Festival

Significance

Akshaya Tritiya 

Hindu festival of wealth and prosperity.

Army Day 

Celebrated in India on January 15th to honor the soldiers of the Indian Army.

Anant Chaturdashi

Hindu festival observed on the 14th day of the bright half of the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada.

Ayuda Pooja

Hindu observance that falls on the ninth day of the bright half of the moon's cycle of 15 days in the month of September/October, popularly a part of the Navaratri festival. People worship and revere the objects and instruments related to their profession and livelihood on this auspicious day.

Arbaeen

Shi'ite Muslim festival observed 40 days after the Day of Ashura.

Ahoi Ashtami

Hindu festival celebrated about 8 days before Diwali on Krishna Paksha Ashtami. The fasting and puja on Ahoi Ashtami are dedicated to Mata Ahoi or Goddess Ahoi.

Bhau-beej (Bhai Dooj)

Hindu festival celebrated on the second lunar day of the Shukla Paksha of Kartika, the eighth month of the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar or the Shalivahana Shaka calendar. Celebration of any Brother-Sister like relationship

Bathukamma

Hindu festival celebrated primarily in the Indian state of Telangana.

Carnival

Christian festival celebrated before the start of Lent.

Children's Day

Celebrated on November 14th in India to honor children and promote child welfare.

Christmas Day

Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Cheti Chand

Sindhi festival celebrated by the Sindhi community.

Chhath Puja

Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God, Surya.

Diwali(Hinduism)

Hindu festival of lights celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.

Diwali (Jainism)

Festival of lights celebrated by Jains to mark the attainment of moksha by Lord Mahavira.

Dhammachakra Pravartan

Day marks the day when the Buddha first taught the Dharma.

Durga Puja (Navratri)

Also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is an annual Hindu festival to pay homage to the Hindu goddess Durga and is also celebrated because of Durga's victory over Mahishasur.

Dussehra

Hindu festival celebrating the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.

Dwijing (Assam)

Festival celebrated in Assam to mark the start of the spring season.

Engineer's Day

Celebrated in India on September 15th to honor engineers and their contributions to society.

Eid al-Fitr

Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

Eid al-Adha

Muslim holiday celebrating the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son for God.

Vaikuntha Ekadashi

Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Easter Sunday

Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Elephant Festival

Festival celebrated in Jaipur, Rajasthan to honor the elephants.

Gandhi Jayanti

National holiday celebrated on October 2nd to honor Mohandas Gandhi.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Hindu festival celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesha.

Gudi Padwa / Ugadi 

Hindu festival celebrated at the start of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra.

Guru Purnima

Hindu festival honoring spiritual teachers.

Guru Nanak Jayanti

Sikh festival celebrating the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Good Friday

Christian holiday marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Hanuman Jayanti

Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Hanuman.

Hindi Diwas

Celebrated on September 14th in India to promote the use of Hindi as the national language.

Holi

Hindu festival of colors celebrated in the spring.

Holla Mohalla

Sikh festival celebrated in the state of Punjab.

Hornbill Festival

Cultural festival celebrated in Nagaland, India.

Haldi Kumkum

Hindu festival celebrated by married women in India, where they apply turmeric and vermilion powder to each other's foreheads and exchange sweets.

Hazrat Ali's Birthday

Birthday of Ali, the first Imam of Shia Islam, celebrated by Shia Muslims.

Independence Day

National holiday in India celebrated on August 15th to commemorate India's independence from British rule in 1947.

Janmashtami

Birthday of Lord Krishna, celebrated by Hindus.

Jivitputrika

Hindu festival celebrated by women in the state of Bihar, India.

Karam

Sikh festival celebrated in the state of Punjab.

Kartik Purnima

Hindu, Sikh and Jain cultural festival that is celebrated on Purnima, the 15th lunar day of the month of Kartika. It falls in November or December and is also known as Tripurari Purnima or Deva-Deepawali, the gods' festival of lights.

Karwa Chauth

Hindu festival celebrated by married women in North India, where they fast for the well-being of their husbands.

Kumbh Mela

Hindu pilgrimage festival that takes place every 12 years in different locations in India.

Kojagiri Poornima

Hindu festival celebrated in the state of Maharashtra.

Krishna Janmashtami

Birthday of Lord Krishna, celebrated by Hindus.

Kerala School Kalolsavam

Cultural and arts festival for school students in the state of Kerala, India.

Lohri

Punjabi festival celebrated in the month of January to mark the end of winter.

