Public holidays in India, also known as statutory holidays, or colloquially government holidays, consist of a variety of cultural, nationalistic, and religious holidays that are legislated in India at the union or state levels. While many of these holidays are honored and acknowledged nationwide, state legislation varies in regard to which are officially recognized.
Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan or Maghi or simply Sankranti, also known in Bangladesh as Poush Sankranti, is a harvest festival day in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to the deity Surya (sun). It is observed each year the day Sun enters the Capricorn zodiac which corresponds with the month of January as per the Gregorian calendar. It marks the first day of the sun's transit into Makara rashi (Capricorn).
Holi is a popular ancient Indian festival, also known as the "Festival of Love", the "Festival of Colours" and the "Festival of Spring". The festival celebrates the eternal and divine love of Radha Krishna. It also signifies the triumph of good over the evil, as it celebrates the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu. It originated and is predominantly celebrated in India and Nepal but has also spread to other regions of Asia and parts of the Western world through the diaspora from the Indian subcontinent.
Agrahāyaṇa or Mārgaśīrṣa, is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Agrahāyaṇa is the ninth month of the year, beginning on 16 December 2020 and ending on 13 January 2021. Mārgaśīrṣa means: related to Mṛgaśiras - the Nakṣatra (asterisms) known since Vedic times.
Mathura district situated along the banks of the river Yamuna is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of north-central India. The historic city of Mathura is the district headquarters. It also is famous for the city of Vrindavan, one of the most sacred places in Vaishnavism. The District is part of Agra division. Total area of Mathura district is 3340 sq. km.
Radhashtami is a Hindu holy day commemorating the birth anniversary of the goddess Radha, consort of the god Krishna. It is celebrated mainly by devotees of Krishna, especially with great fervor in her birthplace of Barsana, on the Shukla Paksha Ashtami of the Bhadra month. The festival suggests that Radha is very much an aspect of the cultural-religious faith system governing social life. In the Viṣṇu Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Purana, it is mentioned that God Krishna had 16,000 friends called Gopi and gopikas, out of which Radha was the most prominent one of the revered 108.
Kolkata has many festivals throughout the year. Durga Puja is the largest festival of West Bengal, and it features colourful pandals, decorative idols of Hindu goddess Durga and her family, lighting decorations and fireworks. Other major festivals are Diwali, Kali Puja, Holi, Saraswati Puja, Poush Parbon, Poila Boishakh, etc.
Vasant Panchami, also called Sarasvati Puja in honor of the goddess Saraswati, is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated by people in the Indian subcontinent in various ways depending on the region. Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holika and Holi, which take place forty days later. The Vasant Utsava (festival) on Panchami is celebrated forty days before spring, because any season's transition period is 40 days, and after that, the season comes into full bloom.
Sheetala, also called Shitala, is a Hindu goddess widely worshiped in the Indian subcontinent, notably in North India. As an incarnation of Supreme Goddess parvati, she cures poxes, sores, ghouls, pustules and diseases, and most directly linked with the disease Smallpox acclaimed by Hindus. Goddess Shitala is worshiped on the eighth day after festival of colors (Holi), on the occasion of Sheetala Asthami.
Dashain (Nepali), is a major religious festival in Nepal and some parts of India. Dashain called Dussehra in India is celebrated by the Hindus of India and Nepal as well as elsewhere in the world and among the Lhotshampa of Bhutan and the Burmese Gurkhas of Myanmar. A version of this festival is celebrated as Navaratri or Dashera by Hindus in India, although rites and rituals vary significantly.
Chaksu is a municipality in Jaipur district in the state of Rajasthan, India. The town is situated at a distance of 40 km from Jaipur on National Highway 52. The town is also one of the 13 tehsil headquarters of Jaipur District. Chaksu is also a legislative assembly seat of Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha and the current MLA of Chaksu is Ved Prakash Solanki.
This article lists the traditional festivals and other cultural events in the Odisha region of India. Odisha celebrates 13 festivals in 12 months as the saying goes "BAARA MASARE TERATA PARBA"
Bathukamma is flowers festival celebrated predominantly in Telangana and some parts of Andhra Pradesh. Every year this festival is celebrated as per Sathavahana calendar for nine days starting Mahalaya Amavasya till Durgashtami, usually in September–October of Gregorian calendar. Bathukamma is celebrated for nine days during Durga Navratri. It starts on the day of Mahalaya Amavasya and the 9-day festivities will culminate on "Saddula Bathukamma" or "Pedda Bathukamma" festival on Ashwayuja Navami, popularly known as Durgashtami which is two days before Dussehra. Bathukamma is followed by Boddemma, which is a 7-day festival. Boddemma festival that marks the ending of Varsha Ruthu whereas Bathukamma festival indicates the beginning of Sarad or Sharath Ruthu.
Vishwakarma Jayanti is a day of celebration for Vishwakarma, a Hindu god, the divine architect. He is considered as swayambhu and creator of the world. He constructed the holy city of Dwarka where Krishna ruled, the palace of Indraprastha for the Pandavas, and was the creator of many fabulous weapons for the gods. He is also called the divine carpenter, is mentioned in the Rig Veda, and is credited with Sthapatya Veda, the science of mechanics and architecture.
Navaratri is a Hindu festival that spans nine nights and is celebrated every year in the autumn season. It is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Hindu Indian cultural sphere. Theoretically, there are four seasonal Navaratri. However, in practice, it is the post-monsoon autumn festival called Sharada Navaratri that is the most observed in the honour of the divine feminine Devi (Durga). The festival is celebrated in the bright half of the Hindu calendar month Ashvin, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October.
Ashtami is the eighth day (Tithi) of Hindu lunar calendar.
Punjabi festivals are various festive celebrations observed by Punjabis in Pakistan, India and the diaspora Punjabi community found worldwide. The Punjabis are a diverse group of people from different religious background that affects the festivals they observe. According to a 2007 estimate, the total population of Punjabi Muslims is about 90 million, with 97% of Punjabis who live in Pakistan following Islam, in contrast to the remaining 30 million Punjabi Sikhs and Punjabi Hindus who predominantly live in India.
Here is a list of glossary of Culture of India in alphabetical order:
Durga Ashtami or Maha Ashtami is one of the most auspicious days of the five days long Durga Puja Festival. Traditionally, the festival is observed for 10 days in Hindu households bu the actual puja that takes place in the 'pandals' is held over a period of 5 days. In India fasting is undertaken by hindu people on this holy occasion. People also get together on this day to dance 'garba' and wear colourful clothes. This day is also known for 'Astra Puja' as on this day the weapons of goddess Durga are worshiped. The day is also known as Vira Ashtami as there are seen to use arms or martial arts on this day.
Ahoi Ashtami is a Hindu festival celebrated about 8 days before Diwali on Krishna Paksha Ashtami. According to Purnimant calendar followed in North India, it falls during the month of Kartik and according to Amanta calendar followed in Gujarat, Maharashtra and other southern states, it falls during the month of Ashvin. However, it is just the name of the month which differs and the fasting of Ahoi Ashtami is done on the same day.
