A Ratha-Yatra or Roth Jatra or Chariot Festival is a Hindu

festival that involves transporting deities on a chariot (called a ratha

or roth).[1] The festival originated in Puri in the State of Odisha. The
rath (chariot) is carrying Lord Jaggannath and due to its massive
size and weight and sometimes seeminlgy unstoppable nature, has
led to the English word juggernaut to refer to an unstoppable force.
[1]
Accidents involving people being crushed under the wheels of the
chariot have also occurred a few times.

Makara Sankranti is a Hindu festival celebrated in almost all parts of India and
Nepal in a myriad of cultural forms. It is a harvest festival. It is the Hindi/IndoAryan languages name for Makara Sankranthi (still used in southern areas as the
official name).
Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Makara
rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. The day is also believed to mark the
arrival of spring in India and is a traditional. Makara Sankranti is a solar event
making one of the few Indian festivals which fall on the same date in the
Gregorian calendar every year: 14 January, with some exceptions when the
festival is celebrated on 13 or 15 January.
Holi (English pronunciation: /holi/) (Sanskrit: ) is a spring
festival also known as the festival of colours or the festival of love. [3]
[4]
It is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has become popular
with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of
other communities outside Asia.[5

Lohri (Punjabi: (Gurmukhi), ( Shahmukhi)) is a popular

festival, celebrated by Punjabi people of the Punjab region of South
Asia.[1] The origins of Lohri are many and link the festival to Punjab
region.[2] Many people believe the festival was originally celebrated
on winter solstice day, being the shortest day and the longest night
of the year.

Vaisakhi (Punjabi: ) viskh), also known as Baisakhi, Vaishakhi, or

Vasakhi) is a festival celebrated in the Punjab region. The festival coincides with
other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh, in some regions of India.

Vaisakhi is especially important for the Sikh community as it marks the

establishment of the Khalsa. More recently, this festival is also celebrated
around the world by Sikh diaspora.

Bihu (Assamese: ) denotes a set of three different cultural

festivals of Assam and celebrated by the Assamese diaspora around
the world. Though they owe their origins to ancient rites and
practices they have taken definite urban features and have become
popular festivals in urban and commercialized milieus in the recent
decades. One includes the Assamese new year celebrated in April.
Bihu is also used to imply Bihu dance and Bihu folk songs. The
Rongali Bihu or the Bohag Bihu is an important festival of Assam.
The most important festivals of Assam are the Bihus, celebrated
with fun in abundance by all Assamese people irrespective of caste,
creed, and belief.
Diwali or Divali also known as Deepavali and the "festival of lights",
is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year.[5][6] The
festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge
over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. [7][8][9] The festival
preparations and rituals typically extend over a five day period, but the
main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night
of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali
night falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Vijayadashami also known as Dussehra or Dasara or Dashain or

Tenth day of Navratri or Durgotsav is one of the most important Hindu
festivals celebrated in various forms, across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and
Bangladesh. The name Dussehra is derived from Sanskrit Dasha-hara
literally means Dashanan ravan (Name of devil & in short Dasha and
Hara (defeat)) referring to Lord Rama's victory over the ten-headed
demon king Ravana.[1

Ganesha Chaturthi ( Gaa Caturth) ( Vinyaka

Caviti) is the Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the god Ganesha, the
elephant-headed, remover of obstacles and the god of beginnings and
wisdom. The festival, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is observed in
the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla

chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls
between 19 August and 20 September. The festival lasts for 10 days,
ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon
period).

Onam (Malayalam: ) is a harvest festival celebrated by the people of

Kerala, India.[1] It is also the state festival of Kerala with State holidays on
4 days starting from Onam Eve (Uthradom) to the 3rd Onam Day.

