1. Holidays and Festivals
Hinduism

2. Holi Arrival of spring Commemorates various events in Hindu mythology;
King who forbid his son to worship Vishnu
Son continued to offer prayers
Forced his son to sit on fire with his aunt who is immune to fire
Prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe
Emerged from fire without a scar, aunt turned to ashes

3. Holi Cont… Shiva and Madana Love between Krishna and Radha
Madana, god of love, tests Shiva’s resolve during meditation
Madana disguises herself as a nymph
Shiva recognizes this and shoots fire out of his third eye; Madana turns to ashes
Love between Krishna and Radha
Krishna complained to his mother that he was so dark and Radha was fair
Mother advised him to apply color to Radha’s face

4. Holi Cont…
Rituals
Two days
Loosening of social restrictions
Bura na mano, Holi hai (don’t feel offended, its Holi)
First night; public bonfire to commemorate the aunt
Everyone gathers in the street and its mayhem!
Throwing and applying of colored water and powders on friends and family

5. Holi Cont…

6. Holi

7. Diwali New Year and festival of lights Return of Rama and Sita
Welcomes Lakshmi
Bengal and Northern India: Kali and return of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman to Ayodyha

8. Diwali Cont… Five days Gambling Ensure good luck for upcoming year
Game of dice played by Shiva and Pavrati
Fourth day marks the new year
Exchanging gifts
Religious ceremonies
Decorating houses
Feasting
Fireworks
New clothes
Lakshmi comes to every house lit with a lamp to bring wealth and prosperity

9. Navaratri “Nine nights” Three days devoted to a different female deity
Durga
small bed of mud prepared in puja room
on tenth day, small shoots are pulled out and given to people as blessing from gods
manifestations worshipped representing classes of womanhood
Kumari
Parvati
Kali
Lakshmi
Gather and display all literature available in house and light a lamp to invoke Saraswati

10. Navaratri Saraswati Holy fire is lit Feasting and fasting
Ghee
Rice
Seeds are offered to the fire
Mahanavami
Culminates Navratri with nine young girls’ feet washed and offered new clothes
Feasting and fasting
Religious dances in the evening

11. Kumbh Mela Began thousands of years ago Rituals
Gods and demons agreed to work together to share the nectar of immortality equally
When the urn containing the nectar appeared, the demons ran away with it and were chased by gods
For 12 days/nights the gods and demons fought
Nectar fell to four places, where this festival is observed
Rituals
Most sacred of all pilgrimages (every 12 years)
Devotees perform at intersection of the Ganges and Yamuna Rives
Ritual bath
Clad with saffron sheets (some could be naked)
Powder dabbed on skin

12. Kumbh Mela

13. Ganesha-Chaturthi Birthday of Ganesh
Lifelike clay model of Ganesh made 2-3 months prior to the festival
Rituals
Raised on platforms in homes or elaborately decorated outside tents
Lasts ten days
Priest, dressed in red, chants mantras invoking life into the idol
Idol is anointed with red sandal paste
Vedic Hymns from the Rig Veda are chanted
On 11th day, image is taken through the streets with a procession of dancing and singing

14. Ganesh

15. Ganesha-Chaturthi

16. Raksha Bandan Raksha Bandhan Celebration in India
Bonds of love between brother and sister
Many stories in Hindu history that support the traditions
Traditional ceremony performed
Sister ties rakhi (holy thread) on wrist of her brother
Elder brother offers a gift to sister and vows to look after her
Feed each other sweets