Want to know about Festivals of India ? Well you have landed on the right article the article includes Indian festivals with pictures. Festivals are part and parcel of Indian culture like that of spices to the Indian cuisines. Festivals are considered as the most special forms of celebration.
India has a rich culture and tradition. Throughout the year, the Indian people of different religions celebrate festivals. State-wise festivals and its celebrations are different.
All the Indian festivals have their own significance and traditional beliefs that are related to them. Likewise, the celebration, history , tradition, and culture of each religious festival is also different.
Various religious people coexist in India. And hence, a wide variety of festivals are celebrated all over the year in India. Every festival in India is celebrated with great enthusiasm and spirit.
It may be lighting up our homes in Diwali or ringing bells in Christmas to the most celebrated holy month of Ramadan. The significance of all the festivals is unique and it is welcomed with big celebrations.
The top 18 most popular festivals of India along with their importance and date of celebration are discussed below. Most Popular Festivals of India and India biggest festival .
Most Popular Festivals of India
Maha Shivratri
Maha Shivratri festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva. On the night of Maha Shivratri Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati unite in the month of Phalguna on the 14th day of the dark fortnight.
As mentioned in the Hindu mythology, on this auspicious day Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati tied the nuptial knot.
Maha Shivratri has great significance and on this day devotees of Lord Shiva observe a day-long fast and also remain awake throughout the night and after that perform puja in the time of Nishita Kaal.
It is believed that Shivaratri is the sacred night and hence people need to wake up to make their whole life connections with inner reality.
Why is the festival important: This festival holds great reverence among the lord Shiva devotees. Maha Shivratri is considered the most important festival for married as well as unmarried women to attain bliss for marriage.
Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: Among the Hindu devotees it is a belief that those who worship Lord Shiva on the Shivratri attain salvation and they can recover from their sins.
How long the festival is conducted: Based on the Hindu calendar luni-solar Maha Shivratri is celebrated all over India over three or ten days.
Date of the festival: Maha Shivratri is celebrated in the month of Phagun on the 14th day of the dark fortnight.
Best Place To Celebrate: Maha Shivratri is celebrated in all the Shiva temples all over India. In the Pashupatinath temple, it is widely celebrated.
Holi
Holi is also known as the festival of colours. It indicates the celebration of love, spring, and new life. It is a very popular festival in India celebrated with full enthusiasm. it is one if the most popular festivals of India .
People play Holi in an open area and apply wet and dry colours to each other. Children usually carry water guns and balloons filled with colored water on this day.
Some families also conduct religious ceremonies but Holi is mostly a time of fun. Holi represents the beginning of the spring season and the victory of good over bad.
This is the game that Lord Krishna used to play along with his consort Radha and all the gopis.
- Why is the festival important: Holi signifies the arrival of the spring season after the winter season. Another purpose of celebrating Holi is thanksgiving to God for a good harvest.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: Holi signifies the victory of good over evil and it is observed as a day to spread love and happiness.
- How long the festival is conducted: Holi festival is celebrated for two days. The first day of Holi is known as Choti Holi or Holika Dahan and the second day of Holi is known as Rangwali Holi.
- Date of the festival: Holi usually falls in March. This year, in 2022 Holi was celebrated on March 18 and Holika Dahan was observed on the evening of March 17.
- Best Place To Celebrate: Few places in India that are considered as best to celebrate Holi are, for instance, Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Agra (Uttar Pradesh), Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh), Jaipur (Rajasthan), etc.
Navratri
Navratri festival is celebrated throughout India by all the people in different ways. The Hindu religious people celebrate this festival for the victory of goddess Durga after the killing of the demon Mahishasura.
In Navratri, 9 days of fasting is an important tradition among the Hindu people. Some people keep fasting for 9 days while some people observe fasting in jodas.
And this fasting is related to a scientific fact. It is believed that when the season changes people should fast to give rest to their digestive systems.
In the next season, it helps to boost their immune system.
- Why is the festival important: People also celebrate this festival as the triumph of Goddess Durga over the Mahishasura. Mahishasura was blessed by Lord Brahma with the gift of immortality. And because of this blessing, Mahishasura never died.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: The incarnation of ‘Goddess Durga’ is celebrated and worshipped on each day of Navratri over the triumph of Mahishasura. This is considered the ultimate victory where Good wins over evil.
- How long the festival is conducted: This festival is celebrated for nine nights.
