Vedic Celebrations, Sacred Festivals
Hindu Festivals Guide
Comprehensive guides to Hindu festivals, rituals, spiritual significance, traditional foods, regional customs, and the mythological stories behind each celebration.
Major Festivals
Diwali (Deepawali)
Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, Lord Rama · Kartik (October/November)
Holi
Lord Krishna, Radha, Prahlad · Phalguna (February/March)
Navratri
Goddess Durga (Nine Forms) · Ashwin (September/October), Chaitra (March/April)
Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
Lord Rama, Goddess Durga · Ashwin Shukla Dashami (October)
Janmashtami
Lord Krishna · Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami (August/September)
Ganesh Chaturthi
Lord Ganesha · Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi (August/September)
Mahashivratri
Lord Shiva and Parvati · Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi (February/March)
Raksha Bandhan
Lord Vishnu, Yamuna, Yama · Shravan Purnima (August)
Chhath Puja
Surya (Sun God), Chhathi Maiya · Kartik Shukla Shashthi (October/November)
Vat Savitri Vrat
Savitri, Satyavan, Lord Brahma, Lord Yama · Jyeshtha Amavasya or Purnima (May/June)
Dhanteras
Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kuber, Lord Dhanvantari · Kartik Krishna Trayodashi (October/November)
Bhai Dooj
Yama, Yamuna · Kartik Shukla Dwitiya (November)
Rath Yatra
Lord Jagannath (Vishnu/Krishna) · Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya (June/July)
Ram Navami
Lord Rama · Chaitra Shukla Navami (March/April)
Hanuman Jayanti
Lord Hanuman · Chaitra Purnima (April) or Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi (regional variation)
Karva Chauth
Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, Lord Kartikeya, Moon God · Kartik Krishna Chaturthi (October/November)
Ahoi Ashtami
Ahoi Mata (Goddess Parvati) · Kartik Krishna Ashtami (October/November)
Govardhan Puja
Lord Krishna (Govardhan Giridhari), Lord Indra · Kartik Shukla Pratipada (day after Diwali, October/November)
Annakut
Lord Krishna, Lord Vishnu · Kartik Shukla Pratipada (day after Diwali, October/November)
Akshaya Tritiya
Lord Vishnu (Parashurama avatar), Goddess Lakshmi · Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya (April/May)
Govatsa Dvadashi
Goddess Surabhi (divine cow), Lord Krishna, Lord Vishnu · Kartik Krishna Dvadashi (October/November)
Naraka Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali)
Lord Krishna, Satyabhama, Goddess Kali · Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi (October/November)
Chaitra Navratri
Goddess Durga (Nine Forms), Lord Rama · Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Navami (March/April)
Durga Puja
Goddess Durga · Ashwin (September/October)
Lakshmi Puja (Kojagari)
Goddess Lakshmi · Ashwin Purnima (October)
Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami)
Goddess Saraswati · Magha Shukla Panchami (January/February)
Kali Puja (Shyama Puja)
Goddess Kali · Kartik Amavasya (October/November)
Jagaddhatri Puja
Goddess Jagaddhatri · Kartik Shukla Navami (November)
Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi Devi (Vrinda), Lord Vishnu (Shaligram) · Kartik Shukla Ekadashi to Purnima (October/November)
Annapurna Jayanti
Goddess Annapurna · Margashirsha Purnima (November/December)
Kumbh Mela
Lord Vishnu, Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati · Every 3 years at rotating sites; Maha Kumbh every 12 years (January/February)
Pushkar Mela
Lord Brahma, Goddess Savitri · Kartik Purnima (October/November)
Ganga Dussehra
Goddess Ganga, Lord Shiva, Bhagirath · Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami (May/June)
Dev Deepawali
Lord Shiva, Goddess Ganga, All Devtas · Kartik Purnima (November)
Maha Kumbh Mela
Lord Vishnu (Hari), the sacred Triveni Sangam, and all gods associated with the Amrit Kumbh legend · Magha (January/February), Maha Kumbh occurs every 12 years; duration 45 days
Ganesh Visarjan (Anant Chaturdashi)
Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed remover of obstacles and god of new beginnings · Bhadrapada (August/September), the 10th day (Anant Chaturdashi) of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival
Regional Festivals
Sheetala Saptami
Goddess Sheetala · Chaitra Krishna Saptami / Ashtami (March/April, the week after Holi)
