India is a Land of Different Cultures, where Lots of Festivals are celebrated every year. The people of several religions live here and enjoy festivals together as a symbol of Love and Peace. There are many Festivals of India, which are even popular among the Tourists all Around the Globe and they come every year to celebrate it. For every reason, there is a festival celebrated in India. The most common reason is to commemorate the historical events, to express devotion towards the gods and goddess or celebrate the harvest season and more.
There is an important part played by the Dance and Music in almost all the festivals of India. The festivals are celebrated all over the year, but the Joy of festivals reaches to the highest level from March to May and October to January. All the Indian festivals are incomplete without Rituals and Prayers and that’s why the people worship the gods and goddess in Festivals.
No matter, what is the reason to celebrate, India is known as the most celebrated country around the world. In this top blog, we will tell you about 15 Most Popular Religious Festivals in India.
1- Diwali
Diwali is the most popular and most awaited festival of the year, which is celebrated with lots of crackers and colors. The people decorate their houses with the Lights, Candles, Clay Lamps and much more. It is famous as the Festival of Lights among the people. The people give sweets to each other, burn crackers and wear new clothes.
In North and Western States of India, the worship of Goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) is the main event. The event is called Lakshmi Puja and it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits the homes of her Devotees on Diwali and Bestows her Blessings for Prosperity and Well-Being in their lives. Diwali is considered as the most Significant Festival of India and celebrated as a Nation Wide Holiday. One can have an idea of the popularity and significance of Diwali, as the U.S.A even declares Diwali as a Holiday.
- Reason to Celebrate: On the day of Diwali Lord Rama returns to their home Ayodhya after spending a long exile of 14 years along with his brother Lakshmana and wife Sita.
- Month of Celebration: This festival is usually celebrated in the months of October and November.
- Where: Diwali is celebrated all over the country with great passion and love. This festival is close to the heart of each Indian.
2- Holi
Holi is known as the Festival of Colors and celebrated in almost all the regions of India. This festival marks the victory of good over the bad and the abundance of the spring season. The people gather in the open areas and throw colors of different varieties at each other. Even some of them carry colored water filled balloons and water guns. The Night before the Holi, people light bonfires to burn the effigies of the evil Holika.
- Reason to Celebrate: This festival signifies the belief of the Prince Prahlad on the Lord Vishnu who saved him from fire and burned the evil Holika. Holi also signifies the arrival of the spring.
- Month of Celebration: The Holi usually falls in the month of March every year.
- Where: This festival is celebrated with full passion all over the country.
3- Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on a Grand Scale in many different states of India. It is one of the most popular Festivals of India celebrated up to 10 days. There are thousands of devotees gather to the Siddhivinayak Temple and other Ganesha Temples on the day of this festival. This festival is dedicated to the beloved Elephant Headed God Ganesha. The festival is celebrated to worship the Lord Ganesha and invoke their blessings.
Devotees of Lord Ganesha bring their idol to their home on Ganesh Chaturthi and worship them for 11 days. After 11 days devotees bring out the Ganesha Idol by a musical and colorful procession and finally submerge into the water and take their blessings.
- Reason to Celebrate: This is one of the popular festivals in India and is celebrated by the people to worship Ganesha so that they remove all the obstacles in their path.
- Month of Celebration: Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in the months of August and September.
- Where: This festival is celebrated on the grand scale in some states such as Tamil Nadu, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
4- Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated all across the Country for the event of the Birthday of Lord Krishna who is believed to be the eighth powerful avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is a two-day festival celebrated with great joy all over the country. On the first Night, People gathered in Temples and celebrate the Birthday of Krishna on 12:00 at Night in a very colorful and musical way. On the second day of the festival, an event named as Dahi Handi is celebrated. It is the centerpiece of this festival where one has to break a clay pot strung high from the high rise buildings.
- Reason to Celebrate: This festival is celebrated on the eve of the Lord Krishna’s birthday. It is dedicated to the knowledge and intelligence of Lord Krishna.
- Month of Celebration: This festival is held in the month of August or September.
- Where: Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated with full duo all over the country especially in Mathura and Vrindavan, the Birthplace of Lord Krishna.
5- Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is one of the most important Festivals in India for the people of the Muslim religion. During the festival, the people wear new clothes and attend a special community prayer in the morning. They also exchange sweets with the friends and relatives. The elders give idi, i.e. money or gifts to the children. The markets and mosques get decorated during the festival.
- Reason to Celebrate: Eid-Ul-Fitr is celebrated on the eve of the conclusion of the holy month of fasting known as Ramadan.
Month of Celebration: This festival is celebrated on the 1st day of the month of Shawwal as per Lunar Hijri Calendar.
Where: Muslim communities all over the country celebrate it with great joy.
6- Dussehra
It is a popular festival of India, which celebrates the win of the good over the evil. It is also known as Vijaya Dashami. The merriment started 9 days early with Ramlila (a night program depicting the scenes of Lord Ram’s life from Ramayana). The charm of Ramlila continuous for 9 Nights and on the Vijay Dashami, the celebrations end with the Ravan Dahan.
Dussehra is observed by the people by burning the large effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnath. The Effigies of these three are filled with Lots of Crackers and a large no. of people gathered in the Ground to see the Ravana Burning. All the government offices remain closed on the eve of this festival as it is an important day for the people. The legacy of the good, which always triumphs over the evil are re-established by the people.
- Reason to Celebrate: It is celebrated due to the victory of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana who kidnaps his wife Sita.
- Month of Celebration: The Dussehra is mostly celebrated in the month of October every year.
- Where: All the Indians celebrated this festival with full joy all over the country by burning effigies of Ravana.
