India is a land of different religions and all the religions have different festivals and fairs, which are celebrated every year. The glorious cultural heritage of this country has beautifully manifested in its festivals, which teem with sights and delights. India is internationally known for its colorful and unique festivals attracting tourists from across the globe.
Festivals in India are the most celebrated occasions. There is a festival for fire, festival of harvesting, festival for water, festival for victory of good over evil, festival of lights, festival of gold and prosperity and many others like that. All are celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy, marked by wonderful processions, great rituals, competitions, dance, music, feasts and much more
A single festival is celebrated across various regions of the country in many forms. When you are in one region you would have to celebrate the festival in one way and when you are in another part of India, the same festival will have a variant in terms of celebrations.
Hindus are in majority here and they have numerous festivals but don't have any permanent dates as Hinduism follows the lunar calendar. The there are Muslims who celebrate Eid-ul-Fitar and Eid-ul-Adah with great cheer and fun. Christians celebrate Christmas, Jainis celebrate Mahavir Jayanti, and Sikhs celebrate Guru Govind Sing's Birthday, Hola Mohalla etc.
At the time of festivals people exchange food with their neighbors and friends. Festivals help in making situations that nobody thinks about the healthy food but only enjoy with the festive activities. The vogue of Indian festivals around the world has also helped in the vogue of Indian food.
The exact date of the festivals are not fixed, they are based on the maasa or (Solar or Lunar) calendar months and the fortnights in each month.
The famous festivals of India are:
Diwali
Celebrates on - mid-October – mid-November
Where: All over the country
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| Deepavali |
Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is “enlightening of inner light ". People of all ages await the Diwali celebrations throughout the year. Diwali celebrates this through festive amazing fireworks, shining of lights, blooming of flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship goddess Lakshmi in home, shops and offices as well. The festival is celebrated by young and old, rich and poor, throughout the country to remove the darkness and light up their lives.
The victory of Lord Rama over Ravana signified the triumph of good over evil and people welcomed him back home by lighting rows of clay lamps and since then Diwali is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil.
It is the one festival that is celebrated in every region, religion and state, especially celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Nepalese. Peoples prepare recipes like Laddu, gujiya, Namkeen pare, Chivda, Shakkar pare and hundreds of recipes in this festival.
Holi
Celebrated on - Month of March
Where : All over the country
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| Holi |
"Holi" is one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated in the spring season. Popularly known as the festival of colors, it represents the victory of good over the evil and this is brought about by the destruction of the demon called Holika. On the evening of Holi, bonfires are lit which signifies the Holika Dahan. The whole country is in a festive mood, the market places are crowded with the peoples.
Special dishes are prepared for this festival like special Karanji, Malpua and gunjiyaas.
People embrace the warmth and throw coloured powders, use water guns and colored water filled balloonsat to each other as if they are throwing their worries to the wind. There is color everywhere - red, green, yellow, blue, black and silver. The Holi festival tour allow tourist to enjoy this colorful festival of India.
Read more about this tour visit: https://indiantravelservices.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/holi-the-most-colorful-festival-of-the-world/
Dusshera
Celebrated on - 10th day of the crescent moon, as per the Hindu lunisolar calendar.
Where : All over the country
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Dusshera |
Dusshera is one of the most important festivals in India; one which is celebrated with great pomp and show. It is celebrated on the day after Navrati. This is the day when Lord Ram achieved by defeating the devil King of Lanka, Ravana. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
People celebrate this festival with a lot of zest, devotion and vigor. On this occasion, effigies of Ravana are filled with fireworks and in the evening these are burnt all across India.
Durga Puja
Celebrated on - the last day of waning moon of Sharad month according to the Hindu calendar
Where : Entire Bengal, Kolkata and the other metro cities
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| Durga puja |
Durga puja is a significant and grand celebration in Bengal. With the starting of autumn this nine days festival boom in the entire Bengal like a riot of rainbow colours. The arrangement starts one or two before the festival time. This festival has much deeper meaning and value, the society has not changed towards women. According to the legends the portraits of Maa Durga made with the purest clay.
