SAAF Suzuki Cup 2015 won by India

The 2015 SAAF Championship (South Asian Football Federation Cup) won by India.
India exacted sweet revenge of their last edition defeat as they beat defending champions Afganistan 2-1 in the summit clash in a dominating display to lift the SAAF (South Asian Football Federation) Cup for the seventh time on Sunday.
Final match held at Trivandrum, Kerala on Sunday. Jeje Lalpekhlua (72nd minute) and Sunil Chhetri (101th minute) had scored goals for India. For Afganistan single goal was scored by Zubayr Amiri (70th minute).
Indai is most successful team in this championship, earlier India had won the SAFF Football Championship in year 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009 and 2011.
What is SAFF Football Championship? 

• The SAFF Championship also known as South Asian Football Federation. Cup is the bienneal football competition of the men's national football teams of 8 Asian Football Federation.
• The championship was established in 1993 and is governed by the South Asian football Federation.
• SAAF championship held every two years.
• 8 Participating Countries are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maladives, Nepal, Pakistan Sri Lanka
• Previously SAAF Championship was known as South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup
• The 2017 edition will be host by hosted by Bangladesh.

Current Affairs - Quiz

1. In keeping with the spirit of Good Governance initiative this Union Ministry launched the e-office in the ministry on December 28, 2015 - Union Ministry of Women and Child Development
2. The new crude distillation unit of this public sector undertaking in Mumbai was dedicated to the nation on December 28, 2015 - Bharat Petroleum
3. The river in which an underwater tunnel was proposed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to connect Amaravati and Vijayawada - Krishna River

4. The airport which became country's first to offer e-boarding facility - Rajiv Gandhi International Airport,  Hyderabad
5. Who headed committee on revisiting & Revitalizing PPP model the report of which released by the Union Government on December 28, 2015? Vijay Kelkar
6. Who headed the RBI's committee on Medium-term path on financial inclusion the report of which released on December 28, 2015? Deepak Mohanty

7. Person appointed as the Group Medical Director of the Manipal Hospitals Ltd on December 29, 2015 - Nagendra Swamy
8. Oscar-winning american cinematographer who died on December 27, 2015 and was known for his work in films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and American Graffiti - Haskell Wexler
9. The IAS officer of 1980 Batch of Kerala Cadre who was given the additional charge of being the CEO of NITI Aayog is - Amitabh Kant

10. Gautam Adani's son Karan Adani was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of - Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone
11. Marathi poet and Padma Bhushan recipient who passed away on December 30, 2015 - Mangesh Keshav Padgaonkar
12. Prayagraj Super Thermal Power Project  in Bara, Allahabad was commissioned by - Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.

13. Russia's Rostech State Corporation tied up with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to manufacture - Kamov 226T Helicopters
14. The war ship from which the Long Range Surface-to-Air or BARAK 8 Missile was successfully test-fired on December30, 2015 - INS Kolkata
15. Tbe Union Cabinet approved the construction of 69 bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa road section of the trilateral highway in - Myanmar

Dances of Maharashtra

Folk dances of Maharashtra have evolved mainly from the rural areas. Several folk dances in Maharashtra are preformed during the time of festivals or other occasions. the state has been famous for its vibrant music and the folks forms like Tamasha, Koli, Povadas, Lavani, Kala, Dhangari Gaja etc.

Povada: Povadas are presented in the Marathi ballads form. This form form describes the events in the life of the great Maratha ruler, Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Through the Povada, people remeber Shivaji, a famous hero of his period.

Tamasha: The work tamasha in Persian language means fun and entertainment. The tamasha dance form has been believed to be delivered from the ancient form of Sanskrit drama the 'Prahasana' and the 'Bhana'. The instruments which are used in this dance form are 'Tuntuni', 'Dholaki', Manjeera', 'Harmonium', 'Halgi', 'Daf', Ghungaroos'.

