Festivals of India

Indian festivals are known for their grandness and simplicity rolled into one. The colorful festivals may belong to any of the major or minor religions or sects of India or may be introduced for some other interests such as promotion of handicrafts and tourism in certain regions but they have a common thread of gaiety that marks their Indian-ness and are often combined with processions in the streets, decoration of homes and sacred places such as temples and traditional and folk song and dance performances. Most religious festivals have elaborate prayers, traditions, customs and rituals attached to them. The grand scale and the multitude of festivals in India, each with their own unique legends and significances often awe the foreigners who come to visit India.