Rath Yatra
Celebrated on - 25th June
Where: Puri, Odisha
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| Puri Rath Yatra |
Puri Rath Yatra is one of the most spectacular festivals of Puri that allows the public to have a holy-view of the Lord Jagannath. As a part of the Ratha Yatra, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and the youngest sister Subhadra are taken out in a decked up chariot to the temple of Gundicha and the procession is accompanied by a tremendous fanfare.
Hornbill Festival
Celibrated on- December
Where : Nagaland
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Hornbill Festival |
Almost all the major tribes of Nagaland attend this festival. All tribes gather in the capital city of Kohima and perform dance rituals to please the Almighty. There is a great deal of food stalls, handicraft stalls and intoxicating rice beers for you to take delight in.
The Hornbill Festival Tour allows the tourists to know more about the legacy of the tribes through various art, dance, music, parade, sports and religious fairs that are organized all along the city of Kohima. The celebrators play the hollow drum instruments in mysterious harmony towards the end of the day.
Read more about this tour visit: https://indiantravelservices.wordpress.com/2017/03/09/hornbill-festival-the-most-exotic-colorful-cultural-festival-of-nagaland/
Rann Mahotsav
Celebrated on- 15th December to 31st January
Where : Gujarat
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| Ran Utsav |
The Rann Mahotsav is a festival celebrated in The Great Rann of Kutch, which is a seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch. Tourists can experience the creativity and innovation of the artisans as well as craftsmen of India during the tour of Rann Mahotsav. Also, they can encounter with the wide range of folk music, dances, and a combined presentation of different societies and groups.
Read more about this festival visit: https://indiantravelservices.wordpress.com/2017/04/01/rann-utsav-cultural-festival-of-gujarat/
Bihu
Celibrated on - Rangali or Bohag Bihu in April, Kangali or Kati Bihu in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu in January.
Where : Assam
Bihu is a colorful and very old festival of Assam. The word 'Bihu' has originated from the Sanskrit word 'Vishu'. It exemplifies a huge celebration of farming. The month long celebrations consist of the traditional dancing, music and foodstuffs being prepared by the locals.
People celebrate this festival with joy, excitement and merriment. The main attraction of this festival is the Bihu dance done by boys and girls follow by music sung by women.
Hemis
Celibrated on - 3-4th July
Where : Hemis Monastery, Ladakh
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Hemis |
The largest Gompa (Monastery) in Ladakh, Hemis Monastery host Hemis Festival which is organized in the courtyard to celebrate the birthday of Padmasambhava, who is highly regarded as the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. This celebration is in the form of dancing, socializing and frolicking.
The main attraction of this festival is the dance performed by the Lamas accompanied by drums, traditional horn instruments and cymbals. You can make a trip to Hemis Festival Ladakh to enjoy the dance & other activities.
Read more about Hemis Festival visit: https://indiantravelservices.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/hemis-festival-the-famous-festival-of-ladakh/
Onam
Celebrated on - August or September
Where : Kerala.
The week-long festival have catch the streets of the state capital alive with cultural performances, which includes music, dance, painting, and traditional folk, classical dance and martial art programs. People of Kerala celebrate the festival with much joy and grandeur. The elders also gift their children with new clothes, ornaments. It is time for gathering of all the members of a family.
Pongal
Celebrated on - 14th or 15th January
Where : Celebrated by Tamils all over India, primarily in Tamil Nadu
Pongal is the four day festival is meant to praise and thank God with full devotion and faith and sincerity of heart. It is celebrated to thank God for the good harvest produced during the year. The festival is celebrated over a period of four days. A special dish called 'Sarkkarai Pongal' is offered to seek the blessings of the Sun God.
Christmas
Celebrated on - 25th December
Where: all over the country but more vibrantly in Goa, Pondicherry, and Kerala
Although it is a festival of the Christian, almost all Indian belonging to different races and religions take part in it spontaneously. It is celebrated in India with splendor, joy and great vigor. Most of these churches are decorated well with tinsel papers, Christmas trees and sparkling lights. These bring an environment and good mood of celebration in the minds of the Indian citizens.
