Pongal Pongal is a famous festival of South India, especially in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a three-day long harvest festival, celebrated in honour of the Rain God India as well as the Sun God and the holy cow. In the period of the `Makar Rasi’, when the sun travels from Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn, the festival of Pongal occurs. Lord Indra is worshipped on...

Pitra Paksh Pitra Paksh is a Hindu festival. It is observed in the month of Asvina. The period of the festival extends over the dark fortnight of the month. People celebrate the festival with religious fervour. It is celebrated to pacify the souls of the deceased ancestors. On each day of the festival, the eldest son of a family performs certain ceremonies. He offers oblations (pinda-rice balls, etc.) and water for...

Phoolwalon Ki Sair Phoolwalon Ki Sair is the festival of flower sellers. It is a three-day festival celebrated by people of Mehrauli, New Delhi. It is also observed at the dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki and at the ancient shrine of Devi Jog Maya. Led by Shehnai players and dancers, people offer floral tributes at both places. This is a unique festival as both Hindus and Muslims take part in it...

Pattadackal Dance Festival The village of Pattadackal, 20 km. from Badami in Karnataka, is situated on the left bank of the Malaprabha river. A world heritage centre and the second capital of the Chalukyan kings, Pattadackal has ten major temples representing both North and South Indian architectural traditions. Most of the temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The largest among them are Virupaksha and Mallikarjuna. All these temples are architecturally splendid...

Pateti The most important festival of the Zoroastrians is the Pateti. It marks the beginning of the New Year for them and they celebrate Jashan’ on this day. Zoroastrianism was founded by Zarathusastra in ancient Persia. In Zoroastrianism, fire is worshiped as the son of Ahura Mazda, who is known to be the representative of God. Parsis believe that the sacred fire was brought from the heaven by Zoroaster to earth....

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...