular among hippies and other marginalized youth. But in fact, each of the countless beaches along the state’s 100-kilometer coast attracts its own contingent of tourists - from wealthy Europeans who come to relax for a couple of weeks under the gentle sun, to representatives of the “alternative” Western bohemians who travel for a year or more, not particularly wealthy.

The number of colorful folk festivals and celebrations many times exceeds even the number of national holidays in the country. Every day, in some locality of the country, some kind of folklore, dance and music performances, exhibitions, craft and culinary fairs are sure to take place. The most colorful are the parade in New Delhi on the occasion of Republic Day, the Water Festival and the Elephant Festival in Kerala (January), a whole cascade of festivities during the peasant festival of Lohri (January), the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad (January), a colorful parade of carnival cars in Madurai and Tamil Nadu (February), Rishikesh and Uttar Pradesh Yoga Week (February), Khajuraho Annual Dance Festival (February), Statewide Shivratri Natyanjali Festival (February-March), Dulhendi Spring Festival (Pushpadolotsav) and Shigmo Spring Festival in Goa (March). Every year on March 16, the Elephant Festival is held in northern India, in the city of Jaipur. Nowhere else in the world can you see so many of these giant animals gathered at one time in one place. They are all dressed in colorful fabrics and garlands. On the day of the holiday, tourists can see a procession of elephants marching to music, watch elephant races, or watch real sporting elephant polo competitions.

The Hoysala Mahotsava Temple Dance Festival is held in Halebid and Karnataka (April), the 10-day Shia Muharram festival takes place in April-May, the Sikkim International Flower Festival (May), the three-day Folk Summer Festival in Rajasthan (June), the Ratha Yatra Chariot Festival " in Puri (Orissa, June-July), the annual folk festival Tarnethar Mela (Melwa) in August, hundreds of colorful festivals and fireworks throughout the country during Durga Puja (September-October) and Holi (March), as well as the Pushkar Fair camel festival in Rajasthan (October-November), International Pearl Festival in Hyderabad (November), International Seafood Festival in Goa (November), Rajarani Gardening Festival in Orissa (December) and thousands of other equally interesting events. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival (Vinayaka, August-September) is dedicated to the popular elephant-headed god Ganesha. In September-October, the delightful Festival of the Gods takes place in Kullu, part of the Dashahra Festival, the most exciting events of which take place in Mysore and Ahmedabad.

Currently, the New Year is according to the Gregorian calendar, i.e. January 1 is celebrated mainly by Christians in India. On this day, bells ring in churches, and in large port cities at midnight, steamship whistles herald the coming of the New Year. New Year cards are sent to relatives and friends, and people exchange congratulations when they meet.

The birthday of the tenth and last Guru Gobind Singh is celebrated by Sikhs. On this day, large processions are organized and special prayers are said in all Sikh temples - gurudwaras.

Hindus never call themselves Hindus, just as the Chinese never called themselves Chinese, and the Arabs never called themselves Arabs. Just as the British saw the Chinese as porcelain traders (China is translated from English as porcelain), and the Mesopotamians saw the representatives of the tribes invading Mesopotamia from the south, desert dwellers, vagabonds and nomads (this is how the word al-arab can be translated), the Indians called by the Persians (Hindu comes from the name of the Sindhu River - the modern Indus).

The Hindus themselves call their country Bharata-varsha, and themselves Bharatas or Aryans. “Arya” originally means “one who knows the true meaning of life,” and “Bharat” means “descendant of Bharata,” the great emperor of the entire Earth in ancient times. The tradition of celebrating Putrada Ekadashi is as ancient as the history of Emperor Bharata himself, described in the Vedas and Puranas (the Puranas are believed to contain a description of historical chronicles for the last 60 kalpas, the duration of one kalpa is 4,320,000,000 years).
13th of January. Laurie

Lori (Lori or Lohri) is celebrated annually on January 13 in North India. During this holiday, bonfires are lit as a symbol of the end of the harsh winter. The fire is associated with Lord Agni (Agni - fire).