- Date of the festival: Navratri begins on the first day of Ashwin month in the Hindu calendar. Roughly as per the Gregorian calendar in September / October Navratri is celebrated.
- Best Place to Celebrate: Few places in India that are considered as best to celebrate Navratri are, for instance, Gujarat, New Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Varanasi, West Bengal, etc.
Dussehra
Dussehra is one of the most famous festivals of India for the people of the Hindu religion. It is also known as Vijaya Dashami. This festival is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. In Hinduism, Dussehra is celebrated after Navratri.
It is believed that Lord Rama by hearing the advice of Lord Vishnu worshipped the Goddess Durga before he started the journey of defeating Ravana. Dussehra is the mark of the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.
- Why is the festival important: Dussehra is celebrated as the death of the Ravana, the demon king at the hands of Lord Rama. People also celebrate this festival as the triumph of Goddess Durga over the Mahishasur.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: Dussehra is marked as an avatar of Vishnu and the victory of Rama over the 10-headed Ravana, demon king. As Ravana abducted Lord Rama’s wife Sita.
- How long the festival is conducted: This festival is conducted for 10 days. It is the culmination of the Navaratri festival. In north India, Ramlila performance is also conducted on Dussehra.
- Date of the festival: Dussehra festival was celebrated on the 15th of October, Friday of the year 2021.
- Best Place to Celebrate: Few places in India that are considered as best to celebrate Dussehra are, for instance, Kolkata (West Bengal), Delhi’s Ramlila, Ramlila, Varanasi, and Navratri Mahotsav in Ahmedabad.
Independence Day
Independence day is a national festival in India. To feel the spirit of India's Independence Day is celebrated. During this day, the flag hoisting ceremony is also carried out at the Red Fort of India by the Indian Prime Minister.
In 1947, when the Indian Independence Act came into effect after declaring India and Pakistan as separate countries and India was no longer on the British imperialist list, Independence day was celebrated.
- Why is the festival important: Independence day is celebrated as the end of British rule in the year 1947. In 1947, India was established as an independent and free nation.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: This day is celebrated in the memory of those freedom fighters who lost their lives for our country.
- How long the festival is conducted: Independence Day is conducted once a year on the 15th of August.
- Date of the festival: 15th of August
- Best Place to Celebrate: Few places in India that are considered as best to celebrate Independence Day are, for instance, Wagah Border, Kargil War Memorial, Red Fort, Jhansi Fort, and Jallianwala Bagh.
Durga Puja
Durga Puja is celebrated by the Hindu community in India. It is ranked as the top-listed religious festival.
In Durga Puja, people do 10 days of fasting and worshipping Goddess Durga. Cultural songs, dramas, and dances are also conducted.
Artists made huge and beautiful Durga idols. The Hindu religious people celebrate this festival for the victory of goddess Durga after the killing of the demon Mahishasura.
It is believed that during this time Goddess Durga visits her earthly abode to bless her devotees. In the Bengali community, Durga puja holds great significance.
- Why is the festival important: People also celebrate this festival as the triumph of Goddess Durga over the Mahishasura. Mahishasura was blessed by Lord Brahma with the gift of immortality. And because of this blessing, Mahishasura never died.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: The incarnation of ‘Goddess Durga’ is celebrated and worshipped on each day of Durga Puja over the triumph of Mahishasura. This is considered the ultimate victory where Good wins over evil.
- How long the festival is conducted: This festival is celebrated for 10 days.
- Date of the festival: Durga puja begins on the first day of Ashwin month in the Hindu calendar. Roughly as per the Gregorian calendar in September / October Durga Puja is celebrated.
- Best Place to Celebrate: Few places in India that are considered as best to celebrate Durga Puja are, for instance, Kolkata, Assam, Gujarat, New Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Varanasi, etc.
Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami is a beautiful festival celebrated in India. Mostly in Mathura and Vrindavan, Janmashtami is celebrated with full warmth.
It marks the birth of Krishna, who is one of the most worshipped deities of Hindu religious people. It is believed that Krishna was born in 3228 BC.
Eight days after the Raksha Bandhan (the festival of brothers and sisters) Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated.
- Why is the festival important: Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated to mark the birth of Krishna. Krishna is a popular God worshipped by Hindu religious people.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: On this day, people start their celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna. Krishna was born in the month of Bhadrapada in a dark fortnight in Mathura. Hence, Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated at night.
- How long the festival is conducted: This festival is celebrated for 2 days.