Mahavir Janma Kalyanak

Birthday of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.

Mahamastakabhisheka 

Jain festival celebrated every 12 years, where the statue of Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali is bathed and anointed with milk, water, and other items.

Maharashtra Day

State holiday in Maharashtra, celebrated on May 1st to commemorate the formation of the state in 1960.

Mahashivratri

Hindu festival celebrating the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Makar Sankranti

Hindu festival celebrated in the month of January to mark the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn).

Manusmriti Dahan Din

The day the Hindu text Manusmriti is burned by Dalit activists, who reject its caste system and patriarchal values.

Muharram (Ashura)

First month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims with mourning and fasting, particularly on the 10th day (Ashura) to commemorate the death of Prophet Muhammad's grandson.

Nariyal Poornima (Coconut day)

Hindu festival celebrated in the state of Maharashtra.

Nuakhai

Hindu festival celebrated in the state of Odisha.

Navratri

Hindu festival celebrated for nine nights in the honor of the goddess Durga.

National Sports Day

National holiday in India celebrated on August 29th to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.

Onam

Hindu festival celebrated in the state of Kerala to mark the arrival of King Mahabali.

Parakram Diwas

National event celebrated to mark the birthday of the prominent Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Pana Sankranti

Hindu festival celebrated in the state of Odisha in India and marks the start of the spring season.

Parents' Worship Day

Hindu festival celebrated to pay respect to one's parents and is held on the fourth day of the Hindu month of Ashwin.

Paryushan

Jain festival that lasts for 8 to 10 days and is a time for introspection, self-reflection, and spiritual purification.

Pitru Paksha

Hindu festival where people pay homage to their ancestors by offering food, prayers, and gifts. It is celebrated during the Hindu month of Ashwin.

Pongal

Harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, to mark the end of the harvest season and to thank the Sun God and the farm animals for their support.

Pusnâ

Hindu festival celebrated in the western Indian state of Maharashtra to mark the beginning of spring.

Pola

Hindu festival that is celebrated in the western Indian state of Maharashtra by farmers to honor their bulls and cows.

Padwa (Diwali)

Also known as Diwali Padwa, is a Hindu festival celebrated on the first day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik.

Pateti

Parsi festival celebrated on the last day of the year in the Parsi calendar and is a time for forgiveness, renewal, and hope.

Ratha-Yatra

Hindu festival celebrated in the city of Puri in the Indian state of Odisha. It is a grand procession of chariots that carries the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Lady Subhadra through the streets of the city.

Raksha Bandhan

Hindu festival that is celebrated to mark the bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a sacred thread, called a Rakhi, on the wrist of their brothers, symbolizing their love and protection.

Ram Navami

Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Ramadan (Roza)

A month-long Islamic festival during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset as a form of devotion and purification.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas

A day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. It is celebrated on October 31st.

Ratha Saptami

Hindu festival that is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Surya, the Sun God. It is observed on the seventh day of the Hindu lunar month of Magh.

Indian Republic day

National holiday celebrated on January 26th to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution.

Tamil New Year (also known as Puthandu or Varusha Pirappu)

Celebrated in the Tamil-speaking regions of India, Sri Lanka, and the Tamil diaspora. It usually falls on April 14th or 15th, and it marks the beginning of the traditional Tamil calendar.

Teacher's Day

Celebrated on September 5th to honor teachers and recognize their contribution to education and society.

Tulsi Vivah

Marks the wedding ceremony of the Hindu god Vishnu and the basil plant (Tulsi). It is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November).

Tulsi Pujan Diwas

Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the Tulsi plant. It is celebrated on the eleventh day of the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November).

Thaipusam

Hindu festival celebrated by Tamil communities around the world. It honors the Hindu god Lord Murugan and is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February).

Ugadi (also known as Telugu New Year or Yugadi)

New Year's Day for the Telugu and Kannada-speaking communities in India. It usually falls in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March/April).

Van Mahotsav (Forest Day)

Festival celebrated in India to commemorate the importance of trees and forests. It is observed every year on July 1st and involves planting trees and promoting environmental awareness.

Vasant Panchami

Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of spring. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the Hindu month of Magh (January/February).

Vishwakarma Puja (also known as Vishwakarma Jayanti)

Hindu festival that honors the Hindu god Vishwakarma, the patron of engineers, craftsmen, and artisans. It is observed on the 17th day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapad (September/October).

Vishu

Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, which marks the start of their solar calendar. It is celebrated in the Hindu month of Medam (April/May).