The harvest festival Pongal is celebrated in January after the winter solstice. The date of Pongal is determined based on the solar calendar, so it remains the same from year to year. The days of Pongal are extremely auspicious for Hindus. More about Pongal

Republic Day was introduced in 1950 and is celebrated annually on January 26. The day is celebrated by the widest sections of the country's population. A characteristic feature of this holiday is the organization of festive processions in Delhi.

The Jaya Ekadashi festival carries the idea of ​​loving service (bhakti), which is completely opposite to the idea of ​​sexual satisfaction (kama). Very often, Krishna, whose name is translated as the Source of Eternal Pleasure, which is the personification of Pure Love, is confused with the deity of lust and passion, which, according to the Amara Kosha dictionary, has five names: Kandarpa - “the deity of love”, Darpaka - “preventing events”, Ananga - “having no physical body”, Kama - “passion personified”, Pancha-sharayh - “holding five arrows (taste, touch, sound, smell and image).” The rules and restrictions of Jaya Ekadashi are there to engage one in pure activities to please Krishna. In addition to the fact that Jaya Ekadashi destroys all the consequences of sins and alleviates the heavy burden of material existence, this ancient festival is the “mother of loving devotion.”

The ancient Vedas indicate several ways to obtain knowledge: pratyaksha, anumana, shabda. Pratyaksha (from Sanskrit “aksha” - eye) is the path of empirical knowledge, the path of experience

Vijaya Ekadashi gives the result that its name suggests (“vijaya” means “victory”). In India, every person from childhood knows the story of the Ramayana, which tells about the divine love of Rama and Sita. And it is connected with the Indian epic "Ramayana", which tells the story of Rama's victory over the demon Ravana. Anyone who observes the Vijaya Ekadasi fast will also always be a winner in this mortal world, and after that he will return to the kingdom of God. It is believed that the power of this fast can destroy all sinful reactions of even the most disgusting person. Sri Krishna also concluded that everyone who reads and listens to this story will receive the same benefits as those who perform sacrifices.

The Maha Shivaratri holiday is also called the “Great Night of God Shiva” and is celebrated in honor of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. It falls in the month of Magha (February-March)

Celebrating Amalaki Ekadashi is a very ancient tradition that dates back to time immemorial. It is described in the Brahmanda Purana (the Puranas are called the Fifth Veda).
March 23, 2016, March 13, 2017. Holi

The festival of colors, Holi, is the most colorful and vibrant holiday in India.
March 25, 2016, April 14, 2017.

Catholic Good Friday (Good Friday) Christians dedicate Friday of Holy Week - the last week of Lent - to memories of the suffering of the Savior. Christians in India celebrate this day across the country, but especially in Mumbai, Goa and the North-Eastern states of India.

Although the Christian population in India is approximately 2.5% of the country's total population, the festival of Easter is celebrated with pomp and religious obsessiveness.

The ancient Vedas say that Papamochani Ekadashi prevents the influence of spirits and demons on a sincere person full of faith. The purpose of celebrating Papamochani Ekadashi is to establish a person in virtue, which equally benefits the individual and society and also pleases God. The history of this holiday is connected with the concept of karma (“activity”). The law of karma is simple and inexorable: the present is the consequence of the past and the cause of the future. If a person is dissatisfied with his present, he must understand that this situation is the result of his activities in the past, which, however, can be overcome by virtuous actions.

