1. Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is one of the major harvest festivals celebrated in India where people bathe (holy dip) in scared rivers, pray to the Goddess Saraswati and the God of the Sun. Makar Sankranti is widely celebrated across the country, yet in some parts, it is known by different names such as Pongal, Bhongali Bihu, Magh Bihu, Maghi, Uttarayan, Lori and Poush Parbon. This festival plays a vital role in history as depicted in its epic Mahabharata, and it signifies the beginning of harvest season. The people of the country come together during this festival with special food items prepared and shared in each region, such as halwa, til (sesame seeds) ke laddu, pithey, sakkare pongal, etc. Synchronising with the festival, Gujarat also celebrates International Kite Festival, and the trend is widely spread across the country.

Makar Sankranti

Takes place: January 14 or 15

2. Carnival in Goa

Goa is one of the most popular destinations in India which celebrates a vibrant and colourful carnival with people enacting different characters, participating in musical performances and extraordinary parades based on the Catholic tradition of Mardi Gras. The carnival is only held in Goa according to its ancient history of Portuguese colonisation. The festival mostly signifies the beginning of Lent through its celebration of utmost happiness, merrymaking and mayhem. It also features an important act of abstinence from meat for 40 days taken by the people.

Carnival in Goa

Website: Carnival in Goa

Takes place: February to March

3. Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is one of the major auspicious festivals celebrated in India religiously. According to the astrological point of view, it is witnessed in four different locations based on a distinct position of the sun, the moon and Jupiter. The four different locations are Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Nashik in Maharashtra and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. The festival signifies an important role in culture, tradition, ritual, spiritual and astrology. Most importantly, Kumbh Mela is a pilgrimage where millions of people participate in the practice to bathe in sacred rivers such as Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati in order to wash away their sins. During the festival, several ceremonies are held representing historical and traditional parade including animals.

Kumbh Mela

Website: Kumbh Mela

Takes place: April [Every three years]

4. Holi

Holi is the festival of colour and music. On the day of Holi celebration, people put their differences aside and come together to play with vibrant colours “abeer”, dance to their favourite music, drink and enjoy their time with their friends and family. Holi is known by different names according to the regions of the country such as Lathmaar Holi, Dulandi Holi, Rangpanchami Holi and Basant Utsav. Holi was originally known as Holika, and it is celebrated throughout the country. This India music festival starts on its eve for Holika Dahan where the people burn the sculpture of Holika which represents the victory of good over evil.

Holi

Website: Holi

Takes place: March

5. Easter

Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ which occurs after Good Friday representing the crucifixion of Christ. According to the Bible, Easter is celebrated on a Sunday after the first full moon and Spring. People make Easter eggs which signify new life and decorate the Easter eggs. Historically, Easter began in India during the times of colonisation by the British, Portuguese and French. However, Mumbai, Goa and Northeastern states celebrate Easter in a grand manner. People spend their time at churches, have a wonderful feast and visit carnivals.

Easter

Takes place: April

6. Deepavali

Deepavali or diwali is one of the amazing and biggest festivals which is celebrated nationwide, and it is also known as the festival of lights. It signifies the importance of light over darkness, and it is portrayed through lit diyas or candles. It is the time of the year where you will witness people light candles and diyas (small clay lamps) and keep them in front of their door, at every corner of their house and also overlooking the windows. People also decorate their homes and make rangolis for good luck. This event in India includes a puja ceremony for Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi, sharing sweets and meals together, and wonderful firework.

Deepavali

Website: Deepavali

Takes place: October or November

7. Buddha Jayanti

Buddha Jayanti is also known as Buddha Purnima which is celebrated throughout the country. This festival signifies the birth of Lord Buddha. It is believed that Lord Buddha gave his first sermon to five monks at Sarnath near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, so the remnants of Lord Buddha are displayed on this day. People visit temples, pray for all well-being and do good deeds. Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal, where he was known as Prince Siddhartha Gautama.

Buddha Jayanti

Takes place: May

8. Rath Yatra

Rath Yatra or Jagannath Rath Yatra is a religious festival celebrated extravagantly throughout India, yet Orissa witnesses the grand celebration of all. This popular India event and festival is dedicated to the deities Jagannath or Lord Vishnu, his brother Lord Balabhadra and his sister Goddess Subhadra on a chariot or ratha. It is presented as a pilgrimage or a journey where people dress like saints and prominent leaders. The wooden structures of the idols are taken on a chariot from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple. However, before the journey, the structures are bathed with 109 buckets of water and kept in isolation.

