25 Most Popular Festivals of India

• 2021-08-19 10:50:17

1. Holi- According to the tale of Prince Prahlad and Holika, Holi represents the triumph of good over evil. In addition, the celebration heralds the start of the spring season. When Holi arrives, the streets are strewn with people smearing dry and wet colours on each other's faces in celebration of good triumphing over evil! Holi is one of India's top ten celebrations, with people attending parties, dancing, tossing colours and water balloons, and, of course, indulging in some lassi!
2. Diwali- The festival symbolises Lord Rama's return, together with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, after a 14-year exile. Home decorations include elaborate lights, candles, and clay lamps, as well as bustling stores and marketplaces, pyrotechnics, and crackers. Diwali, one of India's most important Hindu festivals, is marked by a lot of pomp and circumstance. Houses are decorated with clay lamps, candles, and Ashok leaves during this festival of lights. People dress up, perform family pujas, shatter crackers, and share sweets with their friends, relatives, and neighbours. It is India's most popular event.
3. Jagannath Rath Yatra- Puri's major celebration is known as the Rath Yatra. The temple deities of Puri's main Jagannath temple, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, are removed with the heavenly wheel and transported to their respective chariots. The chariots are then carried to the Gundicha Temple's grand avenue. This Yatra attracts thousands of worshippers. This Yatra is also shown live on foreign channels.
4. Lohri- Lohri, one of India's most famous Punjabi festivals, is celebrated by starting a big bonfire in the yard after the rabi crops are harvested. Lohri signifies the start of the harvest season and the conclusion of the winter season in Punjab. Lohri is observed on the last day of the month of Paush, also known as Makar Sankranti, in most parts of India. Sesame seeds, jaggery, and rewaries are offered to the fire by people dressed in traditional garb. People often pray to the deity of fire for good fortune and happiness in their lives. They sing and dance around the fire till it extinguishes. They also greet their friends and relatives with greetings and gifts.
5. Dussehra- Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of India's most well-known Hindu religious holidays. It is commemorated in many ways across the country. Ramlila is celebrated for ten days all around the world. It culminates in the “Ravan Dahan,” which involves the burning of massive effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhkaran. While a beautiful parade is held in Mysore, Kullu celebrates the arrival of their mountain deities in the valley for ten days. The Mysore Palace is illuminated in the manner of a bride, and the air is filled with the sound of drums. It's a sight not to be missed if you're visiting the city of kings and queens. It is one of India's most holy events.
6. Eid Ul Fitr- Following the Ramadan fast month, Muslims all around the world celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. It marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month during which Muslims fast. Eid-ul-Fitr is a significant Muslim celebration celebrated all over the world. The festivities are extremely wonderful because the festival commemorates the last day of rejoicing after a holy month of fasting. There are community prayer sessions, a sacrifice ceremony, a magnificent feast, and other events where friends and family are invited.
7. Janamashtami- On his birth anniversary, the festival of Janmashtami, Lord Vishnu is invoked in his human incarnation as Krishna. On the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Sravana (July-August) in India, Hindus celebrate this festival with tremendous devotion. Krishna was created to defeat Mathura's demon King Kansa, the brother of his virtuous mother, Devaki, according to Hindu legend. On the occasion of Janmashtami, both men and women fast and pray. Temples and residences are lavishly ornamented and illuminated. On this day, the temples of Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, host a lavish and colourful celebration. 'Raslila', a performance that recreates events from Krishna's life and commemorates his love for Radha, is showcased. Krishnastami, or Gokulastami, is another name for this holiday.
8. Navratri- One of India's most important festivals is Navratri. It represents nine various manifestations of the Goddess Amba (Power). This holiday is observed in various ways by people all over India. It is a nine-day festival in Gujarat that includes revitalising Garba nights and very exciting Dandiya Raas dances. People are dressed in lovely, colourful traditional clothing, and the atmosphere is vibrant and youthful. Fasting is a well-known Hindu religious ritual that is linked to a scientific truth. When the seasons change, people should fast to give their digestive systems a break and boost their immunity for the coming season.
9. Ganesh Chaturthi- In Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, it is observed as a huge public event. The idols of Ganesha are placed in Mandaps and Pandals. Singing, dancing, drama, and symphonic concerts are among the many cultural activities that take place. In Tamil Nadu, the festival is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi. Clay is used to create Ganesha statues. Procession marches with enormous Ganesha statues take place from Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple to Shankumugham Beach in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and the icons are submerged in the water. Modak is the festival's signature sweet delicacy.
10. Christmas- Christmas is observed every year on December 25th. Christmas is a worldwide celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is a pleasant event where everyone huddles up to welcome Lord Jesus. It is one of the most recognised festivals in India and around the world. Of course, Santa is the centre of attention for delivering things that we have been wishing for all year. Christmas trees are decked, halls and houses are illuminated, and everyone enjoys the festivities.
11. Losar- Losar (Tibetan New Year) is celebrated in Ladakh primarily towards the end of January or the beginning of February. The celebration includes ancient traditions, theatre, and dances. The "Metho" Ceremony is the principal Ladakhi ceremonial, in which people move from street to street holding flaming torches and chanting prayers to ward off evil spirits.
12. Onam- Onam is Kerala's harvest festival, which takes place in the Malayalam month of Chingam. The festival commemorates the Vamana Avatar of Vishnu and the return of King Mahabali to his homeland. Along with Vishu and Thiruvathira, it is one of Kerala's three major Hindu festivities. Although Onam is a Kerala festival, it is celebrated with the same zeal and splendour by Malayali people all over the world.
