Festivals of India

First day of Diwali; worship of wealth and Dhanvantari.

Buying gold and utensils, Yama deepam

Lord Kubera Goddess Lakshmi

Krishna's victory over Narakasura.

Abhyanga snan, lamps, firecrackers

Lord Krishna Goddess Kali

Festival of lights — Rama's return and Lakshmi's arrival.

Lakshmi-Ganesh puja, diyas, rangoli, sweets

Goddess Lakshmi Lord Ganesha Lord Rama Lord Kubera

Midnight worship of Mother Kali on the new moon of Kartik.

Night-long puja, lamps, hibiscus offerings

Goddess Kali

Krishna lifting Govardhan hill to shelter Vrindavan.

Annakut mountain of food, parikrama

Lord Krishna Lord Indra

Sisters pray for their brothers' long life.

Tilak, aarti, gifts

Murugan's victory over the demon Surapadman.

Soorasamharam, six-day fast

Lord Kartikeya · Murugan

Four-day worship of the setting and rising sun.

Standing in water, arghya, thekua

Lord Surya

Start of the 41-day pilgrimage season to Sabarimala.

Mala dharana, 41-day vrat, Irumudi

Lord Ayyappa

Ceremonial wedding of Tulsi and Shaligram (Vishnu).

Wedding rituals, start of marriage season

Lord Vishnu

The gods descend to bathe in the Ganga; ghats lit with a million lamps.

Ganga aarti, deep daan, holy dip

Lord Shiva Ganga Maa

Shiva's infinite column of fire at Tiruvannamalai.

Maha Deepam on Arunachala, rows of lamps

Lord Shiva Lord Kartikeya · Murugan

Appearance of Kaal Bhairava.

Night vigil, feeding dogs, Bhairav ashtakam

Kaal Bhairava Lord Shiva

Wedding anniversary of Rama and Sita.

Ram-Sita vivah reenactment in Janakpur and Ayodhya

Lord Rama Goddess Sita

Khandoba's victory over Mani-Malla.

Bhandara turmeric, Jejuri yatra

Lord Khandoba

The day Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita.

Gita path, Ekadashi fast

Lord Krishna Lord Vishnu

Birth of Lord Dattatreya on Margashirsha Purnima.

Guru Charitra parayan, palkhi

Lord Dattatreya Goddess Annapurna

Bonfire festival marking the end of winter.

Bonfire, rewri, gajak, bhangra

Lord Agni

The sun enters Capricorn; start of Uttarayana.

Holy dip, til-gud, kite flying

Lord Surya

Four-day Tamil harvest festival thanking the sun.

Boiling-over pongal pot, kolam, Jallikattu

Lord Surya

The celestial light seen from Sabarimala on Makar Sankranti.

Thiruvabharanam procession, darshan of Makarajyothi

Lord Ayyappa

Parvati gives Murugan the Vel.

Kavadi, piercings, Palani and Batu Caves pilgrimage

Lord Kartikeya · Murugan

Arrival of spring and worship of Saraswati.

Yellow attire, vidyarambham, books at the altar

Goddess Saraswati

Lakhs of devotees walk to Khatu with nishan flags.

Padyatra, nishan offering, bhajan sandhya

Khatu Shyam Ji

Prahlada's survival of the fire and Holika's end.

Bonfire, parikrama, new grains

Lord Narasimha Lord Vishnu

Festival of colours celebrating Radha-Krishna's love.

Colours, Lathmar Holi, thandai, gujiya

Lord Krishna Radha Rani

Marathi new year — the day Brahma created the world.

Raising the gudi, neem-jaggery

Lord Brahma

Telugu and Kannada new year.

Ugadi pachadi of six tastes, panchanga shravanam

Lord Brahma

Spring Navratri culminating in Ram Navami.

Fasting, Durga Saptashati, Vaishno Devi yatra

Goddess Durga Mata Vaishno Devi

Appearance day of the fish avatar.

Vishnu puja, feeding fish

Matsya Avatar

Harvest new year of Punjab.

Bhangra, fairs, holy dip

Lord Surya

Malayalam new year — first sight of the Vishukkani.

Vishukkani, Vishu kaineettam, fireworks

Lord Krishna

Assamese new year and spring festival.

Bihu dance, pitha, cattle worship

Tamil new year.

Kolam, mango pachadi, temple visits

Birth of Lord Rama in Ayodhya at noon.

Ramayana path, processions, panakam

Lord Rama Goddess Sita Lord Hanuman

Birth of Lord Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima.

Hanuman Chalisa, sindoor offering, Sundarkand

Lord Hanuman Mangal Dev

The day of imperishable merit.

