Geographical   History  
Climate   Land and People  
Art and Culture   Religion  
Festivals        
 
Festivals

Republic Day | Independence Day | Gandhi Jayanthi | Onam | Vishu | Navarathri | Mahasivarathri |Thiruvathiara | Trikartika | Deepavali | Christmas | Easter | Good Friday | Ramzan | Eid-Ul-Fitr | Eid-Ul-Zuha | Milad-Ul-Nabi | Muharram

Trikartika

It is celebrated in honour of Bhagvati. It falls on the day of 3rd lunar asterism. It is the birthday of Bhagvati. The houses are all well lighted and lights are also left burning in the Verandah, front yard and at the gates. There is general illumination through out. Offering are made at the temple of the goddess and women turn out in the evening for worshipping the goddess.

Deepawali or Diwali

Deepawali or Diwali, the festival of " lights", is the most important of all Hindu festivals. It is celebrated int the month of Kartika according to the hindu calender.It is believed that it was on this day that Rama entered Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.This is perhaps the happiest of Hindu festivals. Diwali is an occasion of great excitement and rejoicing all over the country. Every city, town and village is turned into a fairyland with thousands of flickering oil lamps and electric lights illuminating homes and public buildings. Countless number of lamps are lighted at night, giving the impression that the stars have descended on earth. These lights are symbolic of the spiritual light dispelling evil and the darkness of ignorance. Deepavali is also celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi, the day when the demon of darkness and dirt, Narakasura, was destroyed by Krishna. The celebrations commence with a purifying oil bath and the lighting of lamps, symbolic of the spiritual light pervading the earth and the destruction of darkness and ignorance.Laxmi pooja is done.People burst crackers and distribute sweets and greet each other.

TOP

Christmas

History reveals that Christmas, New Year, etc... all originated in Babylon as festivals celebrated by the Heathen in honour of their Pagan Gods, but were given "christian" meaning by the Catholic Church in order to convert the idol worshippers to Constantine's new "Christian" religion. The Catholic Church simply took these seasonal feasts and festivals celebrated by the heathen and transformed them into 'Christian' celebrations or "Christianized" them in order to make Christianity more meaningful to pagan converts.

They came to focus their eyes upon Jesus the infant and Mary His Mother. Many people were coming to the notion that his birthday should be observed. This idea came about as the "Church" began to regard Mary, the mother of Jesus in a new light. She had long been revered along with the saints and Apostles, but only along with them. But in the same fourth century she emerges as the Queen of Heaven. The Christmas story of the Birth of Jesus has marked an era of time, recording ends and beginnings as years glide into centuries, and centuries into millennia.

Coming to the Christmas with reference to The Holy Bible, the basic story occupies hardly a page of the Bible which is divided into two sections the 'OLD' and 'NEW TESTAMENTS'

Mathew 5:17 says "Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true".

The birth of Jesus Christ explained like this. "His Mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so made plans to break the engagement privately. While he was thinking about this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife, for it is by the Holy spirit that she has conceived. she will have a son, and you will name him JESUS because he will save his people from their sins".

Now all this happened in order to make what the Lord had said through the prophet come true, "a virgin will become pregnant and have a son, and he will be called Immanuel" (which means, "God is with us"). Mathew (1:18:23).

TOP

Easter

Easter is the oldest Christian festival, as old as Christianity itself. The central tenet of Christianity is not the birth of Jesus, but his resurrection. Easter is derived from this paschal mystery and from the events of Good Friday.

The content of Easter was gradually analysed into historical events and each began to be celebrated on a different day. As a result, Easter grew into a Holy Week and came to have a preparatory season to precede and a festive season to follow. Thus we have four distinct periods in connection with the observance of Easter -Services are held in the afternoon. 

In most churches a bitter drink prepared from leaves, vinegar, etc. for everyone to taste after the service, Holy Saturday is a day of mourning and wailing. A total silence reigns in the church from morning to dusk. But by ten at night the church is full, to observe the Easter Vigil. In the gloom, which envelops the church, new fire is struck from flint and blessed. A big candle is then consecrated and from it many candles are lighted  indicating the resurrection. Bells peal, music fills the air and light floods the hall. Halleluiah is the joyous word of Easter wish. Easter Sunday is a quiet day and the celebration is rather spiritual and inward rather than social showy. There will be a grand dinner at homes and visits of relatives.

Good Friday

Good Friday is a Christian festival and is celebrated with great enthusiasm in India.Christians observe Good Friday as the day on which Jesus laid down his life for the good of humanity. Services and recitals of religious music are held in the churches.

TOP


All Copyrights Reserved incredibleholidays.org