- Date of the festival: Krishna Janmashtami is observed eight days after Raksha Bandhan. In 2022, it will be celebrated on the 18th and 19th of August.
- Best Place to Celebrate: Few places in India that are considered as best to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami are, for instance, Vrindavan, Mathura, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, etc.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day colourful festival worshipped by the people of the Hindu religion. This festival is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi in Hinduism.
It marks the birth of Lord Ganesha. It is believed that Goddess Parvati was the creator of Ganpati.
In the absence of Lord Shiva, Parvati used her Sandalwood paste for creating Ganesh and went to bathing while putting him on guard.
After that, Lord Shiva fought with Ganesh as he did not allow Lord Shiva to enter without the order of his mother. This is the story of Ganesh Chaturthi.
In Ganesh Chaturthi, every morning and evening pujas are performed in the Ganesh Chaturthi pandal.
- Why is the festival important: It’s a Hindu 10-day festival that marks the birth of Lord Ganesh. Lord Ganesh is known as the God of prosperity and religion. it is one if the most popular festivals of India .
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: This festival is celebrated to mark the new beginnings as well as to remove obstacles and difficulties.
- How long the festival is conducted: Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days all over India
- Date of the festival: From the fourth day in the Bhadrapada month (August-September) this festival is celebrated. In 2022, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated from 31st August.
- Best Place to Celebrate: Few places in India that are considered as best to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi are, for instance, Maharashtra and Goa.
Gurpurab
The word ‘Gurpurab’ is made of two words- One is ‘Gur’ and the other is ‘Purab’. ‘Gur’ means guru or master and ‘Purab’ means parv in Hindi.
Hence, Gurpurab is a day that is dedicated to the Hindu religious people. Among the Sikh religious people, Gurpurab is considered the most important festival.
During this festival, hymn chanting processions and Karah Prasad are distributed among the people within the city where Gurpurab is celebrated.
Gurupurab is also known as Guru Nanak Jayanti and it marks the birth anniversary of the ten Sikh gurus.
- Why is the festival important: Gurpurab marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: To commemorate Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birthday Gurpurab is celebrated among the Sikh religious people.
- How long the festival is conducted: Gurupurab is celebrated for three days in India.
- Date of the festival: In 2022, Gurpurab will be celebrated on the 8th of November.
- Best Place to Celebrate: Few places in India that are considered as best to celebrate Gurupurab are, for instance, Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, etc.
Raksha Bandhan
The meaning of Raksha Bandhan is ‘ safety’ and ‘bond’.Raksha Bandhan is a festival of brother-sister bonding celebrated among the Hindus.
In this festival, the sister ties rakhi on the brother’s wrist, applies tilak and performs Aarti for his well-being. This festival is observed on full moon day or the day of Purnima in the Hindu calendar of the Shravan month.
- Why is the festival important: Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as a unique bond between a brother and his sister.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: On this day, a sister ties Rakhi on her brother’s wrist as a symbol of a lot of faith in him and prayers for his long life. And in return, their brother promises to keep her protected from all the troubles and make her happy always.
- How long the festival is conducted: This festival is celebrated for one day only.
- Date of the festival: In 2022, Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on the 11th of August.
- Best Place to Celebrate: Few places in India that are considered as best to celebrate Raksha Bandhan are, for instance, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, etc.
Eid-Ul-Fitr
Eid-Ul-Fitr is an important festival for the Muslim community in India. After the Ramadan fast ends, Eid-Ul-Fitr is celebrated.
Ramadan is the sacred month of fasting for the Islamic community. Eid-Ul-Fitr means the ‘feast of fast-breaking.
During this festival, people dress up in their traditional wear and attend a special community prayer with family and friends, and exchange sweets.
- Why is the festival important: Eid-Ul-Fitr is celebrated following a successful month of abstaining from drink as well as food.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: Islam community considers Eid-Ul-Fitr as a holy month and they hold fast from dawn to dusk while dedicating themselves to offering prayers to Allah.
- How long the festival is conducted: This biggest festival for Muslims is celebrated across India for three days.
- Date of the festival: In this year 2022, Eid-Ul-Fitr will be celebrated on the 2nd and 3rd of May.
- Best Place to Celebrate: Few places in India that are considered as best to celebrate Eid-Ul-Fitr are, for instance, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, etc.
