Hinduism - Festivals

1. Holi is the Hindu Festival of Colour, which falls in February or March.

2. Holi is a time for fun.

3. It marks the coming of Spring and new life.

4. Hindus smear each other with paint and throw coloured water at one another.

5. White clothes are worn.

6. Bonfires are lit, ashes from Holi bonfires are thought to bring good luck.

7. The legend of Prahlad and Holika is connected to Holi.

8. Prahlad, son of the demon king, would not worship his father, choosing to worship Vishnu instead.

9. His father tried to kill him because he was so angry, but had no success.

10. Holika, sister of the demon king, also tried to kill Prahlad by sitting with him on a bonfire as she had an immunity to fire.

11. However, because she was being evil, Holika’s immunity to fire disappeared.

12. Prahlad was protected by Vishnu and Holika died instead.

13. Diwali is the Hindu Festival of Lights.

14. It usually falls in November or December and lasts for five days.

15. The festival involves lights, fireworks and sweets.

16. Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

17. It is a time for spring cleaning the home, for wearing new clothes and for decorating buildings with lights.

18. The name of the festival comes from the word dipavali, meaning row of lights.

19. Houses and shops are decorated with small earthenware lamps called diyas.

20. The lamps are lit to help Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, find her way into people’s homes.

21. The legend of Rama and Sita is associated with Diwali.

22. Navaratri is a Hindu festival takes place in October, around harvest time, and lasts for nine days.

23. It is dedicated to Durga, the mother goddess, who killed a demon following a battle lasting nine days and nights.

24. Shiva gave Durga permission to see her mother for nine days in the year and the festival remebers this visit.

25. Hindu families usually try to return home at Navaratri.

26. Feasts and dancing are held.

27. Women shop for new clothes, pots and jewellery.

28. Seeds are often planted and saplings offered to Durga.

29. On the tenth day, the image of Durga is cast into the water to mark her leaving her mother