Hanuman Jayanti is one of the Indian festivals celebrating the birth of Hanuman deity. It falls on the 15th day of the Chaitra month (in the month of April) according to the Hindu lunar calendar. The day would be usually a full moon day. But, in some parts of India (Tamil Nadu) the birth of Hanuman (Aanjaneya) would be celebrated on an Amvasya day (no moon day) of the Margashirsh month (falls between December and January).  It is also celebrated during the month of Vaishakh (end of April and the beginning of May) in some other parts. The variation depends upon which calendar one would be referring to.
  Hanuman (also known as Aanjaneya) was a staunch devotee of Lord Rama as the legends state. He was the son of Vayu (air deity) and helped Rama to rescue Seetha from Ravana’s clutches. Hanuman is revered for various reasons. For some he is the symbol of strength. For some he is the protector from evil spirits. Especially people who are affected by Shani (deity of mal-effects) would go to Hanuman temples on Saturdays to get rid of their problem. According to legends Hanuman is the only deity whom Shani would not dare to affect. So, Hanuman is revered for protection over distressing negative energies.
  On the day of his birth the devotees would visit Hanuman temples, would hold spiritual discourses and would do puja at home by chanting mantras. Hanuman Chalesa is the special mantra that would be recited to appease Aanjaneya. Devotees would apply ‘sindhoor’ (vermillion) on their foreheads and the rituals would be done at dawn since Hanuman was born at dawn.

  

  Ram Navami is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of lord Sri Rama –the ideal King of Ayodhya. The festival commences on the ninth day of the Chaitra Navaratri (Vasant Navratri) and it is celebrated with great fervor all across India. Lord Rama is the celebrated hero of the epic Ramayana. Rama is said to be an ideal king/son/husband. Thus, a celebration of his birth day has been a part of Indian festivities. He was born on the ninth day of the Chaitra month (according to the lunar calendar) to Dasharatha and Kausalya.
  Many people take up fast from the first day of the Vasant Navratri (Gudi Padwa) in the name of Lord Rama and end their fast on the ninth day, the day when Rama was born. On that day processions of Ram idol along with Sita Mata and Lakshman take place and people distribute a type of drink called ‘Paanaka’ (Sharbat made out of jiggery and lemon juice mixed with pepper powder). In some parts of India on this day some people will hold the ‘kalyanotsava’ (marriage of Lord Rama and Sita).  At noon, a coconut draped in cloth would be placed on a cradle to rock; this ritual is done to mark the birth Lord Rama. Rama Navami will be celebrated by holding spiritual discourses and processions.  Usually it falls in March and April.

Significance of Holi festival

   Festival of color, Holi is a spring festival celebrated by the Hindus in all over the world. It is the most charming festival of India celebrated in each part of the country.  There are many stories associated with the origin of Holi festival. It is mainly believed to be related with lord Krishna. It is said that lord Krishna often complained of his dark skin to his mother comparing his skin color to the Radha's fair color. His mother decided to apply the color to Radha. Later on Krishna played such pranks on Radha and other Gopikas. Thus the festival is celebrated to commemorate Radha’s celestial love for Krishna.
  The festival of Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter. The festival usually falls on the last full moon of day of Phalguna (Feb- March) month. On the eve of the Holi festival particular bonfire is set on fire thus marking the mythological incidence of Holika Dahan in which Holika (a demoness with a boon that she could not be burnt) dies of burning when she sits on pyre with Prhalad (an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu) who escapes the fire unhurt due to supernatural power of the god lord Vishnu.
  Celebration of Holi contains the activities of people throwing colors mixed with water and applying colors to each other. The festival of Holi gets different flavor in different parts of the country. There are many form of the festival of Holi celebrated in different ways. Lath Mar Holi in Barsna is very striking. Thousands of people gather at the compound of Radha Rani temple to witness the women striking hard with sticks to men who are seen protecting themselves with some kind of shields. Mathura, Vrindavan, Braj, Agra are some of the places related with lord Krishna and hence celebration of Holi there is very religious and divine.