Bihu
Bihu is a religious festival for the people of Assam. There are three Bihu festivals celebrated in Assam. Magh Bihu is celebrated in January, Bohag Bihu is celebrated in April, and Kati Bihu is celebrated in October.
Magh Bihu is the festival of the feast. It is dedicated to the fire god. In the month of Makar Sankranti, Magh Bihu is celebrated.
The Assamese people celebrate this function for two days. Bohag Bihu is celebrated in April. It indicates the starting of the harvest season and its seeding time.
During mid-October and November, Kati Bihu is celebrated. It is also known as Kangali Bihu.
- Why is the festival important: Bihu is important to show gratitude and take blessings from God for a good harvesting season.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: Magh Bihu resembles the end of the harvest season. In Bohag Bihu people ask for prosperity from God.
And in Kati Bihu seeks the blessings from God, so that no harm is caused to the crops as farmers start preparing for crops. - How long the festival is conducted: Magh Bihu is celebrated for 2 days, Rongali Bihu is celebrated for 7 days and Kati Bihu is celebrated for 1 day only.
- Date of the festival: The date of Magh Bihu is the 14th and 15th of January, and Rongali Bihu is celebrated from the 14th of April. And Kati Bihu will be celebrated on the 18th of October, 2022.
- Best Place to Celebrate: The best place to celebrate this festival is in Assam.
Hemis
Hemis festival is celebrated in Ladakh, India. This festival is celebrated in the 5th month of the Tibetan calendar. It is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Guru Rimpoche.
This festival is celebrated in the richest and largest Buddhist monastery named Hemis Gompa in Ladakh. During this festival, the entire Ladakh comes to life like never before. This is considered a famous culture of Ladakh.
- Why is the festival important: Hemis festival is important as it celebrates the honour of the state Guru Padmasambhava’s birth anniversary.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: It is believed that Guru Rimpoche also known as Padmasambhava is the reincarnation of Lord Buddha. Hemis festival is observed as his birthday.
- How long the festival is conducted: Hemis festival is celebrated for two days.
- Date of the festival: In the year 2022, the Hemis festival will be celebrated on the 8th and 9th of July.
- Best Place to Celebrate: Ladakh, India
Onam
Onam festival is a very popular festival celebrated in Kerala. In the Malayalam calendar known as Chingam, it marks the first month.
It is celebrated when the Sun is in the Rashi Simha. Onam has been celebrated for the last 11,100 years in Kerala in the name of their beloved king Mahabali.
During this festival, people decorate their homes with flowers and draw Rangoli with rice flours and flowers.
- Why is the festival important: Onam is important as it celebrates the home-coming honour of King Mahabali, the mythical demon king. Mahabali was a demon but he was known for being kind-hearted and generous.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: To indicate the harvest season for Kerala and also to celebrate the homecoming of the Great King Mahabali Onam festival is celebrated.
- How long the festival is conducted: Onam festival is celebrated for 10 or more than 10 days.
- Date of the festival: The dates of the Onam festival celebration are depending on the Malayalam calendar and generally it falls in the Chingam month.
- Best Place to Celebrate: The best place to celebrate the Onam festival is in Kerala.
Pongal
Pongal is a most looked forward to festival for the Tamil community in India. Along with Makar Sankranti, it is one of the biggest harvest festivals observed in Southern India.
Pongal is a celebration to show gratitude to the Sun, Mother nature, and the different farm animals that help in contributing bountiful harvest. Four days of Pongal are, namely, Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, Maatu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal etc.
The first day of Pongal celebration is known as Bhogi Pongal. On this day, cleaning and discarding of old belongings are done.
The second day of Pongal is Surya Pongal. On Surya Pongal the Sun God is honoured. On the entrance of the home, decorative and colourful floor designs are drawn known as Kolam. Along with that, every household cooks a pot of fresh rice along with milk.
The third day of Pongal is called as Maatu Pongal. This day is dedicated to devotees of the cattle (Maatu). It is a day to remember the cattle (Maatu) for their work, for example, ploughing the land.
The fourth day of Pongal is called Kaanum Pongal. This day is dedicated to the community for strengthening ties.Family members gather together for a meal. And the younger members seek blessings from the older members of their family.
- Why is the festival important: The Pongal festival is celebrated to show gratitude to God, Mother Nature, thank the Sun, and also the different farm animals for contributing to the bountiful harvest.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: Pongal festival marks the starting of the Tamil month, known as Thai. Thai is considered the auspicious month. This festival is conducted to give thanks to God for a bountiful harvest.
