Paryushana The Paryushana is the most important festival of the Jains. It is held in Bhadrapada (August-September) and ends on the fourth day of the Krishna phase of Badrapad. The Svetambara Jains celebrate it for eight days and after this the Digambara Jains for ten days. Paryushana is a time of reflection on actions and meditations on the past year. During the period of the festival, the ten cardinal virtues are...

Onam Onam is celebrated in the month of ‘Bhadrapad’ on the twelfth day of the waning moon. It falls at a time when the Southwest monsoon ends and the spring and harvest seasons begin in the state of Kerala. The legend goes that the festival is the celebration of the home coming of the `asura’ King Mahabali. King Bali, ruled in the state of Kerala. He was a kind and just...

Happy New Year New Year day is celebrated not only in India but all over the world on January 1. It is one of the oldest festivals which is celebrated everywhere with great enthusiasm. January 1 has no astronomical or agricultural significance as usually is the case for other festivals. It is purely arbitrary. The day is celebrated differently in different parts of the country and the world. But one thing...

Navreh Navreh is the lunar New Year celebrated in Kashmir. It is the Sanskrit word ‘Nay Varsha’ from where the word Navreh’ has been derived. Navreh actually falls on the very first day of the Chaitra Navratras. It is also the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra and the Sapath Rishi Samvat. The day before the festival, the Kashmiri Pandits visit the sacred spring of Vichar...

Navaratri and Durga Puja Nine holy days in the month of Ashwin are celebrated as Navaratri. This festival period is dedicated to the Goddess Durga and observed all over India. It is celebrated as Durga Puja in West Bengal. Either on the eighth or the ninth day the ladies of the house prepare delicious food for offering as prasad. For nine consecutive days, the ladies keep fast. On the festival day,...

Nanda Raj Jat Yatra Nanda Raj Jat Yatra is celebrated after every 12 years with great enthusiasm by the people of Kumaun and Garhwal. This festival is celebrated in this region since thousands of years. It is organised under the patronage of the descendants of the king of Garhwal. Traditionally, a member of the Royal family came to Nauti village on the Basant Panchami day and worshipped the famous ‘Sri Yantra’....

Nag Panchami As the name suggests, the Nag Panchami is a festival in which people worship the snake, ‘Nag’. It is a bathing festival of the Hindus which is celebrated on the 5th day of the bright half of Sravana. This is the day when Lord Krishna overpowered the serpent Kaliya. The festival falls during the rainy season and is celebrated to counter the increased possibility of a snakebite during this...