Carnivals and festivals are part of the day-to-day life of Indians just as anyplace in the world. They label harvesting and sowing at the time when peasants purchase and trade and use the chance of congregating to make a good time, dance, sing, pray or yet arrange weddings. The diverseness of India and its people constructs for a riot of colour and spectacle, not untinged with boisterousness.

India's spiritual and cultural diversity ensures that the great festivals of nearly all the major religious groups in the world are celebrated in a few parts or even in the whole nation. Holi, Diwali, Id-ul-fitr, Xmas, Easter, Buddha Purnima, Guru Nanak Jayanti and several functions are celebrated with pleasure and spiritual excitement but with a distinct Indianness put up by the mingling of the diverse streams that construct the ocean of India.

Indian festivals are specific pageants of colours, revelry and cultism. Given below are the number of several conspicuous festivals & events of India.

Makar Sankranti/Pongal: This festival is celebrated in South India as it is associated with harvest.

Vasant Panchami: It is a spring festival celebrated in respect of Saraswati, the Goddess of learning.

Republic Day - January 26: Commemorates India's acceptance of the Constitution.

Maha Shivaratri: Festival dedicated to the adoration of Shiva, one of the most powerful deities of the Hindu religion.

Holi: Extravagant festival of colours is a festivity that symbolizes the coming of spring.

Ramanavami: Marks the nativity of Lord Rama, an avatar of Vishnu.

Mahavir Jayanti: Stigmatizes the birth of the 24th and last tirthankar.

Good Friday: Marks the crucification of Jesus Christ.

Baisakhi: Celebrated in northern India, this festival marks the commencing of the Hindu solar New Year.

Gangaur: Rajasthani spring festival celebrated in respect of Parvati, the consort of Shiva.

 Buddha Purnima: Celebrates the nativity of Gautama Buddha

Id-ul-Fitr: Celebrated at the final stage of Ramzan, a month of fasting for Islamist.

Rath Yatra: Prominent temple-festival in Puri, Orissa. Large Chariots are taken out in respect of Lord Jagannath.

Id-ul-Zuha: Muslim festival to remember Prophet Ibrahim's sacrifice of his son in obedience to a command of God.

Independence Day – August 15: Celebrates India's independence.

Teej : Rajasthani festival  which welcomes the coming of monsoon.

Naga Panchami : Fete in which the cobra is worshipped in the form of Sesha, the thousand-hooked snake.

Muharram: Muslims immortalise the matyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

Onam:  Harvesting festival celebrated in Kerala.

Raksha Bandha : Celebrated primarily in northern and western India. Sisters tie satiny, colourful rakhis around their brothers' wrists and pledge their love for one another.

Janmashtami: Nativity of Lord Krishna.

Ganesh Chaturthi: Clay mannequins of Ganesh, the auspicious elephant faced God, are adored and taken out in grand parade to be immersed in the ocean or a lake.

Gandhi Jayanti: It is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Dussehra: Celebrated with enthusiastic pomp and pagentary, the festival stands for the victory of good over evil.

Diwali: Festival of lamps. Lakshmi, the Godess of prosperity, is idolised.

Pushkar Fair: Large cattle marketplace and camel bazaar at Pushkar, Rajasthan.

Guru Nanak Jayanti: Birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the father of Sikhism.

Christmas 25^th December: Celebrated as the birth anniversary of Jesus of Nazareth.

‘National integration', I feel that in this modern day, the whole world is looking upon India ,expecting it to be the most diversified yet successful developing nation. But same thought does not prevail strongly in the minds of many Indians, people are starting to forget the essence of national integrity.

India, also known as Bharat or Bharatham, is a big country. Her civilisation is 5000 years old. She has given birth to some of the world’s most important religions. India has provided refuge to other leading religions also. People of many races have come to India and settled here. She absorbed them all into her blood and nourished them as her children.

There is a rich cultural heritage in India. All of us are inheritors to several grand treasurers in the fields of music, dance, drama, fine arts and paintings, sculpture and theatre. Our ancestors and sages have left behind great treasures of traditions, religious practices, culture. We can take pride that we have inherited a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-caste society but we should not ignore the fact that there is need for preserving and sustaining such an inheritance.

So national integrity is does not only mean that people should bond together but they should do so even though they have their own differences. The chief characteristic of our civilization has been unity in diversity. And  in a Nation like ours’ where there is always a possibility for the clash of ideas and ideologies, I believe National integrity is very important for the country’s development, and also the continuity and strength of our civilization depends on the recognition of our ancient value system.

Perhaps, the most disturbing and dangerous aspect today is the assault on our culture. Ethnic and religious communities have lived together peacefully during the past millennium. Yet today, we see fault-lines developing between communities, and among communities. Hence the need of the hour is realizing National Integration.

But in what way do we induce the feeling of national integration in people?

Well, there are many ways to bring about national integration. It can be forced out, or can be made to strengthen from within the core of our hearts. The result of force would always be weak, unsuccessful and it would be for a temporary phase only. But when the sense of national integration stems from within our hearts, it would be strong stable and ever-lasting.

