https://www.youtube.com/embed/uruCd7CZ8SI Many cultures have some sort of harvest festival or day of giving thanks: Germans have Erntedankfest, Koreans have Chuseok, and Americans have Thanksgiving. In India, too, there is a special day each year for celebrating the harvest and hoping for future blessings: the Lohri festival.  This holiday is especially popular in the Indian Punjab region, where sugarcane and other crops are harvested early in the year. In this article, you’ll learn all about why the Punjabi celebrate Lohri, what traditions look like today, and more.  Let’s get started!  1. What is Lohri? Lohri is a harvest festival celebrating the harvest of Rabi crops. The Lohri festival is... Show more

Indian culture is dotted with elements from a number of religions, with the majority of Indians (roughly eighty percent) adhering to Hinduism. The second most-popular religion? Islam. About fourteen percent of the country claims this religion as their own, and this makes Muslim holidays a pretty big deal here! Eid ul-Fitr is one of the most widely celebrated and festive Muslim holidays, celebrated in numerous countries around the world. In this article, you’ll learn all about Eid ul-Fitr and how it’s celebrated in India! Let’s get started. 1. What is Eid ul-Fitr? Eid ul-Fitr, initiated by the Prophet Muhammad, is a public holiday that marks the रमज़ान उपवास का अंत (ramzaan upvaas ka aanT), or "end of Ramadan... Show more

Maha Shivaratri (The Great Night of Lord Shiva) is one of the most significant holidays in India, observed by devoted Hindus each year. In this article, you’ll learn about the mythology behind this holiday, explore its traditions, and study some new Hindi vocabulary. Are you ready? Let’s get started! 1. What is Maha Shivratri? Maha Shivratri is a major festival and celebration in India. Its name translates to "The Great Night of Lord Shiva," and this is a full night of worship to this Lord. While the exact origins of this holiday are unknown, there are several stories and myths associated with it. The most well-known of these stories in India is that of Lord Shiva saving the world. He achieved this by drinking Halahala,... Show more

The Guru Nanak Jayanti in India is one of the most important holidays in the country for those of the Sikh religion. Each year, they celebrate the birth of the first Sikh guru, and attend other festivities throughout the celebration. Learning about this Sikh religious holiday will provide you with a more structured framework for which to continue in your Hindi studies. As any successful language-learner can tell you, understanding a country’s culture is a step you can’t miss! In this article, you’ll learn Guru Nanak Jayanti facts to gain more insight into the culture of India and Sikh religion, including the Guru Nanak Jayanti history and current celebrations. At HindiPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your... Show more

A precious gem born in the land of India helped the country maintain its freedom from the British through truth, nonviolence, and peace. His name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, otherwise known as Mahatma Gandhi. In this article, you’ll learn about how the Indian people celebrate the Gandhi Jayanti, or Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, each year. We’ll also go into some detail about Gandhi’s beliefs and his lasting effect on the Indian people. In learning about the Gandhi Jayanti celebration in India, you’re gaining a clearer vision of Indian culture and what sets it apart from much of the world. And, in turn, this will make your Hindi-learning more effective and meaningful! At HindiPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your... Show more

Every year a massive festival is celebrated in the middle of summer, or in Hindi Grishm Ritu in eastern India, where the Lord Jagannath is taken on a chariot ride to Dwarka and more pilgrimage sites. In this lesson, we’re talking about the special festival of the Chariot Ride, celebrated for nine days during the Hindu month of Aashad, and the significance of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. Since the Jagannath Festival is one of the most celebrated in India, learning about it will allow you to better understand Hindu culture and religion as a whole. And as any successful language-learner can tell you, this is a vital step in mastering any language! At HindiPod101.com, we hope to make this learning journey both fun and informative, as you... Show more

Vasant Panchami, or Saraswati Puja, is the Hindu celebration of the Goddess Saraswati—the Goddess of Arts and Wisdom. Celebrated each year, Hindus take seriously the importance of Vasant Panchami and the worship of the Goddess Saraswati. Vasant Panchami’s significance to the Hindus can’t be overstated. By learning about Vasant Panchami, you’re gaining wisdom and knowledge regarding the Hindu religion as well as the country of India as a whole. In this article, we at HindiPod101.com hope to answer the question, “Why is Vasant Panchami celebrated?” along with more information on Vasant Panchami. We’ll even give you some insight into Vasant Panchami in the Hindi language through our vocabulary section. Let’s get started! 1.... Show more

Of all the Indian holidays, the India Republic Day holiday may just be the most significant. This is a national holiday in India, and is a day for great celebration over the adoption of its new constitution in 1950—making it a republic at last! Find out all about India Republic Day with HindiPod101.com, from the India Republic Day parade to this Hindu holiday’s origins. 1. What is Republic Day in India? In India, गणतंत्र-दिवस (ganTaNTra-DivaS) or “Republic Day” is the celebration of January 26, 1950 when its constitution (or Samvidhaan) was implemented at last. This allowed India to officially become a republic (or gantantra) at last. Prior to this, up until 1947, much of India was under British rule. While India... Show more

Learn all the Hindi New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join HindiPod101 for a special Hindi New Year celebration! Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March - December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated. So, how do you say Happy New Year in Hindi? ... Show more

Do you know any ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Hindi? HindiPod101 brings you easy-to-learn translations and the correct pronunciation of Hindi Christmas phrases! Christmas is the annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western Christian Church. It takes place on December 25th and is usually celebrated with much food and fanfare! However, not all cultures celebrate Christmas. In some countries, Christmas is not even a public holiday! However, many countries have adapted Christmas and its religious meaning to tally with their own beliefs, or simply in acknowledgment of the festival’s importance to other cultures. If you want to impress native Hindi speakers with culturally-appropriate Christmas phrases and... Show more