India is land of rich culture & traditions. These festivals & events beautify the India. There are so many festivals which are celebrated with enthusiasm nationally & internationally some of them are you should not miss.
1. Diwali
Deepavali is a festival of lights and marks the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated by Hindu, Jain, Sikhs, and other communities in India and all around the world. Diwali comes after 20 days of Dussehra, which falls on the new moon of kartik month (of Hindu calendar).
It’s a 5-day long festival, starting with Govatsa Dwadashi (Vasu Baras), then Dhanteras (Purchasing of Gold and utensils), then ‘Choti Diwali‘ (House decorations and rangolis made), then comes “Diwali” (Laxmi Pujan, lighting diyas and burning firecrackers), then ‘Govardhan Puja‘ (offer prayers to Lord Krishna and Govardhan mountain), then last ‘Bhai Dooj (Tikka)’ ends with (celebration of brother and sister kinship).
2. Holi
Festival of colors and arrival of spring, celebrated all over India and around the world as well. It signifies the victory of good over evil and also celebrates the divine love of Lord Radha Krishna. Holi is a 2 day event, 1st day is Holika dahan and 2nd day is Holi which comes in Phalgun month (of Hindu lunar calendar) so date varies. So this year Holi is on 8 March 2023.
Celebrate Unique Holi of India – Braj ki Holi, Punjab Holi Hola Mohalla, Assam Doul Utsav.
3. Christmas
Christians celebrate this annually on every 25 December as the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, and also as a religious and cultural festival all around the world. Houses, streets, churches everything is decorated with lights a week before and the celebration goes long after it.
4. Eid-ul-Fitr
It means “Festival of Breaking Fast”. This Eid-al-Fitr comes after the 9th holy month of Ramadan of Islamic calendar, in which all muslims do fasting and pray to their God. After a month of fasting, followers of Islam break the fast at the end day of Ramadan month and celebrate the Eid-al-Fitr with family and community by wishing and giving gifts each other.
This year Eid-al-Fitr is on 22 April 2023.
Then after “Eid-al-Adha or Bakra Eid” comes which describes the willingness to sacrifice and its also celebrated with so fervor by Islam followers. Eid-al-Adha comes on 28 – 29 June 2023 date may vary because it is celebrated according to the Hijri calendar (Islamic calendar).
5.Gurupurab (Guru Nanak prakash parv)
It is a sacred festival celebrated by Sikh communities all over the Gurudwaras in India and around the globe. It is celebrated for the birth of the first sikh guru – Guru Nanak Dev ji.
Gurupurab is dedicated to the Guru (Teacher).
This year Guru Nanak Jayanti is on 27th November 2023.
6. Durga Puja (Navratri)
Durga puja celebrated the victory of maa Durga over demon Mahishasura. It’s a 9 day long festival celebrated by Hindus all over India in temples and their homes. It starts with kalash sthapna and ends on 9th day, all these days hindu fast and worship Goddess Durga to gain energy. This is completed on the 10th day of Ram navami and Dussehra.
7. Janmasthami
Krishna ashtami or Gokul ashtami is a celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna. Its celebrated by Hindu community all over the world with so much pomp and fervor. All temples are decorated with flowers and prepare sweet dishes just after the birth of Lord Krishna at night after offering it to God, distributed to devotees. People celebrate with singing, dance, chanting hymns and enjoying themselves. This festival ‘Janmashtami’ is based on the lunar Hindu calendar so the date varies every year. So the upcoming date for Janmashtami is 6 September 2023.
8. Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganeshotsav)
Its a 10 day long Hindu festival celebrated all over India, mostly in Mumbai, Maharashtra and ends on Ganpati Visarjan on Anant chaturdashi. It’s celebrated in the month of Bhaadrapada which falls in August / September every year (date varies because of Hindu lunar calendar every year). This year Ganesh Chaturthi is on 19th September 2023. People carry idols of Ganpati and wishes loudly “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Mangal Muri Morya“.
9. Raksha Bandhan
Its a traditionally Hindu annual ritual celebrated by brothers and sisters of all ages. During this festival sisters tie a sacred thread (called Rakhi) to the wrist of their brothers and brothers take a vow to protect her and also give gifts to their sisters. So the upcoming date of Raksha bandhan is on 30 August 2023.
10. Maha Shivratri
“Great Night of Shiva ” is celebrated annually by Hindu devotees to worship God Shiva at every temple across India and around the world. Its believed that on this night Lord Shiva perform his dance called “Shiv Tandav ” which means dance of creation, preservation and destruction. Actually Shivratri comes every month in luni solar calendar but Maha Shivratri is auspicious. Its also believed that on this night worshiping God Shiva and Goddess Shakti can overcome their sins and start on the right path of life. So this year’s upcoming Maha Shivratri is on 18 February 2023.
