Indian Festivals and Culture

According to the Hindu calendar, Saraswati Puja is celebrated on Vasant Panchami, which falls on the fifth day (Panchami) of the bright fortnight of the Magha lunar month. The festival marks the arrival of spring and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, music, and arts.

Durga Puja celebrations started spreading overseas in the late 1960s, particularly with the Indian diaspora in countries like the UK, USA, and Canada. This globalization of the festival marked its expansion beyond Bengal's borders.

Holi is known as the 'festival of colours' because participants throw colored powders (gulal) and water at each other. Diwali is the festival of lights, Dusshera celebrates victory of good over evil, and Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates Lord Ganesha.

Diwali is primarily known as the 'Festival of Lights' because clay lamps (diyas) are lit to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The festival is celebrated by lighting lamps, bursting fireworks, and sharing sweets.

Sikhs celebrate Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas (Day of Liberation) to commemorate Guru Hargobind Sahib's release from Gwalior Fort along with 52 princes. Bhaubeej is a Hindu festival celebrating brother-sister bonds. Deepavali is a generic term while Naraka Chaturdashi specifically refers to the day before main Diwali.

Diwali is celebrated on the new moon day (Amavasya) of Ashwin month, which falls at the Ashwin-Kartik transition. The main Diwali day occurs in Ashwin while the next day (Govardhan Puja) falls in Kartik. Sravana and Chaitra are months in completely different seasons.

The Pushkar Mela, held in the town of Pushkar in Rajasthan, is one of the world's largest camel and livestock fairs. It is a significant cultural and commercial event attracting thousands of tourists.

Onam is Kerala's harvest festival celebrated in honor of the legendary King Mahabali. The festival commemorates the mythical return of Mahabali, who is believed to visit his subjects annually during Onam. It is not a new year celebration (that's Vishu in Kerala), temple festival, or boat race festival (those are separate like Nehru Trophy Boat Race). The legend of Mahabali is central to Onam's significance.

Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala, and Vallam Kali (boat races) are a special feature of Onam celebrations, particularly the Aranmula Boat Race and Nehru Trophy Boat Race. These snake boat races are held on the Pamba River and are major tourist attractions. Rongali Bihu is Assam's harvest festival (April), Navratri is across India, and Pongal is Tamil Nadu's harvest festival (January).

Candlemas, celebrated on February 2nd, does not occur in December. The other holidays - Kwanzaa (Dec 26-Jan 1), Boxing Day (Dec 26), and Feast of St. Nicholas (Dec 6) - all occur in December.

Ugadi (also spelled Ugadhi) is the Telugu New Year festival celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Vishu is Malayalam New Year, Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival in January, and Makara Sankranti is a harvest festival across India in mid-January.

Nowruz is the Persian New Year celebrated on the spring equinox, and Parsis are of Persian Zoroastrian origin who continue this tradition. Jews celebrate various holidays including Passover and Rosh Hashanah, while Scientologists and Eskimos have different cultural celebrations.

Cheti Chand is the Sindhi New Year festival, celebrating the birth of Jhulelal, the patron saint of Sindhis. It is celebrated on the same day as Ugadi (Kannada/Telugu) and Gudi Padwa (Marathi), which mark the New Year for other Indian communities. The Marwari celebrate Diwali as their New Year.

Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) is celebrated on the first day of the Vaishakh month in the Bengali calendar. This typically falls on April 14th in both West Bengal and Bangladesh. Chaitra is the last month of the previous year, while Jyaishtha and Ashadha come after Vaishakh.

Ugadi (or Yugadi) is indeed celebrated as the New Year in Karnataka (as Yugadi) and Andhra Pradesh/Telangana (as Ugadi). It marks the beginning of the new year according to the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in March or April. The name derives from Yuga (era) and Adi (beginning).