2. Getty Images - An Indian women dressed in traditional attire takes part in a procession during celebrations 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai on April 4, 2011. Gudi Padwa is the Hindu new year for the people of India's state of Maharashtra, that falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra according to the lunar calendar and is celebrated by dancing and singing on the occasion of Thanksgiving. This day marks the end of a harvest and the beginning of a new one, which for an agricultural community signifies the beginning of a New Year. 'Gudi Padwa,' or the Maharashtrian new year, is the Hindu new year for the people of India's state of Maharashtra, that falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra according to the lunar calendar and is celebrated by dancing and singing on the occasion of Thanksgiving. This day marks the end of a harvest and the beginning of a new one, which for an agricultural community signifies the beginning of a New Year .
3. Sajjad Hussain / AFP - Getty Images - Indian women dressed in traditional attire at a procession to celebrate 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai on Monday, April 4. Gudi Padwa is the Hindu new year for the people of India's state of Maharashtra, that falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra according to the lunar calendar and is celebrated by dancing and singing on the occasion of Thanksgiving. This day marks the end of a harvest and the beginning of a new one, which for an agricultural community signifies the beginning of a New Year.
4. Sajjad Hussain / AFP - Getty Images An Indian dressed up at a procession celebrates 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai on Monday 2011-april 4.
5. Rajanish Kakade / AP - People dressed in traditional attire dance during a procession to mark "Gudi Padwa," or Maharashtrian New Year, in Mumbai on Monday.
6. Sajjad Hussain / AFP - Getty Images Indians watch a procession during celebrations of 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai on Monday.
7. Getty Images -An Indian woman dressed in traditional attire rides a motorbike in a procession to celebrate 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai Getty Images - An Indian woman and her child dressed in traditional attire take part in a procession on a motorcycle to celebrate 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai on April 4, 2011
8. Getty Images - An Indian child dressed as Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji, rides pillion with his mother dressed in traditional attire at a procession to celebrate 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai
9. Getty Images - An Indian man rides a bullock cart with a poster of elephant headed Hindu God Lord Ganesha in a procession to celebrate 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai
10. Getty Images - Indian girls dressed in traditional attire at a procession to celebrate 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai on April 4, 2011.
11. Getty Images Indian women dressed in traditional attire take part in a procession to celebrate 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai on April 4th
12. Getty Images An Indian woman and her child dressed in traditional attire take part in a procession on a motorcycle to celebrate 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai on April 4, 2011
13. Getty Images - Indian women dressed in traditional attire at a procession to celebrate 'Gudi Padwa' or the Maharashtrian new year in Mumbai on April 4, 2011.
14. iyal Adhikary / EPA Indian students apply color on each other as they celebrate the Holi festival in Calcutta, India on March 16, 2011. The Rabindra Bharati University organized the festival of colors at their campus. Holi is an ancient Indian festival to mark the arrival of spring. This year, the main Holi celebrations will take place on March 19.
18. K.K. Arora / Reuters Men daubed in colours celebrate Lathmar Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, at Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on March 14. This tradition heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over India.
19. Noah Seelam / AFP - Getty Images - Eight-year old Satish, dressed as Indian independence icon Mahatma Gandhi, begs for alms as Hindu devotees carrying a sacrificial goat walk past during the Peddagattu Jathara festival at Lingamanthula Swamy Temple at Durajpalli in Nalgonda district, some 140 kilometers east of Hyderabad, on Feb. 21. The festival, where devotees worship Hindu god Lord Shiva, is celebrated every two years and has been celebrated for the past 400 years.
20. Hindus celebrate Mahabharata in New Delhi Kevin Frayer / AP – Indian Hindu musicians from the state of Himachal Pradesh play instruments and dance during a festival celebrating the Mahabharata in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Feb. 13. The festival showcases music and culture from all over India in celebration of one of Hinduism's most important texts.
21. B Mathur / Reuters - An artist dressed as Hindu Lord Krishna performs during a media preview of the 25th Surajkund Crafts Fair in the northern Indian state of Haryana on January 31, 2011. Piping peacock at crafts fair in India - Hundreds of artists and craftsmen throng to the fifteen-day long annual 25th Surajkund Crafts Fair held on the outskirts of New Delhi to perform and sell their handicrafts. The fair presents its visitors not only a glimpse into the world of Indian handicrafts, but also enchants them with cultural events and performances from across India. For the foodies, the food festival offers a perfect opportunity to sample best of Indian cuisines.
22. Ajay Verma / Reuters - Dancers perform during the Republic Day celebrations in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh Jan. 26, 2011. India celebrated its 62nd Republic Day on Wednesday.
23. Tauseef Mustafa / AFP - Getty Images - A Kashmiri performer looks on during a Republic Day parade held at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, Jan. 26. India celebrated its 62nd Republic Day under heavy security, with tensions running high in Kashmir over efforts by Hindu nationalists to hold a rally in the troubled region's state capital.
