What are some Hindu festivals?

Answer 1

There are many Hindu Festivals. The following is a list of festivals from Wikipedia.

Makar Sankranti orPongalMakar 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 ThaiJanuary 14Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festival 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.Vasant PanchamiFifth day of waxing moon of Magh (Hindu Calendar)January 20Vasant Panchami (also calledSaraswati Puja by Bengalis) is celebrated for the blessing ofSaraswati, goddess of wisdomand the arts.[2]Thaipusamthe full moon in the Tamil month of ThaiJanuary/FebruaryThaipusam 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 that 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 demonSoorapadman.Maha ShivaratriThirteenth night of the waning moon of Magh(Hindu Calendar)March 12Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, followers of Shiva observe religious fasting and the offering of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Shiva.HoliFull moon of Phalgun(Hindu Calendar)March 1Holi or Phagwah is a popular spring festival. Holicommemorates the slaying of the demoness Holika by LordVishnu's devotee Prahlad. Thus, the festival's name is derived from the Sanskrit words "Holika Dahanam", which literally mean "Holika's slaying"ShigmoFebruary - MarchShigmo is celebrated in Goa as one of the prominent festivals of the Konkani Hindu community.Vasant NavratrimovableNavratri is the Hindu festival ofworship and dance. In Sanskrit the term literally means "nine nights". During this festival the forms of Shakti are worshipped.Rama NavamiMarch 24Rama Navami is the celebration of the birth of Rama.Gudi PadwaFirst Day of waxing moon of Chaitra (Hindu Calendar)March 24Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, and is celebrated as New Year's Day by Marathisand theKonkanis. According to theBrahma Purana, this is the day on which Brahma created the world.UgadiMarch 24Ugadi (meaning "the start of an era" in Kannada) is the New Year's Day for the Kannadigasand Telugus. It takes place on the same day as Gudi Padwa.Vishu andTamil New YearMarch 24Vishu 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.Hanuman JayantiMarch 30Hanuman Jayanti is the celebration of the birth ofHanuman, Rama's loyal devotee.BihuVaisakha - The first month of Hindu CalendarApril 14 - 15Rongali Bihu (mid-April, also called Bohag Bihu), the most popular Bihu celebrates the onset of the Assamese New Year (around April 15) and the coming of Spring.SitalsasthiSixth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Jyestha (Hindu Calender)JuneThe marriage of Shiva andParvati is celebrated as Sitalsasthi. It is celebrated as a carnival. Where people and artists from different walks of life participate making it more beautiful and bringing out the true colour of life.Vat PournimaFull moon of Jyeshta(Hindu Calendar)movableVat Pournima is observed inMaharashtra. Pournima means "full moon." Women pray for the prosperity of their husbands by tying threads around a banyantree.BonaluAugustBonalu is a celebration of Mother Goddess, and is celebrated in Telangana Region.Rath YatraJuly 13Rath Yatra is the festival associated with Jagannath.Guru PurnimaFull moon of Ashadh(Hindu Calendar)July 25Guru Purnima is the day devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru. This was also the day when Vyasa, author of theMahabharata was born.Mahalakshmi VratamovableMahalakshmi Vrata is a pujaperformed by married Hindu women to seek the blessings ofMahalakshmi, goddess of wealthand prosperity.OnamAugust 23Onam 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.Raksha BandhanFull moon of Shravana(Hindu Calendar)August 24Raksha Bandhan is a festival celebrated mainly in northern Indian states. Rakhi is a special occasion to celebrate the chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister.Krishna JanmaashtamiEighth day of waning moon of Shravana(Hindu Calendar)September 1-2Krishna Janmaashtami is the Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna. It is actually called as Krishna Jayanthi. The date falls not only on the eight day of the waning moon, but always on Rohini Nakshatra.Gowri HabbaMovableGowri Habba is celebrated inKarnataka, Andhra pradesh, andTamil Nadu. Gowri is worshipped for her ability to bestow courage to her devotees. Newly wed couples are invited to the house of the groom's parents and served with varieties of food.Ganesh ChaturthiFourth day of the waxing moon of Bhadrapada(Hindu Calendar)September 11Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth ofGanesh.NuakhaiFifth day of the waxing moon of Bhadrapada(Hindu Calendar)September 12Nuakhaiis celebrated to welcome the new rice of the season. This is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Orissa (Kosal).NavarathriFirst nine nights of the waxing moon of AshwinOctober 8Navarathri is the Hindu festival ofworship and dance. In Sanskrit the term literally means "nine nights". During this festival the forms of Shakti are worshiped.VijayadashamiTenth day of waxing moon of Ashwin (Hindu Calendar)October 17Vijayadashami is the Hindu celebration of good over evil.DeepavaliNew moon of Ashwin(Hindu Calendar)November 5Deepavali which means "row of lights/lamps" is called "Divali" in North India, Deepa means lamp and in Hindi a lamp is mostly called a Diya or Di. The festival is celebrated on the occasion ofLord Krishna and his wifeSatyabhama killing a demonNarakasura. Another story says the festival is celebrated for the return of Rama and Sita to the kingdom Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile.BhaubeejSecond day of the waxing moon of Kartik(Hindu Calendar)November 7Bhaubeej, also referred to asBhai dooj, is the ceremony performed by Hindus, generally, on the second day of Deepavali. It is celebrated among brothers and sisters and is similar toRaksha Bandhan, except there is no tying of rakhi involved.Kartik Poornima15th of the Full moonday of Kartik(November-December)[Movable]A unique festival is celebrated in Varanasi this day which is calledDev Devali. The Kartik Purnima festival also coincides with theJain light festival and Guru Nanak JayantiChhathNovember 11-12Chhath is unique to Bihar andTerai, but is also celebrated elsewhere. It is a festival dedicated to the Sun God for bestowing the bounties of life and fulfilling wishes.Prathamastamiafter 6 days of diwaliPrathamastami is a festival that originated in Oriya. It is held on the eighth day of the month ofAgrahayana, when older female relatives pray for the prosperity of the eldest child. The festival is followed by rituals and recitations of the Glory of Mahalakshmi.YatraOctober - MarchYatra (also Zatra and jatra) refers to the pilgrimage festivalscelebrated at Hindu temples. Idols and murtis are taken out on special procession in a palkhi (apalanquin) or a chariot called therath. Every temple observes this festival once a year on the traditional day.Karthikai DeepamNovember/DecemberKarthikai Deepam is a very ancient festival of lights celebrated by Tamil Hindus on the full moon day of Karthikai month (November/December). This occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai (Pleiades) and purnima. It is the same asKartik Poornima but since Tamils follow the Hindu Solar calendar with correction for precession of the equinoxes, the Tamil date matches the actual constellation.Pancha Ganapatiis a Winter Solsticecelebration that lasts five days.December 21 to 25Pancha Ganapati is a modern Hindu festival celebrating LordGanesha the Five-Faced Maha Ganapati-Lord of Categories.

However One does not need to celebrate all these Festivals.

Answer 2

Baisakhi for giving thanks for good crops and Dewali for wealth

Answer 3

The most important Hindu festival is called Diwali.

Answer 4

The main festival of Hinduism is called Diwali. Diwali is the festival of lights.