India is synonymous with colour and culture. So, check out these Indian festivals that celebrate the nation’s vibrancy and diversity, across many states. By Anushka Goel
India is a country full of culture and heritage. Each state has its own vibrant customs, and key to these are the many festivities that take place across India. Indian festivals are colourful, filled with delicious food, music and more. Even the national festivals are celebrated with much fervour in the nation, with flag hoisting ceremonies, patriotic movies and weekend getaways with families. Then, there are festivals such as Holi, which is celebrated with colour, and Diwali, which calls for new clothes, lighting diyas and lamps and eating delectable sweets and food. Durga Puja and Navratri are two occasions that celebrate goddess Durga in different forms, and are complete with festive pandals, garba nights and fasting food, while festivals such as Onam call for a delicious Sadya.
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So, tag along with us as we introduce you to many of the traditional Indian festivals and the regions they are celebrated in!
Indian festivals that speak of the spirit of togetherness
Holi
Holi celebrates the death of Holika, and is marked with revellers spreading colour (or gulaal) and coloured water on each others’ faces. The festival of colours, as it is called, marks the arrival of spring. The festivities begin on the eve of Holi, with burning of the Holika (Holika Dahan) and the next day, people sing and dance for hours as they play with colours. Delicacies such as dahi vada, gujiya, thandai (sometimes mixed with bhaang) are served, as these are considered cooling and nutritious. The festival, which arrives in March, is more popular in the northern states of India.
Diwali
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Among the most popular Indian festivals is the festival of lights, aka Diwali. The festival celebrates the return of lord Ram to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. Celebrated on a new moon, the festival sees homes decked up with lights and diyas, and in some places, firecrackers are also burst. The festival arrives 20 days after Dussehra, and is celebrated with much fervour across the country.
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Dussehra
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Dussehra marks the victory of good over evil. This was the day lord Ram killed the demon Ravan, the king of Lanka. He had abducted Lord Rama’s wife, Sita, during their 14-year-exile, and Dussehra is the day when after a long battle, the lord returned victorious. The festival is celebrated in different forms across India. While some burn Ravan effigies on the day, some states celebrate Dussehra (or Vijayadashami) as the day Goddess Durga won over Mahishasura. Some popular Dussehra celebrations across India include the ones at Kota, Kullu and Mysore.
Durga Puja and Navratri
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Durga Puja and the festival of Navratri happen in the months of September/October. The festivities celebrate Goddess Durga. In Gujarat and Maharashtra, several places organise Garba nights that are filled with music and dance, while in Punjab, people observe the festivities by fasting through the days. In West Bengal (and in other cities, too), Bengalis celebrate the last few days as Durga Puja, which is complete with pandal-hopping, delicious food, new clothes and more.
Makar Sankranti
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Among the very few Indian festivals based on the Solar calendar, Makar Sankranti marks the winter solstice and the arrival of warmer days. The festivities include wearing yellow, offering water to the Sun God, and flying kites.
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Bihu
Bihu is an Assamese festival. The festival occurs three times a year and marks different occasions. The festivities come complete with traditional delicacies, music and the popular Bihu dance, along with meeting each other and celebrating the day together.
Lohri
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Lohri is a harvest festival in Punjab, and is celebrated on January 13 every year. The festival includes women praying around a burning fire, throwing popcorn, peanuts and rewri (a sweet, brittle praline made with sesame and jaggery) into the fire. These treats are then distributed among those attending. The festivities are fun, complete with music and dance, and are marked with loads of celebrations.
Eid-ul-Fitr
Eid-ul-Fitr is among the major festivals of Muslims. The festival marks the end of Ramzan/Ramadan, the 30-day fasting period. Devotees visit the mosque, meet friends and relatives, wear their festive best and indulge in traditional delicacies. These include biryani, seviyan kheer among other things.
Onam
Onam is among the biggest festival in Kerala, and marks the onset of the harvest season. The festivities in Kerala include boat races, floral rangolis to decorate the home and dancing. A key feature of the celebrations is the Onam Sadhya, a traditional meal filled with delicious treats such as Parippu Vadas, Pachadi, Rice, Fruits and Payasam, among other delicacies.
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Ganesh Chaturthi
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Ganesh Chaturthi marks the beginning of the 10-day period when many homes in Maharashtra (and across the country) welcome lord Ganesha into their homes. Several places host community pandals, and many families also welcome Ganpati into their homes. The festivities include praying to Ganesha and cooking delicious meals (especially sweet treats) to offer to God. These include besan laddoos and modak. On the 10th day, which is Ganpati Visarjan, the idols are immersed in water.
Janmashtami
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Janmashtami is the day lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of lord Vishnu, was born. The day is celebrated with great pomp and show, with dances, music and food. Some places host Dahi Handi, which involves devotees forming human pyramids to reach a handi hung atop and breaking it with a stone. Little children dress up as Lord Krishna and Radha to take part in the celebrations of this festival.
Christmas
Among the festivities in India include the Christian festival of Christmas. Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the celebrations include delectable Christmas brunches, plum cakes and offering prayers at the church. Christmas carols are sung, mangers where Jesus was born are made and decorated in the homes, and a Christmas Tree is set up at home where Santa Claus is said to bring gifts for loved ones.
Raksha Bandhan
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Among the popular Indian festivals is Raksha Bandhan. The day celebrates the bond between a brother and a sister. Sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers’ wrists, and in return they receive gifts and the promise of protection. The day ends with feasts and festivities, with food such as kheer being made in most households. The festival is celebrated across India, but is more popular in North India.
Gurpurab
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The Sikh festival celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru. Festivities include reading the Guru Granth Sahib for two days prior to the festival, organising meets and offering meals at the gurudwara. Kada Prasad is also made and served to all, and many devotees travel to Gurudwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to mark the occasion.
Hero and Featured Image: Courtesy of John Thomas/Unsplash
Related: Enjoy The Cultural Side Of Rajasthan At The State’s 5 Traditional Fairs And Festivals
Written By
Anushka Goel
Anushka has previously worked with publications such as the Times of India and Being Indian. A graduate from Xavier Institute of Communications, she specialises in entertainment, food and travel. She also likes to write about sustainability and beauty. When not working, you can catch her reading a book, tending to her plants, cooking or playing an instrument.
