Enjoy cultural tour with most famous Indian Festivals

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Published On: 19-06-2023

India- A land of cultural harmony, diverse religions, assorted traditions celebrate every festival wholeheartedly. Rich heritage, historical places and Indian festivals are integral part of Indian tourism. Festivals in India is not celebrated with dates on calendar, while here festivals are celebrated as per climate, language, historical beliefs, traditions & culture. So, if you wish to have a unique experience of India tour, enjoy the festivities occurring in different months. You will explore the prosperity of Indian festive celebrations with a showcase of culture & heritage. Nevertheless, Indian beauty is exemplified by thousands of festivals and its essence, one can encounter living a hundred lives in one.

Every festival in india is welcomed with grand celebrations and preparations month before. Sometimes, they also represent a unison of cultures that prove unity in diversity aspect of India apparently. Indian Festivals can be categorised in few important categories according to essence of festival.

Seasonal Festivals are mostly related to new harvest season region wise as Pongal, Onam in South, Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Baisakhi in North India, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa etc.
Festivals celebrating birthdays/anniversaries of gods/great people as Janmasthami, Ramnavami, Mahashivratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Gurupurab, Basant Panchami, Eid-ul-Fitar, Mahavir Jayanti, etc
Celebration for special bonds with family members as Raksha Bandhan- a relation devoted to brothers & sisters, Karva Chowth for husband-and-wife eternal bond
National Festivals as Gandhi Jayanti, Republic Day, Independence Day
Special festivals to celebrate the victory of good over evil as Deepawali, Dusshera, Holi
Cultural festivals as Chhath Puja, Pushkar Camel Festival, Kite Festival, Hornbill festival tour

Let’s have a tour of vivid and scintillating festivals of India that depicts the greatness of Indian culture. Plan Your next Indian cultural heritage tour from plethora of festivals.