Koli: Koli is another folk dance of Maharashtra which got its name from fisher folk of the state called 'Koli'. The koli are known for their lively dances and separate identity. The dances of these fishermen posses elements taken from their occupation, which is fishing. The dance incorporates elements that this community is most familiar with sea and fishing.

Dhangari Gaja: Dhangari Gaja is one of the most famous folk dance performed in the Maharashtra. As the dhangars of Solapur herd to green pastures for grazing for their cattle, they become acquainted with the nature. Inspired by the scenic beauty they compose poetry, called ovi writing about the nature and their god Biruba.

Lavani: Lavani is mixture of traditional dance and song, which is performed mainly to the beats of 'Dholaki' an instrument like a drum. This folk dance is executed by beautiful women wearing sarees of nine-yards. The word Lavani derived from Lavanya, meaning beauty. This form is combination of dance and music, which is dealt with different and varied topics such as society, religion, politics, romance etc.

Indian River System

India is the fifth country in the world with favorable water resources after Canada, Brazil, Russia and Congo. Rivers of India plays an important role in the lives of the Indian people. The river system provides irrigation, potable water, cheap transportation, electricity as well as provides live-hood for a large number of people all over the country. Indian rivers are mainly divided into following two types:

1. Himalayan Rivers
2. Peninsular Rivers

1. Himalayan Rivers: As the name suggests, these rivers originate from Himalayan Mountains. These rivers again divided into two types. Trans Himalayan & Himalayan. The Trans-Himalayan Rivers originate beyond the Himalayas e.g. the Indus, the Sutlej, the Brahmaputra. Himalayan rivers are those which originate in the Himalayas and flows the Northern planes e.g. the Ganga, the Yamuna.

The Ganga River System: The Ganga originates in Gangotri glacier, the river acquires its name after its head streams Alakhanda and Bhagirathi unite the Devaprayag. The total length of Ganga is over 2,525 kms, shared by Uttanchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal. Later on Ganga flows into Bangladesh known as Padma. The Yamuna and the Sone are main right bank tributaries, on left hand tributaries includs Ramganga, Gomati, Gandak, Kosi.

The Indus River System: The Indus rises in Tibet near Manas sarovar lake (at an altitude of 5,180 meters). Flowing west-wards it enters India in Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir. It receives Himalayan tributaries such as the Gartang, Zaskar, Dras Shoyk, Shigar. Its well known Punjab tributaries which make the Panjnad are Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Chenab and Jhelum. Indus with a length of 2,880 kms is considered as on of the longest rivers of the world. India can utilise 20% of its discharge under the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan.

2. Peninsular Rivers: These Rivers originate in Western Ghats and are dependent on rainfall for water. These rivers flow in valleys with steep gradients. Narmada, Tapi, Govdavari, Krishna, Cauvery and Mahanadi are the major rivers.

Narmada Basin: Its originates in Amarkantak hills in Madhya Pradesh and flows towards west to join the Arabian Sea. It covers the states of Madhya Pradesh & Gujarat.

Tapi Basin: It originates in Madhya Pradesh and covering the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat joins the Arabian Sea.

Godavari Basin: The Godavari originates in Nashik in Maharashtra and covers the states of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. It is known as Dakshin Ganga due to its area covered (1465 kms) and reaches Bay of Bengal.

Krishna Basin: Its rises near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra and covers area of 1400 kms. It flow through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana,  Andhra Pradesh and reaches Bay of Bengal.

Caste System of India

Untouchability  and Caste system in India: India is having caste system based society not only among Hindus but also other castes also. Earlier, the people in the lower hierarchies are not accessible to all the resources and are exploited by upper hierarchies as well, they were victims of untouchability practices.
Besides, there were untouchable castes  also were involved in menial jobs as manual scavengers, Agricultural labors, Skinner of animal hides and so on. There was the concept of Yajmani System, that is little share of produce was given to the non-touchable people. With time, change come in the social behavior of untouchable people due to commercialisation of Agriculture, Emergence of contractual relations and increased employment in factories, Markets, Army etc.

