The Must Witness Monsoon Festivals of India

• 2022-12-08 09:25:14

1. Teej- Teej, one of the monsoon season's most popular events, requires no introduction. In Rajasthan, it is primarily a three-day celebration that is cheerfully observed. Rajasthani women fast for their husbands while applying henna to their hands. On the eve of Teej, they swing from the trees and sing as men fly kites. During the event, wonderful foods such as dal bati, churma, kheer, and ghewar are prepared. Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar also enthusiastically celebrate it.
2. Karam Festival- The worship of God Karam, the source of strength and youth, is at the centre of the Karam Festival. It unites the tribal population, including tribes like the Mundadri, Ho, Kurukh, Pargania, Korba, Kharia, Oraon, Kurmali, Nagpuri, and Santhali, every year in and around Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The celebration is often held on the eleventh day of the Hindu month of Bhadra, which in the English calendar falls between August and September. In order to gather the fruits, flowers, and wood needed for the puja, the villagers must trek into the woods in groups as part of the rites. Drumbeats unify the entire valley as people dance and sing together. Since trees are a source of their livelihood, folks worship them.
3. Onam- The main celebration in "God's Own Country," Kerala, is called Onam, and it is enthusiastically observed by Malayalees all over India. Ten days of eating, snake boat racing, music, dance, and fun mark the Onam harvest celebration. The traditional Onam celebrations last for 10 days, and each of those days has a special significance in terms of customs and ceremonies. One of the main draws during Kerala's most important cultural event is the magnificent floral arrangements.
4. Puri Rath Yatra- Puri Rath Yatra is an auspicious monsoon celebration in India that is thought to wash away all sins and offer deliverance from the cycle of life and death. One of the largest religious celebrations in India is held annually at the Jagannath Puri temples in the state of Odisha. The deities of Jagannath, his older brother Balabhadra, and his younger sister Subhadra are carried out in a procession as part of the Ratha Yatra, a customary temple ceremony. Three ornately decorated chariots that resemble temple buildings are then hauled through the streets of Puri and brought to Gundicha Temple, the aunt of the Lord, where they stay for nine days. The devotees pull the enormous chariots, which have 18 wheels and are as tall as 45.6 feet, during the yatra. The celebration, complete devotion, and pleasure inspires followers from all corners of the globe.
5. Janamashtami- One of the most significant festivals of the monsoon season in India is Janmashtami, which commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna. The western region of Maharashtra celebrates it with just as much fervour as the Lord's birthplaces of Vrindavan and Mathura. Little kids are dressed as Radha Ji and Lord Krishna. Temples replicate events from Lord Krishna's early life, such as his theft of butter or the murder of his evil uncle. In the Dahi Handi competition, competitors build a human pyramid to topple a pot loaded with butter and curd that is suspended from a great height. There is pleasure and excitement throughout the entire day.
6. Ganesh Chaturthi- Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most well-known monsoon season celebrations in India, particularly in the southwest state of Maharashtra, where Lord Ganpati/Lord Vinayak is revered as the principal god and guardian of the area. On this day, which commemorates the birth of Lord Ganesha/Lord Ganpati, new idols of God are brought home and generally worshipped for 10 days before being submerged in the ocean or a river. For individuals who are unable to maintain the idols at home for 10 days and do daily prayers, the idols are also stored in sizable pandals. The primary food served during the rites is either Modak or Laddoo, Lord Ganpati's favourite delicacy. The idols are carried in elaborate processions, accompanied by Marathi music, devotional songs, and dancing, on the tenth day before being submerged in water. This immersion, which takes place over this 10-day rainy season event, is a well-known phenomena that draws travellers from all over the world.
7. Hemis Festival- The Hemis Festival is the next incredible festival that takes place during the monsoon. The famed Hemis Gompa, one of the richest and greatest Buddhist monasteries in the "Land of High Passes," hosts the well-known monastery festival in Ladakh. The 10-day festival commemorates Guru Padmasambhava's birth anniversary on the Tibetan lunar calendar, which roughly corresponds to the middle of July. The appeal of the monastery festival is Cham, a crucial component of Buddhism's Tantric heritage. Monks execute dance dramas while being backed by melodic drums, longhorns, and cymbals while dressed in traditional finery, extravagant headgear, and loads of jewellery. Attend the festivals to take part in the age-old customs, savour the regional food, and go on thrilling camel and yak safaris. Additionally, rains are a miss in the chilly desert, turning your vacation into a fascinating monsoon adventure in India.
8. Nag Panchami- The fifth day of the lunar fortnight in the month of Shravan is dedicated to the festival of snakes. In honour of the snakes, known as "The Indian Cobra," people worship them and offer milk during this significant Hindu holiday. The holy Hindu festival honouring the snake god was created to shield them from all harm. In certain extreme forms of worship, people also feed milk to live cobras while worshipping idols of snakes.
9. Moastu/Minjar Festival- The Ao People and other tribes of Nagaland, particularly the Moatsu or Mong or Minjar Festival, are well-known. The event ushers in the end of the grain-sowing season and the expectation of a bumper crop. Farmers who have spent months working in the fields are also given the chance to relax and have fun during the celebrations. As a result, the Moatsu Day is filled with joy, dancing, and upbeat music. Men and women alike dress to the nines and gather around a large fire with food and beverages. The three-day celebration is also known for several other unusual rites that are interesting to experience. Every year, the Moatsu Festival is held during the first week of May and lasts for three days (May 1 through May 3).
10. Raksha Bandhan- One of the main Hindu holidays celebrated in India during the monsoon is Raksha Bandhan. On their brother's wrist, sisters tie silk thread on this eve to wish them a long life. India celebrates it to remember the valued relationship between a sister and a brother. On this day, sisters cook their brothers' favourite delicacies, and in return, brothers receive costly gifts from their sisters. Additionally, they pledge to defend their sisters from all threats. This festival is extremely delightful.
11. Sao Joao- Sao Joao, the Goan festival, is colourful, thrilling, and fun-filled, just like Goa. St. John the Baptist is honoured during the monsoon festival. The festivities, which take place on June 24 every year, have their roots in Portuguese colonial times. Currently, it is a time for celebration, especially among young people. In the coastal state, the showers are appealing because they bring with them lush beauty and a fresh passion for life. Youths leap into water bodies to have fun during the event, capturing the spirit of joy and tradition. While gift-exchange during the holiday typically takes the shape of delectable fruits, beverages, and other tokens. Additionally, people greet one another, sing music, read hymns, and dress up in vibrant attire. In most places, you can also discover boats with carnival themes drifting down streams. The festival is the ideal time to discover Goa's enchanting rural landscape.
12. Behdienkhlam- One of Meghalaya's most important festivals, the Behdienkhlam, is held every year in Jaintia Hills during the monsoon season. The main feature of this celebration, which is celebrated by the indigenous Pnar people, is dancing in a muddy pool of water as young males make a symbolic motion to drive away an evil spirit. Other monsoon festivities, like the Nongkrem Dance, Reh Festival, Cheiraoba Festival, Moatsu, and Ambubasi Mela, are also observed in north-eastern India.