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Traditions of South Asia

Diwali, Holi, Eid and Vesak, saptapadi and mehndi: the densest calendar of living traditions anywhere. 346 traditions on EveryParampara so far.

🇮🇳 Mathura, India and 5 moreKrishna Janmashtamiकृष्णजन्माष्टमी A night of fasting, song and vigil that marks the birth of KrishnaSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇮🇳 Varanasi, India and 1 moreChhath Pujaछठ पूजा A four-day Hindu festival honouring the sun and Chhathi Maiya along riverbanksSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreSharad Purnima A Hindu autumn full moon festival of night vigils, moonlit sweets and sacred dancesSpiritual · Feasts and festival meals

🇮🇳 Jaipur, IndiaGangaurगणगौर A North Indian spring festival honouring Shiva and Gauri with clay idols and processionsFestival · Fasting and breaking the fast 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreSohrai A harvest and cattle observance kept by indigenous communities in eastern IndiaSeasonal · Feasts and festival meals 🇮🇳 IndiaChaturmasyaचातुर्मास्य A four-month sacred monsoon season of fasting, vows, and monastic retreat in IndiaSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇮🇳 IndiaParyushana An annual Jain holy period of intense fasting, reflection, and asking for forgivenessSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast 🇱🇰 Sri LankaPoya A monthly full moon Buddhist holiday of observance and fasting in Sri LankaSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreNativity of Mary A Christian feast day honouring the birth of Mary, the mother of JesusSpiritual · Lunch

🇮🇳 IndiaNirjala Ekadashiनिर्जला एकादशी A rigorous, waterless Hindu fast observed in early summer to honour the god Vishnu.Spiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇲🇻 MaldivesMaahefun A Maldivian gathering for the last meal before the Ramadan fast beginsTable custom · Feasts and festival meals 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreMahalakshmia jo Sagroمَھالڪشميءَ جو سڳڙو / महालक्ष्मीअ जो सॻड़ो A sixteen-day Hindu fast and prayer dedicated to the goddess of wealthSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Chhath Puja: Steffen Gauger, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Gangaur: Avinashmaurya, CC BY 3.0, source
Nativity of Mary: Giotto, Public domain, source
Nirjala Ekadashi: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Paryushana: Aayush18, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Sharad Purnima: ShotgunMavericks, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Maahefun: Ibrahim Asad, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Krishna Janmashtami: Nvvchar, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

The weekly EveryParampara

Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.