Oct/Nov

Diwali (Deepavali) : During this happiest Hindu festival, oil lamps are lit to show Rama the way home from exile, sweets are given, and fireworks let off. The festival lasts five days. On day one, doorsteps are decorated with rangolis/kolams (chalk/rice flour designs); day two celebrates Krishna's victory over the tyrant Narakasura; three is spent worshiping Lakshmi; four commemorates the visit of the friendly demon Bali; and on day five men receive an auspicious tikka (forehead mark) from their sisters.

Ramzan (Ramadan) : This 30 day dawn to dusk fast marks the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month during which the prophet Mohammed had the Koran revealed to him in Mecca.

Nov/Dec/Jan

Nanak Jayanti : The birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, is celebrated with prayer readings and processions.

Christmas : Christians celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Christ on 25 Dec.

Eid al Adha (Bakrid) : This Islamic occasion commemorates the Propjet Ibrahim's readiness to obey god even to the point of sacrificing his son.

Losar : Tibetan New year celebrated mainly in Mc Leodganj (Himachal Pradesh) with teaching sessions by Dalai Lama.

Jan/Feb

Republic day : It is the anniversary celebration of India's establishment as a Republic on 26 Jan 1950. The military parade along Rajpath in Delhi is the main attraction. Beating of the Retreat ceremony is celebrated three days after the Republic day.

Pongal : This four day festival marks the end of the harvest season. It's observed on the first day of the Tamil month of Thai, which is in the middle of January. Festivities include boiling-over of a pot of pongal (a mixture of rice, sugar, dhal and milk), symbolic of prosperity and abundance. On the third day, cattle are decorated and fed the pongal.

Vasant Panchami : Books, musical instruments, and other related objects are placed in front of the goddess Saraswati to receive blessings. Mainly celebrated in West Bengal and is traditional to wear yellow dress.