India is known for the diversity and colour of her festivals, whether religious, seasonal or secular. Practically every religion in the world is professed and practised in this land. Though festivals of all religions are celebrated in India, it is Hindu Festivals that dominate since the majority of the people are Hindus.
           Different cities or states are famous for the celebration of particular festivals e.g. Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), for the celebration of Holi and Janmashtami, Mysore (Karnataka) for Dussehra, Kolkata (West Bengal) for Durga Puja, the states of Maharashtra for Ganesha Chaturthi, Tamil Nadu for Pongal Sankranti and Kerala for Onam. Similarly, the Muslim festivals of Id-ul-Zaha and Muharram are famous in the predominantly Muslim cities of Delhi, Lucknow and Hyderabad, the Parsi festival of Jamshed Nav Roz in Mumbai, the Christian festivals in Goa and the Kaza festival in the Lamaistic strongholds of Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti, and Sikkim. In Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and some tribal areas, the cult of the Mother Goddess is more prevalent.
           Apart from fasting and prayers, festivals celebrated in India consist of dramatic performances, music congregations, dance-dramas, chariot races, gambling, wrestling matches, boat races and animal fights in which rams, wild bulls, elephants, oxen, horses and even rhinoceri took part. Feasting has always been a part of festive occasions.
           Ancient Indian literature abounds in references to festivals to honour deities, rivers, trees, mountains, serpents, the advent of the monsoon, the end of winter or the onset of spring. Festivals are the occasions when people wear their best clothes, jewellery and flowers, sang, danced and feasted.
           There are a large number of tribes in India. The better known among them are the Bhils, the Gonds, the Kols, the Adivasis and the Nagas. Most of their festivals centre around births, betrothals, marriages and hunting expeditions, and wherever Hindu influence is strong, they celebrate festivals like Deepawali, Holi and Dussehra.
          

Some Major Festivals of India

Makara Sankranti
           The fourteenth January is Makara Sankranti. This fair is also called Magha Mela. It is celebrated differently in various parts of India. In the coastal regions it is a harvest festival, dedicated to Indra, God of Rain. In north India, after a ritual bath in a river, a preparation called khichri made of rice and lentils is eaten and given away as charity. Apart from Triveni, ritual bathing takes place at many other places in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Holi
           Holi is a seasonal festival representing the end of winter normally in February or March which can be quite severe in north India. It is a two-day festival of great merriment and rejoicing celebrated all over the country. Holi is a festival of colours, riotous social gaiety and of bonfires, signifying the destruction of evil.
           The Sikh community of Punjab celebrates Holla Mohalla Festival the day after Holi.

Baisakhi
           Also called Vaishakhi, this is a harvest festival which is celebrated on thirteenth April, according to the solar calendar. It is celebrated in north India particularly in Punjab. Allied to the festival, is the Naba Barsha (New Year) festival of Bengal which falls on 14th April. In South India, Tamil and Telugu New Year festivals are also celebrated on Baisakhi.

Navaratri
           This is a composite festival celebrated all over India. Beginning with the new moon in September-October, this festival consists of fasts and worship of nine aspects of Durga, one on each of the nine days. The following are the nine aspects of goddess under which she is worshipped: Durga, Goddess beyond Reach; Bhadrakali, the Auspicious Power of Time; Amba or Jagadamba, Mother of the World; Annapurna, Giver of Food and Plenty; Sarvamangala, Auspicious Goddess; Bhairavi, Terrible, Fearful, Power of Death; Chandika or Chandi, Violent, Wrath, Fury; Lalita, Playfulness Personified; and Bhavani the Giver of Existence.
           This festival is celebrated differently in different parts of India. In Tamil Nadu, Lakshmi, Goddess of Beauty and Prosperity, Durga, the Goddess of Righteousness, Saraswati, Goddess of Music and Learing are worshipped; three days for worshipping each goddess.