India is a land of vibrant cultures, rich traditions, and endless celebrations. Every year, numerous Festivals of India are celebrated with great enthusiasm, each reflecting the country’s rich cultural diversity. From the joyous colours of Holi to the devotion of Diwali, these festivals bring people together and offer a unique insight into the heart of Indian traditions. With each festival holding its own significance, they are not just celebrations but a way of life that bridges generations and communities. Whether it’s about spiritual reflection, seasonal changes, or historical events, these festivals capture the essence of India’s spirit and unity.
Major Festivals Of India 2024
The Festivals of India are celebrated with immense passion and devotion across the country. Some of the most Major Festivals Of India include Diwali, the festival of lights, Holi, the festival of colours, and Navratri, a nine-day celebration of divine feminine power. These festivals are not only important religious events but also reflect the country’s agricultural roots, seasonal transitions, and historical heritage. They offer a beautiful way for people to connect with their cultural identity while fostering a sense of community. Each festival brings its unique charm and continues to be celebrated by millions across the globe.
Here is the list of most Major Festivals Of India that you should know about:
Diwali – Festival of Lights
Festivals Of India Diwali, one of India’s most widely celebrated Hindu festivals, marks the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. In 2024, Diwali will be celebrated on November 1st. People decorate their homes with oil lamps, candles, and colourful rangoli designs. Families come together for Lakshmi Puja, worshipping the goddess of wealth, and burst firecrackers to celebrate the occasion. It also symbolizes Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his triumph over Ravana, making Diwali a festival of joy and prosperity.
Holi – Festival of Colors
Festivals Of India Holi, the vibrant festival of colours, will be celebrated on March 25th, 2024. This Hindu festival celebrates the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil, particularly the burning of the demoness Holika. People throw coloured powder and water at each other, sing, dance, and enjoy festive foods like gujiya and thandai. Holi also brings communities together, as the festival transcends social and religious boundaries, making it a time of fun and unity.
Festivals Of India Navratri, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga in her nine different forms, is a major Hindu festival celebrated with great enthusiasm. In 2024, Navratri will be observed from October 3rd to October 11th. Each day of the festival honours a different aspect of the goddess, symbolizing power, purity, and wisdom. Devotees fast, perform special prayers, and participate in traditional dances like Garba and Dandiya, especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The festival culminates in Dussehra, celebrating the victory of good over evil.
Dussehra – Victory of Good over Evil
Festivals Of India Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, will be celebrated on October 12th, 2024. It marks the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. On this day, Ravana’s effigies, along with those of his brother Kumbhkaran and son Meghnath, are burned across India to celebrate the victory. The festival also commemorates Goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. People attend Ram Leela performances and large processions, and the festival is celebrated with great fervour across the country.
Ganesh Chaturthi – Celebration of Lord Ganesha’s Birth
Festivals Of India Ganesh Chaturthi, the celebration of Lord Ganesha’s birth, will take place on September 7th, 2024. The festival is especially popular in Maharashtra, where people install Ganesha idols in their homes and pandals and offer prayers, sweets, and flowers to Ganpati Bappa. The festival lasts for ten days, and on the final day, the idols are immersed in water in a grand procession. The chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” fill the air as devotees pray for the removal of obstacles and prosperity in their lives.
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Raksha Bandhan – Celebrating the Bond of Siblings
Festivals Of India Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the special bond between brothers and sisters, will be celebrated on August 19th, 2024. On this day, sisters tie a sacred thread, or rakhi, on their brothers’ wrists, symbolizing protection and love. In return, brothers vow to protect their sisters and give them gifts as a token of appreciation. The festival strengthens family bonds and emphasizes the importance of sibling relationships in Indian culture.
Janmashtami – Birth of Lord Krishna
Festivals Of India Janmashtami, the festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna, will be celebrated on August 26th, 2024. Devotees fast and stay up all night singing bhajans and performing dances to reenact scenes from Krishna’s life. The event is particularly vibrant in Mathura and Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna is believed to have been born and spent his early years. A popular tradition during Janmashtami is the “Dahi Handi,” where groups of young men form human pyramids to break a pot of curd hanging high in the air, symbolizing Krishna’s playful childhood.