11. Hemis (Tse-Chu)
“Birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava” is a festival celebrated by monks or lamas in Ladakh, India at Hemis Gompa (or Monastery). It signifies the victory of good over evil. It is most popular because of its Cham (Mask) dance, you will see hills and chilling weather all around in Ladakh which people enjoy.
This upcoming festival date is on 28 – 29 June 2023.
12. Lohri
Lohri is an most popular Punjab folk festival celebrated annually all over north India during winter season. People lit huge bonfires in front of the house and celebrated with the community by preparing dishes made of jaggery, peanuts, puffed rice and more. This festival signifies the passing of winter.
Lohri festival is celebrated on 13 January every year.
And the next day on 14 January is “Makar Sankranti” celebrated which is considered as the transition day of Sun into Capricorn.
13. Bihu
Bihu is an important harvesting festival of Assam. Bihu is celebrated 3 times every year which starts with the spring festival called “Rongali or Bohag Bihu” and marks the beginning of the new year or harvesting season. Then after “Kongali or Kati Bihu” comes in October and the final “Bhogali or Magh Bihu” comes in January and it marks the end of harvesting season.
Bohag (Rongali) Bihu – is celebrated as New Year from 13 – 19 April 2023.
14. Baisakhi (Vaisakhi)
It marks the spring harvesting festival and to thank God for good harvest crops. It is celebrated mostly in Punjab and North India. Baisakhi celebrated annually in April Prayers, dance, procession and raising of the Nishan Sahib flag in Gurudwara is occured.
Baisakhi is celebrated on 13 or 14 April every year.
15. Mahavir Jayanti
Its celebrated with so enthusiasm by Jain community all over India and around the world. Its the birth anniversary of 24th Tirthakara Lord Mahavira of Jainism. This festival is celebrated annually every year by Jain’s to perceive peace, harmony and spread the teachings of Lord Mahavira. The coming Mahavira Jayanti (Mahavir Janma Kalyanak) is on 4 April 2023.
16. Chhath Puja
Its an Hindu festival celebrated annually in many Indian states and Nepal. Its a 4-day long festival which comes after 6 days of Diwali. In this ladies do fast for 36 hours without having food and water. It comes in Kartik month (Hindu calendar) on Shukla Shashti day. Chhath Puja 2023 will be celebrated on starting on 17 November to 20th November 2023.
The first day ritual is “Nahay khai”, then second day “Kharna”, the 3rd day offer water to God Sun at sunset time. And the final 4th day offer water to God Sun at rising time in morning.
17. Maha Kumbh Mela
Kumbha mela is a major religious congregation pilgrimage festival celebrated by laks of Hindu pilgrims, it happened after every 3 years in different locations. These pilgrimage sites are : Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik – Trimbakeshwar, Ujjain. Maha kumbh mela is held at same location after 12 years because at each place kumbh mela occured after 3 years. Ardh Kumbh mela is also held after 6 years at Haridwar and Prayagraj date may varies because of Hindu calendar or planetary movements.
The next Purn / Maha Kumbha mela is in 2025 in Prayagraj, UP.
18. Losar
Its an annually 3-day festival or New year celebrated by Buddhist community in many Indian states, Bhutan, Tibet and different locations as well. In this devotees offer prayers to local dieties and spirits, for the protection of people wellbeing. Lamas or monks perform dance, chanting and perform rituals at monastery or their templesand homes, it worth to be part of it.
The coming Losar is on 21 February 2023.
19. Hornbill (Festival of Festivals)
Its an unique festival celebrated by naga tribe in Nagaland, North-Indian state. Its an 10-day long annually celebrated festival by naga people which shows the ethnicity of Naga Tribe, folk dances, music, local cuisines, art and crafts. This festival is celebrated by Naga people to protect their hearitage and traditions and promote the richness of their culture. Hornbill festival every year is on 1 – 10 December 2023.
Check Full Detail Here – Hornbill Festival.
20. Buddha Jayanti (Vaisakha or Vesak)
Buddha Purnima is the day to commemorate the enlightenment and death of Gautam Buddha who was the founder of Buddhism. This festival celebrated every year by buddhist community at monastery or temples, various rituals perrformed and teachings are delivered to devotees. The coming Buddha Jayanti or Day is on 5 May 2023.
21. Muharram
Muharram is the first month and one of the four sacred months of Islamic calendar (or Hijri calendar), it marks the start of New Year or called “Islamic New Year”. This festival celebrated annually in India and all over the world by muslim community. There are many rituals are performed during this month by muslims. The coming Muharram / Ashura is on 29 July 2023.
22. Rath Yatra (God on the roads)
“Lord Jagannath Yatra” is a festival celebrated by lakhs of Hindu devotees in Puri Dham, Odisha, India every year. This rath yatra is to commemorate Lord Jagannath’s annual visit to Gundicha Temple via Mausi Maa Temple (maternal aunt’s home) near Saradh Bali, Puri, Odisha. Lakh of devotees pull the chariot (rath) of Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra, Devi Subhadra to complete this yatra. The coming Rath Yatra is on 20 June 2023.
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