Losar Festival

Losar, also popularly known as Bal Gyal Lo. Bal meaning Tibet, Gyal means king and Lo literally means year. This festival is known as Bal Gyal Lo because started after the first king came into throne.

Celebration and tradition
Losar generally begins on the tibetian New year eve. The monasteries do a special puja for the protector’s deity and start the preparation for the beginning of the festival. A special kind of noodle prepared with nine different ingredients called ghutuk is a special custom of this festival. Also a tradition is that dough balls with items such as chilies, coal, salt, rice etc each reflecting a particular nature find in various persons, are hidden in them. Finally the New year eve is a to make it clean for the coming year. In the monasteries very fine decorations are put and offerings called Lamar Losar are made. The 2nd day is called King’s Losar and it is officially reserved for mass gathering. From third onwards people greet each other and celebration of the festival begins.

lohri Festival

Celebrations
Lohri is the climax of the winter as it is the last day of paush and the first day of Magha. As per the Gregorian calendar it falls around January 12 and 13th when sun starts changing its course. In this festival the sun and the fire are worshipped and is exclusively celebrated in Punjab. Lohri rituals are performed with singing special Lohri songs and enjoying traditional folk dances. A bonfire is built in the evening to worship the God of fire, lord Agni.

A special Prasad is distributed which comprises of til, gur, peanuts, gachchak and popcorn. The festival is celebrated to thank the Sun God and seek his continuous protection. People wear colorful clothes and enjoy the traditional dancing styles as Bhangra and Gidda .For the dinner special traditional items like sarson ks saag and makki ki roti is served. This festival gives a good opportunity to interact with friends and family.

Khordad Sal Festival

When the child was actually born he had divine nature in him, since right at the tmoment of his birth, according to the legends, his face was actually shining. Due to this reason he was given the name of Zarathustra. According to one translation it means Golden (Zara) light (ushas) while in another translation it simply means Yellow (Zara) camel (ustra).

Celebrations
It is celebrated with special prayers and Jashns which are held throughout the day. Khordad sal was used to be observed by the royal family and the upper classes of Iran as Navroz – I – Khas. It is signified as a special historic day as on this day many events occurred and hence is also celebrated as a special new year’s day. But nowadays this day is simply celebrated by all Parsis as the birthday of Prophet. Zoroastrians and Parsis visit fire temples and offer prayers and homage. It is a day of rejoicing as a special feast is prepared and homes are decorated with flowers and rangoli. Many devotees on this day review their lives and take strong resolutions foe the coming future.

Karwa Chauth Festival

The History
According to Hindu mythology Karwa was a woman whose husband was caught by a crocodile. She tied the crocodile with cotton yarnand asked Yama, the god of death, to send the crocodile to Hell ,which Yama refused. Karwa then threatened to curse Him, fearing of which Yama sent the crocodile to Hell. Karwa ked a happy, blissful life with her husband. The fact that even the God of death was afrais of a devoted wife, shows the power of a pativraat wife.

Karwa chauth day
The festival is widely celebrated by many Hindu married couples in various parts of the world. On this day for nearly 24 hours the wife doesnot consume food or even water. She decorates herself by painting her hands and feet with henna, dressed generally in Red Saris. This festival has the main belief that pati-vrat or devoted wives have the power to even fear God of death. This fast is done by the women folk so that their husbands enjoy longer life.

Janmashtami Festival

Celebrations
South India
In south India the festival is celebrated as Sri Krishnajanamastami or Gokulastami. In Karnataka the Madhwas, Srinivasas and the Iyengars make huge preparation of the festival. The Krishnas idol is placed on a Mantapa well decorated and snacks and sweets prepared exclusively for the festival are suspended along with fruits. In the evening puja is performed. A kolam that is a rice flour painting on the flour, well known as Rangoli in most parts of India, is made to decorate the front yard of the house. This is known as ezhakoolam. Footprints representing Krishna’s entry is also made.

Maharashtra
In India the most biggest celebration of Janmastami is done in Maharashtra. There a custom that a Dahi Handi or a clay pot filled with buttermilk is hung at great heights on roads or various communities. A human pyramid is made and the topmost person tries to break it. When the Dahi Handi is broken all the buttermilk is spilled all over the people recreating the breaking of pots by Lord Krishna in his childhood. A group of youths called Govindas travel at various local communities to break as many handis as possible . Many such Govindas compete with each other for the Handis and huge reward are also given.