Annapurna Puja
Goddess Annapurna · Chaitra Ashtami (March/April)
Ganga Saptami
Goddess Ganga · Vaishakha Shukla Saptami (April/May)
Narmada Jayanti
Goddess Narmada (Reva) · Magha Shukla Saptami (January/February)
Skanda Sashti
Lord Skanda (Murugan, Kartikeya, Subramanya) · Kartik Shukla Shashthi (October/November)
Thaipusam
Lord Murugan (Kartikeya) · Thai (January/February), Full Moon
Kavadi Festival (Kavadi Attam)
Lord Murugan (Subramanya) · Thai / Panguni (January–March)
Vishu Kani
Lord Vishnu (Krishna / Guruvayurappan) · Medam (April)
Thrissur Pooram
Goddess Vadakkumnathan (Shiva), Goddess Paramekkavu, Goddess Thiruvambadi · Medam (April/May)
Kodungallur Bharani
Goddess Bhadrakali (Kurumba Bhagavathy) · Meenam (March/April), Bharani asterism
Karthigai Deepam
Lord Kartikeya (Murugan), Lord Shiva · Karthigai (November/December)
Panguni Uttaram
Lord Murugan (Kartikeya), Goddess Devasena · Panguni (March/April)
Thai Poosam (Thaipusam)
Lord Murugan (Kartikeya) · Thai (January/February)
Thiruvathira (Thiruvadhirai)
Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna · Dhanu (December/January)
Attukal Pongala
Attukal Bhagavathi (Kannaki Devi) · Kumbham (February/March)
Vaikunta Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu (Ranganatha, Venkateswara) · Margazhi/Dhanu (December/January)
Hampi Utsav
Virupaksha (Shiva) and Pampa Devi (Parvati) · Kartik (November)
Mysore Dasara
Chamundeshwari Devi (Durga) · Ashwin Shukla Dashami (September/October)
Gangaur
Gauri (Parvati) and Isar (Shiva) · Chaitra (March/April), 18 days starting from Holi
Dol Purnima
Radha and Krishna · Phalguna Purnima (February/March), full moon day
Rang Panchami
Radha-Krishna and the Pancha Devas (five principal deities) · Krishna Paksha Panchami of Phalguna (five days after Holi, February/March)
Lathmar Holi
Radha and Krishna · Phalguna (February/March), a week before Holi, on Ekadashi and Dwadashi
Shigmo
Shiva, Vishnu, and village guardian deities (gramadevatas) · Phalguna to Chaitra (March/April), spanning nearly two weeks around the spring equinox
Dev Deepawali (Varanasi)
Shiva (as lord of Kashi), all Devas, and the holy Ganga · Kartik Purnima (October/November), full moon, fifteen days after Diwali
Navratri Garba (Gujarat)
Amba Mata (Goddess Durga in her nine forms), the supreme mother goddess of Gujarat · Ashwin (September/October), nine nights of Shukla Paksha (waxing moon)
Pushkar Camel Fair (Pushkar Mela)
Lord Brahma, the creator god of the Hindu trinity; Pushkar is the only major Brahma temple in the world · Kartik (October/November), the fair peaks on Kartik Purnima (full moon)
Kolkata Durga Puja
Goddess Durga, the ten-armed warrior goddess who slew Mahishasura, accompanied by her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesha · Ashwin (September/October), five days from Shashthi (sixth) to Dashami (tenth) of Shukla Paksha
Janmashtami, Mathura & Vrindavan
Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, born at midnight in a prison cell in Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva, whose birth is the central mystery celebrated on this night · Bhadrapada (August–September), the Krishna Paksha Ashtami (eighth day of the dark fortnight) of the month of Bhadrapada
Ram Lila (Ramayana Dramatic Performance)
Lord Rama, seventh avatar of Vishnu; Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman, and the entire divine cast of the Ramayana are enacted by performers in a 10-day dramatic cycle · Ashwin (September–October), performed during the nine nights of Navratri, from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Dashami (Dussehra)
Dussehra, Kullu (Kullu Dussehra)
Raghunath Ji (Lord Rama, in his form as the presiding deity of Kullu since 1651), and the 300+ local gram devatas (village deities) of the Kullu Valley who converge at Dhalpur Maidan · Ashwin (October), begins on Vijaya Dashami (the same day as national Dussehra) and continues for seven days, ending on the following Ekadashi or Purnima
Seasonal Festivals
Makar Sankranti
Surya (Sun God) · January 14/15 (fixed solar calendar)
Nag Panchami
Naga Devatas (Serpent Gods) · Shravan Shukla Panchami (July/August)
Teej
Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva · Shravan / Bhadrapada (July/August/September)
