Hinduism has been described as a religion of fasts, feasts and festivals. They provide a reminder of religious values as well as occasions for great joy and celebration, some of them attended by millions.
Most festivals are annual, but some happen on a longer cycle.
The festival of Kumbha Mela, when millions of Hindus gather at the confluence of the Ganges and Jumna rivers takes place once every twelve years. Of the annual festivals, the two-day rites of Holi mark the end of winter and the beginning of spring. This celebration is linked to Krishna whose exploits with the gopis are reenacted. It is a time of gaiety, joy, and hope for nature's rebirth. In late summer, Krishna's birthday is celebrated at the Janmashtami.