Vasanta Navaratri - spring nine nights of the Mother Goddess. On Amavasya (new moon) at the beginning of the month of Chaitra (March-April), the celebration of Vasanta Navaratri begins - nine spring nights dedicated to the Mother Goddess. The Autumn Nine Nights are celebrated at the beginning of the month of Ashwin (September-October). According to the mythological narrative in the Puranas, the Great Goddess Durga, the personification of the Shakti of all gods, fought with the demons for nine days and nights, finally defeating the most powerful of them, Mahishasura. This is described in the Markandeya Purana, Devibhagavata Purana, Chandi Purana and other Scriptures. The most important part of the Markandeya Purana is the famous Devi Mahatmya (Glorification of the Goddess), recited daily on the night of Navratri. Both holidays - spring and autumn - are celebrated as the victory of the forces of light, personified by the Mother Goddess. In some areas of India, during the spring festival, greater attention is paid to the figure of Rama and the enactment of the mystery of the Ramayana, with special veneration of the ninth day - Rama Navami.
Ram Navami
Ram Navami is celebrated on the last day of Vananta Navratri. The birthday of the seventh incarnation of the mighty Vishnu - the legendary King Rama - is celebrated in the month of Chaitra. The hero of the Ramayana is an ideal and at the same time very real person - a king, and a faithful son and brother.

In the Indian state of Punjab, on April 14, one of the most beloved Sikh holidays is celebrated - Vaisakhi. For the Sikhs who inhabit Punjab, it is both a religious holiday, a harvest festival, and a New Year's Day.

Purity and perfection are the distinguishing characteristics of the original poetry of the ancient Vedas. The first hymn poems, embodied in song and dance, were performed in Sanskrit (literally, this means “purified to perfection”). To say that the first verses were “written down” in this language would be a mistake, since in ancient times there was no need for writing: the hymns were so perfect that they could not help but be remembered because of the vivid impression (samskara) that they left in the soul once who heard them. This is how the Vedic tradition arose - the tradition of oral transmission of poetic hymns, which are not only an example of aesthetic, but also ethical perfection. This is a celebration of the ancient tradition of oral transmission of Vedic hymns. The wishes of everyone who fasts on this day are fulfilled.

The birthday of the founder of the Jainism religion, Mahavir Jayanti, 24 and the last tirthankara (Sansk. “leading across the ocean,” that is, a prophet who leads through life) is the main holiday of the Jains.

According to the ancient tradition, the celebration of Varuthini Ekadashi is described as follows. Firstly, celebration can alleviate or completely relieve a person from suffering, and secondly, celebration can become the foundation for achieving the permanence of a successful and happy life. The ancient Vedas say: “All the benefits of observing austerities and penances for a thousand years are achieved by those who celebrate Varuthini Ekadashi.”

Mohini Ekadashi, like other “eleventh day” holidays, is an ancient spiritual tradition. The essence of this holiday, around which there is a whole philosophy, comes down to one way or another elevating a person above his everyday life, ordinariness. A person tends to become scattered, forget himself and completely forget - this is the nature of man, but the nature of the soul is completely different! The celebration of Mohini Ekadashi is aimed at making a person remember himself as a soul through performing activities that are natural to the soul.

This day marks the most sacred holiday of the Buddhist calendar - the Birthday of Buddha (Buddha Purnima), the founder of Buddhism. According to legend, Buddha was born on this day in 623 BC, on the same day he achieved enlightenment in 543 BC. died on the same day, having achieved complete nirvana. Thus, all three major events in the life of the Buddha are celebrated simultaneously.

Apara Ekadashi is an ax used to cut down the mature tree of sinful acts. Apara Ekadashi is the sun flashing before someone’s black crime. Apara Ekadashi is the ego-lion stalking the doe of godlessness. To free himself from the worldly and sinful, from the bodily and sensual, from the selfish and demonic, an intelligent person strives to seize the favorable opportunity to use the priceless life for the satisfaction of God. Studying the scriptures, serving saints and teachers, and helping the needy are those actions that attract the attention of God, who can purify the soul surrendered to Him with just His glance.

Yogini Ekadashi is a holiday that is celebrated every eleventh lunar day of the lunar cycle by all those who know the traditions and culture of the Ancient East. Life is given in order to rise through service to the Highest. Celebrating Yogini Ekadashi is a direct path to that perfection that was once lost to us.

Rath Yatra (literally "chariot parade"), an annual religious festival of the removal of God Jagannath (one of the forms of Krishna-Vishnu) from the temple on a giant chariot. Celebrated in the month of Ashadha (June-July).

