Meelad-id - (Festivals in India)

Bakri-Id - Festival of Sacrifice - Muslim
Buddha Jayanti - Buddha's Birthday - Buddhist/Hindu
Diwali - Festival of Light - Hindu
Dussehra or Dusshera - Lord Ram - Hindu
Guru Nanaks Birthday
Holi - Festival of Colour - Hindu
Kumbh Mela - Festival of the Pot -Hindu
Meelad-Id - The prophet Muhammed's birth and death - Muslim
Onam - South Indian celebration of good over evil - Hindu
Rakhi - Sibling closenes - Hindu/Many

Meelad-Id

 

Id-e-Milad or Barah Wafat is celebrated on the twelfth day of the third month Rabi-ul-Awwal (according to the Islamic calendar). It commemorates the Prophet Muhammed who was born and then died on the same day of the year. The word 'barah' signifies the twelve days of the Prophet's sickness. During the twelve days the life and noble deeds of the Prophet are recited in mosques.

 

In some places in India, a rite is performed over the figurative footprints of the Prophet engraved in stone. Elegies known as 'marsiyas' are sung to commemorate Prophet's last days while the twelfth day or the 'Urs' is observed quietly. It is considered auspicious to offer prayers and give alms on this day.

The Prophet Muhammad, born in Mecca around 570 AD, was the son of Abdullah and the grandson of Abdul Muttalib of the tribe of Qureysh. In 610 AD, the angel Gabriel was sent by Allah to give revelations to Muhammad. He found some devotees but Meccans did not believe in him. He left for Medina, where he became the ruler of the city. In 632 AD, he went on a pilgrimage to Mecca followed by thousands of his devotees. There he preached his farewell sermon and later left the mortal world forever.