A festival is basically an occasion usually celebrated by a community and centered around a particular characteristic feature of that community or its religion or customs. It can also be marked as a national or local holiday, festive occasion, or special occasion. In India, festivals are marked by the practice of various types of social interaction, public expression of grief or joy, display of rituals and meditation, and physical recreation. Most festivals of India share a common theme in common – lights, sand, water, and temple. Some important festivals in India are listed below.
Hindu festivals – The five Hindu festivals are Diwali (celebrated with fireworks and huge firecrackers), Holi (celebrated with music and colors), Onam ( honoring the Goddess of birth), Diwali ( honoring the Lord), and Bhaktapur ( honoring the true thread of life). These festivals celebrate the divine essence of the universe and the goodness of creation. Holi is a religious festival of light whereas on the other hand, Diwali is the festival of colors and celebration. Onam and Bhaktapur are both regarded as the beginning of the fasting period which ends with Jainism, another religious tradition of India.
Christian festivals – Christmas, Good Friday, and Ramadan are the major Christian festivals of India. Both are celebrated with immense excitement and enthusiasm. However, the festival of Christmas is mostly considered as the festival of getting X-rays while the other two are considered as the feasts. During Christmas, people celebrate the gift-giving and the exchange of Christmas presents among family members and friends. People decorate their homes with beautiful decorations and light up the candles and the presents in the open.
Islamic religious festival – The festival of Eid is one of the most popular festivals in the Islamic calendar. It is observed on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is the largest festival in the Muslim world. It is characterized by grand feasts, great celebrations, and participation by people from all sections of the society. The festival also marks the end of Ramadan and the start of the holy fasting period. The city of Eid is thronged with tourists and travelers all through the country and neighboring regions.
Chinese festivals – China is one of the few countries that have been celebrating this type of festival even before the nineteenth century. Spring Festival is the most popular and colorful of these three festivals. It is characterized by extravagant feasts, colorful costumes, and lots of visits to relatives and friends. However, unlike other religions, there is no blood sacrifice involved in this religious festival. The masks used in the festivity are made from paper and are hung up as decorations all over the town.
All these festivals celebrate life by renewing the faith and love between people and celebrating the bounties of nature. But what makes these festivals unique is the citation needed for it. The Chinese New Year Celebration has a very specific and strict religious context, and hence all the other festivals are categorized under it. Every year, new students are inducted into a school that celebrates the festival. If you are looking for an interesting festival citation needed for an Asian celebration, then visit Asia Festivals.