Diwali or Deepavali:
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important festivals in India, and it is celebrated nationwide on the new moon day (Amavasya) of Kartik month (October/November). The first day is Naraka Chaturdasi or Choti Diwali, commemorating Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura. The second day is Lakshmi Puja, when Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for prosperity. The third day is primarily known for Govardhan Puja (or Annakoot) in North India, honouring Lord Krishna’s lifting of Govardhan Hill. The fourth day is celebrated as Bhai Dooj in most of India, honouring the bond between siblings.
Dhan Teras:
Dhanteras, also known as Dhantrayodashi, takes place two days before Diwali. It is celebrated in honour of Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Legend holds that when the gods and demons churned the ocean for nectar (Amrit), Dhanvantari emerged carrying a jar of the elixir. On this day, people buy new “Dhan” or wealth, typically in the form of precious metals like gold or silver or new utensils, as a symbol of good luck. The festival is also referred to as Yamadeepdaan, during which lamps are lit and kept burning throughout the night to appease Yama, the God of Death, and ward off untimely deaths.
Durga Puja:
Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharadotsava, is a ten-day Hindu festival celebrated with immense fervour and grandeur in India, particularly in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, and Bihar. This festival honours Goddess Durga, the destroyer of the demon Mahishasura and the embodiment of Shakti, the divine feminine power. She is also revered as Sarba Janani, the mother of all. Durga Puja commences on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin (September/October) and culminates on Vijayadashami, the tenth day.
The festival coincides with the latter five days of Navratri, a nine-day festival dedicated to the nine forms of Durga. During these days, elaborate pandals (temporary structures) are erected, showcasing intricate artistry and craftsmanship. The idol of Goddess Durga, often depicted riding a lion, is worshipped alongside her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya.
The celebrations include various rituals, ceremonies, and cultural events, such as devotional singing, dancing, and feasting. On Vijayadashami, the idols are immersed in rivers or water bodies, signifying Durga’s return to her husband Shiva’s abode.
In West Bengal, Durga Puja is a grand cultural extravaganza, with vibrant processions, music, dance, and a wide array of cultural programs, including Rabindra Sangeet performances. The festival transcends religious boundaries and is celebrated by people from all walks of life, fostering a sense of community and cultural unity.
Dussehra:
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is celebrated on the tenth day after the nine nights of Navaratri, in the month of Ashwin (September/October). During Navaratri, Ramlila is enacted over nine days, showcasing various stages of Lord Rama’s life through dramatic performances and tableaux (Jhankis) in processions. On Dussehra, massive effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnad are set ablaze at sunset, often ignited by an arrow symbolizing Rama’s victory over evil. Historically, Dussehra enjoyed royal patronage from Hindu and sometimes even Muslim rulers. Regional variations add to the festival’s richness: Mysore Dasara features a grand procession with elephants, while in Kullu, it extends for a week with unique rituals. In parts of South India, homes are adorned with lamps, flowers, and dolls (Bommai Kolu). In some regions of Maharashtra, Dussehra signifies the end of the Pandavas’ exile, and people exchange Shami leaves as symbols of gold and goodwill.
Ganesh Chaturthi:
The birth anniversary of Ganesha is celebrated as ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ on the fourth day of Bhadra (August/September) in the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other parts of India. Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, is considered as the god of wisdom and prosperity and is invoked before the beginning of any auspicious work. Ganesh Chaturthi was started by Shivaji to promote Indian culture and nationalism. Bal Gangadhar Tilak invigorated this festival to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the British, which had imposed a ban on public assemblies. During the Chaturthi or the last day, thousands of processions carrying idols of Ganesha converge on the lakes, rivers and seas for the visarjan or immersion ceremony.
Hanuman Jayanti:
This festival is celebrated largely in North India, especially in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, during the month of Chaitra, to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the monkey god, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama. The festival is especially important to Brahmacharis, wrestlers and bodybuilders, since Hanuman is regarded as the symbol of strength and energy.
Holi:
The festival of Holi is celebrated in the month of Phagun (early March). It announces the onset of spring after the end of winter. According to one popular legend, the festival of Holi is celebrated to mark the burning of the evil demon ‘Holika’ and signifies the triumph of good over evil. This lively festival is also associated with the eternal love of Radha-Krishna, and hence, ‘Kama’ or the ‘God of Love’, is revered during the festival in several parts of the country. Apart from the usual fun with coloured powder (gulal) and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions that are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality, amidst uninhibited consumption of Marijuana-based drinks like bhang and thandai. In rural Maharashtra the festival is known as Rangapanchami while in West Bengal it is celebrated as Dolyatra or Basant Utsav.
