Festivals have been an integral part of human society since ancient times. There is no nation without festivals; every nation has one or more occasions that it celebrates.
Some national festivals have their origins in religious celebrations.
Certain festivals are associated with local agriculture, crop production, and harvesting, such as the *Nabanna* harvest festival.
Others are connected with the changing seasons or the end of the year. Examples include *Chaitra Sankranti*, the celebration of the Bengali New Year, Iran’s Nowruz festival, and the Chinese New Year or winter festivals.
Every religion, too, has its own festivals. Although the central concerns of religion are spiritual and moral, festivals also have a place in religious life.
Religious festivals have traditionally emerged in harmony with their spiritual roots. Over time, however, they have incorporated various local customs and cultural practices.
Some festivals have also developed around major historical events of a nation. In Bangladesh, for example, Independence Day and Victory Day are observed through national celebrations.
In the contemporary world, various festivals are also organised for professional, commercial, and educational purposes. Examples include science fairs, book fairs, literary festivals, and music festivals.
It is therefore evident that festivals may be classified into several categories, including religious, state or national, economic, cultural, and traditional festivals associated with particular ethnic or social communities.
Religious festivals are observed by the adherents of the respective religions. For example, Muslims celebrate the two Eids; Hindus celebrate Holi and Durga Puja; Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter; Jews observe Passover and Hanukkah; Buddhists observe Buddha Purnima and participate in robe-offering ceremonies; and Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi, among other occasions. These religious festivals are not shared religious observances among the followers of other faiths.
Similarly, traditional festivals are generally celebrated by members of the ethnic or cultural communities to which they belong. People of different religions within the same community may celebrate such festivals together. Muslims, too, may participate in these occasions, provided that they refrain from anything prohibited or objectionable under Islamic teachings.
State or national festivals, on the other hand, are observed by citizens irrespective of their religious affiliations. In Bangladesh, for instance, Independence Day and Victory Day are national occasions celebrated by people of all religious communities.
It is therefore clear that **not every festival belongs to everyone, although some festivals do.** Yet, today, a section of people in Bangladesh has begun promoting the slogan: “Religion is personal, but festivals belong to everyone.”
This statement is profoundly misleading and wholly inconsistent with reality. People of different religious affiliations cannot all observe every religion’s religious festivals as shared religious celebrations. Islam, in particular, does not permit Muslims to participate in the religious observances of other faiths.
The fundamental truth, rather, is this:
**“Religion and religious festivals belong to their respective adherents; state and national festivals belong to everyone.”**
Needless to say, since the festivals associated with each religion have emerged in harmony with its spiritual foundations and beliefs, its adherents should maintain a distinct religious identity in observing them.
There can be no disagreement that Islam teaches Muslims to treat non-Muslims with justice and to uphold their civil and human rights. Muslims may extend all forms of social and humanitarian assistance to non-Muslims. Islam places no prohibition on such assistance.
However, for Muslims, participating in the religious worship, rituals, or devotional practices of other faiths is categorically forbidden. A Muslim must not perform their acts of worship, provide personal financial assistance for the construction of idols, or offer physical, psychological, or financial support for their religious rites.
If a Muslim participates in the worship and rituals of non-Muslims in a personal capacity, attends such ceremonies for enjoyment, invokes their deities for happiness, peace, and prosperity, or extols the attributes and virtues of those deities, then, according to the author’s stated position, that person can no longer be regarded as a Muslim.
*(From* Bid‘ah, *Vol. 5)*