IELTS Speaking Task: Cue Card Question With Sample Answer on Festivals (Part 2 and 3)

PART 2

Describe a festival that is important in your country.

You should say:

• when the festival is celebrated
• what people do during this festival
• what you like or dislike about it
• and explain why this festival is important in your country. 

India is a multicultural nation that is the home to many different cultures and religions. We therefore make a big deal out of all of the holidays. Diwali is one of the important holidays we observe. One of the main holidays observed by Sikhs, Jains, and Hindus is this festival of lights. It typically lasts five days and is observed in the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartika, which falls between October and November.

We celebrate Dhanteras, a day dedicated to wealth and prosperity, two days prior to Diwali. Therefore, individuals purchase gold or silver and do a pooja on this day. The following day is Chhoti Diwali, which is when the house is decorated. People decorate their home temples and hang fairy lights from their roofs. Everyone makes prayers to Lakshmi and Ganesha on the main Diwali day and exchanges presents with loved ones.

I enjoy the festival's atmosphere. In your metropolis, houses are lit up with lights and diyas no matter which corner you turn. The overwhelming burst of crackers is the only aspect of this festival that I don't appreciate.

The holiday holds great significance in my nation because it stands for the principles of justice, endurance, and the triumph of good over evil. It marks the day that Lord Rama returned to his realm with Sita and Lakshman after spending 14 years in the wilderness and eliminating Ravana. Diwali is hence of paramount importance in India.

PART 3

Why do you think festivals are important events in the working year?

Festivals are crucial during the working year because they provide us the chance to recover from the exhaustion caused by our long and constant work hours. Additionally, they enable us to spend time with our family in a way that would otherwise be impossible if we worked nonstop. Finally, festivals are crucial because they enable us to reawaken our spiritual values and cleanse our brains and souls, which is essential if we are to truly lead tranquil lives.

Would you agree that the original significance of festivals is often lost today? Is it good or bad, do you think?

Well, that depends on the type of events we're discussing. There doesn't seem to be any importance to be lost if we are discussing random festivals without any overt messages or meanings.

However, it is reasonable to suggest that the original significance of some religious festivals, which are meant to revive us spiritually, is frequently lost today because we are failing to correct our mistakes and behavior while also becoming more and more greedy and materialistic for our own benefit.

Do you think that new festivals will be introduced in the future? What kind?

This is a really intriguing question. We cannot ignore the fact that there are numerous festivals celebrated around the world today, each with a distinct goal, such as observing New Year's Eve or honoring deities. And as a result, I don't believe that any additional festivals will be held in the future. Additionally, festivals are created based on the long-standing traditions and customs of a nation. Making a new event that honors the nation while also allowing for universal enjoyment is thus difficult. I predict that holidays will become more popular in regions where they are not already celebrated. 

What role does the media play in festivals, do you think?

I suppose that various print and electronic media, if not all, play a significant part in popularizing some festivals among the general public, primarily for financial reasons. For instance, various media may show the new year's celebration in a glitzy way in order to aid specific businesses in promoting and selling their goods during the festival season. Naturally, certain media do attempt to discuss festivals and show them in a somber manner from time to time in order to help people realize its actual appeal, but that's just not very popular.

Do you think it's good or bad to watch festivals on TV? [Why?]

If one wishes to understand about festivals, including how they are observed, when they are observed, or why they are observed, I believe it is generally a good idea to watch them on television. And once they do, individuals usually learn to understand and value the differences among many cultures, religions, and lifestyles, which is undoubtedly beneficial for coexistence in a society that would otherwise be segmented.

How may globalization affect different festivals around the world?

Because it is promoting the globalization of these events, globalization has a big impact on the various festivals that take place around the world. Because of this, wherever in the world people may be enjoying a particular holiday, the rest of the world is catching up and wishing them a very happy holiday. In addition, numerous festivals around the world do longer necessarily adhere to the same age-old and traditional methods of celebration because of globalization, for better or worse.