Festivals

Festivals embody the rich culture of India and display everlasting significance for society. Festivals are times of celebration, acknowledgment, and even praise. Personally, I enjoyed them because they are colorful experiences that let me appreciate India's culture, and they are something that I had never experienced in the U.S. Another large reason I enjoyed them is because they allowed me to occasionally take the day off from school, with there being roughly twenty to thirty festivals per year. Two major festivals include:

• Diwali

• Holi

Diwali is a five day festival with the main day being the third day. Most of India celebrates all five days, while other countries usually only celebrate the third day. Some South Asian countries, such as Singapore, celebrate Diwali along with India. Followers of the Sikh, Hindu, and Jain faiths mainly celebrate, but outsiders can celebrate too.

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Diwali is known as the festival of lights. For example, in the picture above, colorful lights line the streets of India. Things like fireworks, clay lamps, candles, and lanterns are all lit. I recall trick-or-treating for the first time in my neighborhood in India and seeing houses covered with lights, which confused me at the time.

Diwali candles

On the first day of Diwali, Indians clean their homes and create rangoli. Rangoli is a design consisting of flower petals, rice, flour, or sand. Next, on the second day, families tend to dress up, get together, eat, and pray for their ancestors. Then, on the third day, the major festivities occur as discussed in the preceding information: lights, fireworks, etc. After the third day, festivities may vary. It is common for married couples to celebrate their relationships on the fourth day, and on the fifth day for siblings to celebrate their bonds--specifically between brothers and sisters.

Rangoli

The third day of Diwali takes place on the darkest day of the year, as well as the day of the new moon. This day can usually date anywhere from mid-October to mid-November. Religiously, it symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, by light overtaking the darkness. With this new light comes the blessings of freedom, victory, and enlightenment.

Unlike Diwali, Holi takes place in the spring. It occurs on the full moon before the Vernal Equinox, meaning that it can take place any time from February to March. Similar to Diwali, Holi is a festival of Hindu faith in India, but various countries and non-believers celebrate.

Holi begins on the night of the full moon, where there is a large public bonfire. The following morning is what makes Holi my favorite Indian festival. People barrage each other with assortments of organic colored powders and colored water. At my former school, we were allowed to partake in the paint throwing, and it was a lot of fun. I would suggest wearing old clothes if you decide to celebrate.

Holi bonfire

Besides gathering around bonfires and caking each other with paint, Holi celebrates greater importance. At the bonfire, Indians pray and perform rituals to ensure that internal evil is destroyed. The paint throwing is a time for interaction among all ages, sexes, and races. All social castes are left behind, and all types of people can enjoy Holi together. It is a time to forget sorrows, strengthen bonds, forgive others, or form new bonds. This is the other reason why Holi is my favorite Indian holiday--it unifies people in a peaceful, enjoyable way.

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