Lohri(01 of18)
Open Image ModalThis popular Punjabi festival is celebrated around the winter solstice to mark the longest night of the year. It is also a spring harvest festival.The festival is a simple one: a bonfire ceremony is held, around which there is much song and dance till the fire dies out. Sesame seeds, popcorn, peanuts, jaggery and crystal suggar (gachchak) are thrown in the fire, and offered to people around the fire as a mark of respect to the fire itself. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Pongal(02 of18)
Open Image ModalCelebrated in January, this Tamilian festival marks the winter harvest. The first rice, a staple grain in the south, is boiled in honour of the Sun God, the Surya Maangalyam in milk with cardamom, jiggery, raisins, gram and cashew nuts. It also coincides with Makar Sankranti where children buy kites of varying sizes, shapes and hues and engage in kite fights.Traditionally, women cook outside on an open courtyard in the sun, in a clay or steel pot, preparing one sweet, and one savoury concoction. Both are served on banana leaves, that are also used to decorate the home along with mango leaves and colourful rangoli – rice flour hand strewn in intricate patterns. The sky on this day is ablaze with colourful kites in different hues, shapes and sizes. (credit:PUNIT PARANJPE via Getty Images)
Holi(03 of18)
Open Image ModalThe festival of colours, like most festivals across India celebrates the triumph of good over evil. A night before Holi, Holika or Choti Holi is celebrated – people dance and sing around a bonfire before retiring for bed. The next morning sees a burst of colour across the country with plenty of song and dance thrown in. A popular drink, Bhang, a mixture curried from cannabis leaves is also mixed in milk and drunk. The festival has gained popularity across the world to celebrate love, and is also a mark of spring. It is celebrated in March every year. (credit:Intellistudies via Getty Images)
Nowruz(04 of18)
Open Image ModalA declining community in India, the Parsis, or Zoroastrians as they are also known celebrate this day as their New Year. Nowruz is celebrated as an ode to the sun. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Easter(05 of18)
Open Image ModalEaster is celebrated as an important festival in India, as is Christmas, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (credit:RAVEENDRAN via Getty Images)
Mahavir Jayanti(06 of18)
Open Image ModalCelebrated in early April, Mahavir Jayanti is the most important festival for the Jain community. It is celebrated to mark the birth of Mahavira, the 24th and last Jain tirthankara (person who has conquered the cycle of death and rebirth). On this day, his statues are carried out in a procession, accompanied by song and dance. Devotees also celebrate his birthday by donating to charity, praying and meditating. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rongali Bihu(07 of18)
Open Image ModalThere are three types of cultural festivals , however Rongali Bihu that is celebrated in April is possibly the most famous. It announces the arrival of spring with a plethora of cultural song and dance activities. Bihu itself denotes peace, humanity and brotherhood amidst all races. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Raksha Bandhan(08 of18)
Open Image ModalThis simple, yet meaningful festival is celebrated to strengthen the bond between sisters and brothers. A sacred threat is tied by a woman on her brother's wrist symbolising her love for her sibling, and the brother's life-long vow to protect her against any harm. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Buddha Purnima(09 of18)
Open Image ModalAlso known as Vesakha, Buddha Purnima is a prominent festival of Buddhists. It celebrates the birth, attaining enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha, and falls on a full moon day. (credit:DIBYANGSHU SARKAR via Getty Images)
Onam(10 of18)
Open Image ModalThe biggest festival in Kerala, Onam is a four-day event that celebrates the homecoming of the King Mahabali, an Asura ruler known and loved for his peacefful reign. During this time, one can really acquire a feel of Kerala's rich cultural heritage: colourful dances such as kathakali and pulikali (tiger dance) are performed. Another vital feature of the festival is the famous snake boat race, where approximately 100 oarsmen row sinuous, narrow boats (hence the name). (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Chaliho Sahib(11 of18)
Open Image ModalCelebrated by the Sindhi community, this festival pays tribute to the Sindhi's god Varuna for saving their lives and religious choices from an evil ruler. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Eidh-Al-Adha(12 of18)
Open Image ModalEidh-Al-Adha, commemorates the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, though in the end God provides him a sheep to sacrifice instead. On the start of Eidh- Al-Adha, Muslims slaughter sheep, cattle and other livestock, and give part of the meat to the poor. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Ganesh Chaturthi(13 of18)
Open Image ModalOf the many gods that prevail in Hindu religion, Lord Ganesha is a fascinating deity with his curling trunk, and pot-bellied stomach. During the month of September, ten days are devoted to this remover of obstacles, and collectively called Ganesh Chaturthi. Giant shrines of the god are built and showcased in local societies and communities for people to come and pay their respects with garlands, flowers, milk and grass shoots. On the last day of the festival, the statues of the god are immersed in large bodies of water amidst much dance, and celebration. The festival is most popular in Maharashtra, and southern parts of India. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Eidh-Al-Fitr(14 of18)
Open Image ModalThe month of Ramadan involves 30 days of rigorous fasting and abstinence from any activities that could be interpreted as sinful — including alcohol, smoking, swearing or coitus. Eidh-Al-Fitr marks the end of this fast with a prayer. All across the world, Muslims greet each other and exchange three hugs in succession. The festival usually falls in the month of October. (credit:NOAH SEELAM via Getty Images)
Durga Puja(15 of18)
Open Image ModalCelebrated between September – October, this Bengali festival gained prominence as a community celebration post independence to unite people against the British Raj. Although the festival is celebrated over ten days, the last four days are the most important and celebrated with much gaiety. Durga was created by the combined efforts of Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva to slay an evil demon that could otherwise not be killed created the ten-armed goddess.Impressive, dominating statues of the goddess decorate every community housed in pandals (a temporary fabricated structure) that are specially built and decorated for the occasion: the pungent aromas of incense sticks are accentuated by flowers and the continuous beating of the dhak along with several mantras chanted. The idol, like with Ganesh Chaturthi, is also immersed in water at the end of the festival. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Dussehra(16 of18)
Open Image ModalThis Hindu festival signals the onset of Diwali, and is a culmination of the Navratri festival where people worship the nine avatars of Goddess Durga over nine days. Several people fast on these nine days or abstain from meat and alcohol. Dussehra is celebrated as the tenth day, marking Lord Rama’s triumph over Ravana, as well as Goddess Durga’s victory (also celebrated as Durga Puja). During the ten days, several plays (Ramlila) depicting the entire tale of Ramayana are performed. On the final day, giant effigies of Ravana, and his brother Kumbhakarna and Meghanand are burned. (credit:CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images)
Diwali(17 of18)
Open Image ModalThe Indian festival of lights, Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness. Every home is beautifully lit up with clay lamps (diyas), people buy new clothes, and decorate their homes. Sweetmeats and presents are exchanged in abundance, and displays of fireworks light the country. (credit:Soumen Nath Photography via Getty Images)
Christmas(18 of18)
Open Image ModalEven though christianity is a minor community in India, Christmas is celebrated here, although Diwali and Holi still rank over most of the festivals. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)