Hindus attach the greatest importance to spiritual Teachers (Gurus). They are often equated to God and considered intermediaries between man and the Almighty.

Every year on August 15, India celebrates its biggest holiday - Independence Day in India - the anniversary of India's declaration of independence from Great Britain. Independence Day has been celebrated since 1947.

The festival of Raksha Bandhan or, as it is more commonly called, Rakhi, falls on the full moon day of the month of Shravan (July - August). On this day, ritual ablutions are performed on the banks of rivers, lakes and ponds, and coconuts are thrown into the sea as a reproach to the God of Waters, Varuna. Raksha bandhan has great significance for siblings. The main ritual of the festival consists of tying a blessed rakhi cord on the brother's wrist. By this, the sister wishes well-being and prosperity to her brother, while the brother vows to protect her from all troubles and help her in all problems.

The holiday is celebrated in honor of the birthday of Krishna (Krishna Janmashthami) - the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu. According to legend, he was born at midnight on the eighth day of the month of Shravan (July-August).

The birthday of the God of wisdom and abundance Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi) with the body of a man and the head of an elephant - the remover of obstacles, the son of Shiva and his wife Parvati - is celebrated in the month of Bhadra (August-September).

Onam Festival is a colorful harvest festival celebrated in the state of Kerala. According to legend, the mythical king of ancient Kerala - Mahabali, or Maveli, comes to its lands on the day of Thiruvonam, and his devotees celebrate the Golden Era that lasted in those days. Patterned floral carpets called Pookalam are laid out in front of houses. The tradition of placing flowers at the doorsteps of houses is very popular in Kerala, and these beautiful, short-lived works of art are maintained throughout the ten-day festival by the daily addition of many fresh flowers of various colors, which are placed by the girls singing folk songs. The rich folklore of the people of Kerala is fully reflected in the Onam festival. Here you can see the national costume, try folk cuisine, watch traditional games and dances, see the elephant parade and boat races, and, of course, hear folk songs.

Vizhvakarma - this god is revered by manual workers who work with tools. Vishwakarma is the main deity of all craftsmen and architects. The son of Brahma, he is the divine draftsman of the universe and the builder of the palaces of all the gods. He is also the designer of all the gods' flying chariots and weapons.

Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday in India in honor of the birthday of the outstanding leader of the national liberation movement of the Indian people.

Dashahra (Dussehra) - one of the most popular and colorful Hindu holidays is celebrated in the month of Ashvin (September-October) for 10 days, of which 9 nights are devoted to worship (this is where another name for the holiday comes from - Navratri.

One of the most popular Muslim holidays is dedicated to Ibrahim’s sacrifice of his son Ismail. It falls on the tenth day of the last month of the Muslim calendar, Dhu-ul-Hijjah, and lasts three to four days.

Diwali or Deepavali, which in Sanskrit means “bunch of fire,” is a festival of lights celebrated everywhere in India and symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. It falls at the beginning of the month of Kartik (October-November).

The birthday of the outstanding statesman, the first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru (Jawaharlal Nehru, November 14, 1889 - 1964) is celebrated throughout the country as Children's Day.

Ekadashi (from Sanskrit “eka” - one, “dasha” - ten) occurs three lunar days before the new moon and full moon. The oldest Vedic tradition says: “Ekadasi is the mother of devotion,” since it is on this day that everyone gets the opportunity to focus on their relationship with God.

December 11-12, 2016, November 30 – December 1, 2017. Mawlid an-Nabi (Nativity of the Prophet Muhammad)

The birthday of Prophet Muhammad is celebrated throughout India with traditional celebrations and religious fervor. Muhammad was born in 570 AD. and he is revered as the last Prophet of Islam. The Muslim era began with his immigration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, where he proclaimed himself a messenger of God and received the Qur'an, the holy text of the Islamic faith, from the Almighty at the age of forty. A few years later, he returned to Mecca, where the Kaaba was established as a destination for pilgrimage for adherents of Islam. The Prophet died in 632 AD.

Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrated on December 25th. It is one of the most significant holidays of Indian Christians.