The Indian festival directory
48 festivals, told properly — why each one began, the story behind it, when it falls, how it is celebrated across India, and how housing societies bring it home. Written for the people who actually organise the celebration.
Hindu festivals
Navratri
September–October · Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami
Nine nights for the nine forms of Goddess Durga — India’s longest dance festival.
Diwali
October–November · Kartik Amavasya (new moon)
Rows of lamps on the darkest night of the year — light’s victory over darkness.
Dussehra
September–October · the 10th day after Navratri
The tenth day of victory — Rama over Ravana, Durga over Mahishasura.
Ganesh Chaturthi
August–September · Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi
Ten days with Bappa at home and in the pandal — ending in the sea of visarjan.
Janmashtami
August–September · Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami, midnight
Krishna’s midnight birth — fasting till twelve, then dahi-handi by day.
Holi
February–March · Phalgun Purnima and the day after
A bonfire of the old, then a morning where every face is every colour.
Raksha Bandhan
July–August · Shravan Purnima
A thread on the wrist: protection promised, sweetness exchanged.
Onam
August–September · Chingam month, Thiruvonam nakshatra
Kerala’s harvest king returns — flower carpets, snake boats and the 26-dish sadhya.
Pongal
14–17 January · start of Thai month (solar)
The pot boils over and Tamil Nadu shouts "Pongalo Pongal!" — abundance has arrived.
Makar Sankranti
14–15 January · sun enters Capricorn (solar)
The sun turns north and India takes to its rooftops — til-gul in hand, kites in the sky.
Lohri
13 January · eve of Makar Sankranti
Punjab’s bonfire night — popcorn and rewri in the flames, bhangra around them.
Durga Puja
September–October · Shashthi to Vijayadashami
Bengal’s five days of the Mother — pandal art, dhak drums, and a tearful farewell.
Kali Puja
October–November · Kartik Amavasya (Diwali night)
On Diwali’s new moon, Bengal worships the dark Mother by lamp-light.
Chhath Puja
October–November · six days after Diwali (Kartik Shukla Shashthi)
The austere sun festival — offerings to the setting sun first, then the rising one.
Karva Chauth
October–November · Kartik Krishna Chaturthi
A day’s fast broken only when the moon rises — seen through a sieve, beside a lamp.
Maha Shivratri
February–March · Phalgun Krishna Chaturdashi
The great night of Shiva — a vigil of fasting, abhishek and "Om Namah Shivaya."
Ram Navami
March–April · Chaitra Shukla Navami, noon
Rama’s noon-time birth closes Chaitra Navratri — the ideal of dharma made flesh.
Hanuman Jayanti
April · Chaitra Purnima (varies by region)
Strength in service — the birthday of the devotee who could leap an ocean.
Akshaya Tritiya
April–May · Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya
The day that never diminishes — whatever begins today is believed to grow forever.
Gudi Padwa
March–April · Chaitra Shukla Pratipada
Maharashtra’s new year — a silk-and-neem gudi raised at every window to victory.
Ugadi
March–April · Chaitra Shukla Pratipada
The new year tasted whole: six flavours in one pachadi, sweet to bitter.
Vishu
14–15 April · Medam 1 (solar new year)
Kerala’s new year begins with what you see first — a golden kani at dawn.
Guru Purnima
June–July · Ashadha Purnima
The full moon for teachers — from Vyasa to your first schoolteacher.
Vasant Panchami
January–February · Magha Shukla Panchami
Spring’s first day in yellow — and Saraswati’s blessing on every book and instrument.
Hartalika Teej
August–September · Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya
Monsoon swings, green bangles, mehndi — and Parvati’s own fast for love.
Nag Panchami
July–August · Shravan Shukla Panchami
Milk for the serpent — monsoon’s truce between farmers and the snakes in their fields.
Gangaur
March–April · 18 days from Holi to Chaitra Shukla Tritiya
Rajasthan’s Gauri walks to her husband’s home — eighteen days of songs and procession.
Rath Yatra
June–July · Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya
The Lord leaves his temple — three colossal chariots pulled by an ocean of hands.
Dhanteras
October–November · two days before Diwali
Diwali’s opening bell — a new metal in the house, a lamp for Yama at the door.
Bhai Dooj
October–November · second day after Diwali
Diwali’s tender closing — a sister’s tilak and a brother’s promise, at her table this time.
Govardhan Puja
October–November · day after Diwali
A mountain of food for the boy who lifted a mountain — gratitude to the land itself.
Sharad Purnima
September–October · Ashwin Purnima
The year’s brightest moon — kheer left in its light, and the night of the divine raas.
Tulsi Vivah
October–November · Kartik Shukla Ekadashi to Purnima
The basil plant becomes a bride — and India’s wedding season officially opens.
Vat Savitri
May–June · Jyeshtha Amavasya (North) / Purnima (Maharashtra)
Thread wound round the banyan — remembering the wife who argued death itself into retreat.
Vishwakarma Puja
17 September (Kanya Sankranti) · also Diwali-next-day in the North-West
The divine architect’s day — when machines rest, get garlands, and are thanked.
Islamic festivals
Eid-ul-Fitr
On sighting the Shawwal moon, after 29–30 days of Ramzan
The moon is sighted, the month of fasting ends — sheer khurma and open doors.
Eid-ul-Adha
10th of Dhu al-Hijjah · about 70 days after Eid-ul-Fitr
The festival of sacrifice — and of dividing what you have into three shares.
Muharram · Ashura
1st–10th of Muharram, the Islamic new year’s first month
Not a celebration but a remembrance — Karbala, grief, and the price of standing for truth.
Christian festivals
Sikh festivals
Buddhist & Jain festivals
Parsi festivals
Harvest & cultural festivals
National days
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