No Paper Title Author Name Page No

MERICAN Journal of Public Diplomacy and International Studies
www.
 grnjournal.us 
 
end of the monsoon season and welcomes the harvest. Celebrates the end of the second harvest 
season and marks the first day of the sun's return to the northern hemisphere. Two of the most 
important celebrations in India are , the festival of colors that celebrates the full moon and arrival 
of spring, and Diwali, the festival of light that celebrates the new moon and the victory of light 
over dark. Travelers will have a chance to join in the colored powder fight and feel the 
contagious joy when visiting during Holi or light your own clay lanterns to illuminate the night 
during Diwali. Festivals often celebrate events from Hindu mythology and the celebrations can 
vary from one region to another. For example, Dussehra honors the victory of Lord Rama over 
the demon Ravana, from The Ramayana epic.[11]
Buddhism. With 520 million worshippers, Buddhism is the world's fourth largest religion. 
Buddhism stems from the original teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, a noble man born in India 
who became the Buddha. Nowadays it incorporates a huge variety of beliefs, traditions and 
practices. The main goal of Buddhist practices is to attain the Nirvana and overcome the 
Samasāra, the cycle of birth and death. Different schools see the path to this liberation in many 
different ways, however, there are some practices that are fundamental to all of them: refuge in 
the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, the adherence to moral precepts.[12] 
Worship places for Buddhism. Buddhists practice their religion in a temple, which always 
include the same structures: vihara, chaitya stupa, wat, and pagoda, even if the structure and the 
architecture varies according to the different places. A temple represents the pure land of a 
Buddha, and they are designed to inspire inner peace. When in India, be sure to visit the , 
considered the most sacred sites in Buddhism. The main temple is shaped as a pyramid, with 
motifs engraved to give a reflection of the teachings and the beliefs of Buddhism. This is where 
the Buddha attained enlightenment while sitting under a Bodhi tree, still present today. Is on of 
the most visited temples in all of India and is famous for housing a six-meter long statue of the 
sleeping Buddha. This temple is believed to be the location where Gautama Buddha died and is a 
very holy place. The temple was built in 1956 to commemorate the Buddhist Era of India. The 
Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structures in the country. Its hemispherical shape 
is believed to represent an upturned alms bowl of a Buddhist monk. To the north of the Great 
Stupa is the smaller stupa which contains the relics of two of the Buddha's closest disciples, 
Sariputra and Mahamoggallana. [13] 
Buddhism Festivals. The most important festival in Buddhism is Buddha Purnima, that 
commemorate the three most significant events in the life of the Buddha (in 2019, this is 
celebrated on the 12th of May). At the same time, the most popular of all Buddhist festivals is 
the Ullambana, the Ghost Festival: Buddhists believe that, on this day, the gates of hell are 
opened so that the dead can visit their loved ones. Is an important holiday for Tibetan Buddhists 
and that is happily celebrated in various parts of India. Practitioners dress up well, visit their 
families, and go to temples to bring offerings. [14] 
Sikhism originates in the state of Punjab and is one of the youngest religions in the world. 
The main beliefs of Sikhism include that there is one creator, that humankind is equal, and that 
every practitioner has to engage in selfless service. Sikhism believes in a formless and infinite 
god. They think everything is a part of god and worship him through recitation, prayer, and 
meditation. Living an honest life is one of the most important concepts for Sikh practitioners. 
Sikh men are easy to identify with their characteristic turbans and full beards. 

---

109
A