Festivals & Events

1. छठ पूजा

   Chhath pu-jaa

   Chhath Puja

   Usage

   The most important festival of Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal's Terai, held about six days after Diwali. Over four days devotees fast and stand in river or pond water to pray to the setting and rising sun.

   Grammar Note

   "छठ" comes from the word for six. The local word for a festival is "तिहुआर". The offering is "ठेकुआ".

2. होली

   Ho-li

   Holi

   Usage

   A spring festival of throwing coloured powder and water, with the Holika bonfire lit on the night before.

   Grammar Note

   In the Bhojpuri area it is also called "फगुआ", and people celebrate with songs.

3. फगुआ

   Pha-gu-aa

   Phagua

   Usage

   The Holi season in the month of Phagun (February-March) and the folk songs sung then, in a crowd to drums and cymbals.

   Grammar Note

   The name comes from the month "फागुन".

4. दिवाली

   Di-vaa-li

   Diwali

   Usage

   The festival of lights, when homes are lit with lamps on the new-moon night in autumn to welcome the goddess Lakshmi.

   Grammar Note

   Written "दिवाली". "दिपावली" and "दीपावली" also occur but are not mixed in.

5. दशहरा

   Dash-ha-raa

   Dussehra

   Usage

   A day marking the victory of Rama over the demon king Ravana. In many places a huge effigy of Ravana is burnt at night.

   Grammar Note

   Locally it is also "बिजयदसिमी". Tickets and signs write "दशहरा".

6. दुर्गा पूजा

   Dur-gaa pu-jaa

   Durga Puja

   Usage

   An autumn festival of the goddess Durga, whose images are set up in temporary halls. Many people tour the town at night to see them.

   Grammar Note

   "पूजा" means worship.

7. नवरातर

   Nav-raa-tar

   Navratri (nine nights)

   Usage

   Nine nights of prayer and fasting in honour of the goddess, held twice a year.

   Grammar Note

   The local spelling is "नवरातर"; Hindi "नवरात्रि" is not used.

8. शिवराति

   Shiv-raa-ti

   Shivaratri

   Usage

   A night at the end of winter spent awake in prayer to Shiva. In Varanasi long queues form at the temples.

   Grammar Note

   Signs write "महाशिवरात्रि"; locally it is "शिवराति".

9. मकर संक्रांति

   Ma-kar sank-raan-ti

   Makar Sankranti

   Usage

   Around 14 January, when the sun turns north. People bathe in the river and eat sesame sweets and flattened rice with yoghurt.

   Grammar Note

   The festival of this day is also called "खिचड़ी" locally.

10. सतुआन

    Sa-tu-aan

    Satuan

    Usage

    A day in mid-April, the start of summer, celebrated by eating sattu (roasted gram flour).

    Grammar Note

    The name comes from "सतुआ".

11. तीज

    Tij

    Teej

    Usage

    A monsoon festival when women pray to Shiva and Parvati. They fast, sing and ride swings.

    Grammar Note

    Rainy-season songs called "कजरी" are sung.

12. जिउतिया

    Ji-u-ti-yaa

    Jiutiya

    Usage

    A festival when mothers fast, without even water, for a day or more and pray for the long life of their children.

    Grammar Note

    Sometimes written "जितिया".

13. बसंत पंचिमी

    Ba-sant pan-chi-mi

    Basant Panchami

    Usage

    A day at the start of spring for worshipping Saraswati, goddess of learning. Many people wear yellow.

    Grammar Note

    Signs write "वसंत पंचमी"; the local spelling is "बसंत पंचिमी".

14. रामनउमी

    Raam-na-u-mi

    Ram Navami

    Usage

    A spring day celebrating the birth of Rama, with songs and readings at temples.

    Grammar Note

    Signs write "रामनवमी".

15. जन्माष्टमी

    Jan-maash-ta-mi

    Janmashtami

    Usage

    A rainy-season night celebrating the birth of Krishna, with worship at temples at midnight.

    Grammar Note

    Locally also written "जन्माष्टिमी".

