Holi (All over North India) In the most boisterous of all Hindu festivals, observed all over the North. It heralds the end of winter and the beginning of the Spring. The night before the full moon, crowds of people gather together and light huge bonfires to burn the residual dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People throw coloured water and powders (gulal and kumkum) at each other and make merry. Singing and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion.

In the northern, western as well as eastern regions, Holi celebrates the joyful raasleela of Krishna and the gopis. They play phag which is a game of many colourful hues. It is a joyous celebration of the rejuvenation of nature, and renewed hope of happiness and peaceful coexistence. Especially famous is the Lathmaar Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon. In Anandpur Sahib, Sikhs celebrate a special festival Hola Mohalla on the day after Holi. It marks a display of ancient martial arts and mock battles.

Holi is also an occasion for the celebration of the burning of Kama, the Hindu cupid, with the fire that emanated from Lord Shiva’s third eye.

Gangaur (Rajasthan) Is dedicated to Gauri, a manifestation of Goddess Parvati and lasts for 18 days. The festival is celebrated by girls and married women throughout Rajasthan. The images of Gauri are ornamented and offerings are made. This is also an auspicious day for young people to select their life partners. Colourful processions with the town band playing, horses and elaborate palanquins make it a fascinating spectacle.

Jamshed-e-Navroz  The Parsis don their new clothes and decorate their homes with rangoli patterns drawn with metal moulds and flowers. Sweets are exchanged and later Parsis visit the fire temple where thanksgiving is performed.

Ramnavami (All over India) The birthday of Lord Rama, the celebrated hero of the famous epic, the Ramayana, is enthusiastically celebrated on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Chaitra. Temples are decorated, religious discourses are held and the Ramayana is recited for ten days. People gather in thousands on the banks of the sacred river Saryu for a dip.

People sing devotional songs in praise of Rama and rock images of him in cradles to celebrate his birth. Rathyatras or chariot processions of Rama, his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman, are taken out from many temples.

Id-ul-Zuha (All over India) Is a muslim festival celebrated all over India. Prayers are offered in the mosques and special delicacies are prepared and served among family and friends on the occasion.

Mahavir Jayanti (All over India) The birth anniversary of the 24^th Tirthankara of the Jains, Mahavir, the founder of Jainism, is celebrated by the Jain community. Lectures are held to preach the path of virtue. People meditate and offer prayers. Donations are collected to save the cows from slaughter. Pilgrims from all parts of the country visit the ancient Jain shrines at Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat, on this day.

Khajuraho Dance Festival (Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh) Is a week-long festival of classical dances held at the Khajuraho Temples, built by the Chandella Kings.

Elephant Festival (Jaipur, Rajasthan) A festival where elephants are the centre of attraction. They stride majestically parading their decorated trunks and tusks. The festival begins with a procession of elephants, camels and horses, followed by lively folk dancers at their entertaining best. Elephant races and elephant-polo matches are special features. The most hilarious highlight of the festival is a tug of war between elephants and men.

Hoysala Mahotsava (Karnataka) Is a dance festival held at the Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebid in Karnataka.

Ellora Festival (Ellora caves, Maharashtra) Is a festival of dance and music organised in the splendid surroundings of the magnificent Ellora caves.

April:

Good Friday  (All over India) Is observed all over India by the Christians. This is the day when Lord Christ was crucified. The Christians offer special prayer services in the churches.

Easter (All over India) Is a festival of rejuvenation of life and living. On this day, Lord Christ rose again after his death. Chocolate eggs, small chicks of cotton wool and almond sweets are bought for children, symbolising new life. Prayer services are held in the churches to end the mourning period.

Baisakhi (Punjab) Is celebrated in Punjab with great fervour. It was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa (Sikh brotherhood). The holy book of the Sikhs, Granth Sahib is taken in a procession, led by the Panj Pyaras (five senior sikhs) who are symbolic of the original leaders. The occasion is marked by lot of feasting and merry making. All night revelries termed Baisakhi di Raat (Night of feasting) or Baisakhi da Mela ( Baisakhi fairs) are held, where men and women dance to the rhythmic beat of drums.

In Kerala the festival is known as Vishu. A display of grain, fruits, flowers, gold, new cloth and money, is viewed early in the morning to ensure a prosperous year ahead.

Known as Rangali Bihu in Assam, the festival is celebrated with lively dances, music and feasting.

Gudi Padva or Ugadi (Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka) : Marks the beginning of a new year in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka. Gudi Padva is considered one of the four most auspicious days in the year when people start new ventures. It is believed that Lord Brahma created the world on this day and so he is worshipped specially at this time.

Lord Vishnu too is said to have been incarnated as Matsya, the fish, on this day. A gudi(banner) with a swastika-marked pot and silk cloth is raised to announce victory and joy. It is remniscent of the valiant Marathas returning home from their successful conquering expeditions of war.

Pooram (Trichur, Kerala) At the beginning of April, the people of Kerala begin their search for the best elephants in the state. Each temple in Kerala sends a procession of decorated elephants to Trichur to participate in the Pooram festival. The decorated elephant groups face each other while drums and nadaswarams create a crescendo of music. The festival ends with a spectacular display of fireworks.

Muharram (All over India) Commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the holy Prophet Mohammed, and is observed by the Shi’ite Muslims, who take out processions of colourfully decorated ‘Tazias’, which are paper and bamboo replicas of the martyr’s tomb at Karbala in Iraq. The processions are specially impressive at Lucknow. In parts of the South, tiger dancers – men painted over with stripes and wearing tiger masks, lead the procession.

Buddha Purnima (North India) This festival which falls on the full moon day, commemorates the birth of Lord Buddha. Also it was on this day Lord Buddha achieved Nirvana or the extinction of self and freedom from the cycle of rebirth.

Mewar Festival (Rajasthan):Is celebrated in Udaipur to welcome Spring. The main highlight of the festival is the procession of colourfully attired women carrying images of the Goddess Gauri to Lake Pichola. Festivities include joyous singing, dancing, devotional music concerts and firework displays.