| Festival |
Date of Observance |
Date of Observance (2008 Gregorian calendar) |
Description |
| Makar Sankranti |
January 14 |
January 14 |
Makar Sankranti (also known by other various names) is the only Hindu festival which is based on the Solar calendar rather than the Lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated by taking dips in the Ganges river or any river and offering water to the Sun god. |
| Pongal |
First day of Thai (Tamil calendar) |
January 15 |
Pongal (meaning "boiling over") is a Hindu festival to give thanks for the harvest. The festival is celebrated only in Tamil Nadu. |
| Vasant Panchami |
Fifth day of waxing moon of Magh (Hindu Calendar) |
January 22 – 23 |
Vasant Panchami (also called Saraswati Puja by Bengalis) is celebrated for the blessing of Saraswati, goddess of wisdom and fine arts.[1] |
| Maha Shivaratri |
Thirteenth night of the waning moon of Magh (Hindu Calendar) |
March 6 |
Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, followers of Shiva observe religious fasting and the offering of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Shiva.[2] |
| Holi |
Full moon of Phalgun (Hindu Calendar) |
March 21 |
Holi or Phagwah is a popular spring festival. |
| Vasant Navratri |
|
April 12 |
Navratri is the Hindu festival of worship and dance. In Sanskrit the term literally means "nine nights". During this festival the forms of Shakti are worshiped. |
| Rama Navami |
|
April 13 |
Rama Navami is the celebration of the birth of Rama. |
| Gudi Padwa |
First Day of waxing moon of Chaitra (Hindu Calendar) |
April 6 |
Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, and is celebrated as New Years day by Marathis. According to the Brahma Purana, this is the day on which Brahma created the world. |
| Ugadi |
|
April 6 |
Ugadi (meaning "the start of an era" in Kannada) is the New Years day for the Deccans. It takes place on the same day as Gudi Padwa.[3] |
| Tamil New Year |
|
April 14 |
Tamil New Year The Tamil New Year follows the nirayan vernal equinox and generally falls around April 14 of the Gregorian year. |
| Shigmo |
|
February – March |
Shigmo is celebrated in Goa as one of the prominent festivals of the Konkani Hindu community there. |
| Hanuman Jayanti |
|
April 19 |
Hanuman Jayanti is the celebration of the birth of Hanuman; Rama's loyal devotee. |
| Vat Pournima |
Full moon of Jeshtha (Hindu Calendar) |
June 22 |
Vat Pournima is observed in Maharashtra. Pournima means "full moon." Women pray for the prosperity of their husbands by tying threads around a banyan tree. |
| Bonalu |
|
August |
Bonalu is a celebration of Mother Goddess, and is celebrated in Hyderabad. |
| Rath Yatra |
|
July 4 |
Rath Yantra is the festival associated with Jagannath. |
| Guru Purnima |
Full moon of Ashadh (Hindu Calendar) |
July 29 |
Guru Purnima is the day devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru. This was the day when Vyasa; author of the Mahabharata was born. |
| Mahalakshmi Vrata |
|
August 11 |
Mahalakshmi Vrata is a puja performed by married Hindu women to seek the blessings of Mahalakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity.[4] |
| Onam |
|
September 12 |
Onam is a harvest festival, celebrated mainly in the Indian state of Kerala. Like many other religious festivals in India, Onam is celebrated by people across all castes and faiths. |
| Raksha Bandhan |
Full moon of Shravana (Hindu Calendar) |
August 16 |
Raksha Bandhan is a festival celebrated mainly in northern Indian states. Rakhi is a special occasion to celebrate the chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister. |
| Krishna Janmaashtami |
Eighth day of waning moon of Shravana (Hindu Calendar) |
August 24 |
Krishna Janmaashtami is the Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna.[5] |
| Gowri Habba |
|
September 14 |
Gowri Habba is celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Gowri is worshipped for her ability to bestow courage to her devotees. Newly wed couples are invited to the house of the groom's parents and served with varieties of food. |
| Ganesh Chaturthi |
Fourth day of the waxing moon of Bhadrapada (Hindu Calendar) |
September 3 |
Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth of Ganesh.[6] |
| Navratri |
First nine nights of the waxing moon of Ashwin |
September 30 |
Navratri is the Hindu festival of worship and dance. In Sanskrit the term literally means "nine nights". During this festival the forms of Shakti are worshiped. |
| Vijayadashami |
Tenth day of waxing moon of Ashwin (Hindu Calendar) |
October 9 |
Vijayadashami is the Hindu celebration of good over evil. |
| Deepavali |
New moon of Ashwin (Hindu Calendar) |
October 28 |
Diwali is the abbreviation of the Sanskrit word "Deepavwali", which means "row of lights". The festival is celebrated on the occasion of Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama killing a demon Narakasura. Another story says the festival is celebrated for the return of Rama and Sita to the kingdom Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile.[7] |
| Bhaubeej |
Second day of the waxing moon of Kartik (Hindu Calendar) |
November 11 |
Bhaubeej, also referred to as Bhai dooj, is the ceremony performed by Hindus, generally, on the second day of Diwali. It is celebrated among brothers and sisters and is similar to Raksha Bandhan, except there is no tying of rakhi involved. |
| Kartik Poornima |
15th of the Full moon day of Kartik (November-December) |
November 13 |
A unique festival is celebrated in Varanasi this day which is called Dev Deepavali. The Kartik Purnima festival also coincides with the Jain light festival and Guru Nanak Jayanti |
| Chhath |
|
November 4 |
Chhath is unique to Bihar and Terai, but is also celebrated elsewhere. It is a festival dedicated to the Sun God for bestowing the bounties of life and fulfilling wishes.[8] |
| Prathamastami |
|
November 30 |
Prathamastami is a festival that originated in Oriya. It is held on the eighth day of the month of Agrahayana, when older female relatives pray for the prosperity of the eldest child. The festival is followed by rituals and recitations of the Glory of Mahalakshmi. |
| Zatra |
|
October – March |
Zatra (also yatra and jatra) refers to the pilgrimage festivals celebrated at Hindu temples. Idols and murtis are taken out on special procession in a palkhi (a palanquin) or a chariot called the rath. Every temple observes this festival once a year on the traditional day. |
