FESTIVALS oF INDIA

• DIWALIDeepawali or Diwali is certainly the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It's the festival of lights (deep = light and avali = a row i.e., a row of lights) that's marked by four days of celebration, which literally illumines the country with its brilliance, and dazzles all with its joy. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is separated by a different tradition, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.

• HOLIAs the brief spring warms the landscape, northern India cuts loose for a day of hijinx and general hilarity. The festival of Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March every year. Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi is now a symbolic commemmoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story centres around an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempts to kill his son but fails each time. Finally, the king's sister Holika who is said to be immune to burning, sits with the boy in a huge fire. However, the prince Prahlada emerges unscathed, while his aunt burns to death. Holi commemorates this event from mythology, and huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi as its symbolic representation.

• JANMASHTMIKrishna Janmashtami is the celebration of the birth of Lord Shri Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is believed to have been born about five thousand years ago in Mathura in 'Dwapar Yuga'. Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Ashtami RohiniThe festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and vigor by Hindus all over India and abroad. People observe fast the whole day, sing hymns and conduct prayers at midnight to rejoice the birth of Lord. Ras lila, dramatic enactments of the life of Krishna, are a special feature that is showcased in every part of the country, as it re-creates the flirtatious aspects of Krishna's youthful days. Another interesting aspect of Krishna Janmashtami is the practice of Dahi-Handi. This game portrays the playful and mischievous side of Krishna, where teams of young men form human pyramids to reach a high-hanging pot of butter and break it.

• INDEPENDENCE DAYAfter more than two hundred years of British rule, India finally won back its freedom on 15th August, 1947. All the patriotic hearts rejoiced at seeing India becoming a sovereign nation and the triumph of hundreds and thousands of martyred souls. It was a birth of a new nation and a new beginning. The only fact that marred the happiness of the fruits by the blood of martyrs was the fact that the country was divided into India and Pakistan and the violent communal riots took away a number of lives. It was on the eve of 15th of August, 1947 that India tricolor flag was unfurled by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, on the ramparts the Red Fort

FESTIVALS OF NETHERLANDS

• SINTERKLAASThe first one Sinterklaas is mainly a festival for little children. The Sinterklaas festival is the celebration of the anniversary of St. Nicholas. The birthday of Sinterklaas is on December 6, therefore December 5 is called “pakjesavonds” (this would be “giftevening” if you translate it) this means Sinterklaas and his black pieters (people who help him giving all children of the Netherlands gifts) go around The Neherlands and deliver gifts at every home. Every year Sinterklaas comes with his steamship from Spain to The Netherlands. Sinterklaas does not really exist but all children believe this while their parents buy the presents for them.

• CHRISTMASThe second Christmas is a celebration. In every home people place a Christmas tree which they decorate with Christmas baubles. It is not such a big festival as in America for example but at 1st and 2nd Christmas day people usually have dinner with their family.

• CARNAVALIn the spring we have Carnaval which you can a little bit compare with carnival in Rio but it is only in the south of The Netherlands. In Rio it is much more extremely but the principle is the same. People dress up crazy and built all kinds of special vehicles.

• EASTEREaster is a Festival which is mainly in the beginning of April. Then Easter bunny gives all children Easter eggs. The original story of Easter is the story of Jesus.