indian holidays – national
NATIONAL REPUBLIC DAY
A national, secular holiday in India which takes place every January 26th. On January 26, 1950, India’s constitution was implemented and India became a republic. Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of independence from England and the freedom fighters that fought for it are honored on this day. Republic Day is celebrated enthusiastically especially in New Dehli where a grand parade is held to celebrate their sacrifice.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
A national, secular holiday in India which takes place every August 15th. It celebrates India’s independence from British rule that occurred in 1947. The Prime Minister gives a televised State of the Union address at the Red Fort in New Dehli. There are many ceremonies honoring the flag.
Gandhi Jayanti
A national festival in India, celebrating the birth date of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who is unofficially called the “Father of the Nation”. Gandhi was born into a Hindu merchant caste family in Gujarat, on October 2, 1869. He was schooled in law in London and first developed his idea of nonviolent civil disobedience fighting for the rights of the Indian community in South Africa. On his return to India in 1915, he organized peasants, farmers and city workers fighting for civil rights. Ganhdi became the leader of the Indian National Congress in 1921 and began waging national campaigns. Under his leadership, the party advocated for freedom from British Rule (Swaraj), women’s rights, religious pluralism, help for those living in poverty and an end to untouchability. He was admired for the simple way he lived in a self-sufficient residential community, wearing traditional clothing, vegetarian food, and fasting as a method of change. Ganhdi was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by a Hindu nationalist.