24. Indian school children perform a Punjabi folk dance Bhangra at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. AP / Gurinder Osan
25. An Indian army contingent of the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment marches in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. AP / Gurinder Osan
26. An Indian army contingent marches during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. AP / Gurinder Osan
27. Rupak De Chowdhuri / Reuters - Hindu pilgrims worship the sun god Surya after taking a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganges river and the Bay of Bengal at Sagar Island, south of Kolkata, Jan. 14.
28. Rupak De Chowdhuri / Reuters A Sadhu or a Hindu holy man prays after taking a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganges river and the Bay of Bengal at Sagar Island, south of Kolkata, Jan. 14.
29. Str / Reuters - Eye of the elephant: Decorated caparisoned elephants process at temple festival in Kochi , India A caparisoned elephant is seen during the annual temple festival in the southern Indian city of Kochi, Jan. 13. The festival features a colorful procession of decorated elephants and drum concerts.
30. Amit Dave / Reuters - Thousands participate in mass yoga session at the 21st International Kite Festival in India School children attend a yoga exercise session during a camp in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad January 11, 2011. At least 6,000 children participated, organizers said.
31. Theatre Kathakali in Kerala - Presentation and game Kathakali actors can be compared with the art of ballet and pantomime. The art of dance has appeared in ancient India in ancient times as the ritual worship of the gods and the very long practiced in the temples.
32. Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion. It originated in the country's present day state of Kerala during the 17th century and has developed over the years with improved looks, refined gestures and added themes besides more ornate singing and precise drumming.
33. Kathakali originated from a precursor dance-drama form called Ramanattam and owes it share of techniques also to Krishnanattam. The word "attam" means enactment. In short, these two forerunning forms to Kathakali dealt with presentation of the stories of Hindu gods Rama and Krishna.
34. Krishna Janmashtami , also known as Krishnashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti, Sree Jayanthi or sometimes merely as Janmashtami, is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, an avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu.
35. Krishna Janmashtami is observed on the Ashtami tithi, the eighth day of the dark half or Krishna Paksha of the month of Bhadrapada in the Hindu calendar, when the Rohini Nakshatra is ascendant. The festival always falls within mid-August to mid-September in the Gregorian calendar. In 2009, for example, the festival was celebrated on 14 August, while in 2010, the festival will be celebrated on 2 September.
36. Krishna was born at midnight, so prepare for the holiday usually begins the day before, because in this day made to women as little time spent in the kitchen and more engaged with their children. In fact Krishna is the God of song and dance that became the basis for the holiday. It is celebrated nationwide festivities and dancing, depicting a very young Krishna dances with the cowherd in the moonlight. Children's Birthday Krishna faces painted blue and dressed as Krishna. In South India, Janmashtami - it's mostly a family celebration, which brings together all the relatives, that sort of Christmas in Western countries. In the north of Hindustan phenomenon of Krishna is celebrated slightly differently: Janmashtami here - it's noisy, bright reminiscent of the carnival. The fun can last for several days. Everywhere are songs and poems glorifying Krishna arranged drama about the games of Krishna and His eternal consort Srimati Radharani. But in Maharashtra (central and western parts of India at the same time) is popular custom of "Dahi-Handi", staged a small pranks of Krishna. High to the ceiling on ropes suspended clay pots with yogurt (dahi Handy) and a joyful singing "Govinda, Govinda (Krishna's name, meaning" the joy of delivering a cow, kids are building a pot "pyramid" to make it easier to get to the yogurt (the so- he likes to steal little Krishna).
37. Krishna Janmashtami in India is celebrated all - Hindus, Muslims and even atheists. And so, naturally, there are many different traditions of this holiday.
43. Rite of Puja in Varanasi - This ritual is that every night Hindu priest performs the sacrifice, which in the Vedic culture represents an offer flowers, incense and food image or idol, symbolizing the divine spirit. Hundreds of people come to the shore of the river Ganges to witness and take part in the ceremony. - Sharma (right) and Vastoda prepare everything necessary for the rite. Incense, flowers and candles are used as gifts to Lord Shiva, the Indian deity, and the river Ganges.
44. Smoke envelops Vastada until it passes in front of the faithful with a burning lamp during the Aarti. This is the last stage of the ritual , a cleansing by fire - a ritual (sacred) fire rush offerings to the gods by reading the mantras.
45. Jallikattu festival - is held in villages across the Indian state of Tamil Nadu every year. It is a tradition, during which the Tamil young men fighting the bulls with his bare hands. This celebration coincides with the rice harvest festival known as Pongal. Tens of thousands of people come to villages, where such competitions are held.
50. India Hindu festival Gurinder Osan/AP Dancers perform traditional folk dance of garba at an event coinciding with the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in New Delhi, India, Jan. 16, 2011.