Jamshedji Navroz Festival

King Jamshed was crowned on the first day (Hormazd) of the first month of the parsi calendar which is Farvardin, by his settlement. The day was celebrated with great Jashn, singing and dancing everywhere in the kingdom. This day is celebrated in modern days as Jamshedi Naroz.

Celebrations
The first time celebration of the festival in India was started towards the end of eighteenth century when Seth Nasarvanji Kavasji Kohyaji first celebrated it in his bungalow in Surat. After a couple of decades the celebration started in Mumbai by Seth Merwanji Pandey and was further popularized by Khurshedji Rustamji Cama in 20th century. The festival is considered to be a festival of hope and light as on this day life began from a new beginning.

Independence Day Festival

The last British Governor general of India, Lord Mountbatten announced the partition of India into India and Pakistan on 3rd June 1947 under the Indian Independence act 1947. There is a well known speech by Jawaharlal Nehru made on the stroke of midnight of 14th August when India became free that “ At the stroke of Midnight hour when the world sleeps, India awakes to freedom and life.”

Celebrations
The national flag is hoisted on the ramparts of Red Fort, New Delhi by the Prime Minister of India. It is a national holiday while the government offices are lit. In the capital as well as in various state capitals flag hoisting ceremony is observed followed by various cultural programs and friendly competitions. It is day to commemorate the power of Unity of the Indians which were able to drag out the British Rule which was ruling India for nearly two centuries. Flag hoisting is also observed in various private organizations including schools and colleges followed by ceremonial speeches. Family and friends greet each other with slogans like Vande Mataram or Jai Hind. Patriotic films with the theme based on Indian Independence Struggle is also broadcasted in various regional and national television channels.

Holla Mohalla Festival

History
The festival have its history dating back to the tenth sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh. It is said that nearly around 1701, Guru Gobind Singh who had recently established Khalsa Panth fighting force was busy fighting with both the Aurangzeb of the Mughal Dynasty and the hill rajputs. On February 22of the same year ,it is believed that Guru Gobind Singh organized a new tradition of competions in mock battles and poetry contests. The tradition has evolved from there and has now widely spread from Anandpur Sahib to Kirtarpur Sahib ,the Shivaliks and to other Gurudwaras.

Nihang Singhs – warriors
Nihang Singhs are believed to be modern days toughened warriors and the descendants of the army of Guru Gobind Singh. They are more popular for their being military in nature and their traditional robes and large turbans. They still carry the traditional weapons called Kripans, and are also trained. They are also very efficient in horse riding and specifically archery.

holi Festival

Celebrations
Holi is celebrated in each and every part of India. In Bihar it is celebrated with color playing and burning of a hay resmbling Holika Dahan. In Uttar Pradesh Lath Mar Holi is celebrated. The tradition is that women chase men with sticks and men provoke them by singing songs to attract women. Holi is celebrated with lots of fun in uttar Pradesh. In Bengal it is known as Doljatra and is celebrated by singing, dancing and spraying colored waters on each other.

Traditional Holi
The spring season ,when this festival is celebrated is said to cause viral fever. Throwing of Ayurvedic natural colors for playing Holi has medicated features. A special drink called Thandai is made on this day sometimes added with Bhang too. But nowadys the colors used ae mostly artificial which leads to skin rashes or more serious skin infection. The colors are toxic or even carcinogenic .Hence use of natural colors is highly recommended.

hemis gompa Festival

Celebrations
The Hemis Gompa fair held for nearly two complete days is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm. Devotees from different parts of the country and also from aboard come to visit this grand celebration and gather in the courtyard of Hemis Gompa. Traditional music using the sounds of drums, cymbals and long horns are played as the main festivities of the fair. People show respect and pay homage to the sacred portrait of Guru Rimpoche. The celebration is accompanied with the display of colorful masked dance performance. Beautiful handcrafts are also put for display in the fair held. Devotees generally donate money to the kitchen of the Gompa. The Hemis Gompa is festival of celebration for not only the Buddhists but also for other people across the world.