There are various National festivals of India, but the most spectacular ones are listed below. Although there are festivals all year long, the best time to visit the country is from January to October when it is at its most colorful.
India is a place of festivals where people of many religions live in peace. A real reflection of India’s rich culture and customs is the huge array of festivals that are observed there. Every religion and group in India celebrates its own culture.
Most Famous Festival of India according to state, religion, and society. In this country, a new holiday is thus celebrated every day. You frequently have holidays listed in the gazette, which provides you the chance to arrange a cross-country journey.
Before you get started, have a look at the following information to get a good sense of all the Indian festivals. Also, it will explain the significance of Festivals in India!
India has a wide variety of Festivals. Below are the Most Famous Religious Festival of India and National Festivals of India that are widely celebrated throughout the nation. If you want to experience India’s diverse culture, schedule your holidays around these festivals.
The day after Lohri, North Indians, and Sikhs celebrate Makar Sankranti, which is their true new year. Worship is offered to God on this day to obtain his blessings for the upcoming year.
In a sense, it marks the end of winter and the start of spring, which for farmers signifies the agricultural cycle. In contrast to other Hindu festivities, the dates for this one are determined by solar cycles.
On this day, kites are flown, and savory “Bajre ki khichdi” and the Famous Indian sweets “Til Ladoo” are eaten. This holiday is known as Uttarayan among Gujaratis.
In addition to its many other names, Makar Sankranti is also known as Pedda Panduga in Andhra Pradesh, Makara Sankranti in Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magh Bihu in Assam, Magha Mela in some regions of central and northern India, Makar Sankranti in the west, and Makara Sankranti or Shankaranti in Kerala.
Republic Day is the National Festivals of India on which India marks and celebrates the 26 January 1950 effective date of the Indian Constitution. This became India’s new constitution, replacing the Government of India Act of 1935, and separating it from the British Raj.
On 26 November 1949, the Indian Constituent Assembly approved the constitution, which went into effect on 26 January 1950. The date of January 26 was chosen as Republic Day since the Indian National Congress issued the Declaration of Indian Independence on that day in 1930.
One of the Famous festivals of India is Holi, which is enthusiastically observed all around the nation. They build enormous Holika Dahan bonfires and sing and dance around them on the eve of Holi.
On the day of Holi, a well-known holiday in Indian states, people congregate in open spaces to splash each other with both dry and wet colors of various hues. Others also carry water guns and colorful water balloons. It is the most famous festival on the globe, topping the list of the ten most celebrated festivals in India.
The beginning of an auspicious New Year is marked by the major harvest festival of India known as Gudi Padwa, which is mostly observed in the state of Maharashtra. At the entryway to their homes, people draw rangoli patterns and adorn them with flowers. Women prepare Famous sweets in India like Shrikhand, Puran Poli, and Sunth Paak while people visit with friends and relatives.
The Sikh community of Punjab and people all over the world celebrate Baisakhi, one of the Famous festivals in India. It commemorates the beginning of the Rabi crop harvest season. The Sikhs perform regional folk dances like Giddha and Bhangra as part of their festival celebrations, which are filled with excitement and enthusiasm. The event has enormous religious significance in India since it commemorates the day in 1699 when Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, laid the cornerstone for the Panth Khalsa—the Order.
One of the most important religious festivals in India for the Muslim population is Eid-ul-Fitr, or simply Eid. It signifies the conclusion of Ramadan, a holy month of fasting comparable to Christian Lent. The event is observed the day after a crescent moon is seen during the night.
Those who celebrate Eid pray at mosques, visit friends and family, and share a meal with them. The sweet Seviyan is possibly the most well-known Eid symbol. On this day, mosques and markets all around the nation are gorgeously decorated, and numerous famous markets in India also serve special treats.
A celebration honoring Lord Jagannath, this Famous chariot festival in India is held. In India’s Odisha state, crowds gather at the Famous Puri Jagannath Temple. A chariot is used to transport the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra.
