India witnesses various festivals throughout the year, and has appropriately been called the “Land of Festivals.” Being a country of diverse cultures, religions and communities, there is a festival to celebrate every special occasion. Festivals provide a valuable insight into the colourful, harmonious and thriving culture of India.
It’s not uncommon to see one region or the other in India immersed in celebrations. Every festival, in every region of India, is marked by the traditional costumes, songs and dances befitting the occasion. Moreover, every such celebration in India draws from certain social customs and mythology specific to that area, and is joined by people from all backgrounds.
However, there are some festivals which are celebrated ardently throughout the country. Some of the major festivals are Holi, Dusshera, Ganesh Chaturthi, Basant Panchami, Makar Sankranti, Janmashtami, Ram Navami and Eid, besides others. On the other hand, there are those festivals that are celebrated with the objective of respecting and celebrating the landscape. Some examples of these are The Desert festival in Jaisalmer or the Rann Utsav held in the Rann of Kutch. Some festivals are celebrated to mark a successful harvest like Baisakhi in Punjab, Onam in Kerala and Bihu in Assam.
In other words, there is a festival for every occasion in India.
