Editing Religious festival (section)

== Hindu ==
{{See also|List of Hindu festivals}} 
'Utsava' is the [[Sanskrit]] word for Hindu festivals, meaning 'to cause to grow 'upward'.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} Hindus observe sacred occasions by festive observances. All festivals in Hinduism are predominantly religious in character and significance. Many festival are seasonal. Some celebrate harvest and the birth of gods or heroes. Some are dedicated to important events in [[Hindu mythology]]. Many are dedicated to [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Lakshmi]] and [[Brahma]] and [[Saraswati]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Amulya Mohapatra |author2=Bijaya Mohapatra |title=Hinduism: Analytical Study |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vpiU9m7T_tQC |access-date=10 November 2011 |date=1 December 1995 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-388-9}}</ref> A festival may be observed with acts of worship, offerings to deities, fasting, feasting, vigil, rituals, fairs, charity, celebrations, [[Puja (Hinduism)|Puja]], [[Homa (ritual)|Homa]], [[aarti]] etc. They celebrate individual and community life of Hindus without distinction of caste, gender or class.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} In the [[Hindu calendar]] dates are usually prescribed according to the [[lunar calendar]]. In [[vedic timekeeping]], a [[tithi]] is a [[lunar day]].{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} Among major festivals are [[Diwali]], [[Gudi Padwa]], [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]], [[Holi]], [[Ganesh Chaturthi]], [[Raksha Bhandan]], [[Krishna Janmashtami]], [[Dasara (disambiguation)|Dasara or Dussehra]], which may refer to the ten days of Sharada [[Navratri]] or the tenth day, [[Vijayadashami]]. Others include [[Onam]], [[Shivaratri]], [[Ugadi]], Rathayatra of [[Jagannath]] at Puri in Ilam, Nepal and many other places in Nepal and many other countries{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

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|File:Thiruvathira Kali During Onam.jpg| 
|File:Navratri Garba.jpg| 
|File:Rath Yatra Puri 2007 11071 crop.jpg|  
|Image:Govindashtami.jpg|Govinda celebrations during the [[Krishna Janmaashtami]] festivities
|File:Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, India, Religious festival in Shiva Temple.jpg|Hindu religious festival in Hampi
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