Festivities and religious harmony coexist in India, a land of festivals. The multiplicity of Indian festivals is a wonderful testament to the country’s rich cultural heritage. Some festivals in India focus on religion, community, and the state itself.
There is a celebration going on every day in this diverse country. Although celebrations occur throughout the year, October through January is when the country is most vibrant. Book cheap flights to India around these festivities if you want to experience India’s colorful culture.
Diwali
Celebrations of Diwali, one of India’s most important Hindu festivals, are marked by a great deal of pomp and circumstance. Homes are decorated with candles, earthen diyas, and Ashok leaves during this festive season.
Holi
All around India, Holi, or the festival of colors, is celebrated with great enthusiasm. On Holi, people assemble in open spaces to splatter one another with various wet and dry colors, including water cannons and colorful water-filled balloons.
Dussehra
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of Hinduism’s most popular festivals. For ten days, people worldwide participate in Ramlila, a reenactment of incidents from the Ramayana. There is “Ravan Dahan” — the burning of enormous effigies of Ravana, which is a tremendous show to watch.
Pongal
Indians celebrate the beginning of the year’s harvest at the four-day harvest festival in South India. The Pongal dish is made, and people wear their traditional clothing. Among the festivities celebrated in South India include bonfires, cattle races, dancing, sweets, and savories.
Kumbh Mela
One of India’s most important religious events, Kumbh Mela, is held every 12 years on the banks of four sacred rivers by Hindus: Nashik, Haridwar, Prayag, and Ujjain. Pilgrims wash away their sins by bathing in the sacred waters in this event.
Chhath Puja
Four days of Chhath Puja are dedicated to worshiping the Sun God and his consort, as well as seeking their blessings for a happy year. As part of the fast, one must abstain from drinking water bathe in rivers and give prayers to the sun at sunrise and sunset.
Baisakhi
Baisakhi, amongst the most important Sikh festivals, marks the beginning of the rabi harvest season and is widely celebrated. Folk dances like Giddha and Bhangra are performed, houses and gurdwaras are decorated, and elaborate feasts are enjoyed throughout the festivities.
Onam
Onam, Kerala’s most important festival, celebrates the beginning of the harvesting season. It’s also a moment to honor King Mahabali, whose soul is said to visit his people at this time of year.
Rakshabandhan
Brothers and sisters are celebrated on Raksha Bandhan of Rakhi by expressing their love for one another. During this well-known Hindu holiday, sisters bind their brothers’ wrists with an amulet or charm. In return, the sisters get a present, and the brothers pledge to look out for them in an emergency or danger.
Maha Shivratri
As the festival’s name suggests, Maha Shivratri is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. This annual celebration reminds people that they can triumph over their darkness and ignorance. Maha Shivratri is celebrated across the country.
Christmas
Churches are decorated and lit up festively for the holiday season. There are decorated Christmas trees everywhere in India, from people’s houses to the country’s biggest malls. On this day, people attend church services, exchange gifts, and feast with their loved ones.
Eid-ul-Fitr
Eid-ul-Fitr, or Eid al-Fitr, is one of the Muslim community’s most important religious observances. It’s the conclusion of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, which is comparable to Lent in the Church.
Ganesh Chathurthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most important Hindu celebrations in India. The celebration is held each year in honor of Lord Ganesha’s birth. The festivities last for ten days and are marked by vibrant activities.
Janmashtami
When Lord Krishna was born, Janmashtami was celebrated as a festival honoring him as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is the most important Hindu holiday in the country and is celebrated with much fanfare. At private residences and in temples, devotees give various delicacies to appease the deity on this day.
Durga Puja
Durga Puja, a four-day celebration of Bengali culture, is a major event for the Bengalis. The ten-armed Goddess and her children are revered in specially constructed mandaps during Durga Puja. Water immersion of the Goddess’s idol completes the ceremony.
People often say that festivals reveal a country’s genuine cultural character, and they’re right. Several festivals in India highlight the distinct cultures and beliefs of each state throughout the year, so look up the dates before you book cheap flights to India.
Alternatively, each is a mirror in which you can clearly and undeniably see the reflections of a location and its people.
