Festivals and Celebrations Chapter Notes | Social Studies Class 3 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

We love to celebrate special days with our friends and family because they make us happy. In India, we have many festivals. Some are about our country, some are about farming, and some are about our religions. These festivals bring us together and teach us to share joy and love.

National Festivals

National festivals are special days for all people in India. We celebrate Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti as national festivals. The Government of India says these days are national holidays.

Independence Day

• We celebrate Independence Day on 15 August every year.
• Our country became free from British rule on this day in 1947.
• The Prime Minister hoists the national flag at the Red Fort in New Delhi.
• The Prime Minister also gives a speech on Independence Day.
• Similar events happen in different states by the Chief Ministers of the states.
• On this day, we remember the great leaders who worked hard for our country’s freedom.

Republic Day

• We celebrate Republic Day on 26 January every year.
• On 26 January 1950, India made its rule book called the Constitution.
• That is why India became a republic on this day.
• A big parade happens at Rajpath, near India Gate, in New Delhi.
• The President of India hoists the national flag and takes the salute of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Armed forces, police, and school children join the parade.
• Folk dancers from different states perform in the parade.
• Tableaux (thanki) from different states are also shown in the parade.
• Flag hoisting and cultural programs happen all over the country on this day.

Gandhi Jayanti

• We celebrate Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October every year.
• It is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who is called the Father of the Nation.
• We offer prayers at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in New Delhi.
• Prayer meetings happen all over the country on this day.

Fun Fact

The Prime Minister of India gives the National Bravery Award to children every year on the eve of Republic Day.

Harvest Festivals

Harvest festivals are celebrated to thank for the crops we grow and the change of seasons. Let us learn about some harvest festivals in our country:

Makar Sankranti

• Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14 January in most parts of North India.
• It is a festival to show happiness for the harvest of winter crops.
• We eat jaggery and sesame on this day.
• We also fly kites to celebrate Makar Sankranti.

Pongal

• Pongal is mostly celebrated in Tamil Nadu on or around 14 January every year.
• It lasts for four days.
• It is a festival to thank for a good harvest.
• We thank the gods, the sun, and the cattle for the harvest.
• On this day, we cook fresh rice with jaggery and lentils, called Pongal rice.
• We decorate the central courtyard and entrance of our homes with beautiful kolams.
• Kolams are designs made with white powder.

Lohri

• Lohri is mostly celebrated in Punjab on 13 January every year.
• It is a festival to celebrate the harvest of winter crops.
• Bonfire is a big part of this festival.
• We throw sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts, and popcorn into the bonfire.
• We sing and dance around the bonfire to celebrate Lohri.

Baisakhi

• Baisakhi is another harvest festival mostly celebrated in Punjab in the month of April.
• It is celebrated after harvesting the winter crops.
• We visit gurdwaras on this day.
• Prayers are offered in the gurdwaras.
• We listen to kirtans and discourses on Baisakhi.
• A community lunch, called langar, is served on Baisakhi.

Bihu

• Bihu is the harvest festival mostly celebrated in Assam.
• It is celebrated three times in a year with different names.
• Bhogali Bihu is celebrated in January.
• Rongali Bihu is celebrated in April as the Assamese New Year.
• Kati Bihu is celebrated in October.
• We eat dishes made with rice, coconut, and jaggery during Bihu.
• We also take part in Bihu dance to celebrate.

Onam

• Onam is mostly celebrated by the people of Kerala in the month of August or September.
• It is a festival to thank for the rice harvest.
• It lasts for ten days.
• Vallam Kali, the snake boat races, are organized during Onam.
• Hundreds of men row decorated boats in these races.
• We sing songs and cheer for them.
• Pookkalam, which are designs made with flowers, are also made to decorate the entrance of homes.

Fun Fact

Harvest festival, in the month of January, is celebrated all over India but is known by different names. In Gujarat, it is known as Uttarayan. In Tamil Nadu, it is known as Pongal. In Assam, it is known as Bhogali Bihu.

Religious Festivals

In India, we celebrate many religious festivals with our friends and family. We give gifts and enjoy these festivals together. Let us learn about some religious festivals of India:

Navratri, Dussehra, and Durga Puja

• Navratri is a nine-day festival to worship nine forms of Goddess Shakti.
• The day after Navratri, which is the tenth day, is celebrated as Dussehra.
• Durga Puja is celebrated from the sixth day of Navratri in many states.
• These festivals show the victory of good over evil.

Diwali

• Diwali is also called Deepavali, which means the festival of lights.
• It is usually celebrated in October or November.
• We decorate our houses with lights on the day of Diwali.
• We wear nice dresses and share sweets with friends and family.
• We pray to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha for happiness and money.
• It marks the beginning of a new year in many states.

Eid-ul-Fitr

• Eid-ul-Fitr is an important festival celebrated all over the world.
• It marks the end of Ramzan, a holy month.
• The next day after the end of Ramzan is celebrated as Eid-ul-Fitr.
• We wish each other ‘Eid Mubarak’ on this day.
• We wear new clothes and eat sweets and many dishes.
• Namaaz is offered in the mosques on Eid-ul-Fitr.

Christmas

• Christmas is celebrated on 25 December to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.
• We offer prayers in the church on this day.
• We decorate the Christmas tree in our houses.
• We exchange gifts with friends and family.
• Santa Claus gives gifts to children to make them happy.

Buddha Poornima

• Buddha Poornima falls on the full moon night in the month of April or May.
• It is the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
• People from all over the world visit Bodh Gaya, the place of Lord Buddha’s enlightenment, to pay homage to him.

Mahavir Jayanti

• Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir.
• He was the last tirthankar (preacher) of Jains.
• Jain temples are decorated with flags on this day.
• Prayers are offered to Lord Mahavir on Mahavir Jayanti.

Ganesha Chaturthi

• Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated to honour Lord Ganesha.
• We bring idols of Lord Ganesha to our houses and worship them.
• We make sweets called modak to offer to Lord Ganesha.
• After a few days of celebrations, we go in huge processions and immerse the idol of Lord Ganesha in a water body.

Gurpurab

• Gurpurab is celebrated to remember the birth anniversary or martyrdom of the Sikh gurus.
• Gurdwaras are decorated with flowers and lights, and verses are recited from the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy book of the Sikhs.
• We come together to do sewa and eat from a common kitchen, called langar.

Family Occasions

• Family occasions like birthdays, weddings, birth of a baby, and other celebrations make us feel happy.
• We celebrate them with our family, relatives, and friends.
• All these occasions bring love and togetherness among the family members and friends.

Importance of Festivals in India

• Festivals are a big part of our history.
• They bring joy, peace, and harmony among us.
• We greet each other with good wishes on these occasions.
• We share gifts and sweets to show love.
• Sharing the same feelings brings us closer.

Points To Remember

• We can group the festivals of India as national, harvest, and religious festivals.
• National festivals are celebrated by all Indians.
• These special days are observed as national holidays.
• Harvest festivals mark the harvest of good crops.
• Religious festivals bring everyone together.
• People from various religious communities celebrate these festivals.
• Family occasions bring friends and relatives together.
• Festivals promote togetherness and bring peace and harmony in our country.

Glossary

• Harvest: Cutting of crops
• Festivities: Celebrations
• Enlightenment: Gaining knowledge
• Homage: Respect; honour
• Procession: A number of people or vehicle moving in an orderly way
• Martyrdom: Getting killed as a result of upholding some good cause
• Harmony: Increase; improve