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There’s something very auspicious, captivating and special about Hindu festivals in India. Whether the oil lamps of Diwali lighting up homes, the burst of gulaal during Holi, or the rhythmic beats of dandiya during Navratri, everything has a spark. Each festival carries stories of gods, seasons, and traditions passed down for generations, turning streets and temples into vibrant celebrations. From the chants of Maha Shivaratri to the grand processions of Ganesh Chaturthi, every moment is filled with devotion and joy. These festivals bring people together, filling the air with music, prayers, and the warmth of shared traditions.
Top 10 Hindu Festivals In India
Here are the major Hindu festivals in India, celebrated with devotion, traditions, and grand festivities, displaying the perfect blend of heritage and happiness:
1. Diwali
Photo: Udayaditya Barua / Unsplash
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, happens in October or November and lasts five days. People clean their homes, place oil lamps on windowsills and doorways, and make colourful rangoli designs outside. Families wear new clothes, exchange gifts, and share sweets. Diwali celebrates Lord Rama’s return after defeating demon king Ravana. It honours the goddess Lakshmi, who brings wealth and prosperity. Homes glow with thousands of lights to guide Lakshmi inside. People pray for good fortune and burst firecrackers. It symbolises light defeating darkness and good conquering evil in Hindu belief.
Major Attractions: Diyas, rangoli, fireworks, Lakshmi prayers
Traditions: Lighting lamps, decorating homes, exchanging gifts
2. Holi
Holi, the Festival of Colours, arrives in March when winter ends and spring begins. People throw coloured powders and water at each other while dancing to music in streets and parks. The night before, communities gather around large bonfires to celebrate the story of Prahlada. Different regions celebrate uniquely. In Mathura and Vrindavan, celebrations last for a week. Special foods include gujiya (sweet dumplings), thandai (a spiced milk drink), and pakoras. Everyone joins regardless of age, status, or gender, breaking social barriers in a colourful celebration.
Major Attractions: Coloured powders, bonfires, music
Traditions: Throwing colours, dancing, sharing sweets
3. Durga Puja
Photo: Slyronit / Wikimedia Commons
Navratri or Durga Puja honours Goddess Durga for nine nights in September / October. In northern India, people fast and perform dandiya raas and garba dances in colourful clothes with sticks. In eastern India, Durga Puja celebrates Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Communities create large clay statues of the goddess with her ten arms and her children, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya. On the final day, processions carry these statues to rivers for immersion. Each day of Navratri honours a different form of the goddess with special prayers, colours, and foods.
Major Attractions: Dandiya, Durga idols, processions
Traditions: Fasting, prayers, traditional dances
4. Dussehra
Photo: Snehrashmi / Wikimedia Commons
Dussehra or Vijayadashami marks Lord Rama’s victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana, celebrating good defeating evil. It falls on the tenth day after Navratri in September-October. In northern India, people burn giant effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna, and son Meghnad, who are filled with firecrackers. In southern and eastern India, people display dolls and figurines called “golu” in their homes. The day also honours goddess Durga’s triumph over buffalo demon Mahishasura. Many people start new activities on this auspicious day. In Mysore, a famous procession features decorated elephants and the royal family.
Major Attractions: Ravana effigies, processions
Traditions: Burning effigies, celebrating Lord Rama’s victory
5. Krishna Janmashtami
Photo: Tara Knand / Wikimedia Commons
Krishna Janmashtami, one of the popular Hindu festivals in India, celebrates Lord Krishna’s birth, typically in August or September. Devotees fast until midnight, when Krishna was born, then feast and share sweets. Temples decorated with flowers and lights host special prayers and bhajans (devotional songs). In Maharashtra, young men form human pyramids to break hanging clay pots (dahi handi) filled with yoghurt and butter, recalling Krishna’s childhood mischief of stealing butter. Homes display small Krishna cradles, and people dress children as Krishna and Radha. Mathura and Vrindavan, where Krishna grew up, host the grandest celebrations with processions and dance performances.