51. India Hindu festival Gurinder Osan/AP Traditional garba folk dancers take part in an event coinciding with the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in New Delhi, India, Jan. 16, 2011.
52. India Hindu festival - Gurinder Osan/AP A dancer performs traditional folk dance of garba at an event coinciding with the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in New Delhi, India, Jan. 16, 2011.
53. A Hindu holy man stands in the backdrop of a tent during the annual Magh Mela festival at Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges and Yamuna, in Allahabad, India, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. Hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims take dips in the confluence, some hoping to wash away sins and others to secure a fine spouse during the month long festival. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
54. Stephen Morrison / EPA - A devotee with a large cheek piercing during the Thaipusam Festival on January 20, 2011. - Thaipusam is an important festival observed by the Hindus of southern India during the Tamil month of Thai (January - February). Outside of India, it is celebrated mainly by the Tamil speaking community settled in Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and elsewhere around the world.
55. Sivaram V / Reuters - Hindu devotees with their tongues pierced, take part in a procession as part of the Thaipusam festival in the southern Indian city of Kochi on January 20, 2011.
56. Stephen Morrison / EPA - A devotee with metal nail sandals during the Thaipusam Festival - on January 20, 2011.
57. On Saturday, April 2nd, India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup, defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final, played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India. While 33,000 spectators watched the final in person, some estimates have placed the number of TV viewers worldwide at well over 1 billion people - perhaps the most-viewed sports event ever. Saturday's final followed two semi-final matches, including a March 30th contest between host nation India and rival Pakistan, where Pakistan's prime minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh sat side by side to take in the match in an act of "cricket diplomacy." Gathered here are images from the last few days of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, a look at the matches, the players and many of their supporters.l 2, 2011. (Rajanish Kakade/AP)
58. Indian school children display the Indian tricolor as they cheer for the Indian cricket team in Ahmadabad, India on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
59. Bikas Das / AP An Indian cricket fan throws flames as others cheer during an event organized to wish the Indian cricket team good luck ahead of the ICC World Cup semi-final match between India and Pakistan, in Kolkata, India, on March 29. Ordinary life will stop for several hours in both countries Wednesday as hundreds of millions of fans tune in to follow the match.
60. Hindu priests make floral decorations after dressing up an idol of Goddess Bhadrakali in the Indian cricket team jersey, to wish the team victory ahead of the ICC World Cup cricket final match between India and Sri Lanka, at a temple in Ahmadabad, India, Friday, April 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
61. Indian villagers sit on the back of a tractor trolley loaded with sacks of potatoes and listen on the radio a commentary of the ICC Cricket World Cup final match between Sri Lanka and India, in Allahabad, India, Saturday, April 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
62. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (left) speaks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan in Mohali, India, on March 30, 2011. (RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images)
63. Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi (right) interacts with Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar during The ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final match between India and Pakistan at The Punjab Cricket Associaton (PCA) Stadium in Mohali on March 30, 2011. (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)
64. Rajesh Kumar Singh / AP Indian laborers listen to a commentary of the ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal match between India and Pakistan, on a radio in Allahabad, Wednesday, March 30.
65. Indian cricket fans celebrate a boundary as they sit outside and watch the second semi-final of the ICC Cricket world Cup between India and Pakistan in Kolkata on March 30, 2011. (DESHAKALYAN CHOWDHURY/AFP/Getty Images)
66. Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar is carried on his teammates shoulders after India defeated Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final played at The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011. (WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images
67. indian cricket fans watch the ICC Cricket World Cup final match between India and Sri Lanka on a television set in Mumbai, India, Saturday, April 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
68. Piyal Adhikary / EPA Indian cricket supporters celebrate in Calcutta on Saturday after India beat Sri Lanka in the ICC World Cup final match.
69. Indian cricket fans celebrate victory over Sri Lanka in Siliguri on April 2, 2011, after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final match between India and Sri Lanka. India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the 2011 World Cup at The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. (DIPTENDU DUTTA/AFP/Getty Images)
70. ndian fans celebrate as they watch a live telecast of the India and Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup 2011 final match on a digital screen erected at a roadside in Mumbai on April 2, 2011. (Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images)
71. People celebrate after India won the Cricket World Cup final match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, India, April 2, 2011. (Rajanish Kakade/AP)
72. Indian cricket fans ride on an Ambassador car as they celebrate their team's win over Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup in Kolkata, India on Saturday, April 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
73. indian cricket fans celebrate the victory of Indian team by burning fire crackers in Allahabad, India, Sunday, April 3, 2011. The Indian cricket team lifted the Cricket World Cup Saturday night for the first time in 28 years after a six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
74. Gurinder Osan / AP - India supporters cheer before the start of the Cricket World Cup semi-final match between Pakistan and India in Mohali, India on March 30.
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