1. PREPARED BY Mrs. ANITHA PULUNDA PRT K V KANNUR SUBJECT: AHPL

2. FESTIVALS A festival is a time of happiness. Some festivals celebrated in the honour of nation are called National Festivals. They are celebrated by the entire nation. There are three special days in a year which we Indians celebrate as our National Festivals. DAYSDATE Independence Day15 August Republic Day26 August Gandhi Jayanthi2 October

3. Independence Day India for a long time was ruled by the British. After years of struggle we got freedom on 15th of August 1947. Every year we celebrate 15 August as our Independence Day. On this day the Prime Minister of India hoists the National Flag at the Red Fort in Delhi. Republic Day India became a Republic on 26 January 1950. A grand Parade is held at Raj Path in Delhi. The President of India takes the salute.

4. Gandhi Jayanti Mahathma Gandhi led the freedom movement in our country. He was born on 2 nd October 1869. We celebrate his birthday as Gandhi Jayanti every year. Gandhiji had a deep love for his country and gave his life for it. That is why we call him Bapu. It means “Father Of Nation”.

5. Some festivals are connected with religion. These are called Religious Festivals.

6. Diwali Diwali is a festival of lights. It is the most important festival of the Hindus. It comes twenty days after Dessehra in the month of October or November. People worship goddess Lakshmi on Diwali.

7. Christmas Christmas is the most important festival of Christmas. It falls on 25 December every year. Christmas all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It teaches us the lesson of love, peace and kindness.

8. Id-Ul-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims all over the the world. It comes after the month of Ramzan. The word Id means to rejoin and Fitr means to give alms. Id-Ul-Fitr

9. Some other important festivals. Onam, Pongal, Durgapooja and Ganesh Chathurthi are some of them. Onam- It is a harvest festival of Kerala. Pongal- It is a harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. Ganesh Chathurthi- It is an important festival of Maharashtra. Maharashtrians celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesha as Ganesh Chathurthi. Durgapooja – Durgapooja is celebrated by Bengalis.