Major Attractions: Dahi handi, devotional songs
Traditions: Midnight prayers, breaking curd pots
6. Maha Shivaratri
Photo: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Maha Shivaratri honours Lord Shiva during February-March on the 14th night of the new moon. Devotees fast all day and stay awake all night, chanting “Om Namah Shivaya” and meditating. They bathe the Shivalinga (a symbol of Shiva) with milk, honey, water, yoghurt, and ghee in a ritual called abhishekam. Temples overflow with worshippers offering bilva leaves, considered sacred to Shiva. The festival celebrates Shiva’s wedding to Parvati and the night he performed the cosmic dance of creation. Unmarried women pray for good husbands while married women pray for their husbands’ long lives.
Major Attractions: Night vigils, temple rituals
Traditions: Fasting, chanting, offering milk to Shiva idols
7. Ganesh Chaturthi
Photo: Thejas Panarkandy / Wikimedia Commons
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and prosperity, for ten days from August to September. Families bring clay Ganesha statues home and create special shrines with flowers and decorations. Daily prayers and offerings of coconut, jaggery, and modak (sweet dumplings) please the god, who removes obstacles. On the final day, processions carry the statues to rivers, lakes, or the sea for immersion. People dance to drum beats and chant “Ganpati Bappa Morya!”. Mumbai hosts the grandest celebrations with massive statues and community festivitiesm, making this one of the best Hindu festivals in India.
Major Attractions: Ganesha idols, processions, immersion
Traditions: Bringing idols home, prayers, idol immersion
8. Raksha Bandhan
Photo: Suyash.dwivedi / Wikimedia Commons
Raksha Bandhan celebrates the love between brothers and sisters in August. Sisters tie decorative threads called rakhi around their brothers’ wrists, praying for their well-being and long life. Brothers give gifts and promise to protect their sisters. The festival strengthens family bonds and can extend to cousins and close friends. The rakhi symbolises protection. Hindu mythology tells how Queen Draupadi tore a strip from her sari to bandage Lord Krishna’s cut, and he later protected her honour. In modern times, soldiers receive rakhis from women who aren’t their sisters, extending the brother-sister relationship beyond blood relations.
Major Attractions: Tying rakhi, exchanging gifts
Traditions: Sisters tie rakhi on brothers’ wrists, pray for their well-being
9. Makar Sankranti
Photo: pradeep kumar chatte / Wikimedia Commons
Makar Sankranti marks the sun’s movement into Capricorn (Makar) constellation on January 14, signalling the end of winter. This harvest festival has different names across India. It is known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Lohri in Punjab, and Bhogali Bihu in Assam. People fly colourful kites, take holy dips in rivers, and offer prayers to the sun god. Special foods include sesame and jaggery sweets that provide warmth during winter. In South India, families prepare a sweet rice dish called pongal in clay pots. Cows are decorated and worshipped for their importance in farming.
Major Attractions: Kite flying, holy dips, Pongal
Traditions: Kite flying, sun god rituals, eating sesame sweets
10. Rama Navami
Photo: Iharishs / Wikimedia Commons
Rama Navami celebrates Lord Rama’s birth during March-April. Devotees fast, read passages from the Ramayana (the story of Rama’s life), and visit temples decorated with flowers and lights. Special ceremonies happen at noon, Rama’s birth time, with religious chants and rocking cradles containing small Rama statues. Ayodhya, Rama’s birthplace, holds the grandest celebrations with chariot processions and devotional music. Families prepare special food offerings including panchamrit (a sweet mixture of milk, yoghurt, honey, sugar, and ghee). The festival reminds Hindus about following dharma (righteous duty) like Lord Rama did.
Major Attractions: Ramayana readings, processions
Traditions: Fasting, temple visits, chanting hymns
Hindu festivals in India fill the senses with colour, sound, and tradition, leaving lasting memories of devotion and celebration. The streets glow with lamps, music echoes through the night, and every ritual carries generations of meaning. Each festival offers a glimpse into a culture where faith and festivity go hand in hand. Book with TripXL today to experience India’s festivals in their fullest spirit.
Cover Photo: Anirudh / Unsplash
