An idol maker gives finishing touches to a Ganesha statue during the Chaturthi festival. Batukamma is a spring festival celebrated by Hindu women of the Telangana region. Festival Date of Observance Date of Observance (2010 Gregorian calendar) Description Makar Sankranti or Pongal Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into Makar. It marks the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day. Pogal is first day of Uttarayana, coinciding with the beginning of the Tamil month of Thai January 14 Pongal is one of the most popular harvest estival of South India, mainly Tamil Nadu. Pongal falls in the mid-January every year and marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayan – sun’s journey northwards. Pongal festival lasts for four days. Celebrations include drawing of Kolam, swinging & cooking of delicious Pongal. [1]. This day is coinciding with Makara Sankranti. Thaipusam the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai January/February Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. The word Thaipusam is derived from the Tamil month name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a star hat is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a spear so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. Maha Shivaratri Thirteenth night of the waning moon of Magh (Hindu Calendar) March 12 Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, followers of Shiva observe religious fasting and the offering of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Shiva. Vishu and Tamil New Year March 24 Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala. The Tamil New Year follows the nirayan vernal equinox. These festivals falls around April 14 of the Gregorian year.
Onam August 23 Onam is a harvest festival, celebrated mainly in the Indian state of Kerala. Like many other religious festivals in India, Onam is celebrated by people across all castes and faiths. Ganesh Chaturthi Fourth day of the waxing moon ofBhadrapadaHindu Calendar September 11 Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth of Ganesh. Muslim Festivals RAMZAN Legend says that God conveyed the message of Quran to Hazrat Mohammad through Gabriel in the days of Ramzan. All through the month of Ramzan the devout Muslims keep strict fast. Only before sunrise and fter sunset they take any food. For the morning “Sehri”, generally cooked in milk, and tea or water is drunk. Then the call for prayer is heard from the mosques, and the children and men set to their mosques to offer “Namaz”. Women stay at their houses and recite the Koran. But the fasting during the days of Ramzan does not affect the daily routine of the Muslims and they go on with their daily chores. As the sun sets, the call for the Maghrib prayers are heard from the mosques and the fast is broken. It is called “Iftar” and the fast is broken with a sip of water, a few dates and some fruits.
The food taken in Iftar is called Iftari and special delicacies like fried cornflower, boiled grams and lentils, meat kebabs and sweet meats are taken. Thus the 29 or 30 days of the month of Ramzan pass and the sighting of the new moon brings glad tidings of Eid-ul-fitr and the end of the month of Ramzan. EID-UL-FITR Eid-ul-fitr means the joy at the end of the days of fasting. This is the day following the appearance of the new moon. The Muslims put on their best clothes. The Eid prayers are said between the early morning and the noon prayers.
Once the prayer is over they greet each other: Eid Mubarak! This festival is particularly the favorite of children. They are given special money called “Eidee” by their parents for buying toys and balloons on this day. Special delicacies are prepared. They include “Seviyan”, vermicelli’s sweet preparation, “Sheer Korma, and other savoury dishes. EID-UL-ZUHA It is one of the grandest festivals of the Muslims and it is also called Bakrid. It falls on the 10th day of the Muslim month of Zil- Hijja. Hazrat Ibrahim was ordered by Allah in a dream to sacrifice his dearest thing.
So, he decided to offer his son and with the permission of his family blindfolded his son and struck him with his sword. To his amazement when he opened his eyes he saw that he had sacrificed a ram in the place of his son. This is the legend behind the festival. So on this day a ram or a goat or a camel is sacrificed and distributed among the near and dear ones. This festival falls about two months and nine days after Eid-ul-Fitr. On this occasion Muslims who can afford go on a pilgrimage to Mecca and this is called Haj. On this day others go to the mosque and offer prayers. Charities are practiced on this day.
