Page 41 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

INDIA THROUGH THE Y EAR  39

National Holidays
Republic Day (26 Jan)
Independence Day (15 Aug)
Gandhi Jayanti (2 Oct)
Public Holidays
Milad-ul-Nabi (Feb)
Shivratri (Feb/Mar)
Holi (Mar)
Good Friday (Mar/Apr)
Ramnavami (Mar/Apr)
Mahavir Jayanti
(Mar/Apr)
Namaaz (prayers) being offered during Id-ul-Zuha Baisakhi (13 April)
Buddha Jayanti (May)
and attracts composers and founder of Jainism, Mahavira
performers of Sufi music from (see p400). This is celebrated on Janmashtami (Aug/Sep)
all over the world. a large scale in Rajasthan and Dussehra (Sep/Oct)
Nauchandi Mela (Mar, 2nd Gujarat. Devotees offer prayers Id-ul-Zuha (Oct)
Sun after Holi), Meerut. Held to the 24 tirthankaras (saints). Diwali (Oct/Nov)
around the shrine of a Muslim
saint and a temple, this fair Guru Purab (Nov)
has come to symbolize Hindu- Summer (Apr–Jun) Christmas (25 Dec)
Muslim unity. Its origins date From early April until June, the
to the late 17th century, when northern plains, and much of
local leaders decided to merge the south, have a hot and dry including almost 500
festivities held concurrently summer. By May and June, the varieties of orchids.
at both shrines. Today, this is heat in the north builds up to a Himachal Hang Gliding
more a fun-filled carnival than scorching 40° C (104° F) and Rally (May), Kangra.
a religious event. above – a signal for An international
Jamshed-e-Navroz (Mar). those who can afford competition that
Celebrated by the Parsi it to move up to the draws professionals
community as their New Year’s hill stations in the from all around
Day, the festival is named after Himalayas. Meanwhile, the world.
the Persian king Jamshed, temperatures in the Buddha Jayanti
who is believed to have first Deccan Plateau and Symbol of the National (May). The Buddha
introduced the solar calendar. the south rise to about School of Drama was born, attained
Parsis celebrate this day with 38° C (100° F). Most enlightenment and
family gatherings and feasts. festivities come to a halt. died on the full moon of the
They also visit fire-temples and Baisakhi (13 Apr). This festival fourth lunar month. Buddhists
make offerings of sandalwood. heralds the harvest season gather in viharas (refuges)
Ramnavami (Mar/Apr). Nine in the north. for prayers.
days of fasting (navaratris) International Flower Festival NSD Repertory Festival
precede the birth of the (Apr/May), Gangtok. A show (May/Jun), Delhi. This all-India
hero-god Rama (see p31) on of rare and exotic flowering theatre festival is organized by
Ramnavami (the ninth day). plants found in Sikkim, the National School of Drama.
During this period, many
Hindu households maintain
a strict vegetarian diet and
prepare special food cooked
in ghee (clarified butter)
without garlic or onions.
Four Square White-Water
Rafting Challenge (Mar/Apr),
Rishikesh. The premier white-
water rafting event in India,
this is also one of the richest
compe titions in the world
with a cash prize of US$25,000.
Mahavir Jayanti (Mar/Apr).
Jains celebrate the birth of the Procession of Buddhist lamas on Buddha Jayanti

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