Last Updated on March 16, 2021 by Editorial Staff
India is a secular country, so it is full of diversity in languages, religions, castes, and cultures. You can enjoy the festivals of India every month as people from different religions have their own cultural and traditional festivals.
Some festivals are celebrated of all religions in the country at the national level, and some are limited as per the religions and are celebrated at the regional level. All Indian festivals as their own significance and are celebrated in their unique way.
People who are of Indian origin and are living abroad also celebrate their cultural and traditional festivals with immense passion. Festivals are considered to be an internal part of Indian culture as they mark the customs and beliefs of the country.
There are many festivals of India celebrated in the country, some of them are listed below:
1. Holi
Holi is considered to be one of the most colorful Indian festivals .it is celebrated by applying colors to each other and also by splashing colored water via water guns or water balloons.
Holi history
Holi signifies a victory of good over evil and is associated with a legend of king Hiranyakashipu. His son Prahlada never followed his father and always worshipped Lord Vishnu.
This made the king angry always and along with his sister Holika he decided to get rid of him. They decided to sit Prahalad on her lap and set herself to fire.
She did the same but Lord Vishnu saved Prahalad and Holika reduced to ashes in spite of boon that she cannot die. Since then on the Holi festival, a bonfire is lit to signify the victory.
How is Holi celebrated?
Holi celebration starts one night before by performing Holika Dahan; people pray to get rid of their inner evil. The next morning colors begin where all people play with colors and enjoy by putting colored water on each other.
Where is Holi mainly celebrated?
Holi is observed in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and many other countries having large Hindu Diaspora. There are many different names given to the Holi festival in diverse Indian states.
In Braj region Holi is celebrated mainly where many devotees of Lord Krishna arrive and enjoy. The regions famous for the Holi festival are Nandagaon, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana.
2. Janmashtami
Janmashtami is considered amongst the popular Indian festivals to revolve around the celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna. Krishna is known as one of the most powerful incarnations of Lord Vishnu who was born to help people to get rid of evil demons.
How is Janamashtmi celebrated?
On the day of Lord Krishna’s birth, his devotees observe fast and also offer prayers in their own individual ways. Some devotees observe fast by not putting a single drop of water in their mouth.
Regarding Janmashtami puja, it is believed that if devotees perform puja sharp at 12: am they will receive Lord Krishna’s blessings. One of the most well known Janamashtami rituals is the Dahi Handi ritual which is performed to remember Lord Krishna’s love and passion for milk and butter.
Where is Janmashtami celebrated?
Janmashtami is known to be one of the popular Indian festivals celebrated with full joy. If you want to enjoy the real Janmashtami in India then go to Vrindavan for this is the only place where you will understand the real significance of this beautiful festival.
3. Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is considered to be one of the most lively Indian festivals also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi. It is celebrated all throughout the country to rejoice the birth of Lord Ganesha. This festival is celebrated by Hindus with great enthusiasm and is a 10-day festival.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebration
The festival starts with the idols of Ganesha placed on the raised podium in homes but the devotees. The worship starts with a ritual to invoke life in idols called pranapratishtha.
Following it a sixteen ways of paying tribute begins known as shhodashopachara, along with Vedic hymns. As the festival ends, the idols are carried out to local rivers along with devotional songs, dance, and music.
Where is Ganesh Chauthi celebrated?
This lively Indian festival is celebrated all around the country but to soak fully soak yourself in the festivities you should head towards Pune, Mumbai, Diveagar, Bengaluru, Goa, and Chennai.
4. Dussehra
Dussehra is recognized as one of the most widely celebrated Indian festivals which celebrated the victory of good over evil. It is also called as Vijayadashami and is the tenth day of the Navratri celebration marking the triumph of Lord Rama over the ten-headed demon king Ravana. This festival celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.
How is Dussehra celebrated?
People all over the country observe this amazing festival with special prayers and food offerings to their idols. They also hold fairs, large parades too. Dussehra is actually a culmination of the Navratri festival with many local celebrations in some specific areas.
It adds in Ram Lila which is a gala theatrical enactment of Lord Rama’s life story. Effigies of Ravana along with his brothers Kumbakaran and Meghanada along with crackers set ablaze at night in open ground during this festival.
Where is Dussehra celebrated mainly?
Dussehra is mainly a North Indian festival celebrates with great fanfare and fervor. It is celebrated with much passion as well as excitement in many northern states including Vrindavan, Madhubani, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Almora and many other cities in Uttrakhand, UP, MP, and Bihar.
5. Diwali
Diwali is said to be one of the most significant Indian festivals and is known as the festival of lights. Diwali celebrations see payers, fireworks displays and many celebratory events all over the world. This is a festival celebrated by all religions including Hindus, Sikhs as well as Jains.
It is celebrated to marks the victory of darkness and good over evil. This festival coincides Hindu New Year, and everybody has its own reason to celebrate it.
How is Diwali celebrated?
Diwali celebration marks Lord Ram’s return back to his home and is marked by many firework displays. People lit earthen diyas and candles and also decorate their houses with colorful rangoli. There is also a tradition linked with Diwali is to clean the house and new clothes to be worn.
History of Diwali
Diwali is mainly celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil. Diwali celebration is linked with the returning of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after he defeated demon king Ravana. One of the most popular beliefs regarding Diwali is the defeat of Naraka and Mahishasure too.
Where is Diwali mainly celebrated?
Diwali is celebrated in all parts of India with great excitement and grandeur. Mainly it is celebrated with full passion in Northern states including Himachal Pradesh, Srinagar, Punjab, Delhi, Uttrakhand, and Rajasthan.
This Indian festival is also celebrated with great passion in east India in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, and Odisha. In West, India Diwali is celebrated in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
6. Gurupurab/Gurunanak Jayanti
Gurupurab is considered as one of the major Indian festivals which mark the significance of the birth of Sikh Guru – Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is also known as Prakash Purab and the day is the holiday in India to celebrate his birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji, founder of Sikhism.
Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations
Gurupurab celebrations start with Prabhat Pheries in the early morning, whose possessions begin from Gurudwara and proceeds towards the houses.
This festivity is held for two days before Gurupurab with Akhand Path in which Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikh is continuously read for 48 hours and festivals of india.
The main charm of the festival is the Nagar Kirtan organized by the Sikh community one day before the Guru Nanak Jayanti. Kara Prashad is also prepared and served amongst the devotees after the Ardas.
Where is Gurupurab celebrated?
Guru Purab is celebrated with great passion and religious fervor, devotion, and dedication all across India. If you want to feel the religious zeal of this festival, then you should visit.
The Golden Temple in Amritsar. To mark this event entire shrine is s beautifully lit and devotees in large number throng the Gurudwara since early morning.
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Many other religious Indian festivals
Along with national festivals, India has many regional festivals too which includes Baishakhi, Onam, Pongal, Easter, Rakha Bhandhan, Budh Purnima, Bihu, Makar Sankranti, Losar, Hemis, Lohri, Teej, Moatsu Mong, Gangaur and Mahavir Jayanti.
India is a perfect example of unity in diversity as it has many religions and festivals linked with these religions. The land of India is culturally rich and beautify of this amazing country is magnified by its festivals.