Buying gold, charity, Parashurama puja

Goddess Lakshmi Lord Kubera Parashurama

Appearance of the man-lion at twilight.

Evening puja, fasting until sunset

Lord Narasimha

Appearance day of the tortoise avatar.

Vishnu puja, Srikurmam darshan

Kurma Avatar

Birth of Shani Dev on Jyeshtha Amavasya.

Mustard oil abhishek, Shani stotra

Shani Dev

Savitri's devotion that won back Satyavan from Yama.

Banyan tree worship, threads, fasting

Descent of the Ganga to earth.

Holy dip, Ganga aarti, ten-fold charity

Ganga Maa Goddess Gayatri

Annual celebration of the Mother's menstruation at Kamakhya — the temple closes for three days.

Temple closure, tantric sadhana, prasad of red cloth

Goddess Kamakhya

The most austere Ekadashi — a fast without even water.

Waterless fast, Vishnu puja, charity of water pots

Lord Vishnu

The Lord of the Universe rides out of Puri temple to meet all devotees.

Pulling the chariots, Chhera Pahara, kirtan

Lord Jagannath Lord Balarama

Culmination of the 21-day walking pilgrimage of the warkaris to Pandharpur.

Palkhi procession, abhang singing, fasting

Lord Vitthal · Vithoba Lord Vishnu

Thanksgiving to Mahakali by the women of Hyderabad.

Pots of rice offered on the head, Potharaju dances

Goddess Kali

A day to honour spiritual teachers and Veda Vyasa.

Guru puja, padya puja, satsang

Lord Dattatreya Brihaspati · Guru Lord Shiva

The holiest month of Shiva; every Monday is a special day of fasting.

Sawan Somvar fasts, Ganga jal abhishek, Kanwar pilgrimage

Lord Shiva

Celebrates the reunion of Shiva and Parvati in the monsoon.

Swings, green attire, mehndi, fasting

Goddess Parvati Lord Shiva

Worship of the serpent deities who adorn Shiva.

Milk offerings to Naga idols, no digging of earth

Lord Shiva

Anticipating the arrival of the tenth avatar.

Vishnu sahasranama, prayers for dharma

Kalki Avatar

Married women worship Lakshmi for the welfare of their family.

Kalasha puja, sacred thread, sweets

Goddess Lakshmi

Kerala welcomes back the beloved King Mahabali.

Pookalam, Onasadya feast, Vallam Kali boat race

Vamana Avatar

The bond of protection between brothers and sisters.

Tying rakhi, aarti, sweets

Lord Krishna Lord Balarama

Birth of Lord Krishna at midnight in Mathura.

Midnight abhishek, Dahi Handi, jhulan, fasting

Lord Krishna Radha Rani

Parvati's penance to win Shiva.

Nirjala fast, clay Shiva-Parvati puja

Goddess Parvati Lord Shiva

Appearance day of the boar avatar.

Vishnu puja, recitation of Varaha Purana

Varaha Avatar

Birth of Lord Ganesha; ten days of festivities.

Clay idols, modak, aarti, visarjan

Lord Ganesha

Craftsmen worship the divine architect and their tools.

Tool puja, kite flying

Lord Vishwakarma

Appearance day of Radha Rani in Barsana.

Abhishek, kirtan, Barsana celebrations

Radha Rani

Appearance day of the dwarf avatar.

Vishnu puja, charity to brahmins

Vamana Avatar

Worship of Anant Vishnu and Ganesh visarjan.

Anant sutra, immersion processions

Lord Vishnu Lord Ganesha

Fortnight of honouring ancestors.

Shraddha, tarpan, feeding brahmins and crows

Nine-day grand festival of Lord Venkateswara.

Vahana sevas, Garuda seva, Chakra snanam

Lord Venkateswara · Balaji

Invocation of Goddess Durga's descent to earth.

Chandi path at dawn, tarpan

Goddess Durga

Nine nights of the nine forms of Durga.

Ghatasthapana, Garba, Dandiya, kanya puja

Goddess Durga Mata Vaishno Devi Goddess Saraswati Goddess Lakshmi

Bengal's grandest festival honouring the Mother's homecoming.

Pandals, dhunuchi dance, sindoor khela

Goddess Durga

Victory of good over evil — Rama over Ravana, Durga over Mahishasura.

Ravan dahan, Ramlila, Shastra puja

Lord Rama Goddess Durga

The full moon of nectar and Krishna's Maha Raas.

Kheer under moonlight, Kojagari Lakshmi puja

Goddess Lakshmi Lord Krishna Chandra Dev

Married women fast for the long life of their husbands.

Day-long fast, moon sighting through a sieve

Goddess Parvati Lord Shiva Lord Ganesha