Thai Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamil people at the end

of the harvest season. [1] It is a four-day festival which runs from last day
of the month Maargazhi to the third day of the month Thai on the Tamil
calendar, and generally from January 13 to January 16 on the Gregorian
calendar. The second of the four days, the first day of Thai, is the main
day of the festival and called Pongal.
Gudhi Padva (Marathi: Guh Pav), is the Marathi name for
Chaitra Shukla Pratipada.[2] It is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra
month to mark the beginning of the New year according to the lunisolar
Hindu calendar. This day is also the first day of Chaitra Navratri and
Ghatasthapana also known as Kalash Sthapana is done on this day. The
practice of raising the Gudhi was started by Shivaji Maharaj to welcome
the new year and symbolizes victory "Vijay Dhwaj". Since then this
culture of raising Gudhi's has been followed in and around the strong
holds of the Maratha kingdom.
Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the love and duty
between brothers and sisters; the festival is also popularly used to
celebrate any brother-sister like relationship between men and women
who are relatives or biologically unrelated. [2][3] It is called Rakhi Purnima,
or simply Rakhi, in many parts of India.[4] The festival is observed by
Hindus, Jains, and many Sikhs.[5] Raksha Bandhan is primarily observed
in India, Mauritius and parts of Nepal. It is also celebrated by Hindus and
Sikhs in parts of Pakistan,[6] and by some people of Indian origin around
the world.[
Narali Poornima marks the end of monsoon season in Maharashtra. It is
celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Shravan. People offer
coconuts to the sea. The festival also marks the beginning of the new
fishing season. So, fishermen appease the sea-god before sailing out
over the mighty sea. They worship for a safe fishing. Singing and dancing

are the main attraction of the festival. Sweet coconut rice is prepared for
the day.

Nag Panchami (Devanagari: ) is a traditional worship of snakes

or serpents observed by Hindus throughout India and also in Nepal.[2][3]
The worship is offered on the fifth day of bright half of Lunar month of
Shravan (July/August), according to the Hindu calendar. The abode of
snakes is believed to be patal lok, (the seven realms of the universe
located below the earth) and lowest of them is also called Naga-loka, the
region of the Nagas, as part of the creation force and their blessings are
sought for the welfare of the family.[2][3] Serpent deity made of silver,
stone or wood or the painting of snakes on the wall are given a bath with
milk and then revered.

Maha Shivratri (the 'Great Night of Shiva') is a Hindu festival celebrated every year
in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is the day Shiva was married to Parvati. The Maha
Shivratri festival, also popularly known as 'Shivratri' or 'Great Night of Lord Shiva', is
observed on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha every year on the month of
Falgun according to the Hindu calendar. Alternate common spellings include
Sivaratri, Shivaratri, Sivarathri, and Shivarathri. It marks the convergence of Shiva
and Shakti. Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu
calendar month Maagha as per Amavasya-ant month calculation [As per Poornimaant month calculation, the day is Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar
month Phalguna] which falls in February or March as per the Gregorian calendar. Of
the twelve Shivaratris in the year, the Maha Shivarathri is the most holy.[3]

Christmas or Christmas Day (Old English: Crstesmsse, meaning

"Christ's Mass") is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus
Christ,[6][7] observed generally on December 25[4][8][9] as a religious and
cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. [2][10][11] A
feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season
and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide, which ends after the
twelfth night.[12] Christmas is a public holiday in many of the world's
nations,[13][14][15] is celebrated culturally by a large number of former or
non-Christian people,[1][16][17] and is an integral part of the Christmas and
holiday season.