Makar Sankranti – Harvest Festival
Festivals Of India Makar Sankranti celebrated on January 15th, 2024, marks the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days. It is among the few Hindu Festivals In India that are celebrated according to the solar cycle. People across India celebrate the harvest by flying kites, making sweets like tilgur (sesame and jaggery), and taking holy dips in rivers like the Ganges. The festival is known by different names in various regions, such as Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Lohri in Punjab, and it signifies the abundance of the harvest season.
Pongal – Tamil Harvest Festival
Festivals Of India Pongal is a four-day-long festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu to give thanks for the bountiful harvest. In 2024, Pongal will be observed from January 14th to 17th. The main day, known as Thai Pongal, is marked by cooking a special dish called “Pongal,” made of rice, milk, and jaggery, as an offering to the Sun God. Farmers decorate their cattle and homes, and people visit temples to express gratitude for the harvest. The festival reflects the deep connection between agriculture and Indian culture.
Baisakhi – Punjabi Harvest Festival
Festivals Of India Baisakhi, celebrated on April 13th, 2024, is both a harvest festival and a significant religious event for Sikhs. It marks the beginning of the new harvest season in Punjab, where farmers thank God for the abundant crop. The day also commemorates the formation of the Khalsa, the Sikh warrior community, by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Sikhs visit Gurudwaras, offer prayers, and participate in processions, while the festivities include lively Bhangra and Gidda performances.
Onam – Harvest Festival of Kerala
Festivals Of India Onam, the grand harvest festival of Kerala, will be celebrated from August 20th to August 30th in 2024. The festival honours the mythical king Mahabali and the annual homecoming of his spirit. During the 10-day celebration, people decorate their homes with flower rangolis (Pookalam), prepare an elaborate feast known as Onam Sadhya, and participate in traditional dances, boat races, and games. Onam reflects Kerala’s rich cultural heritage and is a time of great joy and prosperity.
Karwa Chauth – Festival for Married Women
Festivals Of India Karwa Chauth, celebrated by married women in North India, will take place on October 20th, 2024. Women observe a fast from sunrise to moonrise for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. They break their fast only after sighting the moon and offering prayers. The festival emphasizes the deep bond between married couples, and it’s also a day for women to dress up in traditional attire, apply henna, and gather for rituals and storytelling sessions.
Gudi Padwa – Marathi New Year
Festivals Of India Gudi Padwa, the traditional New Year for the people of Maharashtra, will be celebrated on April 9th, 2024. The festival marks the beginning of the Hindu lunisolar calendar, and it is considered an auspicious day for new beginnings. People clean their homes, decorate the entrances with rangoli, and raise a “Gudi,” a symbolic flag believed to ward off evil and invite prosperity. Families prepare special dishes like Puran Poli and Shrikhand, and everyone dresses in festive attire. Gudi Padwa signifies a fresh start and the celebration of harvest after the end of the Rabi season.
Durga Puja – Worship of Goddess Durga
Festivals Of India Durga Puja, one of the grandest festivals in India, will be observed from October 10th to October 14th, 2024. Celebrated primarily in West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha, it honours the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The festival is marked by elaborate pandals (temporary structures) that house beautifully crafted idols of Durga. Devotees offer prayers, participate in cultural performances, and enjoy traditional Bengali feasts. Durga Puja is not just a religious event but also a cultural extravaganza, bringing communities together in celebration.
Vasant Panchami – Festival for Goddess Saraswati
Festivals Of India Vasant Panchami, the festival dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, will be celebrated on February 14th, 2024. This festival marks the arrival of spring, and it is an important day for students, artists, and scholars. People wear yellow, which is associated with prosperity and the blooming mustard fields, and offer prayers to Saraswati, seeking her blessings for wisdom and learning. Schools and colleges often hold special prayers, and Saraswati Puja is performed at homes and temples. It is a joyful day that celebrates education, art, and the renewal of nature.
