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Seasonal festivals
Some Hindu festivals celebrate the change of the seasons. For example, the festival of Holi (in February or March) welcomes the spring and celebrates the Hindu New Year. It is also a celebration in honour of Krishna. People light bonfires and throw coloured powder and water at each other.
Mid-January, considered to be a lucky time of year, is celebrated with the festival of good fortune, Makar Sankranti, when children fly colourful kites.
Festivals for gods and goddesses
Throughout the Hindu year, many festivals are held to celebrate the birthday, marriage or important events in the lives of the gods and goddesses. Some of these festivals are local, while others are celebrated around India and elsewhere.
One of the most important festivals
is Diwali, the festival of light (also called deepavali). This festival occurs on the night of the Full Moon in October or November.
F During the Maha Sivarathri festival, special offerings are made in a fire in the mandir.
It celebrates a story told in the Ramayana of the return of Rama from exile and of the way the light of knowledge conquers the darkness of ignorance. Homes and streets are decorated with oil lamps, candles and coloured lights.
The festival of Maha Sivarathri is dedicated to the god Shiva and is celebrated during the night and day that come just before the New Moon in February.
Ganesha’s birthday is celebrated each year at the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi in August or September. Statues of the god are paraded through the streets and then thrown in to a lake or stream, taking with them any misfortune or bad thoughts.
The festival of nine nights (Navaratri,
or Durga puja) takes place in September or October in honour of the goddess Durga.
The festival celebrates a story of how Durga defeated a demon. Many people fast during part of this festival. The day after the festival is another festival, Dussehra, which celebrates Rama’s victory over Ravana in the Ramayana.
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