India is a country of festivals. It is known for its diverse cultures and traditions that are celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm. The ancient festivals of India are rooted in mythology and have been celebrated for thousands of years. These festivals not only have religious significance but also have a cultural and social significance. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the ancient festivals of India.


Diwali

Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is one of the most popular and widely celebrated festivals in India. It is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartik, which usually falls in the month of October or November. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. People light lamps and candles, decorate their homes with lights, exchange sweets and gifts, and burst firecrackers to celebrate the occasion.


The festival has its roots in Hindu mythology, where it is believed that Lord Rama returned to his kingdom after defeating the demon king Ravana. The people of Ayodhya, the capital of Rama's kingdom, welcomed him by lighting lamps and decorating the city with lights.


Holi


Holi is another popular and colourful festival of India, which is celebrated in the month of Phalgun, which falls in February or March. It is also known as the festival of colours and signifies the victory of good over evil. People celebrate the occasion by playing with colours, dancing, and singing.


The festival has its roots in Hindu mythology, where it is believed that the demon king Hiranyakashipu tried to kill his son Prahlad, who was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. However, Prahlad was saved by Lord Vishnu, and Hiranyakashipu was killed. People celebrate the victory of good over evil by playing with colours and spreading joy and happiness.


Navratri


Navratri is a nine-day festival that is celebrated twice a year in India, once in the month of Chaitra, which falls in March or April, and once in the month of Ashwin, which falls in September or October. The festival is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, who symbolises the victory of good over evil.


During Navratri, people observe fasts, perform puja and offer prayers to Goddess Durga. The festival culminates with the celebration of Dussehra, which marks the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.


Janmashtami


Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna, which is celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada, which falls in August or September. The festival has its roots in Hindu mythology, where it is believed that Lord Krishna was born on this day to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura.


People celebrate the occasion by decorating their homes and temples, performing puja, singing devotional songs and chanting mantras. The festival is also marked by the enactment of the Dahi Handi ceremony, where a pot of curd is hung high up, and young boys climb over each other to reach and break the pot.


Ganesh Chaturthi


Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day festival that is celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada, which falls in August or September. The festival is dedicated to the worship of Lord Ganesha, who is believed to be the remover of obstacles.


During Ganesh Chaturthi, people bring home idols of Lord Ganesha and perform puja and offer prayers. The festival culminates with the immersion of the idol in a water body, which is known as Ganesh Visarjan.



Onam is a ten-day festival