Rakhi is one of the Most Famous Festivals in India, and it is observed by Hindus. In keeping with the brother-sister bond, the sister prays (Aarti), puts on tilak, and ties a rakhi (a sacred thread) on the brother’s wrist while wishing him well. In exchange, the brother promises to look out for the sister.
Independence Day is one of the most famous national festivals in India. It is observed to honor the spirit of India’s independence. The Indian Prime Minister performs the flag-hoisting ceremony at Red Fort on this day as well. The next thing that happens is a salute of 21 gunshots fired after this event.
The most famous religious festival in India is Janmashtami, which is once again a wonderful occasion. Celebrations of Janmashtami are highly well-liked in Mathura and Vrindavan. This makes it one of the most significant celebrations in India since people break their fast with a special meal after nightfall.
The celebrations of the birth of Lord Krishna include going to temples, worshipping, dancing, and singing bhajans (hymns) at midnight. On this day, little kids frequently don Lord Krishna costumes. In the temple “Jhankis,” scenes from Krishna’s life are pictured and portrayed. It is one of the Most Famous festivals in India.
Another famous religious festival in India, Ganesh Chaturthi is a colorful 10-day celebration. Large handcrafted Ganesh idols are placed in pandals outside of homes or indoors. Both the morning and the evening are used for pujas. The final day is Visarjan when an idol is submerged in water.
Onam, the Most Famous Harvest Festival in India, ushers in the harvest season. It is also a time for remembrance of King Mahabali, whose ghost is said to travel to his people at this time. Boat races, floral displays, worship, dancing, and extravagant feasts are all part of the Onam celebrations in Kerala, which feature a lot of grandeur and merriment. Do not miss the magnificent snake boat race, the elephant procession, or the enchanting Kaikottikali dance if you are in Kerala during this festival.
Navratri is one of the Famous Religious festivals in India, and there are numerous days of festivities. Navratri means “nine nights” in Sanskrit. The festival lasts nine days and nights, as its name suggests. Goddess Shakti is worshipped in a variety of ways during Navratri. Men, women, and children dressed in colorful traditional garb enjoy the vibrant Dandiya Raas and Garba dances that are part of the Navratri celebrations in North India.
Durga Puja, one of the famous Hindu festivals in India, is one of the most revered religious festivals in India and is lavishly celebrated by Bengalis all across the nation. Cultural music, dances, and plays are performed throughout the Goddess Durga’s ten-day fast, feast, and devotion period. Enormous, stunning Durga idols are created and put in intricately crafted Pandals (canopies). People dress in traditional wear and go around pandal-hopping, praying, and feasting.
Among the most famous Hindu festivals in India is Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami. It is observed in various ways all around the nation. There are ten days dedicated to Ramlila, which is the reenactment of Ramayana episodes. The burning of enormous effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhkaran—known as “Ravan Dahan“—which is a truly amazing spectacle—marks its conclusion.
One of the biggest Hindu festivals in India is called Diwali, and it is observed with a lot of fanfare. Clay lamps, candles, and Ashok leaves are used to decorate homes for this festival of lights. New clothing is worn, family puja is performed, crackers are lit, and sweets are shared with friends, relatives, and neighbors. It is the most famous festival in India.
Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut Puja, commemorates the day that Lord Krishna vanquished Indra, the god of thunder and rain. The same day is observed as Bali Pratipada in Maharashtra, and Gujarati New Year’s Day falls on this day.
A Popular Hindu Festival in India called Bhai Dooj is comparable to Raksha Bandhan. The unshakable tie between a brother and sister is honored throughout this holiday. It also goes by the name Yama Dwitiya and symbolizes the undying love between Lord Yamraj and his sister, Goddess Yamuna.
Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, is observed with great enthusiasm to celebrate the birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. His teachings were founded on political, social, and religious principles, making him the first Sikh guru to do so. His teachings are delivered and processions are conducted on this day, which is considered the most famous Sikh festival in India.
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