​When Celebrated –
It is celebrated on full moon day in Hindi month called Phalgun (February March).

Why Celebrated - Significance

1. The festival usher onset of spring (Vasant Ritu) when flowers of various colour are in full bloom.
2. People visit family, friends and foes to throw coloured powders on each other; laugh and gossip, then share Holi delicacies, food and drink.
3. On Holi day, people forget their differences and re-unite.
4. In Bihar & UP, it marks the beginning of new year.
5. The festival symbolises victory of good over evil and restore faith in dharma.

How & Where Celebrated

1. Holi is celebrated on two days. Previous day of Holi is called "chhoti Holi" or Holika Dahan.
2. As a mark of Holika dahan, a log of woods and combustible materials are collected and put in public place. In day time, ladies worship this and tie sacred thread to take the blessings. In night, people gather around it and perform religious rituals in front of the bonfire. New crop of wheat and oat are offered to fire and taken as Prasad.
3. In the end, holy ash or vibhuti is collected from the fire and applied on the foreheads to keep away evil.
4. Next day, people throw coloured water and gulal on each other. Groups carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance.
5. Eating sweets, drinking thandai, frolicking and dancing is part and parcel of this colourful festival. Til ladoos, gujjias, puranpolies, sanjoris, papri and kanji ke bade are the special eatables prepared for Holi.

 
Celebrated since when

​Baisakhi – Festival of harvest
 
When Celebrated –
It is celebrated on first day of Vaisakh, second month of Hindu calendar (on 13 or 14 April), also known as Mesha Sankranti.
 
Why Celebrated - Significance

1. It is the harvest festival of North India, celebrating the winter or rabi crop.
2. In many states viz. Tamil Nadu (Puthandu), Kerala (Vishu), Odisha (Maha Vishuva Sankranti or Pana Sankranti), West Bengal (Naba Barsha or Pohela Boishakh), Assam (Rongali Bihu), Bihar (JurShital), Uttrakhand (Bikhu or Bikhauti), Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and others, Baisakhi is new year. (in bracket – different names of Baisakhi festival in respective states)

3. It marks the anniversary of khalsa founded by Guru Govind Singh in 1699. On this day, he chose his five devoted leaders Panj Piyare and established the five Ks of Sikkism – Kachha (Shorts), Kesh (long hairs), Kangha (small comb), Kirpan (dagger) and Kada (iron bangle).
 
How & Where Celebrated

What is this festival about?

• This festival is about remembering our goddess of knowledge, Saraswati
• This also marks the beginning of spring season in India

When is it celebrated?

Like the name says, this festival is celebrated on 5th day (aka Panchami) of Spring (aka Vasant).  Based on lunar calendar, this is celebrated on 5th day of Magh month. This typically comes in the month of January or February.

Why do we celebrate it (the story behind it)?

The reason comes directly from the fact that this is the beginning of spring season.

As for worshiping goddess Saraswati, this day is considered to be her birthday.

How do we celebrate?

1. In the morning, take bath and wear yellow (the color associated with goddess Saraswati) or white clothes
2. Prepare or get some sweets for offering (preferably yellow), like kesar halwa, sweet saffron rice, boondi laddu, kheer with saffron, ras-malai, peda petha, jalebi, kulfi.
   
3. With your family, start by cleaning your worship area, lighting diya and incense stick, and placing prasad and flowers.
   
4. First, perform arti of Lord Ganesha.
   
5. Next, perform arti of Goddess Saraswati.
   
6. That's it, enjoy prasad that you prepared earlier!
   

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Celebration Significance (Why)

Raksha bandhan (aka Rakhi festival) is the fun festival that celebrates the love between sisters and brothers. Putting it in terms of western philosophy, this will be the ‘Sister’s Day’ and ‘Brother’s Day’ of Hindu religion.
Hindu scriptures such as Bhagavata Puran, Vishnu Puran, Bhavishya Puran etc have the mention of celebrating Raksha Bandhan since time immemorial. In Mahabharata, Draupati tied cloth (by tearing her saree) to cover a wound of Sri Krishna. Sisters pray to brothers that in the time of need, you protect me from problems like Sri Krishna rescued Draupati from Dushasan, who brought her in rajsabha (court) and tried to remove her saree.

Celebrated on (When)

Rakhsa Bandhan (aka Rakhi festival) is celebrated on Puranmasi i.e. full moon of Shravan month of Hindu calendar. Shravan month is fifth month of Hindu Calendar, which usually comes in August.

Celebration Practice (How)

On the day of Raksha Bandhan, sisters visits their brother’s home and collect roli(kumkum – either made from turmeric or saffron), chawal (rice), mithai (sweets) etc in a thali (plate).

Thali

1. Sisters tie kalava i.e. sacred thread and well decorated rakhis on right hand of their brothers
2. Apply tilak of roli and chawal on forehead on their forehead
3. Offer sweets and pray to god for their well-being
4. Next comes the fun part. Brothers give gifts and money to their sisters.

If you are feeling adventurous and the brother is married, then sister can also tie rakhi to her sister-in-law.
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