India is one of the oldest countries in the world.
This fascinating place has a diverse and colorful history.
Almost one-fifth of the entire world's population lives in India; it is the second most populous country on earth, after China!
Its geography is as diverse as its people.
It has high mountains in the north, dry deserts in the west, and tropical beaches in the south.
The people of India have adapted to life in all these different climates, and this is reflected in their culture, heritage, and language.
The people of India love to celebrate life.
They are proud of their rich traditions and vibrant culture, and love to gather to celebrate any occasion.
This is why they have many different festivals.
There are hundreds of festivals all across India every month.
There are so many that there is a holiday for every day of the year.
Some festivals last only a day, some one week, and some last a whole month!
Most often, Indian people celebrate the changing of the seasons, the beginning of the harvest, the full moon, and the arrival of rain.
They also honor religious and national holidays such as the birthdays of saints, national heroes, and gurus.
Each festival has a different name and is celebrated in a different way.
Holi, the Festival of Colors
One of the most popular festivals in India is the festival of Holi.
This festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of the first harvest.
It is usually celebrated at the end of February or the beginning of March.
It starts on the night of the first full moon of spring.
People begin to celebrate by lighting large bonfires in the middle of their towns to scare away evil spirits and ghosts.
The following morning they run around the streets spraying each other with brightly colored powders and colored water.
This is a time when people forget their worries and have fun.
Everyone gets completely covered in a rainbow of colors.
Around lunchtime the celebrations end, and people head to the river to wash off.
They spend the rest of the day at home with their families.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights
Another popular festival is Diwali, or the festival of lights.
All people─rich and poor, old and young, men and women─celebrate it.
It is a four-day-long celebration, during which people decorate their homes with lanterns and set beautiful candles adrift on rivers or the ocean.
By lighting lanterns, people thank their gods for giving them health, happiness, children, and knowledge.
Diwali gives people a chance to scare away dark spirits and welcome light into their lives.
The festival ends with a beautiful fireworks display at night.
Makar Sankranti, the Festival of Kites
A festival called Makar Sankranti celebrates the end of the long winter when the sun enters the northern hemisphere, which occurs on January 14.
The sky fills up with hundreds of colorful shapes as people gather to fly kites, each one more beautiful than the next.
People receive prizes for the most original kite or for flying their kite with the most skill.
At night, people light lanterns, attach them to their kites, and fill the night sky with thousands of glowing lights.
Gandhi Festival
Each year on October 2, the people of India gather to celebrate the birth of their national hero, Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi fought to free India from British rule without violence.
He led peaceful marches throughout the country and united the people of India.
On this national holiday, people visit the many statues of Gandhi all around India and sing Gandhi's favorite songs.
Yugadi, the Hindu New Year
Yugadi is the New Year celebration in the Hindu calendar.
Each year it falls on a different day between March and April.
It is a day of forgiveness and new beginnings.
On the day of the holiday, people exchange sweets and ask each other for forgiveness.
It is a day when merchants and accountants pay their debts as well.
Dasara, the Festival of Good and Evil
Dasara is a ten-day festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.
It is held in the town of Mysore in October.
The whole town celebrates with concerts and dances.
People decorate their homes with lanterns, candles, and flowers for nine days.
On the tenth day, everyone dresses up in a colorful costumes and dances all around the town.
This carnival is a rich celebration full of musicians, clowns, decorated elephants, and traditional dancers.
The people of India are proud of their country's heritage, and this pride shows in the way they celebrate life.
By honoring their traditions with colorful festivals, they show their respect and appreciation for India's rich and varied culture.
Every day is a festival of a different kind, making India a very exciting place!