Movements of Pre-Independence Time: In Pre-Independence times, leaders like Jyotiba Phule started Satya Shodak Samaj and also written book called Gulamgiri creating awareness in the minds of untouchables people. There were also movements to make the lower caste people to enter the temples such as Guruvayur Satyagraha.
Babu Jagjeevan Ram, The prominent Harijan leader started Khet Majadoor Sabha and depressed Class League to alleviate the problems of depressed classes. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar leader of depressed classes founded Independent Labor Party in 1936 and All India Scheduled Caste Federation in 1942. He also wrote a book called Annihiation of Castes against the caste system. Dr. Ambedkar tried to empower the depressed classes by providing them legal rights which can found the constitution.

Untuochability Movement after Independence:

• In 1956, Republican Party was formed to fight for the rights of Dalits under the leadership of Yashwantrao Chavan.
• In early 1970, a new trend called Dalit Panthers was emerged in urban areas showing waves of radical politics with student and youth support base.
• In 1978, there was an agitation to rename Marathwada University as Ambedkar university which resulted in anti-dalit riots.
• In 1980, in North India Bahujan Samajwadi Party was emerged under Kashiram with basic aim and strategy based on electroal power that is to empower the depressed classesin political manner.
• In 1990, Prakash Ambedkar tried to combine all dalit organisation for contesting Maharashtra assembly elections but was not successful.
• Non-Dalit parties and group like Ambedkar Sanghams and agricultural unions also played important role in fighting about the issues of Dalits.
• Break down of Yajmani System proved to be major break through.
• Conversion of dalits and reservation facilities are the obvious improvements in the status of depressed classes.

Revolt of 1857

Causes for the failure of Revolt:
By July 1858, the revolt was completely suppressed. Following factors may be the reason for the failure of revolt:

• Lack of co-ordination and central leadership. The revolt was supposed to have started on 31 May 1857 as decided by Nana Saheb and his colleagues but the Merrut incidence led to early breaking of the revolt.
• Lack of forward looking program.
• Indian leaders lacked resources and experience as comapred to British.
• Lack of support and martial races of the North.
• British power have remained intact in the eastern, western and southern parts of India from where the forces were sent to suppress the revolt.
• Tacit support of certain sections of Indian public.
• Limited territorial and base.
• Many native Indian states, influenced by the example of powerful Hyderabad, did not join the revolt.
• Sikh soldiers of the Punjab are remained loyal to the British throughout.
• The aging Bahadur Shah was neither a brave general not an astute leader of people.

Impacts of the Revolt:

The impact of the 1857 Revolt may be summarized as:

• In august 1850 the British government passed an act for Better Governemnt of India, 1858 which put and end to the rule of yje Company. The control of the British government in India was transfered to the British Crown.
• A minister of British government, called the Secretary of State, was made responsible for the Government of India.
• The British Governor general of India was now also given the title of Viceroy,, who was also the representative of the Monarch.
• Marked the end of British imperialism and Princely states were assured against annexation. Doctrine of Lapes was withdrawn.
• Marked the end of peshwaship and the Mughal rule.
• After the revolt, the British pursued the policy of divide and rule.
• Far-reaching changes were made in the administration and increase of white soldiers in the army.
• Total expense of the supprression of the Revolt was borne by the Indians.