Holi in different states of India

  Holi is also known by different names in different parts of the state. In West Bengal and Orissa it is known as Dolyatra of Basant Panchami while it has other name of Phagawa in Bihar. In Maharashtra and Goa Holi is known as Dhulivandan. Baithki Holi and Khari Holi are some forms of main festival of Holi. Holi festival abolishes the gap between rich and poor, men and women, young and old, rich and poor who all comes together to celebrate colorful Holi.

Lohri festival popularly celebrated in North India especially in states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and the nearby areas.
 Lohri is celebrated on the 13th of January marking the end of the winter season. The next day is the first day of their month. The festival coincides with the Hindu festival Makara Sankranti (celebrated on the 14th of January). Many people believe the festival began as a celebration of the eve of the winter solstice. The day begins with children collecting money from houses in the neighborhood. Children go from door to door singing songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a famous legendary Rajpoot hero of the Punjab who robbed the rich and helped the poor. On the eve of Lohri people create huge bonfires in the harvested fields and in front of homes after that they gather around bonfires and pray for good year. Popular songs, peanuts and corn puffs are enjoyed near the flames. Sarson da saag and makki di roti is usually served as the main course at a Lohri dinner. Farmers pray to God for good harvest seasons and good financial year on the eve of Lohri.

 

Sonepur, a small town of Bihar, is famous for its fair popularly called Sonepur Mela. Sonepur Mela is known for its cattle fair (especially elephant) and sometimes it is also called as Sonepur cattle fair.  Sonepur cattle fair is Asia’s one of the biggest cattle fairs. The town of Sonepur, situated at just 22 km of Patna -capital city of Bihar, hosts this fair every year in the month of November.
Sonepur fair has historical importance as it was visited by royal Rajas and Nawabs in the past. They used to camp there during the fair. Sonepur fair holds religious significance as it was held on the full moon day of Kartik month (November) which is considered to be the most sacred month of Hindu calendar. Sonepur is located at the meeting point of two holy rivers namely Ganga and Gandak. People visiting Sonepur fair are seen taking bath in this holy confluence point of two rivers and seeking bless in Hariharnath Mandir located there.
A Sonepur fair is an event and a place where thousands of cattle are sold and bought. The cattle particularly include elephant, horse, camel etc. the fair is held on large ground and is visited by lakhs of people throughout the country and from abroad as well. The fair is not just confined to cattle fair, it is also an event when numerous cultural and entertaining programs like dance, music, folk arts etc are performed.

Raksha Bandhan is a unique festival of India celebrating a special bond between brothers and sisters. On this occasion a special thread would be tied on to brother’s wrist by the sister. People of India celebrate this festival on the full moon day in the month of Shravana (according to Hindu lunar calendar). The date usually falls in the month of August.  This festival is very popular in the northern part of India. In the southern part people celebrate the full moon day of Shravan by wearing a new ‘sacred thread’ and it is called ‘yajur-upakarma’.

It is difficult to trace the origin of this festival. Hindu scriptures do not have any specific instructions as such to do such a ritual on this day. However there are instances in Puranas and epics when a sister ties something similar to ‘Rakhi’ and the brother promises to protect her. One such instance is the episode of Krishna and Draupadi. Draupadi seemed to have tied a piece of her saree when Krishna got wounded in some occasion and Krishna seemed to have promised her to help her in danger. So, it is said that there was a sort of brother-sister relationship between the both. Many stories like the one mentioned are quoted while tracing the origin of this festival. However Rani Karnavati’s instance has gained (of Chittur) much popularity. The Mughal ruler Humayun seemed to have evacuated Bahadur Shah’s army from Chittur as a token of acknowledgement to the gesture shown by the queen. The queen (Rani Karnavati) seemed to have sent a Rakhi to Humayun. The tradition of tying Rakhi has been an important part of Indian festivities strengthening the bond of harmony among its people.

Rakhi could be tied to any individual other than our own siblings. On that day sister ties Rakhi (Rakhi is a special thread prepared for this occasion. We can choose to decorate the thread) to her brother and the brother in return presents her something as a token of acknowledgement. That is just a token. The real intention is to strengthen the bond of love and harmony.