Indian Festivals and Their Significance-English Essay, Paragraph, Speech for Class 9, 10, 11 and 12 Students.

Indian Festivals and Their Significance

India is a land of fairs, fetes, feasts and festivals, and every religious community has its own list. But the Hindus observe, by far, the largest number of them. Among the more prominent of the Hindu festivals, mention may be made of Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Janmashtmi, etc. The principal festivals of the Muslims are the Muharram and the Id. The Christian community has its Easter and Christmas. The Sikhs celebrate the birthdays of their Gurus as festivals.

Most of the Indian festivals have their origin in some outstanding event in the mythological or religious legends of the people concerned. Diwali, which is celebrated all over the country by all walks of people, marks the return from the exile of Lord Rama. Holi festival is famous for the defeat of evil at the hands of truth. The mythological story associated with this event is that of Prahlad, who as a prince successfully killed King Hirnaya Kashyap and his sister who was the embodiments of falsehood and demons. Some festivals are also associated with folklore, especially in villages, Baisukhi in Punjab is one such festival which is associated with the harvesting of crops.

Most festivals are associated with joy and mirth. The participants take full advantage of such occasions to make themselves lively and gay. During Holidays we come across endless processions of people whose faces are besmeared with pleasing colours and present a strange spectacle. Almost everyone has his or her clothes drenched in coloured water. Many days before Diwali, we start hearing the thundering noises caused by crackers all over the country. On the Diwali day, elders join the youngsters in exploding crackers. The people wear new clothes, eat sweets and make them merry. The occasional plunges into the lighter side of life is necessary as a means of escape from the dull monotony of our daily life.

These festivals serve another good purpose. On these occasions we invite our friends, neighbours and relatives for dinner or tea party, etc. Our home then becomes everybody’s home. Our wealth is put to everybody’s use and we become one with many. For the time being, all barriers of social status, power and wealth are removed and the doctrine of brotherhood of man becomes a reality in our minds.

Indian festivals make strange practices and customs with quite a large number of people. It is a common belief that unless some amount of gambling is undertaken on Diwali day, it would not be auspicious for the family and the next year may have some bad omens in store for them. Although gambling is otherwise denounced, a vast majority of the people take to gambling without any hesitation. They rather consider it a matter of boon and duty, which must be fulfilled. Gambling on this day is not decried by a father for a son and is not opposed by a mother for a daughter. In fact, all members of the family join hands.

In spite of these defects, Indian festivals have a unique place in the lives and customs of the people. They provide an immense diversion to people from their dull drab routine. India is a poor country. Indian people can therefore, ill-afford entertainments which are so vital for the very existence of a man. The festivals, therefore, serve the masses more than the richer classes who can afford to go to cinema houses and clubs to entertain them. In short, our festivals offer much more than what meets the eye.

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