India

The family is strengthened and united by the celebrations and rituals that mark important life-cycle events. In the same way, the community, as the larger "family" to which the family as a whole belongs, marks the significant events in its life with celebrations and festivities on a grander scale. Some places are more famous for their festivals than anything else. the peaceful village of Pushkar is buried alive in pilgrims and cattle at full moon in November-December, when the desert tribes and camel caravans come to trade. Thiruvaiyaru is just a dot on the map marking the final resting place of the great Carnatic composer Thyagaraja, until it is deluged by musicians and music-lovers attending the festival that marks his birthday. Republic Day has to be seen in Delhi to be fully appreciated; the spectacle of the camel regiments in front of the pink sandstone Rashtrapati Bhavan at sunset during the "Beating the Retreat" is soul-stirring.

Republic Day, January 26. Celebrates the anniversary of the proclamation of a republic, made in 1950. Celebrated especially in Delhi.
Gandhi Jayanti, October 2. Celebrates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), spiritual leader and promoter of civil disobedience and nonviolence.
Martyrdom Day, January 30. Mahatma Gandhi was assasinated on this day in 1948.
Indian Independence Day, August 15. Anniversary of the Indian Independence Act taking effect in 1947.
Children's Day, November 14.
Buddha Purnima. Occurs during a full moon in Jaistha (May 22). Celebrates the birth, death, and enlightenment of Buddha. See Buddhism.
Maharashtra Day, May 1. The day Maharashtra achieved statehood.
Lohri, January 13. A celebration of winter primarily observed in the Punjab state of India.
Makar Sankranti, January 14. A three day festival after the winter solstice. Observed with pilgramages to the Ganges.
Pongal, January 14 or 15. A three day harvest festival in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. On the first day evil spirits are driven from the home and burned in bonfires. On the second day people put on new clothes and cook a feast in new pots. On the third day the cattle are washed, decorated, and taken to temple. [same as or similar to Makar Sankranti?]
Swami Narayan Jayanti. Chaitra [9|10] on the lunar calendar. Same days as Ramnavami.
Kabir Jayanti. On or near a full moon [in June]. [Birthday of Kabir]
Eid-E-Milad. [same day as Rakshabandha, or during an Islamic month]
Karva Chauth. lunar. 10/23/94, 10/12/95.
Hazrat Ali's Birthday. lunar. [on full moon in December or on Islamic calendar].

Public holidays   Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti are nationally observed. Other public holidays are observed depending on the region.