7 Days to Celebrate during the Festive Month of August
The monsoon month of August is also a month full of important celebration days and some festivals. According to Hindu calendar, it is the holy month of Shravan, which hosts a number of significant festivals such as Teej and Janmashtami. Check out these 7 days to celebrate in August.
1. Teej – 5th August
Teej is a much awaited festival of the monsoon season. Celebrated with great enthusiasm in the city of Jaipur, Teej is a significant day for women. The day commemorates the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Women apply henna to their hands and get dressed up in beautiful ethnic clothes. They worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati to seek blessings of a happy married life. A procession is carried out in the pink city which begins from Tripolia Gate and ends at Chaughan Stadium. Decorated elephants, bullock carts and chariots are also a part of the vibrant procession.
2. Nag Panchmi – 7th August
Nag Panchmi, the festival of snakes, usually falls two days after the Teej festival. On this day snakes are worshipped. Women make offerings of milk to the snakes and keep fasts praying to the Snake God. This day is mostly observed by Indian tribes and villagers in rural areas such as the Battis Shirala village in Maharashtra. However, it is also a popular observance at Adiesha temple in Andra Pradesh, Nagaraja temple in Kerala, Nagathamman temple in Chennai and Hardevja temple in Jaipur.
3. Friendship Day – 7th August
The first Sunday of August is observed as Friendship Day, a day to celebrate the friendships in your life. This year it is falling on 7th August. People plan meeting out their friends, exchange friendship bands and give cards and flowers to honour their friends. Several social clubs and groups also organize small friendship day parties where you can enjoy with your bunch of friends. The whole idea behind Friendship Day celebration is to express love that you have for your friends and cherish their presence in your life.
4. Independence Day – 15th August
India celebrates its Independence Day on 15th August every year. The national flag of India is hoisted at the Red Fort of Delhi. Several schools and colleges also organize flag hoisting ceremonies and other cultural programs all over the country. People include tricolor of India’s national flag in their clothes, wristbands and other accessories.
5. Parsi New Year – 17th August
Parsi New Year is also known as ‘Jamshedi Navroz’ after the legendary King of Persia, Jamshed, who started the Parsi calendar. This day is observed as a regional holiday in Maharashtra, India. On this day people wish each other ‘Sal Mubarak’ and spend time with their close ones and take blessings from their elders. They wear new clothes and decorate the entrance of their houses. Another tradition is to offer food to the poor on this day.
6. Rakshabandhan – 18th August
Rakshabandhan, also known as Rakhi, is an auspicious day when sisters tie a beautifully crafted thread called ‘rakhi’ to their brothers. Brothers vow to take care of their sisters and to protect them. They also offer sweets and gifts to their sisters. The festival brings families together and promotes love among brothers and sisters. It is observed all over India.
7. Krishna Janmashtami – 25th August
Krishna Janmashtami is another widely celebrated festival in India that commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna. The festival is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm, especially among Hindus. Schools and Lord Krishna temples often organize events where kids dress up like Bal Krishna.
Some other days that fall in the month of August include the International Youth Day on 12th, Thanksgiving Day and Engineers Day on 15th and Senior Citizens Day on 21st.