16. रक्षाबंधन

    Rak-shaa-ban-dhan

    Raksha Bandhan

    Usage

    A day when sisters tie a protective thread on their brothers' wrists, and brothers promise to protect them.

    Grammar Note

    Spelled and used as in Hindi.

17. गणेश चउथ

    Ga-nesh cha-uth

    Ganesh Chaturthi

    Usage

    A festival of the elephant-headed god Ganesha. His image is set up, worshipped and finally immersed in a river or pond.

    Grammar Note

    Signs write "गणेश चतुर्थी".

18. विश्वकर्मा पूजा

    Vish-va-kar-maa pu-jaa

    Vishwakarma Puja

    Usage

    A day in mid-September when tools, machines and vehicles are worshipped for the craftsman god Vishwakarma. Workshops and factories close.

    Grammar Note

    "पूजा" means worship.

19. देव दीपावली

    Dev di-paa-va-li

    Dev Deepawali

    Usage

    A festival in Varanasi on the full-moon night about fifteen days after Diwali, when countless lamps are lit on all the Ganges ghats.

    Grammar Note

    "देव" means the gods.

20. बुद्ध पूर्णिमा

    Buddh pur-ni-maa

    Buddha Purnima

    Usage

    A spring full-moon day marking the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing. Monks and followers gather at Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar.

    Grammar Note

    "पूर्णिमा" means a full-moon day.

21. ईद

    Id

    Eid

    Usage

    A Muslim festival at the end of Ramadan, celebrated with prayers at the mosque.

    Grammar Note

    Spelled and used as in Hindi.

22. क्रिसमस

    Kris-mas

    Christmas

    Usage

    The Christian holiday on 25 December, celebrated at churches in the larger towns.

    Grammar Note

    A loan from English.

23. होली के बधाई!

    Ho-li ke ba-dhaa-i!

    Happy Holi!

    Usage

    A friendly greeting for people you meet on the day of Holi.

    Grammar Note

    "के बधाई" means "congratulations". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

24. दिवाली के बधाई!

    Di-vaa-li ke ba-dhaa-i!

    Happy Diwali!

    Usage

    A greeting exchanged around Diwali.

    Grammar Note

    The spelling "दिवाली" matches the other cards. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

25. रउआ के छठ के बधाई!

    Ra-u-aa ke chhath ke ba-dhaa-i!

    Greetings on Chhath!

    Usage

    A polite greeting to someone who is observing Chhath.

    Grammar Note

    "रउआ" is used for elders. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

26. ई तिहुआर कब शुरू होला?

    I ti-hu-aar kab shu-ru ho-laa?

    When does this festival begin?

    Usage

    Asks a local when a festival starts.

    Grammar Note

    "तिहुआर" is the local word for a festival. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

27. ई तिहुआर काहें मनावल जाला?

    I ti-hu-aar kaa-hen ma-naa-val jaa-laa?

    Why is this festival celebrated?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the origin of a festival.

    Grammar Note

    "मनावल जाला" means "is celebrated". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

28. ई तिहुआर में का खाइल जाला?

    I ti-hu-aar men kaa khaa-il jaa-laa?

    What is eaten at this festival?

    Usage

    Asks about the festival food and offerings.

    Grammar Note

    "खाइल जाला" means "is eaten". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

29. हम एह तिहुआर में शामिल हो सकत बानी का?

    Ham eh ti-hu-aar men shaa-mil ho sa-kat baa-ni kaa?

    May I join in this festival?

    Usage

    Politely asks whether you may take part in a festival.

    Grammar Note

    "सकत बानी" means "can". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

30. छठ के घाट कहाँ बा?

    Chhath ke ghaat ka-haan baa?

    Where is the Chhath ghat?

    Usage

    Asks where the riverbank for the prayers is.

    Grammar Note

    "घाट" is a flight of steps to the river. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

31. सजावट बहुत सुंदर बा।

    Sa-jaa-vat ba-hut sun-dar baa.

    The decorations are very beautiful.

    Usage

    A remark of admiration at festival decorations.

    Grammar Note

    The adjective does not change for gender. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

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