Bihu – Assamese Harvest Festival
Festivals Of India Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam and is celebrated in three different forms: Rongali Bihu, Kongali Bihu, and Bhogali Bihu. In 2024, Rongali Bihu, the most prominent, will be celebrated from April 14th to April 16th. Rongali Bihu marks the Assamese New Year and the beginning of the harvest season. People celebrate by performing traditional Bihu dance and songs, wearing colorful attire, and preparing festive dishes like pitha and laru. It’s a time of joy, cultural performances, and community gatherings, reflecting the agricultural roots of the region.
Chhath Puja – Worship of the Sun God
Festivals Of India Chhath Puja, an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, will be observed from November 6th to November 9th in 2024. Predominantly celebrated in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, devotees offer prayers to the setting and rising sun, seeking blessings for health, happiness, and prosperity. The rituals involve fasting, standing in rivers or water bodies, and offering arghya (water) to the Sun. Chhath Puja is a deeply spiritual festival that emphasizes gratitude and the connection between humans and nature.
Lohri – Punjabi Winter Festival
Festivals Of India Lohri, celebrated on January 13th in 2024, is a popular winter festival in Punjab and parts of North India. It marks the end of the winter solstice and the harvesting of the Rabi crops. Bonfires are lit in the evening, and people gather around, throwing sesame seeds, popcorn, and sweets into the fire while singing traditional folk songs. The festival symbolizes the passing of the winter and the arrival of longer days. It is particularly special for newlyweds and newborns, as they are often the centre of the celebrations during Lohri.
Gurpurab – Birth of Sikh Gurus
Festivals Of India Gurpurab, the birth anniversary of Sikh Gurus, is one of the most significant events in the Sikh community. In 2024, Guru Nanak Gurpurab, the celebration of the birth of Guru Nanak, will be observed on November 15th. Sikhs across the world gather at Gurudwaras to offer prayers, sing hymns, and partake in community kitchens (langar). The festival emphasizes the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, particularly the messages of equality, humility, and service to humanity. The day is marked with processions, devotional music, and the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism.
Ugadi – New Year in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Festivals Of India Ugadi marks the beginning of the new year for the people of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. In 2024, it will be celebrated on April 9th. The day signifies the start of a new lunar cycle, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm. People clean and decorate their homes, apply new rangoli designs, and visit temples for blessings. Traditional foods like Ugadi Pachadi, a dish made of tamarind, jaggery, and neem leaves, symbolize the different emotions and experiences in life. Ugadi is a festival of renewal, new beginnings, and prosperity.
Mahavir Jayanti – Celebrating the Birth of Lord Mahavir
Festivals Of India Mahavir Jayanti, celebrated on April 21st in 2024, marks the birth of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. The day is one of the most important for the Jain community, who honor Mahavir’s teachings of non-violence, truth, and compassion. Jain temples are decorated, and processions take place where devotees carry idols of Lord Mahavir. Many Jains also observe fasts and participate in charitable activities, reflecting the values of selflessness and kindness that Lord Mahavir promoted.
Buddha Purnima – Birth of Lord Buddha
Festivals Of India Buddha Purnima, celebrated on May 23rd, 2024, commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death (Mahaparinirvana) of Lord Buddha. It is one of the most important Buddhist festivals observed by Buddhists around the world. Devotees visit temples, offer prayers, and participate in meditation and sermons that focus on Buddha’s teachings of peace, compassion, and non-attachment. In places like Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment, large gatherings take place, making it a spiritual occasion for all those who follow his path.
Indian Festivals are a beautiful reminder of the country’s unity in diversity. They bring people together, strengthen bonds, and offer a glimpse into India’s vibrant traditions and spiritual depth. As we look ahead to 2024, let these festivals inspire you to embrace joy, love, and togetherness. If you want to explore more about India’s festivals or stay updated on upcoming events, be sure to follow our page and share your thoughts in the comments below! Celebrate with us and make every festival a memorable one!