- How long the festival is conducted: Pongal festival is celebrated for four days.
- Date of the festival: This festival usually falls on the 14th or the 15th of January every year.
- Best Place to Celebrate: The best place to celebrate the Pongal festival is in Tamil Nadu and the other Southern states of India.
Christmas
Christmas is a religious and cultural festival celebrated by the Christian community all over the world. It is an annual festival that commemorates the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ.
It is celebrated with gift-giving, lighting, symbolic decoration, feasting, and more.
- Why is the festival important: Christmas is important as in this festival the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is celebrated. Nazareth is a spiritual leader whose teachings were from the basis of their religion.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: Christmas is celebrated to mark the birth of Jesus Nazareth.
- How long the festival is conducted: This festival is celebrated only for one day.
- Date of the festival: 25th of December every year.
- Best Place to Celebrate: All over India/ World.
Easter
Easter is a principal festival of Christian celebrated in churches across India. It is a cultural holiday where the Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated.
Three days after Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, his death, and his burial Jesus rose from his grave and after that, he conquered death and redeemed the people from sin.
- Why is the festival important: Easter is celebrated to defeat death and the hope for salvation. An egg is an ancient symbol of new life hence Easter is celebrated with an egg. it is one if the most popular festivals of India .
In the opinion of Christians, Easter eggs represent the emergency of Jesus from the resurrection and the tomb. - Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: The main reason for celebrating Easter is that, according to the Christian tradition, all the sins made by human beings were paid for as Jesus died and this is his Resurrection.
Easter celebrates God’s victory over sin and death. Christian’s believed that when Jesus rose from his grave it was God’s way to show that he can not be defeated. - How long the festival is conducted: Easter is conducted in a single day. Eastertide is 50 days. It starts from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. The single joyful day of the Easter celebration is known as ‘Great Lord’s Day’.
- Date of the festival: Easter 2022 was celebrated on Sunday, 17th of April.
- Best Place to Celebrate: The best place to celebrate Easter in India is in Goa.
Baisakhi
Baisakhi/ Vaisakhi is a harvest festival celebrated by the Sikh people in India. This festival is mainly celebrated in Haryana, Punjab, and Western Uttar Pradesh with great enthusiasm and zeal.
This festival marks the start of the Sikh new year and on Baisakhi, Sikhs pay tribute to their tenth guru, named Guru Govind Singh.
- Why is the festival important: On the day of Baisakhi Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji laid the foundation of the Khalsa Panth. And this is why Baisakhi is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Sikhs.
- Reason for celebrating or conducting the festival: Baisakhi is a harvest festival celebrated in northern India and especially in Haryana and Punjab. It is celebrated for a long period even before it becomes important for the Sikhs.
This festival is celebrated as on this day Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa. It also marks the start of the Sikh new year. - How long the festival is conducted: Baisakhi is celebrated for two days every year.
- Date of the festival: This festival happens on the 13th and14th of April. From 1699 Sikhism celebrated Baisakhi on these dates.
- Best Place to Celebrate: The best place to celebrate Baisakhi is Haryana, Punjab, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many festivals are there in India?
Answer: There is no exact number of festivals celebrated in India. More than 50 festivals are celebrated all over the country. Different festivals are celebrated by different religious people all over the year.
All these festivals are an integral part of our country and it shows the rich heritage of India.
Q2. What is the famous Indian festival?
Answer: All the Indian festivals are famous. But among them, the most famous festivals are Diwali, Dussehra, Navratri, Maha Shivratri, Independence Day, etc.
These festivals are celebrated all over India. Diwali, Dussehra, and Navratri, three festivals are celebrated with high enthusiasm and fun. Holi is also one of the most famous festivals celebrated in India. This colour festival brings happiness and joy to adults and kids.
Q3. What are the types of festivals?
Answer: All the festival types are different. Some festivals are celebrated in the Hindu community, some are celebrated in the Islam community and some are celebrated in the Christian community.
All the festivals celebrated in India by the different communities have different significance. But some festivals are celebrated by all the people irrespective of religion, for instance, Independence Day and Republic day, etc.
Q4. What is the most important festival in our country?
Answer: Diwali, Holi, Navratri and Ganesh Chaturthi, etc are a few festivals that are considered the most important festival in our country. These festivals are celebrated all over India. Mainly Hindu religious people living in India celebrate these festivals.
Here are the Festivals of Uttarakhand :-
