Diwali is the largest and most important holiday to India, according to National Geographic.

It
is a five-day festival known as the festival of lights because of the lights lit during the
celebration to symbolize the inner light that protects them from spiritual darkness. Holi, the
festival of colors, also called the festival of love, is popular in the spring. The country also
celebrates Republic Day (Jan. 26), Independence Day (Aug. 15) and Mahatma Gandhi's
birthday (Oct. 2).

Why do we do an ‘Aarti’ and garlanding?

Performing aarti and garlanding are acts of veneration and love for the diety. Aarti
consists of a dish that carries five small metal lamps along with cotton, few rice
grains and arecanut. A conchshell filled with water, auspicious leaves or flowers,
incense or lighted camphor are also placed in the tray. The lamps are lit and the tray
is rotated in a circular motion in front of the deity or the person to be welcomed. The
purpose of performing arati is to ward off evil effects and the malefic influence of the
‘evil eye’. The camphor fire and flower garlands give out chemical energies that can
absorb the negative energies.

Only ghee must be used (better than oil), as Agni Puran states that ghee is more
saatvik than oil, attracting more saatvik vibrations and its effect can be felt many
hours after burning. Ghee lamp also activates the naadi which is most essential to
the worshipper and also strengthens the Pranamaya kosha and Manomaya Kosha.

Lastly, a straight wick (waat) should be used instead of a puffed wick or fulwaat
(which offers stability to stand in the centre), because vibrations emitted from straight
wick are in the form of waves v/s circular waves of the fulwaat, which is better to
attract saatvik vibrations.

Why do we remove shoes while entering a temple or a home or a

kitchen?

Shoes are considered dirty in India, so we take off our shoes before stepping into
someone’s house or their kitchen. We don’t step on anything important and if you do,
we immediately express our apologies.

Why do a ‘Namaskar’ or ‘Namaste’?

Namaste, namaskar or Namaskara or Namaskaram, Vanakkam(Tamil), Nomoshkaar
(Bengali), Nomoskar (Assamese) is a common spoken greeting or salutation,
expressing deep respect. However, the same hands folded gesture is made usually
wordlessly upon departure. The word is derived from Sanskrit (namah): to bow,
obeisance, reverential salutation, and respect, and (te): “to you”. As explained by an
Indian scholar, in literal terms Namaste refers to ‘That which is of God in me bows to
that which is of God in you’. In the modern context, wouldn’t it be more hygienic to
offer a ‘Namaskar’, instead of shaking hands? In most Indian families, younger men
and women are taught to seek the blessing of their elders by reverentially bowing to
their elders. This custom is known as Pranama.
  Joint family’ is a notable feature of Indian families. Researchers have noted
that people who do not belong to cohesive families have fewer coping
resources and increased levels of social and psychological stress.
Psychological stress is associated with heart disease, various cancers and
increased mortality risk. Indians shed emotional stress exceptionally well, due
to the familial support which they receive and contribute to.
 We never to pass on anything – money or a gift – to an Indian with your left
hand, which is used for cleaning up.
 The Rajputs followed the worship of weapons. On special days double-edged
swords are removed from the house of arms and the entire court pays its
respects.
 Traditional Hindu prayer beads known as mala (garland of flowers), are made
from Rudraksha, the dried fruit of the Elaeocarpus Ganitrus. Rudraksha
translates as “Shiva’s Eye”. It is said that Shiva sat in open-eyed meditation
for 1,000 years. When he finally blinked, the tears that streamed from his eyes
became Rudraksha seeds. The surface of the seed is rough and represents
the austere life the Siva worshipper must follow. The rudraksha seed is
segmented into five sections. Seeds with a differing number of segments are
sought after.
ositive side of Indian Education system :-

 Students go through many exams in their learning years. It teaches to analyse our
strengths and weaknesses consistently.
 Indian education system emphasizes competitive spirit. Competition teaches students to
unleash their full potential.
 Indian schools teach basic knowledge in all subjects.
 Annual system in school years helps slow learners.
 These days a lot of positive changes are happening in the education system of
India. Emphasis on practical knowledge is increased.

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