A festival is an annual event usually celebrating a particular cultural aspect of the community and its religion or traditions. It’s often marked by a national or local festival, festive extravaganza, or annual festival. In a country with extensive historical and cultural roots, festivals are a significant event, marking a major political, social, economic, or cultural occasion. Some common festivals include:
Hinduism: One of the oldest and most prevalent religions in India, Hinduism celebrates a number of different festivals. They are significant not only to the Hindus themselves, but also to their descendants, who follow similar beliefs. Hindu festivals celebrate the Durga Puja which is a religious festival that is based on Durga, a holy woman from the Hindu mythological cycle.
Christian: The Christian religion has a number of different syncretic traditions. Some of these traditions center around Christmas, which Christians view as the festival of giving and receiving of gifts, while other Christians view it as a time for giving thanks. Others see it as a time to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Festivals celebrated in Christianity have a religious meaning to them, connecting us to God.
Muslim: Like the Hindu, Muslims also celebrate a wide range of celebrations. They mark special occasions like the birth of their holy book, the hijra, the fasting of Ramadan, and others. Unlike the Hindus, who have several different types of festivals, Muslims only mark one major religious festival – Eid. However, all celebrate it with great joy and enthusiasm. It’s a major feast in the Muslim culture, where each town and region holds a festival for different reasons.
Chinese: Chinese festivals are largely spiritual in nature, celebrating both the positive and negative aspects of human life. It’s mostly celebrated during the Spring Festival and the Autumn Festival. Both of these festivals feature lanterns and decorations. Spring Festival is a time when farmers get together and enjoy the fruits of the crops sowed the previous year. The Autumn Festival, on the other hand, is a time when Chinese celebrate the longevity of the bamboo tree and the gifts that nature offers at this time of year.
Sikh: The Sikh religion believes in the practice of vegetarianism. Although they don’t celebrate any particular festivals, the dargahs, or places where people burn kettles on Diwali, are observed. On the other hand, Punjabi is a state where people eat beef. People, who follow this lifestyle, find themselves cast out from the community. On the other hand, Punjab, a state which originally belonged to the Hindu religion, has adopted the practice of eating beef.