Diwali (or Deepavali, the "festival of lights") is an ancient Hindu

festivalcelebrated in autumn every year. Diwali is the biggest and the brightest

festival in India. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over

darkness. The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day

period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon

night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali

falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate and decorate their homes and

offices. On Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light

up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in

family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

After puja, fireworks follow,[9] then a family feast including mithai(sweets), and an

exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. Diwali also marks a

major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.

Dussehra or Dasara or Dashain or Tenth day of Navratri or Durgotsav is one of

the most important Hindu festivals celebrated in various forms,

across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The name Dussehra is derived

from Sanskrit Dasha-hara literally meansDashanan ravan (Name of devil & in

short Dasha and Hara (defeat)) referring to Lord Rama's victory over the ten-

headed demon king Ravana.

The day also marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasur. The

name Dussehra is also derived from Sanskrit Dasha + Ahaha = Dasharahaha =

Dasharaha. Ahaha means day. Example Aharnisha is derived from Ahaha+nisha.

Goddess fought with evils for 9 nights and 10 days. The name Vijayadashami is

also derived from the Sanskrit words "Vijaya-dashami" literally meaning

the victory on the dashami (Dashmi being the tenth lunar day of the Hindu

calendar month). Diwali the festival of lights is celebrated twenty days after

Dussehra.

Vaisakhi (Punjabi: ਵਿ�ਸਾ�ਖੀ�) visākhī), also known as Baisakhi, Vaishakhi,

orVasakhi) refers to the harvest festival of the Punjab region, the Punjabi new year

falling on the same day, Khalsa Sirjana Divas and Mesha Sankranti festival. The

day represents the vernal (Spring) equinox which occurs around 21 March but the

day is marked on 13 or 14 April due to changes in the calendar.

The festival is especially important for the Sikh community as it marks the

establishment of the Khalsa which is also termed Khalsa Sirjana Divas [2] and falls

on the first day of Vaisakh which is the second month of the Nanakshahi calendar.

In other cases, Vaisakhi falls on Mesha Sankranti (the first of the solar month of

Vaisakha) which marks the start of the solar new year across many parts of the

sub-continent using luni-solar calendars and is important for Hindus. In regions

where the regional new year begins with the start of the lunar new year, [3] Mesha

Sankranti is also considered to be an important day.

The festival also coincides with other new year festivals celebrated on the first day

of Vaisakh, in some regions of the Indian Subcontinent such as Pohela

Boishakh the Bengali New Year, Bohag Bihu of Assam or Puthandu,

the Tamil New Year.

Lohri (Punjabi: ਲੋ�ਹੜੀ� (Gurmukhi), لوہڑی (Shahmukhi)) is a popular Punjabi festival,[1]

[2] celebrated by people from the Punjab region of South Asia.[3] The origins of Lohri are

many and link the festival to Punjab region.[4] Many people believe the festival

commemorates the passing of the winter solstice[5] as Lohri was originally celebrated

on winter solstice day,[6] being the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

There are many origins of Lohri: all forming part of folklore. However, the main theme

of Lohri is the belief that Lohri is the cultural celebration of the winter solstice.[9][10] Lohri

is meant to be celebrated on the shortest day of the year.

According to folk lore, in ancient times Lohri was celebrated on winter solstice day.[11]

[12] It is for this reason that people believe the Lohri night is meant to be the longest night

of the year and on the day after Lohri, day light is meant to increase. Accordingly, the

day after Lohri is celebrated as Maghi Sangrand when the days are meant to start getting

longer.[13][14] People believe nights gradually shorten "by the grain of one sesame seed"

once the winter solstice passes.

Raksha Bandhan (रक्षा� बन्धन) is a Hindu festival that celebrates the love and duty

between brothers and sisters; the festival is also popularly used to celebrate any

brother-sister like relationship between men and women who are relatives or

biologically unrelated. It is called Rakhi Purnima, or simplyRakhi, in many parts

of India.[5] The festival is observed by Hindus, Jains, and many Sikhs. Raksha

Bandhan is primarily observed in India, Mauritius and parts of Nepal. It is also

celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs in parts of Pakistan,[6]and by some people of Indian

origin around the world.

Raksha Bandhan is an ancient festival, and has many myths and historic legends

linked to it. For example, the Rajput queens practised the custom of sending rakhi

threads to neighbouring rulers as token of brotherhood. On Raksha Bandhan,

sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother's wrist. This symbolizes the sister's

love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to

protect her. The festival falls on the full moonday (Shravan Poornima) of

the Shravan month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar