Festivals

• Hindu festivals are celebrated to commemorate significant events, honour deities or ancestors, seek blessings, and promote social harmony.
• Diwali is the festival of lights and celebrates the story of Rama and Sita defeating the demon King Ravana
• When is Diwali?

  Between October and November
• Who do many honour during Diwali?

  Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth
• How do people invite Lakshmi to their homes?

  By leaving doors and windows open and lamps lit
• What aspects are common to celebrate Diwali


  1. Spring-cleaning
  2. Wearing new clothes
  3. Exchanging gifts
  4. Cooking and having feasts
  5. Firework displays
  6. Decorating with lights
  7. Rangoli
• What does Diwali celebrate?

  Victory of Good over evil, light over dark and knowledge over ignorance
• Holi is known as the festival of colours
• Holi is celebrated in the Spring at new moon and lasts two days
• Holi celebrates the victory of good over evil and the arrival of Spring
• What are the two stories commonly associated with Holi?

  1. Lord Krishna playing practical jokes on maids and being mischievous
  2. Prahlad the prince refusing to worship the King and worshipping Vishnu instead. Lord Vishnu then saved him from his evil sister Holika as a reward for his loyalty and devotion
• What is the first night of Holi known as?

  Holika Dahan
• What happens on Holika Dahan?

  Bonfires, dancing, singing and rituals
• What is the day of Holi known as?

  Rangwali Holi
• What happens in Rangwali Holi?

  Street carnivals, throwing coloured powders at others, meals and celebrations
• Holi is a day of equality where class, gender and race are forgotten