Krishna Janmashtami (Devanagari ka janmam), also known

as Krishnashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna
Jayanti, Sree Jayanti or sometimes simply as Janmashtami, is an annual celebration
of the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.[5]

Navratri (Hindi: Malayalam: ) is a festival dedicated to the

worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The word Navaratri means 'nine
nights' in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights.[2] During
these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped.
The tenth day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or "Dussehra"
(also spelled Dasara). Navratri is an important major festival and is
celebrated all over India. Diwali the festival of lights is celebrated twenty
days after Dasara.
Chhath (Devanagari: , , , , , , ) is an
ancient Hindu festival and only Vedic Festival dedicated to the
Hindu Sun God, Surya and Chhathi Maiya (ancient Vedic Goddess Usha).[5] The
Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to
request the granting of certain wishes.[6]
Ramadan (/rmdn/; Arabic: Raman, IPA: [rmdn];[variations] Persia
n: Ramazn; Urdu: Ramzn; Turkish:Ramazan; Indonesian/Malay: Puas
a or Bulan Puasa) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar;[3] Muslims worldwide
observe this as a month offasting.[4][5] This annual observance is regarded as one of
the Five Pillars of Islam.[6] The month lasts 2930 days based on the visual sightings of
the crescent moon, according to numerous biographical accounts compiled in
the hadiths.[7][8]
Muharram (Arabic: )(is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four
sacred months of the year.[1] Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram
moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.
The word "Muharram" means "Forbidden" and is derived from the word harm,
meaning "sinful". It is held to be the most sacred of all the months,
excludingRamadan. Some Muslims fast during these days. The tenth day of Muharram
is the Day of Ashura, which to Shia Muslims is part of the Mourning of Muharram.

In India, Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into
force on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the
governing document of India.[1]
The Constitution was passed by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November
1949 but was adopted on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system,
completing the country's transition toward becoming an independent republic. 26

January was selected for this purpose because it was this day in 1930 when the
Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian
National Congress.

Independence Day, observed annually on 15 August, is a National Holiday in India

commemorating the nation's independence from the British Empire on 15 August
1947. India attained independence following an Independence Movement noted for
largely nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National
Congress (INC).[1] Independence coincided with the partition of India, in which the
British Indian Empire was divided along religious lines into
the Dominions of India and Pakistan; the partition was accompanied by violent riots
and mass casualties, and the displacement of nearly 15 million people due to
sectarian violence.
May Day on May 1 is an ancient Northern Hemisphere spring festival and usually
a public holiday;[1] it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures. May Day
coincides with International Workers' Day, and in many countries that celebrate the
latter, it may be referred to as "May Day". Dances, singing, and cake are usually part
of the celebrations that the day includes.
Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday celebrated in India to mark the occasion of the
birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the "Father of the Nation". Though the title
is not officially declared, as the Constitution of India does not permit a father of nation,
it is mostly conferred to him.[1][2]The United Nations General Assembly announced on
15 June 2007 that it adopted a resolution which declared that 2 October will be
celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.[3]
Bhim Jayanti is a festival observed on April 14 every year to commemorate the
memory of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.[citation needed] This day is celebrated as birth
anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar who born on this day in the year 1891. It is a public
holiday in all of the Indian states. It is a customary tradition to pay homage to
Babasahebs statue at the Parliament, New Delhi by the President, Prime Minister,
Leaders of prominent parties etc. on this day. It is celebrated throughout the world
especially by formerly oppressed communities who embraced Buddhism under his
guidance. In India, large number of people visit Babasaheb's statue at the prominent
place of their village/city in procession with lot of fanfare of dhol, tasha, dance etc.
throughout the day and unto late night.
Children's Day is recognized on various days in many places around the world, to
honor children globally. It was first proclaimed by the World Conference for the Wellbeing of Children in 1925 and then established universally in 1954 to protect an
"appropriate" day.[1]
International Day for Protection of Children, observed in many countries as Children's
Day on June 1 since 1950, was established by theWomen's International Democratic
Federation on its congress in Moscow (22 November 1949). Major global variants
include a Universal Children's Day on November 20, by United
Nations recommendation.[2]

