Festivals in Delhi: Experiencing the City’s Vibrant Celebrations

Festivals in Delhi: Experiencing the City’s Vibrant Celebrations

Delhi is a city with a very deep-rooted culture and glorious history. It is a city which knows how to celebrate its festivals. There is color, entertainment, music, performances, songs, shopping, and everything exciting in these festivals. The festivals in Delhi experiencing the city’s vibrant celebrations. And the amazing fact is that there is a festival for every religion. Hindus celebrate Diwali, Muslims celebrate Eid, Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi and many other communities also celebrate their festivals in Delhi. If you want to go experience the city’s vibrant celebrations you can visit Delhi in the right season.

Diwali

People in Delhi celebrate Diwali with colors and lights. They start preparations for Diwali days before Diwali arrives. They buy new clothes and shop for firecrackers before Diwali. There is a festive air in Delhi as Diwali approaches. Diwali is a religious festival and the people of Delhi wait every year for Diwali to come. They clean their houses and redecorate their homes during this festival. People light lanterns and diyas in front of their houses. They exchange gifts and the entire family gathers during Diwali to celebrate this festival with their loved ones.

Holi

Delhi also celebrates another festival and it is none other than Holi. The people of Delhi indulge in applying colors and playing with water during Holi. Everyone is happy and excited during Holi. Devotees light up the holy fire of Holika, and pray to this fire. This fire is called as Holika and the act of this fire is called as Holika Dahan. It is a symbol of the victory of good over evil forces. People gather in the streets and embrace each other with colorful gulal and throw water balloons at each other. People eat sweets and smear each other with colors. They drink bhang and enjoy the festival of Holi.

Durga Puja

The festivals in Delhi are great for experiencing the city’s vibrant celebrations Durga Puja. People across India and Delhi also call this festival as Navratri, or the Festival that lasts nine nights. Devotees celebrate Durga Puja for nine days and during these nine days, the entire city of Delhi takes on a festive look. Peoploe worship Goddess Durga during Navratri and dance to the rhythmic tunes of Garba. Pandals are full of people dancing and happy festivities. People wear colorful dresses and sing prayers in devotion to Goddess Durga.

Guru Nanak Jayanti

Delhi celebrates yet another famous festival and this is Guru Nanak Jayanti. Thsi is a festival which celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak was the great founder of the Sikh religion in India. He was a spiritual guru who inspired a whole generation of Sikhs to follow the righteous path. People in Delhi carry Guru Granth Sahib and sing devotional songs in praise of the Sikh guru. They sing kirtan songs and walk in a procession to gurudwaras. Devotees decorate these Sikh temples with colorful lights, and langar meals are prepared for the devotees. People from all castes and religions are free to eat these langar meals.

Eid-al-Fitr

Muslims in Delhi celebrate Eid-al-Fitr with great zest and religious fervor. Eid-al-Fitr is the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which is a period of fasting. Muslims pray in mosques and people gather to wish each other Eid Mubarak. People dress in their religious attire and give charity to the needy and poor people. Family and friends gather in a community and there is a great feast of sweets and delicious food.

Christmas

People in Delhi celebrate the festive season of Christmas with great joy. Christmas is the festival of the Christians and they celebrate this to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. The Christians decorate the churches with lights and various ornaments. Christians in Delhi gather for Midnight Mass and sing carols. Family members and friends share Christmas cakes, sweets, and meals. People visit the markets in Delhi and buy gifts and clothes.

Janmashtami

Delhi celebrates one of the most devotional Hindu festivals in great style. Janmashtami is the religious festival during which celebrations are held for the birth of Lord Krishna. The temples in Delhi, such as ISKCON, and Krishna Balaram Mandir are decorated and lighting is done in these temples. Devotees gather in their hundreds in the temples and sing devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna. They rock the cradle in which the idol of Krishna, as a baby is put. Pilgrims from across India gather at this time and devotional performances are held till midnight.

Lohri

The city of Delhi celebrates yet another very famous festival and they call is as Lohri. The Punjabi community in Delhi celebrates Lohri and is very popular in Punjab and Northern India. People in Delhi gather in groups and lit bonfires to mark this festival of Lohri. They perform bhangra and other traditional Punjabi dances. Artists sing folk songs and programmes are held across Delhi to mark the occasion of Lohri. Sweets, peanuts, and popcorn are distributed and the local Punjabi meals are eaten on this festive occasion.

Baisakhi

The Sikh community in Delhi celebrates the Baisakhi festival. This is a festival that celebrates the spring harvest season. Baisakhi is not a religious festival, but is a harvest festival, that celebrates the good harvest of the farmers. In Delhi, people sing bhajan kirtans. Devotees light up gurudwaras with lights and prepare langar meals for the visitors. The Sikh shrines in Delhi such as Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, and Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib are some of the best places to visit during the Baisakhi festival.

Eid-al-Adha

Bakri Eid is also called as Eid-al-Adha, and Muslims in Delhi celebrate this festival. Muslims in Delhi gather in mosques and pray in mornings and evening times. Eid-al-Adha is a festival that celebrates the sacrifice of the son of Abraham. Families sacrifice sheep, lambs, and goats and this is an act that is very sacred. People distribute meat among friends, family members, and poor people.

Conclusion

These were the festivals in Delhi experiencing the city’s vibrant celebrations. You should visit Delhi during any festival and see the beauty of these cultural festivals for yourself. The festival is also a great tourist attraction and is a time when people gather and celebrate.