A project by Grade V Student Jayesh PanditKendriya Vidyalaya No.1 Agra

Crop of festivals in India

There are 19 types of festivals celebrated in India. Some festivals are-

Lohri

Pongal

Gudi Padwa

Bihu

Holi

Lohri

Lohri is a festival of harvesting.

Farmers in India harvest all their crops on lohri specially Punjabi farmers.

PONGAL

Pongal is a famous south Indian festival especially in the state of Tamilnadu. It is a three day long harvest festival celebrated in the honour of the rain God, Sun God and the Holy cow. On the first day of pongal the rain God is worshipped known as “Bhogi Pongal”. Sisters pray for the welfare of their brothers. On the second day the Sun God is worshipped for imparting heat and energy to the fields. On the third and the last day of pongal the cattle is worshipped. A special event called “Jalli Kattu” is organised in the towns and villages of the city. A special dish called Pongal is prepared by the ladies to commemorate this festival.

Gudi Padwa

Gudhi Padva, is the Marathi name for Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. 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

Bihu

Bihu 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.

Holi

Holi celebrations start with a Holika bonfire on the night before Holi where people gather, sing and dance. The next morning is a free-for-all carnival of colours, where participants play, chase and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water, with some carrying water guns and coloured water-filled balloons for their water fight. Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders. The frolic and fight with colours occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People move and visit family, friends and foes, first play with colours on each other.

Thank You!