Traditions
India
is full of traditions! Some holidays are not celebrated by everyone,
while others are celebrated by Indians all over the
world. Republic Day is a holiday that celebrates the day that
India became a republican unit. It is celebrated on the 26th of
January. Holi is another celebration that is celebrated all around the
world. Holi is a festival celebrated on the day after the full moon in
the Hindu month called Phalguna (early March).It used to be a sign of
spring arriving. During Holi, kids, adults,
and even seniors take colored powder and spray it at friends and
family. After hours of fun, everyone stands in front of a bonfire, and
as a religious belief, prays to God to ask for forgivness of all the
bad things that they have done. Some people also throw in
water
and coconuts. After the bonfire is demolished, the coconuts are cut in
half and served to the crowd. This "holy" food is known as Prasad. In
other words, Holi is a festival of
colors! Diwali is a festival
of lights. The whole purpose of Diwali(also known as Deepawali) is for
a tiny flicker of light to come out of a tiny candle (also known as a
diya). Diwali is usually celebrated in the month of October or
November. Independence Day is a very important holiday. Independence
Day celebrates the day that India won independence from Great Britian.
A lot of different countries around the world have celebrations.
Traditions in India are not just holidays, some are different types of
dances. Below is a chart of dances in the different states of India:
Type of Dance
|
State |
| Bhangra |
Punjab |
| Bharata Natyam |
Tamil Nadu |
| Bihu |
Assam |
| Garba |
Gujrat |
| Kathak
|
North India |
| Kathakali |
Kerala |
| Kuchipudi |
Andhra Pradesh |
| Manipuri |
Manipur |
| Odissi |
Orissa |