One can indulge in the local cashew liquor called Feni and other goodies like Bebinca and the famous Christmas cake.
Navratri
Celebrated on - The first nine days of the month of Ashwin according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar
Where: Almost all over the country; most vibrant in Gujarat and Maharashtra
Navratri is a pious festival worldly known as the festival of worship and dance. The nine-day festival of Navratri is held in to worship the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga. According to the Hindus this festival is grandly celebrated all over the world as the victory of good over evil as Maa Durga killed Mahishasura, a buffalo - headed demon.
People undergo rigorous fasts during this season that lasts for the nine days of Navratri. One should always avoid non vegetarian foods and "Satvik" food like fruits, Kutu Ka Aata, Singara Ka Aata, Curd and Potatoes should be consumed.
Krishna Janmashtami
Celebrated on - Krishna paksh ashtami of Bhadrapada month according to the Hindu calendar.
Where: celebrated by Hindus in all over the country but most vibrantly in Mathura and Vrindavan
Janmashtami is the celebration of Lord Krishna's birth that was eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. It has eternally been a momentous festival in the Hindu calendar from long times. Mathura and Vrindavan catch the attention of Laks of Hindu supporters. The atmosphere turns out to be quite religious with people executing all sorts of dancing, singing and sharing emotions towards the lord Krishna.
In this day small children dress up like Lord Krishna on this day. Images and picturization of Krishna’s life story are depicted in the “jhaankis” in temples. Dahi-Handi and Raas-leela are the main traditions of celebrating this festival.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Celebrated on - August and September
Where: all over India, especially in the southern part of the country including Maharashtra, Gujrata, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other states.
Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayak Chaturthi is one of the most amazing and grandly celebrated Hindu festivals that celebrate the rebirth of the same deity. Ganesha, the God of fortune is the second son of Shiva and Parvati, two of the most beautiful, powerful and benign deities in Hindu religion.
The lord's clay idols can be seen in almost every house and pandal from a minimal size to a huge one. These idols are prepared beforehand by skilled artisans with an amazing gusto with a lot of color schemes and concepts using details in precision. These idols are worshiped and then immersed in a water body (sea, lake, river, etc).
Peoples offer Lord Ganesha is Modak a dry fruit mix with sugar and coconut.
Gurupurab
Celebrated on - The full moon day in the month of Kartik of the Hindu lunisolar calendar
Where : all over India, by the Sikh community but most vibrantly in Punjab
Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the most significant festivals of Sikhism. The festival marks the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Saheb ji - the founder and first Guru of Sikhism. Peoples decorate their houses on such occasion with flowers and send gifts to our loved ones.
Raksha Bandhan
Celebrated on - August of the Gregorian calendar
Where: North, Central and West India
The words 'Raksha Bandhan' shows the quite literally 'Bond of Protection'. This is a typically Indian feast which celebrates familial ties between brothers and sisters. It reinforces the special relationship between brothers and sisters. On this day sisters tie the Rakhi on their brothers wrist and brothers promise to protect their sisters.
Eid-Ul-Fitr
Celibrated on - July of the Gregorian calendar
Where: Celebrated by Muslims all over the country
Eid is the word of Arabic language that means joy celebration and happiness. It is a feast for marking the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, Muslims' fasting period. Celebration of eid- ul- fitr starts with moon sighting. After seeing the moon they embrace one another and exchange eid Mubarik.
Hola Mohalla
Celebrated on - March
Where: Celebrated by Sikh community in Punjab
"Hola Mohalla" is a religious event held in Anandpur Saheb, in the Punjab. During the Sikh festival of Hola Mohalla it is common for participants to decorate their trucks, before carrying out haulage work. During this festival people gather at Anandpur Sahib to display physical strength.
Indians enjoy each and every festival open heartily.
