Festival of India

Consumer India – An overview of Republic Day

Just after Independence, at a time when stalwarts of Indian politics were busy shaping the plan for the future of the just-freed country, there was both hope and doubt reigning everywhere. No one knew what lay in the future, how the country was going to …

RAMADAN – THE TIME OF ABSTINENCE

Ramadan is the time when Muslims all over the world – over a billion in number – tend to lead a life of extreme abstinence, discipline and self-control. The absence of food and drink and other pleasures provides a perfect opportunity to concentrate on prayer …

DIWALI – A FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

The flare sparked up, whizzes high into the slate-black sky of the night and within a moment blossoms into a fountain of colors – resulting in a heavenly display of radiance that lit up the darkness of the night. Down earth, wherever the vision travels, …

NAVRATRI GLOBAL FESTIVAL

These nine days are divided and devoted to the Trinity of God worshipped in a female form – three days for Durga (Goddess of valor) three days for Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and three days for Sarswati (Goddess of Knowledge and Art) Festivals in India …

Raksha Bandhan

The applying of Tilak on a brother’s forehead by a sister should remind him of the true identity and image of his inner self as a point of light from between eye brows, and the colored thread around the wrist should signify one’s pledge for …

Ramadan Fasting and Penance Strengthen the Soul

A feature common to most religions, worldwide, is the practice of undertaking periodic fasts. Saum or fasts are an integral part of Islam. For Hindus, fasts are a form and part of prayer and worship and the word upvas means “being near God“. The concept …

Diwali the Festival of Lights

India is a land of festivals. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Jains, Sikh, Jews, Parsis and many others of different faiths and traditions celebrate various kinds of festivals during the year. There are a few festivals which are celebrated by all. Diwali is one among …

Guru Purnima

Guru Purnima It is the divine time of year when we celebrate Guru Purnima, the day in which we offer our thanks, love and devotion to the Guru. The Guru Gita says that the Guru is Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Verily, the Guru is the …

Diwali Celebration

Greetings, on the occasion of Diwali, the most popular and widely celebrated festival in the Hindu world. We are grateful, once again, for the historic opportunity to celebrate Diwali in the White House with friends’ and family, and we express our gratitude to President George …