Sacred festivals

• Hindu Festivals


  There are a great number of Hindu religious festivals held throughout the world. The festivals typically celebrate events from Hindu mythology, often coinciding with seasonal changes.
• Hindu Festivals


  • Festivals are an important way of linking with the divine and also a time for families to come together and celebrate.
• Hindu Festivals


  • Festivals typically involve decorating the home and temple with flags, fruit, lights and flowers. Communal meals and giving to the poor, are also common practice.
• Diwali


  • Length: 5 Days
  • Time of year: Oct/Nov
  • Diwali is the festival of lights. It marks the victory of light over darkness, and truth over falsity. It is also the start of the Hindu New Year.
• Diwali


  • In south India, it celebrates the marriage of Vishnu and Lakshmi. In Kalighat, the goddess Kali is remembered. But most Hindus recall the story of Rama and Sita.
• Diwali


  • Hindus typically wear new clothes and exchange gifts at Diwali. Home and temples are also spring-cleaned.
• Diwali


  1. The festival coincides with the new moon to parallel Rama and Sita's return to the city.

  2. Diwali retells the Story of Rama and Sita from the Ramayana

  3. After 14 Years in exile Rama and Sita return to their kingdom; but It is a new moon, and lights are needed to guide them home.

  4. Diwali is considered the darkest night, so lamps are also lit to keep darkness and evil at bay.
• Lakshmi


  The goddess of prosperity, is also worshiped.
• Lakshmi


  1. Hindus invite her into their homes by creating a rangoli pattern and placing it on their doorstep.

  2. As it is the beginning of the Hindu New Year, they pray that Lakshmi will bring learning and prosperity for the next financial year.
• Holi


  • Length: 2 days
  • Time of the year: Feb/March
  • It is a festival of Spring and takes place during the full moon.
• Holi


  • It is the most fun-filled and colourful festival. People wear old clothes and throw colourful powders or paints on each other.
• Holi


  Everyone joins in the fun and normal standards of behaviour are forgotten; to parallel Krishna and the milkmaids playing tricks on each other.
• Holi


  1. During Holi a bonfire is also lit to symbolise the story of Prahlada and the demoness Holika.

  2. Prahlada's evil father asked his sister Holika to carry his son into a fire, believing she was protected from the flames.

  3. Vishnu appeared and protected Prahlada; he remained unharmed, while Holika burnt to ashes.

  4. Hindus celebrate this, as it is story of good triumphing over evil.