Baisakhi- A spring harvest festival of Punjab, where you will experience the core Punjabi traditions, Bhangra & Gidhha dance, fun activities and fair. It is New year for Sikh community and they celebrate it with sharing food, folk dance, processions. People also visit Gurudwara and pay tribute to the holy book-Guru Granth Sahib.
Month of Celebration: 13/14 April
Winter Folk Festivals- The festival has various name as per different states. In Punjab and Sikh community, it is celebrated as Lohri. It is celebrated in full swing with lighting bonfire, dance performances, exchanging sweets on occasion of mid-winter end and harvesting the crops. Bihar, Gujarat celebrate it as Makar Sankranti which acts as an auspicious day of winter. People celebrate it with jaggery sweets, new harvest of rice and kite flying competition.
In South regions, this festival is named as Pongal where they thanks to the Sun god for harvesting. It is organized at a big scale in Kerela with large feasts, Cattle races, traditional dance forms and special holiday dish-Venpongal.
Month of Celebration: 13/14 January
Onam- Onam is an annual official harvest festival of Kerela. It marks the first month of Malayalam Calendar and celebrates the commemoration of Vaman avatar of Lord Vishnu and legendary King Mahabali. It is a national cultural festival that brings multiple colours and activities across Kerela-God’s own country. You will experience Kerela as adorned bride with flowers (Pookallam), giant feasts happening everywhere. Enjoy the authentic taste of delicious cuisines, payasam served anywhere. The 10 days long festival is organized with various cultural events, traditional dance as kathakali, boat races, sports competitions and veneration at temples.
Month of Celebration: August-September
Janmashtami- Janmashtami is nation-wide festival celebrating the birth of eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. On this festive day, people decorate temples or home to throw a birthday bash of Shree Krishna. Many offerings as Chappan bhog (prasad) is prepared, skits based on life of Krishna, Bhajans take place in most places. The most attractive activity is Dahi Handi which depicts the lovely act of Bal Krishna. You can observe this occasion in Maharasthra, Gujarat on grand level.
Month of Celebration: September (Bhadrapad)
Maha Shivratri- This is the day celebrated for marriage of Lord Shiva and goddess Paravati. On this day, devotees of Shiva visit temples and venerates Lord Shiva and attends marriage procession organized by temple committees. This day people observe fast and take blessings for their marriage relationships.
Month of Celebration: March
Holi- Holi is counted as major festival of India and revered as vibrant festival of colours. On the eve of holi, People make bonfire and burn Holika in it which is a symbol of evil powers. Holi celebrations take place with various colours, flowers, water filles balloons and other ways. Family and friends get together, apply colours on each other, enjoy Thandai (special drink for holi) & sweets. In Krishna temple, Mathura celebration starts 2 days prior where people come from many countries to enjoy the pristine views. In Punjab, you can witness the beauty of Hola Mohalla festival that begins day after Holi.
Month of Celebration: March
Deepawali- Diwali or Deepawali is a grand and prominent Hindu Festival which is celebrated with lighting millions of earthern lamps (diyas) over the country. The day is remembered & celebrated as return of Lord Rama to His home, Ayodhya with his wife Sita after 14 years long exile. On Diwali, people decorate their home, shop, offices through various ways, give sweets and gifts and enjoy the evening together with family. Laxmi Puja is an important ritual on this day.
Month of Celebration: October/November (New moon Day of Kartik Month)
Vijaya Dashami- Popularly known as Dusshera, It is most famous festival of Hindu religion that celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated after nine auspicious days of Navratri. Navratri is 9 days consecutive festival during which goddess Durga is worshipped. In east region of India, Navratri is celebrated with full zeal specially in West Bengal & Bihar. In west India, people make these days as dance festival and show devotion with Garba dance forms. Ramlila is organized at various places where story of Ramayan is depicted by various people. On day of Dushhera, huge effigies of Ravan, Meghnath and Kumbhkarn burning take place at different grounds. The occasion is worth watching with fascinating lights and fair organized.
Month of Celebration: October
Ganesh Chaturthi- Ganesh Chaturthi is grand celebration for veneration of Lord Ganesha. People bring idol of Lord at their home, work space, decorate the temple, dance and prepare modak (sweet offering). This celebration continues for 10 days and ends with visarjan of idol in a water body.
Month of Celebration: September
Eid-Ul-Fitar- Eid is one of the major festivals of India for the muslim community. People dress up well, visit friends and exchange sweets. Elders give Idi to younger ones and visit mosques to offer their prayers. The day comes after 30 days of Ramadan fast.
Month of Celebration: Varies
Raksha Bandhan- Raksha Bandhan is a special festival which celebrates bond of brothers and sisters with a thread of affection. Sisters tie the thread on brother’s wrist and apply tilak on forehead. It is the day where they promise to protect each other and strengthen the bond more affectionately.
Month of Celebration: August
Chatth Puja- The Chatth Puja has its origin in Bihar and 4 days long festival & people worship Sun God with full devotion. They keep fast for 2 days and pray for their families. They take bathe in the holy Ganges River and perform rituals of praying Sun God.
National Festivals- National festivals as Independence Day (15^th August), Republic Day (26^th January), Gandhi Jayanti (2^nd October) is celebrated nation wide with full spirit. These days are also national holidays. On republic day, a grand parade is held which begins from President’s House and pass-through India Gate in Delhi. People hoists the Indian national flag and pay tribute to martyrs and freedom fighters. Whole country witnesses the power of India in the parade. On Gandhi Jayanti, people pay tribute to Bapu of nation.
Cultural Festivals- Hornbill festival tour in Nagaland, Camel Festival in Pushkar, Rath Yatra in Jaganath Puri are important festivals celebrated for different motives. Rath Yatra is a festival of chariots to pay reverence to Lord Jagannath celebrated in Odisha. A procession is carried out with idols of Goddess Subhadra, Lord Jagannath & Lord Balabhadra in a decorated chariot from Temple. Pushkar Camel festival is special cattle festival organized on auspicious day of Sharad Purnima.
Know more about Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival Tour.
Special People anniversary Festival- Guru Purab, Budhha Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti, Christmas are festivals celebrated to birthday/anniversary of special people of different community.

The myriad of important festivals of India boasts nation’s rich culture and give opportunity to live in oldest traditions and rejuvenate themselves. Brahmand Tour helps you to plan the perfect trip for you which can be a perfect combination of heritage and cultural glimpses of India.