13. Rakshabandhan- Rakshabandhan, also known as Rakhi, is a festival that celebrates the tie between a brother and a sister. Sisters bind an amulet or talisman on their brothers' wrists during this traditional Hindu event. The brothers, for their part, present their sisters with a gift and swear to safeguard them in the future. For brothers and sisters of all ages, the event is extremely important. It's also been featured in a slew of Bollywood films to illustrate the passionate brother-sister bond.
14. Makar Sankranti- Makar Sankranti marks the winter solstice and the arrival of longer days by the sun's transit into the Capricorn constellation. The event is known and celebrated across India under a variety of titles. It is known as Maghi in North India, Magh Bihu in Assam, Pedda Panduga in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Thai Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and Sukarat in Central India. It's one among the few celebrations in India that adheres to the solar calendar. To honour the day, people participate in numerous rites and customs, such as taking a dip in the Ganges, presenting water to the Sun God, and flying kites.
15. Nowruz-Parsi New Year- Mumbai's Zoroastrians commemorate their father's exodus from Persia by performing rites in fire temples, which include traditional feasts and visits from friends.
16. Gurupurab- Gurupurab is one of the most important Sikh holidays in India, and it is celebrated by the Sikh community all over the world, especially in Punjab. In the gurudwaras, special meetings on the lives and teachings of the gurus are held, as well as langars (community meals). All are given Karah Prasad, and hymn singing processions are held across the city. To commemorate Gurpurab, people decorate their homes with lamps, candles, and crackers.
17. Easter- Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and it is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm by India's Christian population. Following his crucifixion by Roman authorities, Jesus is said to have risen from the dead on the third day, according to the New Testament. In India, different Christian religions celebrate Easter by adorning their homes and streets, painting Easter eggs, giving gifts, singing, dining, and having a good time. The event is observed across India, but the celebrations in Goa, Kerala, and Pondicherry are particularly noteworthy.
18. Buddha Purnima- It is a Buddhist holiday that is also known as Buddha Jayanti or Vesak. Buddhists all throughout the world, as well as in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Malaysia, commemorate Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death at this festival. Among Indian festivities, the occasion is also noteworthy and widely observed. On the festival day, Buddha statues are worshipped and prayer sessions are held. Devotees go to Buddhist locations, read Buddhist scriptures, participate in religious debates, and meditate in groups. It is observed on the day of the full moon in the month of Vaishakh, or May.
19. Chhath Puja- The Chhath Puja is a four-day celebration in which the sun god is worshipped. Devotees pray to them, thanking them for their lives, prosperity, and health, as well as those of their families. Many people also take a dip in the sacred Ganges river. Many worshippers fast during the puja, based on the narrative of Rama and Sita fasting to honour the sun deity.
20. Durga Puja- The festival honors Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. It is celebrated for ten days and is a major social occasion in India's eastern and north-eastern states. The followers appreciate the ceremonies, despite the fact that they are long and intricate. During the festival season, you will be surrounded by colourful streets, Pandals, Bhajans, and beautiful lights. Actual animal sacrifices are also practised in West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam (Silchar) temples to commemorate Maa Durga's victory over the buffalo demon. In Karnataka, it is known as Mysore Dasara. The dates are tentative and subject to change.
21. Id-ul-Zuha (Bakr-Id)- It is a Muslim feast of great joy celebrated with special prayers and the sharing of greetings and gifts. Id-ul-zuha, or the festival of sacrifice, is celebrated with traditional fervour and delight throughout India and around the world. It is known as Bakr-Id in the Indian subcontinent and Eid-ul-Adha in Arabic because of the practise of slaughtering a goat, or 'bakr' in Urdu. The words 'id' and 'zuha' are derived from the Arabic words 'iwd,' which means 'festival,' and 'uzhaiyya,' which means sacrifice.
22. Hemis- Hemis is a two-day religious celebration held in honour of Lord Padmasambhava, a spiritual leader and founder of Tibet Tantric Buddhism, at Hemis Monastery in Ladakh. The Cham dance is performed by the monastery's monks to the accompaniment of traditional cymbals, miniature trumpets, and enormous pan-drums. For the shows, the dancing monks don elaborate clothes and masks.
23. Mahavir Jayanti- Lord Mahavir's birthday is observed on the 13th day of Chaitra month, which corresponds to April in the Gregorian calendar, according to the Hindu calendar. Mahavir Jayanti is a well-known Indian festival commemorating Lord Mahavir's birth on this day, which is observed by the Jain faith. When Lord Mahavir's statue was bathed in milk and flowers, the Maha Abhishek was performed. A spectacular procession of Lord Mahavir was also organised in the streets on this day.
24. Hornbill Festival- Hornbill Festival, often known as the "Festival of Festivals," is a wonderful presentation of Nagaland's customs and cultures. The Naga Heritage Village, about 11 kilometres from Kohima- capital city, hosts the week-long celebration. The event features colourful performances by the participants, traditional food stalls, local art and crafts, games, parades, and religious ceremonies that showcase Nagaland's beauty in a unique way. These ceremonies include all of the state's tribes, making it a true fiesta.
25. Pushkar Festival- Cattle and camel vendors use this day as a holy day to conduct business. This is one of India's most remarkable festivals, which takes place every year in Pushkar. It is indeed a sight to behold when the sandy floors of Pushkar are covered in camels. When seeking for some antique and old traditional-style Indian celebrations, this is the festival to attend. The celebration was originally held to encourage local camel and cow traders to conduct business during the holy Kartik Purnima holiday.