Rath Yatra

Website: Rath Yatra

Takes place: July

9. Pongal

Pongal is Makar Sankranti festival celebrated mostly in Tamil Nadu for four continuous days. It is the time where everyone gets together and seeks blessings from the God of Sun. Hindu philosophy believes that Pongal is held on Utharayanam which is the journey of the sun towards the equinox. Pongal is normally followed after Boghi which is the time of segregating unwanted things from the household and cleaning the house. During the festival, delicious food and sweets are made with prayers and offerings to God for the richness of crops and human health in general.

Pongal

Website: Pongal

Takes place: January

10. Janmashtami

Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Religiously, Lord Krishna is believed to be the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu the keeper of the Universe as per Hindu beliefs. On Janmashtami, Krishna temples in India are beautifully decorated with people celebrating the festival through religious processions and singing devotional songs called kirtans. On the following day of the festival, an event called Dahi Handi is held where the ritual includes the formation of a human pyramid to steal an earthen pot full of butter, ghee and milk tied high up, signifying the story of Lord Krishna as Makhan chor (butter-stealer).

Janmashtami

Takes place: August

11. Navaratri

Navaratri is an important festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, and it is celebrated for nine days continuously commemorating nine different forms of the Goddess and victory of the Goddess from demon Mahishasura. People celebrate the festival by decorating temples of the Goddess, fasting and praying for inner peace and prosperity of the family. Kanya Pujan is also witnessed during the festival where nine young girls are worshipped symbolizing the worship of the nine different forms of the Goddess.

Navaratri

Takes place: September to October

12. Losar

Losar, is a festival signifying the beginning of the Tibetan new year. According to Tibetan Buddhism, Losar is celebrated on different dates in different locations. Thus, Losar is celebrated on the first day of the eleventh month every year in Ladakh, India, and it is also celebrated mostly in the northern states of India. The tradition of the festival began in the 17th century when King Jigme Namgyal led a mission before the new year which he was not advised to do. So, he moved the date of the festival two months earlier. On the day of the festival, people get together and celebrate with prayers, auspicious ways of bringing luck, offer scarves and feast. In the evening, people light torches with chants to drive away evil spirits and welcome the new year.

Losar

Takes place: February or March

13. Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the important festivals celebrated in India, and it is mostly celebrated in the western state of Maharashtra. The festival signifies the birth of Lord Ganesha who is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Ganesha is also known to be the Lord of good fortune, wisdom and prosperity. A total of 10 days are required to celebrate the festival followed by another day when a clay figure of Lord Ganesha (which has been worshipped over past 10 days) is carried through the streets to the ocean/river/pond and immersed.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Takes place: August or September

14. Maha Shivratri

Maha Shivratri is considered to be one of the major festivals in India. One of the unique features of the festival is that it commences in the darkest night of the year because it is believed that the planetary position brings strong energy into the human system and triggers the stamina within towards physical and spiritual wellbeing. Devotees worship Lord Shiva and his yogic tradition. For some, it is the day of fasting while seeking the well-being of their life partners.

Maha Shivratri

Takes place: February or March

15. Onam

Onam is a major harvest festival held in the state of Kerala, India. The festival continues for 10 days and includes the worshipping of King Mahabali and Lord Vishnu. Kerala celebrates Onam extravagantly with great joy, devotion and food. There are plenty of things to witness during Onam such as varieties of South Indian food, artistic and religious performances, traditional dance performances and snake boat races. One of the beautiful decorations of Onam is Pookalam where every household create an amazing conventional floral art at the entrance of the door. Yet, another spectacular event during Onam is the snake boat race or Vallam Kali.

Onam

Takes place: August to September

16. Durga Puja

Durga Puja is widely celebrated in India, especially in Kolkata, West Bengal, yet some of the states know the festival as Navratri and has different rituals to celebrate it. This festival continues for nine days of worshipping the 10-armed Goddess Durga who is believed to have defeated Mahishasura, and the Goddess symbolises fertility. Durga Puja begins with the ritual of Mahalaya including chants every morning, decoration of the altar, fasting and prayers for the wellbeing of the family members. Religiously, it is believed that during Durga Puja, Goddess Lakshmi visits every household bringing prosperity and peace.

Durga Puja

Takes place: September or October

17. Dussehra

Dussehra is a well-known festival celebrated in a grand manner throughout India which depicts the epic victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. In an epic tale called Ramayana, Lord Rama, his brother, Lakshmana and Lord Hanuman fight against the powerful demon Ravana who captures Lord Rama’s wife Sita. During the festival, people dress up as their favourite characters from the epic for the parades. In the northern states, a huge wooden figure of Ravana, Meghanatha and Kumbhakarna are burned down in flames.

Dussehra

Takes place: October

Discover India with its festivals

India and its people are devoted to their religions, culture and traditions. The country consists of many states where different parts follow different religions. However, all of them come together during the time of grand festivals to celebrate with utmost joy and happiness. Festival is one of the special and unique traditions of the country, so you have to witness the amazing and vibrant ones during your visit.