[Also Read: Top 6 Places to Celebrate Dussehra in India]
7- Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival celebrated to signify the philosophical meaning that more light and warmth you give after the more you go higher. It is one of the few festivals of India, which has a philosophical meaning and significance. According to the legends, it is believed that the Sun God visits his son Shani on the day of Makar Sankranti.
- Reason to Celebrate: The main reason for celebrating this festival is to commemorate the ascending of the Sun God into the Northern Hemisphere.
- Month of Celebration: This festival is celebrated on 14th January every year.
- Where: It is celebrated in almost all over the India, but North Indian states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh celebrates it on a Grand Scale.
8- Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is one of the most popular festivals of India, signifying the Bonding between the relation of Brother and Sister. During this festival, the sister ties a Sacred Thread known as Rakhi on the wrist of his brother wishing his well being and in return, the brother vows to protect her sister and give a gift to her.
- Reason to Celebrate: The main purpose of celebrating this festival is to symbolize the strong bonding between a sister and brother.
- Month of Celebration: Celebrated in the month of August on the full moon day of Shravana month as per Hindu calendar.
- Where: Mainly in North, Central, and West Indian states.
9- Durga Puja
Durga Puja is Chiefly a Religious Festival out of all the festivals in India in which people worship the Goddess Durga. This festival is termed as an occasion for the reunions of the families. The people turn back to the fore traditional customs during the time of this festival.
- Reason to Celebrate: This festival is celebrated to Worship Durga Mata as the destroyer of the evil and protector of the good.
- Month of Celebration: Durga Puja is held in the months of the September and October each year.
- Where: Celebrated mainly in South India, especially in West Bengal.
[Must Read: 10 Must-Have Durga Puja Experiences]
10- Christmas
Christmas is one of the most popular festivals of India and all over the world. Christmas is celebrated in India with full joy among the Christian communities. Nowadays, people of other communities also actively take part in this festival. The children wait for this day all the year for the Surprise Gift from Santa. All the Churches get decorated to enjoy the eve of the Christmas. The key attractions of this festival are Christmas Tree Decoration and Santa Claus.
- Reason for Celebration: This festival is celebrated to enjoy the Birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the God.
- Month of Celebration: Christmas is celebrated on 25th December every year.
- Where: Although, it is celebrated all over the country, where as states such as Pondicherry, Kerala, and Goa are the best places to enjoy this festival in India.
11- Pongal
Pongal is one of the most popular and best festivals of India, which is mainly celebrated in the Southern states of India. It is a four-day long harvest festival during which people wear traditional dresses and prepare Pongal Dish. The celebrations of the festival consist of Dance, Cattle races, Bonfires, and savories. The main attraction of the Pongal festival is Kolam designs.
Reason to Celebrate: Pongal festival is celebrated to Thanks the Nature for giving the first harvest of the year.
Month of Celebration: The celebration starts from 14th or 15th January every year.
Where: This festival is celebrated mainly in Tamil Nadu.
12- Hanuman Jayanti
This festival is celebrated by the Hindu people to commemorate the birth of the Powerful monkey God Hanuman. He is considered as the Avatar of Lord Shiva by the Hindus. There was an important role played by the Hanuman in the battle of Lord Rama against the Ravana. As per Hindu legends, the Hanuman has great magical powers.
Reason to Celebrate: This festival is celebrated to celebrate the birthday of the Powerful God Hanuman who was an Ardent Devotee of Lord Rama.
Month of Celebration: Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated mainly in the month of April every year.
Where: Festival is celebrated by the Hindus all over the country.
13- Onam
Onam is a harvest festival of Kerala, which marks the Homecoming of the King Mahabali. The festival is celebrated for a period of ten days. Onam is known as one of the richest festivals of India in terms of heritage and culture. This festival is celebrated during the time of the Tourism Week in Kerala. It is a special initiative of the state government of Kerala and is one of the popular Festivals of India.
Special Dance and Cultural Programs are organized during the festival. The Key attraction of Onam festival is Boat Race also known as Snake Boat Race.
- Reason to Celebrate: Onam festival is celebrated to enjoy the homecoming of King Mahabali after spending some time out of their hometown.
- Month of Celebration: This festival is celebrated in the first month, according to the Malayalam calendar which corresponds to the month of September.
- Where: Onam festival is celebrated mainly in the state of Kerala.
14- Baisakhi
Baisakhi is another harvest festival and is one of the most popular Festivals of India. Baisakhi has a great importance among the Sikh community in India. It is celebrated as the Founding of the Khalsa Panth and the Sikh New Year. This festival is celebrated in the form of Nagar Kirtan, Fairs, and Amrit Sanchar ceremonies. The Gurudwaras are decorated and the Nishan Sahib flags are raised on this day.
Reason to Celebrate: On this day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Khalsa Panth.
Month to Celebrate: Baisakhi is celebrated on 14th of April every year.
Where: Celebrated across the North Indian states, especially in Punjab.
15- Rama Navami
Rama Navami is a very significant day for the Devotees of Lord Rama who keeps a day-long fast on this day. They worship him with all the rituals and very popular in the different states of India. This festival coincides with the last day of Chaitra Navratri in the North India and celebrated with complete joy in the temples.
- Reason to Celebrate: This festival is celebrated on the occasion of Lord Rama Birthday.
- Month of Celebration: It is usually celebrated in the month of March or April every year.
- Where: All over the country
Along with the list of the most Popular Festivals of India, there are lots of many other such as Ugadi, Maha Shivaratri, Gudi Padwa and much more. The wide variety of festivals is enjoyed and celebrated in India makes it a country with a complete blend of Rich Culture and Tradition.