India celebrates many religious and seasonal festivals throughout the year. Major festivals discussed in the document include Diwali (festival of lights), Eid ul-fitr (end of Ramadan), Christmas, Gurupurab (birthday of Guru Nanak), Navratri (honoring goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati), and Holi (celebration of spring). Festivals are celebrated according to both the solar and lunar calendars and involve rituals like fasting, feasting, lighting lamps, bursting firecrackers, and throwing colored powders. They reflect the diversity of India's cultures and religions.

1. Salaam-NAMASTE

2. introduction
• India is a land of great diversity
• INDIAN FESTIVALS celebrated by varied culture
and there special rituals add to the colour of
Indian heritage.
• Some festivals welcome the seasons of the
year, the harvest, the rains, or the full moon.
• Others celebrate religious occasions, the
birthdays of divine beings, saints, and gurus or
of the new year.

3. Cont….
• India has 28 states and 7 union terrotories.
• India is the largest democracy in the world.
• India is the 6th largest country in the world.
It is one of the most ancient and living
civilisation (at least 10,000 years old).

4. • Many different religions can be found in India.
• The most common religion is Hinduism. Other
religious groups include: Buddhists, Christians,
Muslims, Jews, Zoroastrians, and Jains.
• Festivals are extremely common in India. Many
are associated with religion.
• Indian festivals are celebrated according to the
solar and lunar calendars.

5. • Every day, there is a festival somewhere in the
country of India.
• Feasting and fasting are part of most festivals in
India.
• The Hindu religion influences many of the
festivals in India.
• Some festivals are held in most regions of India
while others may only be found in specific
regions or local areas.

7. Diwali
•The happiest of Hindu
festivals.Of all the festivals
•Known as festival of lights.
•Major festival of hindus.
•Involves lightining of small
lamps.
•It’s a festival of goddes laxmi.
•Firecrackers are burst in order
to drive away evil spirit.

8. Eid ul-fitr
• Its an arabic word meaning
festivity, while fitr means
breaking the fast.
• Major Muslim festival marks at
end of Ramadan.
• The festival celebrates the
conclusion of the 29 or 30 days
of dawn to sunset fasting during
the entire month of ramadan.

9. Christmas
• Celebrated on December 25
every year to commemorate
the birth of Jesus.
• Jingle bell jingle bell.
• The traditional colour of
christmas are green and red,
white, silver and gold

10. Gurupurab
• Also known as gurunanak jayanti.
• It’s the birthday of first Sikh guru, GURU NANAK.
• The festivities in the Sikh religion revolve around the
anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus.
• The celebration is generally similar for all Gurpurabs;
only the hymns are different.
• Celebration usually last three days.

12. NAVRATRI
• Navaratri, the Festival of
Nine Nights, is celebrated in
honor of goddesses Durga,
Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
• The tenth day, Dussehra.

13. Holi
• This is one of the most
exuberant festivals.
• also the most colorful.
• the advent of spring
and the end of winters.
• Celebrated by throwing
colored water and
powder at each other.

14. Regional festivals
• Many festivals celebrate the various harvests;
commemorate great historical figures and
events, while many express devotion to the
deities of different religions.
• In India every region and every religion has
something to celebrate. The festivals reflect
the vigor and life-style of its people. Vibrant
colors, music and festivity make the
country come alive throughout the year.

15. • There are also a few regional festivals like
Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
• Onam in kerela.
• There are many festivals which are limited to
few villages only.