Hinduism is one of the oldest living religions in the world, and with it come a whole host of holidays and festivals. Holidays in Hinduism vary among different regions and sects, and individual communities celebrate some festivals that others do not. Some Hindu holidays are based on lunar or solar calendars, and their dates may vary from year to year. Here, we take a look at some of the most important and widespread holidays celebrated in Hinduism.
Navaratri is one of the most important festivals of the year. It celebrates the goddess Shakti, who represents divine power. The festival lasts nine nights and 10 days, during which nine forms of the goddess are worshipped. On the tenth day, the last day of the festival, the goddess Durga is celebrated. This day, known as Devi Puja, marks the triumph of good over evil.
On each of the nine nights, different aspects of Shakti are celebrated. During the first three nights, Durga is worshipped, followed by Lakshmi on the fourth and fifth nights. Saraswati is celebrated on the sixth and seventh nights, and on the eighth and ninth nights, Bhadrakali and Annapurna are worshipped.
Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is another important festival in Hinduism. This festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is one of the most important gods in Hinduism. It is believed that on this day, Shiva appeared on earth in the form of a Lingam, an aniconic representation of the Lord. It is also believed that on this day, Shiva married Parvati.
The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Devotees gather at temples to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. Special offerings are made to the Lord, such as milk, water, honey, flowers and fruits. Fasts are also kept on this day, and some devotees even stay awake all night in reverence to the Lord.
Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. It is believed that Lord Krishna, who is one of the most loved and revered gods in Hinduism, was born on the eighth day of the dark fortnigt of the Hindu month of Shravana. On this day, devotees fast and offer prayers to Lord Krishna.
The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and celebrations. Temples are decorated, and special prayers and rituals are carried out. Devotees sing devotional songs and enact scenes from Lord Krishna’s life. Traditional sweets and delicacies are prepared and offered to the Lord.
Diwali
Diwali, or Deepavali, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in Hinduism. It is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana, who had abducted his wife, Sita. It is also a celebration of the victory of good over evil.
The festival is celebrated with great pomp and show. Houses and temples are decorated with lamps and lights, and fireworks are lit. Special puja ceremonies are carried out in temples and homes. People exchange gifts and sweets with their loved ones. People dress up in their finery and enjoy feasts with their families and friends.
Ratha Yatra, or Chariot Festival
Ratha Yatra, or the Chariot Festival, is a unique festival celebrated in Hinduism. This festival is celebrated to commemorate Lord Jagannath, who is one of the forms of Lord Vishnu. On this day, a grand procession is held in which large numbers of devotees gather to pull the chariots of the Lord through the streets.
The procession is accompanied by drums and music, and devotees accompany the chariot and sing devotional songs in praise of the Lord. Prasad, or food offered to the Lord, is also distributed to devotees. At the end of the procession, the chariot is taken to the temple of Lord Jagannath, and the deities are taken inside.
Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela is one of the most important and sacred festivals in Hinduism, and it is celebrated at four holy sites in India every 12 years. Pilgrims from all over the country flock to the sacred sites of Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, to take a holy dip in the sacred rivers.
The Kumbh Mela is celebrated to commemorate the event in Hindu mythology when the gods (devas) and demons (asuras) together churned the ocean of milk in search of the nectar of immortality. It is believed that during this churning, four drops of the nectar spilled onto the four sites, making them sacred.
Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Ganesha. He is one of the most beloved gods in Hinduism, and devotees from all over the world come together to celebrate his birth. On this day, statues of Lord Ganesha are installed in homes and temples.
The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Houses and streets are decorated with flowers and lights, and aarti (prayer offering) is performed. Special offerings are made to Lord Ganesha, such as modaks (dumplings made of sweet rice and coconut), coconuts and flowers. Devotees sing devotional songs and perform dances in reverence to the Lord.
Vat Purnima
Vat Purnima is an important festival in Hinduism which is celebrated by women for the wellbeing of their husbands. It is believed that on this day, the wife ties a sacred thread around the husband’s wrist and prays for his longevity and good health.
The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Women wear new clothes and perform puja ceremonies and other rituals. They also make offering of flowers, rice, fruits and sweets to the gods. Friends and relatives are invited to the celebrations and feasts are enjoyed.
Gangaur Festival
Gangaur is an important festival celebrated by women in Rajasthan and some other parts of India. It is celebrated to commemorate the union of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. On this day, married women worship the goddess for the wellbeing of their husbands and unmarried women worship the goddess for finding a suitable husband.
The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Women dress up in colourful traditional attire and prepare traditional delicacies. Offerings of flowers and fruits are made to the goddess and special rituals are performed. In some places, processions are taken out in which women carry the traditional earthen pot on their heads.
Puri Car Festival
The Puri Car Festival is held every year in Puri, Odisha in honour of Lord Jagannath. On this day, Lord Jagannath, along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, is taken out in a grand procession on the streets of the city. This annual event attracts thousands of devotees from all over the world.
The day before the festival, the deities are decorated and prepared for the procession. The procession is accompanied by music and devotional songs. Prasad is distributed to the devotees and arti is performed. At the end of the procession, the deities are taken to temple of Lord Jagannath.
Naga Panchami
Naga Panchami is an important festival in Hinduism which is celebrated in honour of the serpent deity, or Nag Devta. The festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shravan, according to the Hindu lunar calendar.
On this day, people worship snakes and seek protection from them. Offerings are made to the snake gods in the form of milk, flowers and fruits. Special puja ceremonies and rituals are performed by priests. People also observe fasts, and readings from sacred texts such as the Markandeya Purana are done.