Janmashthami:
The birth anniversary of Lord Krishna is celebrated as Janmashthami during the month of Shravan (August/September). It is marked by singing of devotional songs and performance of Ras Leela to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha. In Maharashtra, the festival witnesses the exuberant enactment of Balmurali’s attempts to steal butter and curd from earthen pots beyond his reach. A group of young men and children form human pyramids and reach out to a suspended pot (matka) containing milk products and eventually break it. In Gujarat the town of Dwarka comes alive with major celebrations and hordes of visitors.
Karwa Chauth:
Karwa Chauth falls on the Kartik ki Chauth (fourth day of the waning moon) some time in October or November. It is the most important fast observed by the Hindu women for the prosperity, well-being and longevity of their husbands. The fast starts before sunrise and ends after worshipping the moon at night. Upon moon rise, women see its reflection in a plate filled with water and do puja invoking goddess ‘Gaur Mata’ and break their fasts.
Mahanavami:
The culmination of the Navaratri festival is celebrated as Mahanavami and Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of Aparajita. In many parts of India a Kanya Puja is performed during which nine virgins, symbolically representing the nine forms of the goddess, are honoured.
Maha Shivratri:
Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on the fourteenth day in the month of Magha (January/February). On this night Lord Shiva is said to have performed the Tandava or the dance of creation, preservation and destruction. It is also believed that during this night Shiva manifests himself in the form of a huge flaming lingam known as Jyotirlinga. It is customary for the devotees (Bhakts) of Shiva to observe fast during the day and maintain vigil during the night.
Naag Panchami:
The ‘Naag Panchami’ is observed on the fifth day of Shravana, during which live cobras or their images are worshipped. Besides Lord Shiva, Ananta, the cosmic snake, and Manasa, the goddess of snakes are worshipped in different parts of the country.
Ram Navami:
Ramnavami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Rama in the month of Chaitra (March/April). It is widely celebrated in Ayodhya and Puducherry, two places closely connected with the events of the Ramayana. In Ayodhya, thousands of pilgrims converge at the Kanaka Bhawan Temple where colourful processions are held.
Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath:
The Ratha Yatra or Car Festival of Lord Jagannath is an annual Hindu festival celebrated in Puri, Odisha, on the second day of the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadha (June/July). During the festival, the deities Jagannath (Lord Krishna), Balabhadra, and Subhadra are taken from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple in elaborately decorated chariots called Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana, respectively. The chariots are pulled by millions of devotees, with Balabhadra’s chariot leading the procession.
The deities stay at the Gundicha Temple for nine days, and the return journey, Bahuda Yatra, takes place on the ninth day of the bright half of Ashadha. The deities are brought back to the main temple amidst the singing of devotional songs called “Bhajan” and “Janana.”
The Ratha Yatra has deep historical and cultural roots. While Sanskrit texts mention chariot festivals in the 9th century, the exact origins of the current Puri Rath Yatra are debated. There are theories suggesting connections between Lord Jagannath and tribal deities, as well as potential Buddhist influence in the region, but these are subjects of ongoing research.
Sharad Purnima:
This is a harvest festival, which is celebrated a fortnight before the Diwali. People drink saffron-flavoured milk during a special moonlit night, referred as Kojagiri, while the full moon night is observed as the Navanna Purnima. In many temples, Goddess Durga is taken around the temple in a torch-lit procession called Chhabina.
Skanda Shashthi:
It is celebrated mainly in southern India on the sixth day of Kartik. Skanda Shashthi commemorates the birth of Skanda, the six-headed son of Shiva and Parvati and commander of the celestial armies, who is also referred as ‘Kartikeya’, ‘Subrahmanya’ and ‘Murugan’.
Vaikunth Ekadashi:
There are twenty four Ekadashis observed by the Hindus during the year and the ‘Vaikunth Ekadashi’ is observed during November in the honour of Goddess Ekadashi.
Vasant Panchami:
Vasant Panchami or Sri Panchami is celebrated all over India on the fifth day of the month of Magha in January/February to honour Saraswati, the Goddess of learning.