Kali Puja Kali Puja is held on the night of the New Moon in the Bengali month of Kartik. This occasion brings in a tidal wave of festive zeal amongst the various sections of society. Kali Puja enjoys a significant place in our culture. In this festival, Goddess Kali is worshipped. She appears in various forms as an embodiment of Shakti, the eternal and cosmic power. She is also believed to...

Ka Pomblang Nongkrem Ka Pomblang Nongkrem is the most important and elaborate festival of the Khasis in Meghalaya. This five-day long colourful festival is held annually in November at Smit, the capital of Khyrem Syiemship, near Shillong. It is an occasion for thanksgiving to the all-powerful Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich harvest and prosperity of the people. An important part of this festival is Pomblang (decapitation of goats) Ceremony,...

Janmashtami Janmashtami is the celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna. It falls on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadra. It is celebrated with great gaiety and fervor in the northern states, especially Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. According to the legend, Lord Krishna was the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Lord Krishna was the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva. When Devaki’s brother Kansa was...

Jamshedji Navroz Jarnshedji Navroz, a Parsi festival, is celebrated on March 21 annually since the period of Jamshed, the ruler of Iran. This is also celebrated as the day of New Year for the Parsis who follow the Fasli calendar. Apart from this, the day signifies the advent of spring. The day is also celebrated as the symbolic victory of the forces of light over darkness. Historically, it is the same...

Independence Day India August 15 is India’s Independence Day. The day commemorates the day of 1947 when India threw away the foreign yoke. The day is celebrated by unfurling the national flag on all government and non-governmental buildings as well as in the state capitals and Union Territories. The Prime Minister’s speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi is the major highlight of this day. All government organizations...

Id-ul-Fitr Id-ul-Fitr is celebrated after a month of fasting or at the end of Ramjan by the Muslims all over the world. The followers of Islam consider Id-ul-Fitr as one of the most auspicious festivals. It is usually celebrated on the first day of the month-Shawwal. This month begins when people sight the new moon and marks the end of the fasting of Ramzan. On Id-ul-Fitr, the Muslim devotees put on...

Id-ul-Zuha Id-ul-Zuha is known as the observance day for a devoted Muslim. It falls on the tenth day of the twelfth month in the Hijri calendar. It is known in three other names—Id-ul-Azha, Id-e-Qurban or Bakr-Id. As per the legend, Abraham, a pious and gentle Muslim, had a dream. Abraham was asked by Allah to sacrifice the most precious possession to please him. Since the most precious possession to him was...

Holi Essay No. 01 The festival of colours, Holi is celebrated in the month of Phalgun It falls on the full moon day. The festival of Holi encompasses two days of celebrations during which people throw gulal on each other, sing and dance to the beat of dholak and enjoy a variety of sweets and other delicious food. In the cities of Mathura and Vrindavan, where it is believed that Lord...