Hindu Festivals

There are a great number of Hindu religious festivals held throughout the world. The festivals typically celebrate events from Hindu mythology, often coinciding with seasonal changes. There are many festivals which are primarily celebrated by specific sects or in certain regions of the Indian subcontinent.

The festive season is widely celebrated. These events have a historic significance to them and are rooted in various cultural and linguistic norms. The onset of the famous Diwali marks the beginning of lighting ‘diyas’, beautifying homes, offering gifts and visiting friends and family. Similarly, the Holi festival is described as the ‘Festival of Colors’, with its magnificent rain dance and the ‘gulaal’.

Terminology

Utsava

Utsava’ is the Sanskrit word for Hindu festivals, it refers to “religious practices”. Todumal is derived from the Sanskrit word, Utsava. The Sanskrit word Utsava comes from the word “ut” meaning “removal” and “sava” which means “worldly sorrows” or “grief”.

Observance periods (tithi)

Hindu calendar dates are usually prescribed according to a solunar calendar. In Vedic timekeeping, a tithi is a lunar day.

Holi Celebrations People Culture Festival

Hindu festival of Diwali

Sublists

  • List of Hindu festivals in Punjab
  • List of festivals observed at Jagannatha Temple, Puri
  • List of Sindhi festivals

List and descriptions of major Hindu festivals

Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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