Hariyali Teej
Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva · Shravan Shukla Tritiya (July/August)
Basant Panchami
Goddess Saraswati · Magha Shukla Panchami (January/February)
Ratha Saptami
Surya (Sun God) · Magha Shukla Saptami (January/February)
Ugadi
Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu · Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (March/April)
Gudi Padwa
Lord Brahma, Lord Rama, Lord Vishnu · Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (March/April)
Lohri
Agni (Fire God), Sun, Dulha Bhatti (folk hero) · Paush (January 13, eve of Makar Sankranti)
Vishu
Lord Vishnu (Krishna as Guruvayurappan) · Medam (April, Malayalam solar calendar, first day of Medam)
Puthandu (Tamil New Year)
Lord Brahma, Sun God · Chithirai (April 14, Tamil solar calendar, first day of Chithirai)
Vasant Panchami
Goddess Saraswati · Magha Shukla Panchami (January/February)
Cheti Chand
Jhulelal (Uderolal) · Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (March/April)
Navreh
Sharada Devi (Saraswati) · Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (March/April)
Sajibu Cheiraoba
Lainingthou Sanamahi and Leimarel Sidabi · Sajibu (Chaitra), first day (March/April)
Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti Kite Festival)
Surya (the Sun god), Uttarayan marks the sun's northward transit (Uttarayana) into Capricorn (Makara) · Pausha/Magha, fixed on January 14 (occasionally January 15) each year
Maghi (Maghi Mela)
The Chali Mukte (Forty Liberated Ones), forty Sikh warriors martyred at Khidrana (Muktsar) in 1705; also Surya (the sun) as Makar Sankranti · Magha (January), celebrated on Makar Sankranti, January 14, coinciding with the Maghi Mela at Muktsar
Full Moon Festivals
Guru Purnima
Guru (Teacher), Veda Vyasa, Lord Vishnu · Ashadha Purnima (July)
Kartik Purnima
Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Kartikeya · Kartik Purnima (November)
Shravan Purnima (Rakshabandhan Purnima)
Lord Vishnu, Varuna (Water God), Rishis (Sages) · Shravan Purnima (July/August)
Kojagiri Purnima
Goddess Lakshmi, Chandra Dev · Ashwin Purnima (October)
Sharad Purnima
Lord Krishna, Goddess Radha, Chandra Dev · Ashwin Purnima (October)
Mauni Amavasya (Silent New Moon Fast)
Surya (the Sun) and Pitru Devatas (ancestors), Magh Amavasya is the most sacred no-moon day for ancestral rites and the holiest bathing day of Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj · Magha (January–February), falls on the Amavasya (new moon) of the month of Magha; a principal Shahi Snan date during Kumbh/Ardh Kumbh Mela
Surya Grahan Snan (Solar Eclipse Holy Bath)
Surya (the Sun god), the eclipse is understood as Rahu and Ketu swallowing the sun; the snan and fast are performed to protect Surya's light and accumulate maximum merit during the auspicious grahan period · Variable, occurs on any Amavasya (new moon) when the moon passes between earth and the sun; dates are determined by the Panchang (Hindu almanac) each year
Harvest Festivals
Pongal
Surya (Sun God), Indra, Cattle · Thai (January 14–17)
Onam
King Mahabali, Lord Vamana (Vishnu) · Chingam (August/September)
Baisakhi
Waheguru (Sikh), Surya (Hindu) · Vaisakh (April 13/14, fixed solar date)
Bihu
Earth Goddess, Sun God · Bohag Bihu: April (Rongali); Kati Bihu: October (Kongali); Magh Bihu: January (Bhogali)
Onam
King Mahabali, Lord Vamana (Vishnu) · Chingam (August/September)
FAQ
Q.How many Hindu festivals are there?
Hinduism has over 1,000 festivals, ranging from pan-India celebrations like Diwali and Holi to regional festivals specific to states, communities, or deities. Most months of the Hindu calendar have at least one major festival.
Q.What is the difference between a festival and a vrat?
A festival (Utsav or Parva) is a communal celebration with shared rituals, decorations, and feasts. A vrat is a personal spiritual observance involving fasting and prayer. Many festivals include both elements, for example, Navratri involves communal dancing (Garba) and personal fasting.
Q.Why do Hindu festivals follow the lunar calendar?
Hinduism follows the Panchang (Hindu calendar) which is lunisolar, based on the moon's phases and the sun's position. Festival dates shift each year in the Gregorian calendar because lunar months are ~29.5 days, requiring periodic adjustments.