History speaks for itself, The British government brought about national integration when they ruled India. For the first time during the British rule, the whole of India came together, under the guidance of prominent leaders. The national unity was strengthened when our country fought a united struggle for freedom. In our struggle for freedom people from different communities participated, keeping one thing in mind that they all are Indians first. Emotional integration is the basic foundation on which the main structure of national integration can be created.

Diversities we must be proud of:

India-An Ethnological Museum: India has been often described as an ethnological museum from the human point of view. Her pre-history tells us about the Harappan people who lived in the Indus River areas prior to the coming of the Aryans. The Vedas speak about the Aryans and their spread in the Indo-Gangetic regions. The Sangam classics bear testimony to a well developed culture among the Tamils, even during the pre-Christian Era, in the extreme south of India. Apart from these early settlers, the Persians entered India in the North West. The Greeks, the Sakas, the Huns, and the Kushans followed them. The Arabs, the Turks, the Mongols and the Mughals came to India during the medieval times. These people belonged to many races. The Europeans, such as the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the English, came in the modern period. Excepting the Europeans, all others have been absorbed into the stream of Indian life. It is due to this fact that many consider India as an ethnological museum of many races. Indian society is a multi-racial society.Cultural Unity: India’s fundamental unity rests upon her peculiar type of culture. There is no single character or aspect that can be defined as culture. Culture is a product of a corporate civil society. It is expressed through language, literature, religion, philosophy, customs, traditions, beliefs, art and architecture. Thus culture is a complex of many strands of varying importance and vitality. India has achieved cultural unity by fusion of many cultures. She has assimilated the good qualities from all cultures. She has arrived at a synthesis. Her adjustability, accommodation and spirit of tolerance enable Indian culture survive several vicissitudes. Various cultural groups live side by side in India. This has made Indian society a multicultural society.

Languages in India: People in India speak different languages. There are more than 1652 mother tongues in India. 33 languages are spoken by people numbering over a lakh. In ancient times Prakrit andSanskrit were used in most parts of India. Sanskrit is considered as the mother of all North Indian languages. Devanagiri is the script used to write Sanskrit and other north Indian languages. Hindi, Marathi, Gujarathi, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Urdu and Bengali are the major languages spoken in North India. Assamese is the language spoken in the North East. Tamil, Telugu, Oriya, Kannada and Malayalam are the major languages spoken in South India. Many Tribal languages do not have script. English became the common and link language after 200 years of British rule in India. Out of the many Indian languages 18 are recognised as the official languages. Language has never been a hurdle for India’s religious and cultural unity. Even before the improvement of roads, communication, printing, the Mahabharata and Ramayana stories were popular throughout the length and breadth of India. English language had cemented the already existing geographical, religious and cultural unity of India. It made political unity possible.

Literature: India is a treasure house of vast literature. The Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, the Quran, and the Thirukkural are familiar with all Indians. These are available in all Indian languages. Kalidasa’s literary works like Megadootham and Sakunthalam are still read in many parts of India. Hindu, Buddhist, Jainist, Saivaite and Vaishnavite philosophical treatises are read in every nook and corner of India. Philosophical interpretations written by saints like Sankara, Ramanuja, Kabir, Nanak and Chaitanya are widely read. All irrespective of caste and status sings the Thevaram and Nalayira Divya Prbhandam, written by Nayanmars and Alwars. These literary works bring unity among the Indians and act as the vital unifying force.

India is famous for religious festivals. Hindu festivals like Deepavali, Rama Navami, Krishna Jayanthi, Durga or Ayutha Pooja, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Holy and Makara Sankaranti or Pongal are celebrated all over India. Muslims celebrate Meeladun Nabi, Bakrid and Ramzan. Christians celebrate Good Friday and Christmas. The Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti. Buddha Poornima and Mahavir Jayanti are celebrated by the Buddhists and the Jains respectively. All Indians celebrate the New Year Day. During these festivals people exchange their greetings forgetting their religious affiliations. Many without any intolerant incidents observe Kumba Melas and Iyyappan Poojas. It speaks of the unity enjoyed by Indians. India’s secular character is known from the importance that the Government gives for the peaceful celebration of these festivals with public holidays.

Art and Architecture: India’s art and architecture speak of her grandeur. India is famous for her Carnatic and Hindustani styles of music. Each region in India is famous for its style of music. There are a variety of dance forms in India. The popular ones are Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Manipuri and Oddissi. These dance forms adopt more or less similar themes from Hinduism during performances. Various folk dances have the influence of Indian cultural life. They promote unity among the Indians.

So what does our government do, to promote National integrity?

Our government is taking efforts to promote national integration, some of the efforts include the celebration of national integration day and the presenting of national integration awards.

The 19th of November, the birth day of Mrs.Indira Gandhi is celebrated as national integration day. The aim of National Integration Day is to bring unity, peace, and spreading of love and brotherhood among fellow Indians.

The National Integration Day is celebrated to bring people especially youth of different religious back ground, different economical, social, cultural and education, together in a camp and common platform so that these young people will understand and learn about each other and try to work in a group and then when they go back to their native place can spread and develop better understanding of different ideologies, beliefs, faiths and life - styles, which in turn would strengthen a secular and eclectic outlook on their part.

The Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration is the prestigious award accorded by the Indian National Congress. This Award is given annually starting from 1985 to distinguished persons or institutions for promoting national integration of India .The Award carries an amount of Rs. 1.51 lakh in cash and a citation. The Award is given on the Martyrdom Day i.e. 31 October.

Recently at Kargil ,on July 23 A colourful dance festival, featuring artists from all parts of the country, was organised by the Indian Army to mark the 10th anniversary of the Kargil war and to acknowledge the help and cooperation of the people of Kargil. Artists from all over the country came together to perform and spread the message of unity and integrationThe Indian army believes that the people of Kargil have been very helpful during all the wars that India has seen, the dance festival was a way to acknowledge this help.The artists were enthusiastic and believed that such efforts help connect people and should be encouraged especially in a country that is so diverse.

"When we all come together in programmes like these, we interact and get a chance to know each other. We are sending a message of love and integrity through this programme," said one of the artist who took part in the festival

I would like to conclude by emphasizing the importance of National integrity. There is a need to make efforts for creating a sense of unity. The need of the hour is national integration. It should be taught at the very beginning, in all schools and colleges all over the country that India is one and only one. The school and college teaching material should be suitably revised wherein importance and need of unity should be emphasised. From one end of the country to the other end, regular long distance tours must be conducted so as to foster emotional integration among the young students of our country. To achieve national integration, we must work from the bottom –up.

Through national integration, we will prosper and flourish, we will carry with us, power, strength, and solidarity and the element of cohesiveness which will give us further permanence to stay strong in present struggling world.

“WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL CANNOT ACHEIVE, CAN BE ACHEIVED BY THE NATION AS A WHOLE, SO LET’S TAKE PRIDE IN OUR COUNTRY’S DIVERSITY AND WORK TOWARDS A GREAT FUTURE !”

There are Four wonderful things, in Gadwal visiting a Holy River, that is Krishna, second a big bell in the fort, and third a great hand loom silk saris production. And fourth one is a big tree with long branches.

a) Krishna is live River. And big river. It flows from estrange ghats end in Bay of Bengal. Jurala, Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar dam and Prakasham Barrages bank on river.

The main water sources are Lift Irrigation project on River Krishna at Kothapally, Priyadarshini Jurala project at Gadwal, Rajulibanda Diversion, Koyal Sager and Sarla Sager Schemes.

b) A big bell in the fort at the time of ruling king Somanadri. He was great fighter. He arranged a bell for the people in any time asking justices to ring the bell. In his period Name of Hunumappa was an honest brave soldier.

This is situated between the rivers Tungsbhadra and Krishna over an area of about 800 square miles. After the fall of the Warangal Andhra dynasty in the 14th century, Gadwal transferred its allegiance to the new Bahaman kingdom. According to the family history, Pedda Vera Reddy, Peddanna Bhupaludu, Sarga Reddy, Vera Reddy and Kumara Vera Reddy ruled Gadwal between 1553 and 1704.

c) A big hand looms industry in the Gadwal town. Hand loom silk saris production center is there. It is famous for the pattu chiralu.

Handloom industry especially Gadwal is a household name of Sarees and their products. Gadwal, Wanaparthy and Kottakota were in the dynasty of Gadwal and Wanaparthy rulers.  The Gadwal is a town with highly professional Weavers having rich traditional values of the weaving techniques. Educational Institutions are affiliated to Osmania University.

d) A big tree, in some distances with long of branches. It is very fine to see.

The most interesting place to see in Mahaboobnagar is the famous banyan tree called Pillalamarri which is about 4 kms from the town. There is a tomb of a Muslim saint under the tree. From a distance the tree presents the appearance of a small hillock with green foliage but on reaching closer it looks like a large green umbrella under which at least a 1000 people can easily take shelter.

So, here are some tips to get them eating that nutritious Vegetable.

• Mix - Cut the vegetables up into small pieces or dice them. Cook them with the food.  Example, Bolognese sauce and stir fries. It looks better than standing out, by the side of their plates. Aternatively, slice and  mix it with their favourite fruit.

• Smoothy - Make a smoothy out of vegetables. You could blend carrots with broccoli and add just a very tiny bit of sugar.

• Gravy - Kids love Gravy.  You could smother all the vegetables in gravy sauce.

• Rewards – Give them rewards. If they finish eating their vegetable they can have chocolate or a little bit of pocket money, for their Piggy bank.

• Talk to them - explain how it will help them. You could even tell stories on how vegetables make their super heroes strong. (If you are in the UK, the Green Giant Corn Advert is superb and encourages kids to eat vegetable).

• No Dessert – which child wouldn’t like an ice cream, cake or their favourite dessert after eating? Well, it could simply be a case of: “No eating  of Vegetable – No dessert”.

• Praise – give them praise when they eat it.  Tell them how good and wonderful they are or how proud you are of them etc.. Every kid wants to please mum and dad.