Unlike the secularized Christian holidays of the West (Christmas as shopping, Easter as candy), Indian festivals are seasonal life support systems .
Lifestyle in India is defined by hospitality. It is common for a guest to be treated with more respect than family. Whether you visit a sprawling Mumbai apartment or a mud hut in a Kerala backwater, you will be offered and snacks immediately. Refusing food is often seen as rejecting love. This extends to the street; asking for directions often results in a stranger walking you to your destination. Unlike the secularized Christian holidays of the West