Largest in India

Largest, tallest, longest, biggest, deepest in India

Significance	Achiever
Highest Award	Bharat Ratna
Highest Gallantry Award	Param Vir Chakra
Longest River in India	The Ganges
Longest Tributary River in India	Yamuna
Largest Lake	Wular Lake, Kashmir
Largest Lake (Brackish Water)	Chillar Lake, Odisha
Largest man-made Lake	Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar, Rihad Dam
Highest Mountain Peak	Godwin Austin (K2)
Highest Dam	Tehri Dam, Uttarakhand
Highest Waterfall	Kunchikal Waterfall, Karnataka
Highest Gateway	Buland Darwaza, Uttar Pradesh
Highest Battle Field	Siachin Glacier
Highest Rainfall Place	Mawsynram, Meghalaya
Largest Populated City	Mumbai, Maharashtra
Largest State (Area)	Rajasthan
Largest State (Population)	Uttar Pradesh
Largest District (Ares)	Kutch (GJ)
Largest Delta	Sundarbans Delta (WB)
Largest River without Delta	Narmada and Tapi
Longest River Bridge	Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Patna
Longest Cantilever Span Bridge	Howrah Bridge
Biggest Cave Temple	Ellora (MH)
Longest Road	Grand Trunk Road
Tallest Statue	Statue of Gomateshwar (17 meters tall in KA)
Largest Public Sector Bank	State Bank of India
Longest Canal	Indira Gnadhi Canal or Rajasthan Canal
Largest Zoo	Zoological Garden at Alipur (WB)
Fastest Train	Shatabdi Express (Running between New Delhi and Bhopal)
State with Longest Coastline	Gujarat
Longest Electric Railway Line	Delhi to Kolkata via Patna
Longest Railway Route	Assam to Kanyakumari
Highest Railway Station	Ghum (WB)
Longest Tunnel	Jawahar Tunnel (J&K)
Largest Animal Fair	Sonpur (BR)
Biggest Hotel	Oberoi-Sheraton Hotel (Mumbai)
Largest Port	Mumbai
Largest Gurudwara	Golden Teple (PB)
Deepest River Valley	Bhagirathi
Largest Chruch	Saint Cathedral (GA)
Oldest Chruch	Saint Thomas Chruch (KL)
Longest Beach	Marina Beach (Chennai)
Highest Airport	Leh (Ladakh)
Largest River Island	Majuli (Brahmaputra River, Assam)
Largest Planetarium	Birla Planetarium (Kolkata)
Longest Highway	NH-7 (Kanyakumari to Varanasi)
Largest Building	Rashtrapati Bhavan
Largest Post Office	Mumbai GPO
Largest Lok Sabha Constituency (Area)	Ladakh
Largest Distance run Train	Vivek Express
Tallest Building	Imperial Building, Mumbai

First in India: Part II

Governance:

• First President of Indian National Congress: Womeshchandra Bannerjee (1885)
• First President of the Indian National Congress of independent India: Acharya Kriplani (1947)
• First President of India: Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1905-1962)
• First Prime Minister: Jawaharlal Nehru (1947-64)
• First women President : Pratibha Patil (2007-2014)
• First Chief Election Commissioner: Sukumar Sen
• First Industries and Supplies Minister: Shyam Prasad Mukherjee
• First Vice-President: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
• First Deputy Prime Minister: Vallabhbhai Patel (1947-50)
• First Law Minister: Dr. B R Ambedkar
• First Leader of Opposition: A K Gopalan
• Non-Congress government: Janata Party (1977-1980 with Morarji Desai as PM)
• Non-Congress State government with majority by single party: E M S Namboodiripad of CPI Kerala (1957)
• Prime Minister to lead minority government for for a full term: P V Narsimha Rao (1991-1996)
• Person outside Nehru-Gandhi family to serve as prime Minister for a full term: P V Narsimha Rao (1991-1996)
• First women Railway Minister: Mamta Banerjee
• First Viceroy of India: Lord Canning (1858)
• Governor General of India: Warren Hastings (1773)
• Governor General of Independent India: Lord Mountbatten (1947)
• Indian Governor General of Indian Union: C Rajagopalachari (1948)
• First Sikh Prime Minister of India: Manmohan Singh (2004-2014)
• First Muslim President: Zakir Hussain: (1967-1969)
• Indian ICS Officer: Satyendranath Tagore (1863)
• First speaker of Loksabha: G V Malvankar (1952-1956)
• Presentation of First Budget after India's Independence: R K Shanmukhan Chetty (26 Nov 1947)
• First Home Minister of India: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• First Indian President to die in office: Zakir Hussain (3 May 1969)
• First Chief Minister to die in office: C N Annadurai, Tamilnadu
• First Prime Mister to resign from office: Morarji Desai (1979)
• First women Cabinet Minister of India: Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
• First women Minister of India: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
• First women Chief Minister: Sucheta Krplani
• First women Governor of a State: Sarojini Naidu (UP, 1947-1949)
• First women speaker of the Lok Sabha: Meira Kumar

