» Dussehra

Dussehra falling on the last day of Navaratri or Durga puja arrives in the month of October. Dussehra literally means that which takes away ten sins. This Hindu festival is celebrated all over India to mark the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama. Dussehra symbolises the triumph of good over evil. The 'Ramlila' - an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, is held during the nine days preceding Dussehra. On the tenth day, larger than life effigies of Ravana, his son and brother -Meghnath and Kumbhakarna, are set alight.

» Christmas

Christians in India celebrate their festivals broadly on the pattern adopted worldwide. However, some influence of local Indian tradition is evident among Syrian Christians who use elephants, umbrellas and traditional music as accessories to their festivities and celebrations. Christmas is a major event in all Indian Christian households and one can see Catholic Goa come to life at this time of the year.

» Holi

Holi is the most lively of all Hindu festivals, observed all over North India, which falls on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun (March) according to the Hindu calendar. It heralds the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring and marks the rekindling of the spirit of life. It is a festival of joy when all is forgiven and it is a time to break free from the shackles of convention and let ourselves go.

» Shivratri

All over the country, Shivratri is observed on the 13th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. This is the night, when Lord Shiva danced the 'Tandava'-his cosmic dance.

Many pilgrims flock to the places where there are Shiva temples. Devotees of Shiva observe a strict fast on this day and maintain a long vigil during the night. Some devotees do not even take a drop of water. In temples, bells ring, sacred texts are chanted and traditional offerings of leaves and milk are made to the Shiv lingam, the phallic symbol of the god. The major Shaivite temples at Varanasi, Kalahasti (Andhra Pradesh), and Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu) are noted for their special celebrations.

» Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid )

his Muslim festival of sacrifice, Id-ul-Zuha (Arabic) or Bakrid in India is celebrated all over the country. On this day Muslims sacrifice a goat or Bakr (Urdu) to commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of God.

» Makara Sankranti

Makara Sankranti is celebrated in the month of Magh and is a harvest festival. It is a celebration of spring on the occasion of the 'ascent' of the sun to the north (Uttarayana). In Maharashtra, Karnataka as well as parts of Andhra, Makara Sankranti is a day of good will and friendship. People exchange pieces of sugar-cane, molasses, pieces of dry coconut, peanuts and fried gram as a symbol of the need to be generous and kind to everyone.

» Muharram

This Muslim festival of mourning is observed in the first month of the Hijra year, Muharram. The festival commemorates the martyrdom of the prophet Mohammed's grandson- Hazrat Imam Hussein. It is celebrated with great fervour by the Muslims especially the Shia community.