Dhanteras Dhanteras is celebrated two days prior to Diwali on the thirteenth day of Kartik month. As the name suggests, God Yama is worshipped on this day for the prosperity and happiness in the coming times. However, there are many legends revealing different stories about this day. One legend says, when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrit or nectar, Dhanavanti emerged carrying a jar of the elixir. But...

Desert Festival The Desert festival is celebrated in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. This Desert festival feast of demonstrations of colour, music and festivity, is held every year during the Hindu month of Magh. Jaisalmer’s three-day desert festival is also a kind of exhibition of some of the most fondly preserved components of Rajasthan’s rich culture. The most fascinating and enjoyable activities are the Marushri (Mr. Desert) competition, turban-tying competition and tug of...

Deepavali Deepavali falls on the darkest moonless night Amavasya, on the fifteenth day in the month of Kartik. In Hindi, Deepavali means a ‘row of lamps’. For this reason, the festival is famous as the ‘festival of light’ and celebrate by the Hindus. It marks the beginning of a new year in North India. Throughout India, the festival is marked with lights, crackers, sweets, feasts and fanfare. Deepavali begins from the...

Christmas Christmas is celebrated by Christians all over the world on 25th December. On the day, Jesus Christ was born to Virgin Mary and the Christians believe that Jesus Christ brought new light to the world. `Christmas’ means birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was born in a stable in Bethlehem. It is written in the Bible that the Child’s arrival would shatter the world system that existed. Jesus brought salvation...

Choekar The festivals of `Choekar’ is celebrated in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, to provide supernatural protection to the crops sown, for good harvest and to drive away the evil spirits which may cause harm to the village community. Voluminous holy books such as `Ka-gyun’, ‘Burn’, `Gye-tong’, `Nyi-thai’, etc. are read in the village temple by the village priests or monks from the monastery. On the last day, a...

Chhat Puja Chhat Puja is a major festival of Bihar and in some parts of Eastern India. It falls twice a year during the months of Baisakh and Kartik. This festival is celebrated in the honour of the Sun God and the ceremonies of this festival last for three days. In Bihar, the womenfolk start preparations for Chhat Puja weeks in advance. They carry six baskets of food, flowers and clay...

Cheti Chand Cheti Chand is a New Year Day festival of the Sindhi community. It is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar year. In Sindhi, Chaitra is known as Chat and therefore this festival was christened as Cheti Chand. Cheti Chand festival is celebrated in the honour of the birth of Ishtadeva Uderolal, the patron saint of the Sindhis. This day is considered to...

Buddha Purnima According to the Hindu calendar, the full moon day in the month of Purnima is the most pious day for Buddhists. The day is fixed to commemorate the birthday of Gautam Buddha. Born in 563 B.C., Gautam  Buddha attained Nirvana or Enlightenment in 526 B.C. at Lumbini. He was known as prince Siddhartha, the son of king Shuddhodana. Prince Siddhartha, travelling on his chariot, witnessed the sufferings of poor...