Moving to India: Holidays in India

Posted by shipping India on October 18, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

When moving to India with IntlMOVE India, you will need to get to know the local customs and holidays. This part of the culture will affect days you have off of work and the interactions you have with coworkers, friend and neighbors.

India is a large nation with a variety of religions, cultures and traditions. Different people celebrate different holidays. Although all of the holidays are not listed, IntlMOVE India has put together information that can help serve as a guide to individuals who want to understand more about India’s culture.

Three National Holidays in India

There are three national holidays in India, which you will likely have off of work.

Republic Day

Celebrate Republic Day in India on January 26. This holiday recognizes the day in 1950 that the Constitution of India replaced the Government of India Act 1935.

Independence Day

August 15 is India’s Independence Day, which commemorates India’s independence from British rule in 1947.

Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday

Also referred to Gandhi Jayanti, this national holiday takes place on October 2. Mahatma Gandhi created changes in India through peaceful demonstrations, which is also why this day is celebrated as the International Day of Non-violence.

Hindu Religious Holidays

Diwali

Diwali, also known as the “festival of lights,” is celebrated by three different religions: Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. The specifics of the celebrations differ by religion, but it is typically celebrated in October or November. This important holiday is celebrated by families with traditional activities that take place in the home.

Ganesh Chaturthi

This 10-day Hindu festival starts between mid-August and mid-September. The significance of this day represents the day Shiva declared his son, Ganesha, the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune, superior to all gods.

Holi

This religious holiday is celebrated in spring between late-February and March. The Holi season can last 16 days and is also known as Dolyatra or Basanta-Utsav, depending on where you live.

Dussehra

This holiday, also known as Vijayadashmi, celebrates the day that Lord Rama killed Ravana and rescued his wife, Sita. This festival takes place in the fall.

Other Holidays

New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day, celebrated on January 1, is celebrated the same day as it is in the United States.

Birthdays of key political, historical or spiritual figures are celebrated throughout different parts of India. Celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday on January 23. Residents of Orissa, Tripura and West Bengal celebrate this day. Maharaja Shivaji’s birthday is celebrated on February 19 in Maharashtra. In Uttar Pradesh, residents celebrate Kanshi Ram’s birthday on March 15.

Bihar Day is celebrated in Bihar on March 22, Rajasthan Day is celebrated in Rajasthan on March 30 and Orissa Day is celebrated on Orissa on April 1.

Throughout many states and regions of India, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Jayanti birthday is celebrated on April 14. Born into an untouchable family, Ambedkar rose above his caste, or class, and made significant changes to improve the lives for the people in India.

The Sindhi New Year is celebrated the second day of Chaitra. Other people in India celebrate their New Year the first day of Chaitra, which include: Marathi, Kannada and Teluga. The Oriya, Bengali, Malayali, Tamil and Assamese New Year take place on April 15.

May 1 is Labour Day, which is celebrated in Assam, Bihar, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Puduchery, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal and Orissa. May 1 is also Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day.

Annexation Day takes place on May 16, which is celebrated in Sikkim.

The residents of Jammu and Kashmir celebrate Accession Day on October 26.

Andhra Pradesh Foundation Day, Kamataka Foundation Day and Kerala Foundation Day are all celebrated on November 1.

When you are planning on moving to India, contact IntlMOVE India for shipping your household goods from the U.S. to India.

 

Filed under Intlmove · Tagged with , , , ,

Moving to Pune, India with IntlMOVE

Posted by shipping India on October 9, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Moving to India with IntlMOVE India is a lucrative career choice for many people. As India continues to make developmental progress in many industries, job opportunities become more abundant. Pune, India is the eighth largest city in India with almost 3.5 million people.  The population jumps to just over 5.5 million when the outer areas of Pune are included in the population numbers. The city is well-known for its outstanding educational institutions and is often dubbed as “Oxford of the East.”

Jobs in Pune

Pune is a thriving city with the second highest per capita income in India. The city can also boast the sixth largest metropolitan economy, even though it is eight in terms of population. If you are looking for a job in India, there are a few industries that Pune is known for. There are a variety of automotive companies in the city. If information technology (IT) is your field of choice, this industry is continuing to grow. Older, more established industries include: glass, sugar, manufacturing and forging. Pune is also known for its universities and schools, which makes many educational jobs available.

Climate

The weather is Pune is warm year-round and very hot during the summer months. The average temperature ranges from 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer months last from March until May, with temperatures reaching as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit. June marks the start of the monsoon season, which lasts through October. Pune has an average annual rainfall of 28.4 inches, most of which occurs during the monsoon season. The average temperature during these months ranges from 50 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The winter in Pune is still quite warm. The winter months start in November and last through the end of February. The average low temperatures reach about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but have known to fall to the low 40s. The high temperatures hover somewhere in the low- to mid-80s.

Religion

Hinduism is the most commonly practiced religion in Pune, but you will find other religions also have a presence. You will find Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Jews and other smaller religions. One of the most famous religious leaders from Pune is Osho, who lived and taught in Pune. Visitors from around the world flock to the Osho International Mediation Resort, which is one of the world’s largest spiritual centers.

Things to Do in Pune

Pune is known as the cultural capital of Maharashtra, so there is always plenty to do. Moving to India will provide you with a rich cultural experience. Whether you are into museums, parks, nightlife, dining out, music or live performances, Pune offers it all.

If architecture is your career choice or one of your interests, you will find many prime examples of exquisite architecture in Pune. This Indian city has developed as the center for modern architecture in India. There are beautiful temples and historical attractions, in addition to more modern architectural feats.

If you and your family love visiting parks, museums and other cultural places, Pune is a fantastic place to live. Visit the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum, the Pune Tribal Museum and many more. There are a number of beautiful parks to enjoy the warm Indian weather. The Empress Garden, Kamala Nehru Park, Taljai Hilss and the Pu La Deshpande Udyan, are gorgeous green spaces perfect for spending afternoons. Take your kids to the Rajiv Gandi Zoological Park to see a variety of animals from all over the world.

Lovers of classical music will enjoy the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, which takes place in December. It’s one of the most famous music festivals in India.

When you are looking for a job, or have already found a job, in India, visit the IntlMOVE India website for a free international shipping quote, great tips and tricks about moving to India and other great information.

 

Filed under Intlmove · Tagged with , , , ,