Hindu Festivals and Pilgrimage

Festivals and pilgrimages give Hindu life its rhythm and bring communities together. Diwali, the festival of lights in autumn, celebrates the victory of light over darkness and is linked to stories such as Rama's return to Ayodhya and the goddess Lakshmi. Holi, in spring, is famous for throwing colored powder and celebrates renewal and the playful love of Krishna. Navaratri honors the Goddess over nine nights, and Durga Puja is a major celebration in Bengal.

Pilgrimage (tirtha yatra) to sacred rivers, mountains and cities is believed to purify and bring merit. Varanasi, on the Ganges, is regarded as especially holy, and many Hindus hope to have their ashes immersed there. The Kumbh Mela, held in rotation at four river sites, draws vast crowds to bathe at auspicious times. Because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar, festival dates shift on the Gregorian calendar each year.