"Across the globe, Hindus celebrate a diverse number of festivals and celebrations..."
Overview of the major Hindu festivals and their significance.
Diwali: The Hindu festival of lights celebrated in late October or early November. It marks the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
Holi: The spring festival of India celebrated in February or March. It is also known as the festival of colors, and is celebrated with vibrancy and enthusiasm.
Navratri: The nine-day festival celebrating the goddess Durga, who is known as the divine mother. It is a time for prayer and worship and is celebrated in the months of September or October.
Raksha Bandhan: A festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters tie a sacred thread or rakhi on their brothers' wrists, and brothers promise to protect them from harm.
Janmashtami: A festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated in August or September, and is marked with singing, dancing, and feasting.
Dussehra: Also known as Vijayadashami, it commemorates the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated in September or October and involves burning effigies of the demon king Ravana.
Ganesh Chaturthi: Celebrated in honor of the elephant-headed god Ganesha, this festival involves bringing idols of Ganesha into homes and public places and immersing them in water after a prescribed number of days.
Pongal: A harvest festival celebrated in South India that involves special dishes made from rice and other grains.
Maha Shivaratri: A festival that celebrates Lord Shiva and is celebrated in February or March. It is marked with fasting, all-night vigils, and the chanting of mantras.
Guru Nanak Jayanti: Celebrated by Sikhs, this festival commemorates the birth of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev. It involves the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred text of the Sikhs, and the singing of devotional hymns.
Ugadi: A New Year festival celebrated mostly in South India. It marks the beginning of a new year, and is celebrated with the cleaning of homes, feasting, and prayers.
Chhath: A festival celebrated mainly in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. It is dedicated to the sun god and involves offering prayers and making offerings to the gods.
Onam: A harvest festival celebrated in the South Indian state of Kerala. It is a time for feasting and fun, and is marked by the traditional dance form of Kathakali.
Mahalaya: A Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of West Bengal. It marks the beginning of the Puja celebrations, and is marked by the recitation of mantras and the offering of prayers to the goddess Durga.
Maha Navami: The ninth day of the Navratri festival, when the goddess Durga is worshipped as the destroyer of evil. It is a time for fasting and prayers.
Vishu: A festival celebrated in the South Indian state of Kerala. It marks the beginning of a new year, and is marked by the viewing of a special arrangement of objects called the Vishukkani.
Baisakhi: A harvest festival celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus. It is a time for feasting and fun, and is marked by the traditional dance form of Bhangra.
Eid al-Fitr: A Muslim festival that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It is celebrated with the offering of prayers, feasting, and exchanging of gifts.
Hanuman Jayanti: Celebrated in honor of the birth of Lord Hanuman, the monkey god. It is a time for prayers, worship, and the offering of sweets and fruits.
Guru Purnima: Celebrated mainly by Hindus and Buddhists, this festival honors the gurus or teachers who have had a significant impact on their spiritual lives. It is marked with the offering of prayers and the seeking of blessings.
Diwali or Deepawali: One of the most famous Hindu festivals, also known as the festival of lights, symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated by lighting diyas (lamps), sharing sweets, and performing puja (prayers).
Holi: Also called the festival of colors, is celebrated in February or March and involves smearing colored powder and water on each other, lighting bonfires and exchanging sweets.
Navratri: Nine days religious festival celebrated twice a year, particularly in Northern India, during which Goddess Durga is worshipped.
Durga Puja: A 10-day religious festival celebrated particularly in West Bengal.
Janmashtami: Observed as the birthday of Lord Krishna, who is one of the most revered gods in Hinduism, celebrated through fasting, bhajans, and processions.
Raksha Bandhan: A festival of bonding between brothers and sisters, celebrated by tying rakhi (sacred thread) on brother's wrists and exchanging gifts.
Ganesh Chaturthi: Celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha and sees the installation of his idol and offering of prayers and sweets.
Onam: A harvest festival celebrated in the state of Kerala, Banquet meals called sadhya, elaborate decorations, and local performances.
Makar Sankranti: The beginning of the harvest season, celebrated throughout India by flying kites, taking dips in holy rivers, and offering prayers to Sun god.
Maha Shivaratri: Lord Shiva's night, celebrated by fasting and praying.
"...typically marking events from ancient India..."
"These celebrations take place either on a fixed annual date on the solar calendar, or on a specific day of the lunisolar calendar."
"There is some regional variation with the observance of the festivals..."
"...numerous festivals that are primarily celebrated by specific sects or in certain regions of the Indian subcontinent."
"Across the globe, Hindus celebrate a diverse number of festivals and celebrations..."
"...often coinciding with seasonal changes."
"These celebrations take place either on a fixed annual date on the solar calendar..."
"...or on a specific day of the lunisolar calendar."
"There is some regional variation with the observance of the festivals..."
"Across the globe, Hindus celebrate a diverse number of festivals and celebrations..."
"...typically marking events from ancient India..."
"Across the globe, Hindus celebrate a diverse number of festivals and celebrations..."
"These celebrations take place either on a fixed annual date on the solar calendar..."
"...or on a specific day of the lunisolar calendar."
"There is some regional variation with the observance of the festivals..."
"...numerous festivals that are primarily celebrated by specific sects..."
"...or in certain regions of the Indian subcontinent."
"Across the globe, Hindus celebrate a diverse number of festivals and celebrations, typically marking events from ancient India..."
"These celebrations take place either on a fixed annual date..."