Festival is an auspicious day or period of religious or other celebration prevalent in all societies and religious communities.
Festivals are an important part of our life. Most of the festivals in India are associated with religion. The Hindus are worshippers of many dieties and naturally Hindu festivals are many. The Indians celebrate Durga Puja with great enthusiasm. Diwali or Dipavali, a festival of lamps or light is another excellent festival. This festival is noted for display of fireworks. Vasant Panchami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Pongal, Ratha-yatra or Chariot festival, Shivaratri, Raksha Bandhan and many other Hindu festivals are observed all over India with vigor of mirth and gaiety. The Muslims celebrate three great festivals Muharram, Eid-ul-fiter, Eid-ul-Zuha and also Fateha DoazDaham.
The Christians observe christmas, the holy birthday of Lord Jesus Christ; The Sikh observe Guru Nanak’s birthday. Buddha Purnima and Mahavir Jayanti are observed respectively by the Buddhists and the Jains. It is a happy feature in Indian scenario that now men and women of all religious communities share the pleasures of festivals of other communities. Thus national integration is strongly cemented.
The effects of festivals are very wholesome for and individual and for the society.
• They relieve us from monotony of life.
• Festivals teach us to forget our enmity and embrace one another in a bond of love.
• Festivals create an environment of cultural harmony.
• Moral, ethical, social values of life mix up with entertainment through festivals. It is the duty of the affluent to make the poor shareholders of festivals. In the name of festival money should not be misused.
