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 celebrated each year on or around January 13... Show more

Are you familiar with the most important Hindu deity, Lord Ganesha? In the Hindu faith, he’s considered the god above all other gods, and multitudes of devoted Hindus worship him and celebrate his birth each year.  In this article, HindiPod101.com will teach you all about the Ganesh Chaturthi holiday in India and how it’s celebrated today. Let’s get started. 1. What is Ganesh Chaturthi?  Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the गणेश भगवान का जन्मदिन (ganesh bhagwaan ka janmDin), or "birthday of Lord Ganesha." He is the most important deity in Hinduism, known for having a human-like body but the head of an elephant. Lord Ganesha is revered for his role in the universe as the "Remover of Obstacles," the "God of... Show more

Friends, charity, faith, and tradition come together each year on Eid al-Adha. Indian Muslims gather together for an enjoyable time and live out the values of the Muslim faith.  In this article, you’ll learn about Eid al-Adha in India, from how it got started to how Indian Muslims celebrate today.  Let’s get started. 1. What is Eid al-Adha? Eid al-Adha, often called "The Feast of the Sacrifice" in English, is one of the most important Muslim holidays worldwide.  It originates from the story of Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son Ismael. According to the Quran, Ibrahim had asked Allah to give him a son, and Allah did so. But as Ismael grew older, Ibrahim began having recurring dreams of... 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

The Onam Festival is a ten-day-long celebration in Kerala that welcomes the return of its previous king Mahabali. Tradition holds that Mahabali was both generous and kind, and today, he visits his former kingdom each year during Onam. This is one of India’s grandest festivals, with many unique traditions that reflect the culture and history of this country. In this article, you’ll learn all about Onam—at HindiPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your learning journey both fun and informative! So let’s get started. 1. What is Onam? Onam is a popular and essential festival for the people of Kerala. According to the holiday’s legend, the kind and generous former king of Kerala, named Mahabali, visits his people... Show more

The art of body language is a powerful tool for decoding someone’s state of mind. In fact, gestures form a whopping 55% of total communication made by a person. Undeniably, it’s the most important type of nonverbal communication among human beings, which makes it important to learn gestures’ meaning in Hindi, as well as those in other languages and cultures. Every country in the world has its own typical set of body language. In fact, a certain gesture in one country may give off a completely different meaning in another country. That’s what makes the whole genre of nonverbal communication so unique. In this article, we’ll be going over Hindi body language tips and more, because gestures when speaking in Hindi are of great importance.... Show more

English slang words like LOL (laughing out loud), WTF (what the f**k), BRB (be right back), or NVM (nevermind) are quite popular in online chatting. And yet many of these can leave folks scratching their heads. If you’re new to the realm of online texting, you may not know things such as IKR meaning or DSL meaning in slang language. The abbreviation IKR means, “I know, right.” What does DSL stand for? Well, it means, “Don’t stay long.” Just like every other country, the land of India also has its own list of popular local slang. As a beginner in the Hindi language, you may want to start with learning slang language meanings in Hindi. This way, you can really get the most out of your time on Hindi social media! So, let’s start... Show more