First in India: Part I

Awards and titles:

• Mr. Universe: Manohar Aich (1952)
• Miss World: Reita Faria (1966)
• Miss Asia Pacific: Zeenet Aman (1970)
• International Teen Princess: Radha Bartake (1974)
• Bharat Ratna: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, C Rajgopalachari, C V Raman (1954)
• Padma Vibhushan: Satyrenath Bose, Nandlal Bose, Zakir Hussain, Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher, Jigme Dorji
• Magsaysay award: Vinoda Bhave (1958)
• Nishan-e-Pakistan: Morarji Desai (1990)

Defense (in the Republic of India):

• First President of Indian Republic: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
• First Vice President of Indian Republic: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
• First Defense Minister of India: Baldev Singh
• Commander in Chief of Free India: General Sir Roy Bucher
• Indian Commander in Chief of Free India: General Karippa (1949)
• Indian Chief of staff: General Karippa (1947)
• Chief of Air Staff: Air Marshal Thomas Elmhirst
• Chief of Naval Staff: Vice Admiral R D Katari
• Field Marshal: Sam Manekshaw (1973)
• First Param Vir Chakra Winner: Major Somnath Sharma
• First female jawan in the Army: Sapper Shanti Tigga

Economy:

• First power in India with Soviet Collaboration: Neyevli Lignite Corporation (1962)
• First central PSU to be privatized: Modern Food Industries (2000)

Exploration:

• First person to fly in balloon and land in a parachute: Ramchandra Chatterjee
• First women to scale Mt. Everest: Bachendri Pal (23 May 1984)
• First person to reach South Pole: Col Jatinder Kumar Bajaj
• First women to reach south pole: Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu

Film and entertainment:

• First film to be made in India: Raja Harishchandra (1913 by Dadasaheb Falke)
• Sound film: Alam Ara (1931)
• Color film: Kisan Kanya (1937)
• First actress of Indian Cinema: Durgabai Kamat (1918)
• Dadasaheb Falke award: Devika Rani (1969)
• First government award for films: Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards (1937)
• First Indian film maker to get Bharat Ratna: Satyajit Ray (1992)
• Oscar for Lifetime Achievement: Satyajit Ray (1992)
• First National film award for cinema: Shyamchi Aai (1954)
• First sponsored TV serial: Hum Log (started 7 July 1984)
• Actor to enact 10 roles: Kamal Haasan (Dashavtar)

Types of Cheques

A cheque is a document that orders a bank to pay money from the account. Here are the some types of cheques:

• Order Cheque: A cheque which is payable to a particular person or his order is called an order cheque.
• Bearer Cheque: A cheque which is payable to a person whosoever bears, is called bearer cheque.
• Blank Cheuqe: A cheque on which the drawer puts his signature and leaves all other columns blank is called blank cheque.
• Stale Cheque: The cheque which is more than three months old is a stale cheque.
• Multilated Cheque: If cheque torn into two or more pieces, it is termed as multilated cheque.
• Post Dated Cheque: If a cheque bears a date later than the date of issue, it is termed as post dated cheque.
• Open Cheque: A cheque which has not been crossed is called an open cheque. Even if a cheque and subsequently the drawer has cancelled the crossing at the request of the payee anf affxes his full signature with the words ' crossing cancelled pay cash', it becomes an open cheque.
• Crossed Cheque: A cheque which carries to parallel transverse lines across the face of the cheque with or without the words 'I and co', is said to be crossed.
• Gift Cheque: Gift cheques are used for offering presentations on occasions like birthday, wedding and such other situations. It is available in various denominations.
• Traveller's Cheque: It is an instrument issued by a bank for remittance of money from one place to another.