In many countries, Teacher's Days (or Teachers Day) are intended to be special days
for the appreciation of teachers, and may include celebrations to honour them for their
special contributions in a particular field area, or the community in general. The date
on which Teachers' day is celebrated varies from country to country. Teachers' days
are distinct from World Teachers' Day which is officially celebrated across the world on
October 5.[1]
The idea of celebrating Teachers' Day took ground in many countries during the 20th
century; in most cases, they celebrate a local educator or an important milestone in
education (for example, Argentina commemorates Domingo Faustino Sarmiento's
death on September 11 since 1915,[2] while India celebrates Dr. Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan's birthday on September 5 since 1962[3]). This is the primary reason
why countries celebrate this day on different dates, unlike many other International
Days.
Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal
bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third
Sunday of June, though it is also celebrated widely on other days by many other
countries. Father's Day was created[who?] to complement Mother's Day, a celebration
that honors mothers and motherhood.
Mother's Day is a modern celebration originating in North America, honoring one's
own mother, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in
society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in
the months of March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family
members, such as Father's Day and Siblings Day.
Halloween or Hallowe'en (/hlwin, -oin, hl-/; a contraction of
"All Hallows' Evening"),[6] also known as Allhalloween,[7] All Hallows' Eve,[8] or All
Saints' Eve,[9] is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October,
the eve of the Western Christian feast ofAll Hallows' Day. It initiates
the triduum of Allhallowtide,[10] the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering
the dead, including saints(hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers.
[11]
Within Allhallowtide, the traditional focus of All Hallows' Eve revolves around the
theme of using "humor and ridicule to confront the power of death."[12]
Guru Nanak Gurpurab also known as Guru Nanak's Prakash Utsav and Guru
Nanak Jayanti, celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru,Guru Nanak.[3] This is one of
the most sacred festivals in Sikhism.[4] Apart from Sikhs, Hindus and other followers of
Guru Nanak's philosophy also celebrate this festival.
The festivities in the Sikh religion revolve around the anniversaries of the 10 Sikh
Gurus. These Gurus were responsible for shaping the beliefs of the Sikhs. Their
birthdays, known as Gurpurab (or Gurpurb), are occasions for celebration and prayer
among the Sikhs.

Vat Purnima or Wat Purnima ( vaaprim "Banyan tree full moon") is a

celebration observed in the Western Indian states of Gujarat,Maharashtra,
and Karnataka, India. Purnima means "full moon" and is celebrated on the full moon
day (the 15th) of the month of Jyeshtha on theHindu calendar, which falls in June on
the Gregorian calendar. Women pray for the prosperity and longevity of their husbands
by tying threads around a banyan tree or wa, which is called "pipal puja", on this day.
It honours Savitri, the legendary wife who rescued her husband's soul from the ruler of
the departed, Yama.
Rama Nawami (Devangar: ; IAST: Rma navam) is a Hindu festival,
celebrating the birth of the god Rama to King Dasharatha and
Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya. Rama, the 7th avatar of Vishnu, is the oldest known god
having human form. [2][3] [4] The holy day falls in the Shukla Paksha on the Navami, the
ninth day of the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. Thus it is also known
as Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami, and marks the end of the nine-day ChaitraNavaratri (Vasanta Navaratri) celebrations. Rama navami is one of the most important
Hindu festivals.
Guru Purnima (Sanskrit: , IAST: Guru Prim) is an Indian festival
dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers. This festival traditionally celebrated
by Hindus and Buddhists, to thank their teachers. It is marked by ritualistic respect to
the guru, Guru Puja. The Guru Principle is said to be a thousand times more active on
the day of Gurupournima than on any other day.[2] The word guru is derived from two
words, gu and ru. The Sanskrit root gu means darkness or ignorance, and ru denotes
the remover of that darkness. Therefore a guru is one who removes the darkness of
our ignorance. Gurus are believed by many to be the most necessary part of life. On
this day, disciples offer puja(worship) or pay respect to their guru (spiritual guide). It
falls on the day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh (JuneJuly) of
the Shaka Samvat, Indian national calendar and Hindu calendar.[3]