Top 10 Festivals in India

The festivals of India demonstrate the greatness of its culture. The vibrant and energetic Indian festivities demonstrate the greatness of our Indian culture. Indians celebrate holidays with zeal and commitment. India is a country that is respected and understood since various festivities are held here. The list of Indian festivals is extensive. India, a culturally rich country, hosts several festivals. Because each of their essences is so distinct, experiencing each is like living a hundred lifetimes in one.

Here is a quick list and some information that will be useful to you in understanding all of the famous festivals of India.

Holi (Festivals of Colours)

Holi is one of India's most popular festivities. This charming celebration brings together family and friends, who are dressed in white, to sing, dance, and play with colours. Holi is celebrated by splattering dry and wet colours on one another. This well-known Indian festival is also associated with mythology. Hiranyakashyap and his son Prahlad's story is legendary. Hiranyakshyap was a wicked king who desired that the gods adore him, but his son Prahlad became a devotee of Lord Vishnu. 

So Hiranyakshyap tried to kill Prahlad with the help of Holika, his sister. Hiranyakshyap asked Holika to enter the fire with Prahlad in her lap because she had a boon of surviving in flames. This plot, however, failed because Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad. Instead, the fire killed Holika, and Lord Vishnu's Narasimha Avatar killed Hiranyakshyap. 

Holi is regarded as one of India's most important celebrations. Every year, one day before the Holi festival, the "Holika Dahan" ceremony is performed by starting a bonfire. Hindus believe that they are burning Holika or the wicked for good to survive.

Diwali ( Festivals of Lamps)

Diwali is a major religious festival in India celebrated by the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain groups. Diwali is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik (October or November). Diwali is the celebration of lights; every year, on Diwali, Indians decorate their homes to welcome Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of Wealth). Worshipping Goddess Laxmi is a major Diwali rite.

Every year, shortly before Diwali, Hindu community members clean their homes, have them painted, and make any necessary repairs. On Diwali, people lavishly decorate their homes with Diyas and candles. Colourful Rangolis are also made at the entryway to greet the Goddess Laxmi. People dress up in new expensive clothes and exchange gifts.

Diwali is also a significant celebration in India because, on Diwali, Lord Rama returned to his kingdom Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman after 14 years in exile. Lord Rama returned home after defeating and killing the evil king Ravana in a protracted battle.

People also love fireworks on Diwali to celebrate. This festival has some of the best Indian and sweet cuisines available. People also visit family and friends to wish them well and exchange presents and sweets. Among all the cities, Jaipur is one of the sites where people praise Diwali. During the Festival of Lights, Jaipur is dressed as a bride. Tourists come here around Diwali to see the Diwali celebration in Jaipur. 

Makar Sankranti ( Festivals of the Kite)

Makar Sankranti, which falls one day after Lohri, is the true New Year for North Indians and Sikhs. Worship to God is held on this day to request his blessings for the next year. In some ways, it is the end of winter and the beginning of the agricultural cycle for farmers. The dates are determined by solar cycles, as opposed to other Hindu festivals confined by lunar cycles. Today, people fly kites and eat savoury 'Bajre ki khichdi' and sweet 'til ladoo'. Uttarayan is the Gujarati word for this occasion.

Navratri & Durga Pooja ( the 9 Nights festival for Goddesses)

Durga Pooja is one of the most important festivals in India, especially in the north and east. This one-day event is known as Navratri in the northern part of India. This event is known as Druga Pooja in the state of West Bengal. This is a nine-day festival, with the tenth and final day commemorating Vijay Dashmi. This festival honours Goddess Durga for nine days. It commemorates Goddess Durga's victory against the Demon Mahishasur, who attempted to initiate a war against the Gods. During the nine-day festivity, Goddess Durga is worshipped in nine different incarnations. 

Navratri, also known as Durga Pooja, is one of India's most holy festivals. Fasting lasts seven to eight days during Navratri in northern India, with fasting ending on the eighth or ninth day. In West Bengal, however, the celebrations are held on a massive scale in Pandals (giant tents), where people assemble each night for nine consecutive nights to sing, dance, and eat delectable sweets and savouries. Navratri is distinctively celebrated in Gujarat. For nine consecutive nights, large crowds gather in traditional Gujarati attire to perform the traditional Garba dance to devotional hymns of Goddess Durga. People are extremely enthusiastic about this event, which can sometimes last all night.

Dussehra ( Victory of Rama)

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of the most well-known festivals of India in Hinduism. It is observed in various ways throughout the country. Ramlila (acting in Ramayana scenes) is held everywhere for ten days. It culminates in "Ravan Dahan," the burning of massive effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhkaran, a sight to behold. While a colourful parade is held in Mysore, a 10-day celebration is held in Kullu to welcome their mountain deities to the valley. The Mysore Palace is lit up like a bride, and the air is filled with drum sounds. It is a must-see during your visit to the city of royals. It is one of the holiest celebrations in India. 

Eid-Ul-Fitr (Marks to end of Ramadan )

By mentioning this major occasion, the list of festivals in India is complete. The Muslim community in India enthusiastically celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr. Every year, Muslims fast for one month during the holy month of Ramadan. Eid-Ul-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan following fasting.

After the fasting period has ended, Eid is celebrated for three days in a row. On Eid, people put on new garments and worship together. Friends and family visit each other and exchange presents over three days. A special sweet dish known as "Sewaiyyan" is cooked and offered to everyone. Younger family members receive special gifts from the elders, as is customary. Donations of money, food, and clothing are also made to the impoverished.

Ganesh Chaturthi (Birthday of the God)

Ganesh Chaturthi, another prominent Hindu religious festival of India, is a colourful 10-day celebration. Large handcrafted Ganesh idols are installed in households and public pandals. The final day is Visarjan, which involves immersing an idol in water. Cultural events such as singing, dancing, theatre, and free medical and blood donation camps are held. Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, celebrates his birthday today.

Bihu (New Year celebration of Assamese )

Bihu, the harvest festival of Assam, is a popular Indian event observed in the North East. Throughout the month-long festivities, young men and women dress in traditional attire and perform the Bihu dance in village fields and courtyards. A community feast is hosted with much grandeur during Bihu celebrations in India. It is the traditional Assamese new year celebration.

Onam (New Year in Kerala)

Onam is one of India's most important national festivals, during which people dress in traditional attire, decorate their homes with Pookalam (floral decorations), and make Onasadya (an elaborate banquet of roughly 13 dishes). Kaikottikali (clap dance), Vallamkali (snake boat race), Kathakali dance, and Pulikali parade (artists clothed and painted as tigers and hunters) are among the events held. It commemorates the legendary king Mahabali's return to his homeland.

Gurpurab ( festival for the celebration of the first Guru of Sikhism)

Gurpurab is a prominent celebration in India for the Sikh community. It is a holiday commemorating Sikhism's first Guru, Guru Nanak Dev. All Gurudwaras (Sikh Temples) nationwide are gorgeously decked for this occasion. Every member of the Sikh community goes to the Gurudwara to pray. This is followed by the Langer (a communal lunch prepared and eaten at Gurudwara).

Gurudwara Sri Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, is one of the most important sites of Indian cultural heritage. This is one of India's oldest Gurudwaras, and it celebrates this important anniversary in magnificent style. This celebration brings together a significant number of Sikh believers.

These were some of India's most well-known festivals. These holidays are inextricably related to the life of Indians. Different communities in India are particularly dedicated to celebrating these festivals, and many customs and rituals are done on these auspicious days. These festivals truly highlight India's cultural and religious diversity. If you want to see and celebrate the culture of India, you can make an itinerary of your favourite festivals with India Personal Tours.