European Union

The European Union is an economic and political union of 28 member countries that are primarily located in Europe. The EU operates through a system of super-national independent institutions and intergovernmental negotiated decisions by the member countries. Institutions of EU include the European commission, the council of the European Union, the European Council, the court of the Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank, the Court of Auditors and the European Parliament.

The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel community (ECSC) and the European Economic Community (EEC), formed by Inner six countries.The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union under its current name in 1993. The last major amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU, the treaty of Lisbon, came into force in 2009.

The Eu has developed a single market through a standardized system of laws that apply in all member countries. Within the Schengen Area, passport controls have been abolished. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital, enact legislation in justice and homes affairs and maintain common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development.

The six countries signed the Treaty of Rome, which extended the earlier co-operation within the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and created the European Economic Community (EEC), the establishing a customs union. They also signed another treaty on the same day creating the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for co-operation in developing nuclear energy.

The monetary union was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002. Its currently composed of 18 member countries that use the euro as their tender. The unions maintains permanent diplomatic missions throughout the world and represents itself at the Unite Nations, the WTO, the G8 and the G 20.

The European Union has five key points in its energy policy, increase competition in the internal market, encourage investment and boost interconnections between electricity grids; diversify energy resources with better systems to respond to a crisis; establish a new treaty framework for energy co-operation with Russia while improving relations with energy-rich states in Central Asia and North Africa use existing energy supplies more efficiently while increasing renewable energy commercialization and finally increase for new energy technologies.

Major Festivals in India

India is often described as a land of many religions and languages, but it might as well be described as a land of festivals. Some festivals observed throughout the country: others have  specific regional associations. People belongs to different religions celebrate different festivals. However, some festivals have pan-religious and are celebrated by all the sectors in the India. Each festival in each region has its own particular foods and sweets appropriate to the season and crops and days are spent in their careful preparation.

National Holidays of India:

1. Republic Day: This is celebrated on 26th January. On this day India become republic.
2. Independence Day: This celebrated on 15th August, as India gained independence from British Rule on this day in 1947.
3. Gandhi Jayanti: This is celebrated on 2nd October which is father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.

10 major festivals of India:

