This books ‘Hindu Feasts and Festivals by P. K. Das‘ is a compilation of various festivals of Hindus along with the way they are celebrated; the recipes of each festivals and out of seer religious feeling, they observe fast on all these auspicious occasions.
It has been said often that Hindu celebrates everything and here lies the fact that they do so. The birth of gods, death of asuras, victory of gods, marriage of god, full moon, new moon, harvest etc, you name the event and it is the reason for music, dance, procession and what you have. And there is the religious bit lurking behind them. The reason of this lies deep in the origin of Hinduism as an organic religions. Its followers have over time considered them animate or inanimate to be scared and aspects of divinity.
Apart from universally celebrated festivals like Dussehra, Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi, there are other that are observed in specific communities. The profusion of legends and contradictions inherent in them is reflected in festivals too. If you travel around, you will hear people tell you a variety of legends involving different gods behind a single festival.
Besides, you will also find versions of the same festivals being celebrated under different names in different regions.
