India is a land of festivals and fairs. Indians practically celebrate each day of the year; as such, there are more festivals than anywhere else! Each celebration relates to a variety of occasions, some to welcome the seasons of the year, the harvest, the rains, or the full moon. Others commemorate spiritual events, the birthdays of celestial beings and saints, or the arrival of the New Year. A number of these festivals are widespread in most parts of India, although they may be referred to by varying names in different parts of the country or may be celebrated in a different manner. There are many significant festivals celebrated by diverse communities in India, and some of the festivals celebrated all over India are mentioned below.
Bhai-Dooj
Symbolizes the siblings’ eternal love for each other. The sister would pray for the elongated and prosper life of her brother by applying tilak on his forehead and in return brother gives his words to supply a lasting protection to his sister. The festival falls on the second day after Diwali and is celebrated all over the country.
Diwali
Otherwise known as ‘Deepawali’ or the Festival of Lights. It is arugably the most celebrated of all Hindu festivals. Sacred dedication accompanied with lots of fun and frolicking marks the festival. Deepawali is celebrated in most parts of the country with the same zest and in the same manner.
Dussehra
Falls on the 10thday of the waxing moon during the Hindu month of Ashvin (around September or October). Dussehra is associated with a captivating collection of myths and legends. On this day, Rama (the god-king and the hero of the great Hindu clssic, Ramayana) defeated the wicked Ravana – the 10-headed demon-king of Lanka who had kidnapped Rama’s wife Sita.
Eid Ul Fitr
The grandest Muslim fiesta. Eid comes from the Arabic word ‘oud’ or ‘the coming back’ to indicate the return of Eid each year. The festival is noteworthy as much for its timing as for its sacred connotations. It is commerated after the month of Ramzan (the fasting month and the ninth month of the Muslim year), on the first day of Shavval – a month in the Hijri year (Muslim year). It is widely-circumulated that the Koran was lay bared to Prophet Mohammed in the month of Ramzan.
Cricket is the most popular sport in India as much as it is not the national game (which is hockey). It is played in every street corner, even in cramped back alley! Lack of resources is not a setback to the game. Even though India’s performance is not as good as it should have been, contemporary training approaches and more competitive spirit are expected to give an improved medals tally at the next Olympic Games.
Trekking is one of the most prominent adventure sports in India. The rugged beauty of these mountain ranges in India provides spectacular and stimulating trekking trips, which draws travellers and tourists from around the globe. Himalaya, Garhwal and Kumaon regions, Chamba, Manali, Ladakh, Zanskar, Lahaul-spiti, Kullu, Kangara, Darjeeling, Yuksam and Leh offer breathtaking, and enthralling trekking routes to the tourists. Almost all the travel agents in India provide exciting trekking trips. There are many hotels and hill resorts in those regions as well.
(Almora hill resort - one of the most popular hill stations of Uttaranchal. )
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