1. Baisakhi: Baisakhi or Vaisakhi is celebrated by sikhs and some sectors of Hindus too. This harvest festival is celebrated especially in Punjab region by the Sikh community. For Sikhs, this festival celebrates for the new harvest and also the birth of Khalsa. Baisakhi is generally celebrated either on 13th or 14th April. People usually go to Amritsar to visit The Golden Temple. The folk dance of 'Bhangara' is also performed of the people as a marker of their joy and happiness.
2. Christmas: Christmas, is the annual celebration is a fest central to the Christian liturgical year. This is celebrated by all over the world by Christmas on 25th December. Family re-unions and the exchange of gifts are the stock features of the festival. Christmas carols, cards and Santa Claus are some of the popular derivatives of the festival that have developed across the globe and have a crucial part of Christmas celebrations.
3. Diwali: Diwali is also termed as the Dipawali, is widely celebrated and most famous festival of the Indian festival. The festival is first said to have been celebrated by the people of Ayodhya when Lord Rama back from exile with wife and brother after fourteen long years. The festival was celebrated by lighting little clay lapms and the whole city of Ayodhya was decorated for welcoming the mighty king. Literal meaning of Diwali is row of lights. In the evening, after offering prayers to God Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi, people lit their house with vibrant colors and candles thus creating a striking view. According to Hindu lunar calendar, festival takes place on the moonless night of dark half of Kartik. Highlight of the festival is the firework carried out all across the country.
4. Eid: Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is a three-day Muslim celebration. Ramadan is the Islamic holy month of fasting during which followers of Muslim religion observe a strict fast from dawn-to-sunset. It is believed that the Koran was reveled to Prophet Mohammed in the month of Ramazan. Eid-ul-Fitr is thus celebrated with great enthusiasm.
5. Ganesh Chaturthi: The spectacular eleven day of Ganesh Chaturthi festival honors the birth of the beloved Hindu god, Lord Ganesha. The start of the festival sees huge, elaborately crafted status of Ganesha installs in homes and podiums, which have been especially constructed through the streets, accompanied by much singing and dancing and then submerged in the ocean.
6. Holi: Holi is two day festival that also celebrates the victory of good over evil, as well as abundance of the spring harvest season. It's commonly referred to as the "Festival of colors". People exuberantly throw colored powder and water all over each other, have parties and dance under water sprinkles. A paste made from cannabis plants (Bhang) is also traditionally consumed during the celebrations. Holy is a very carefree festival that's great fun to participate in if you don't mind getting wet and dirty.
7. Karva Chauth: Another important Indian festival that celebrates the most beautiful relation on earth of that of a husband and wife is Karva Chauth. To ensure the well-being, wealth and long life of their husbands married women observes a very difficult fast on this occasion. They neither eat food nor drink water the whole day. They get dressed up like newly wedded brides and decorating hands and feet by creating intricate designs with henna is one of the most common traditions largely follow on this occasion.
8. Navaratri, Dussehra and Durga Puja: The first nine days of this festival is known as Navaratri and are filled with dance in honor of the Mother Goddess. The tenth day called Dussehra is devoted to celebrating the defat of the demon king Ravana by Lord Rama. It also coincides with the victory of the revered warrior Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. Last day of the celebrations come to an end by immersing the idols in the nearby water channels on the evening of Dashami as it is believed that goddess to her abode on this day.
9. Onam: Onam is the festival which is celebrated by the people of Kerala in South India. It is celebrated as the homecoming of the mythical king Mahabali. People wear new traditional dresses and eat the traditional food of rice poured on banana leaves along with four different types of dishes. They celebrates this occasion by decorating a pyramid of beautiful flowers and pray for their good health and wealth. On this day people of Kerala also participate in an enormous boat riding competition.
10. Raksha Bandhan: A festival celebrated to bring out the love and affection between brothers and sisters, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated mostly in India. On this day, sisters pray for long life of their brothers and God to bless them with his blessings. As a symbol of their love and care for their brothers the sisters tie Rakhi or Scared threat of protection on their brothers wrists. Brothers, in turn give them enticing rakhi gifts and promise to care for them till the end of their lives.

Indian Fairs and Festivals

This list of Hindu festivals summarizes festivals observed in Hinduism.
Uthasava or Utasava or Utsav is derived from the Sanskrit word, Utsasva. Festivals in India are determined by Solar and Lunar positions and they may fall in the different month specified.

Month	Festival
January	Makar Sankranti, Lohri Pongal Thai Pusam Flot Festival National Kite Festival  Kerala Village Festival Bikaner Festival Pattadakal Dance Festival Id-ud-Fitr Vasant Panchami
February	Maha Shivratri Goa Carnival Desert Festival Nagpur Fair International Yoga Week Elephant Festival Deccan Festival Taj Mahostav Surajkund Crafts Mela Chapchar Kut Islands Tourism Festival
March	Holi Ganaur Jamshed-e-Navroz Ramnavami Id-ul-Zuha Mahavir Jayanti Khajuraho Dance Festival Elephant Festival Hoysla Mahotsava Ellora Festival
April	Good Friday Easter Baisakhi Gudi Padva or Ugadi Pooram Mhuarram Buddha Purnima Mewar
May	Urs Festival
June	Ganga Dussehra Hemis Festival
July	Rathyatra Guru Purnima
August	Janmashtami Onam Nag Panchami Raksha Bandhan Ganesh Chaturthi
September	Tranetar  Mela
October	Navaratri Durga Puja Dussehra Marwar Festival
November	Sharad Purnima Diwali Guru Purab Ka Pomlang Nongrem Sonepur Fair Pushkar Fair Hampi Festival
December	Christmas Konark Dance Festival