Festivals
Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of the god Shiva. There is a Shivaratri in every luni-solar month of the Hindu calendar, on the month’s 13th…
Festivals, Arts & Food
Festivals of India
Diwali's lamps, Holi's colours, Onam's feasts and Kumbh Mela's millions. The stories, rituals and meaning behind India's celebrations.
16 stories
Festivals
Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, an avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu. In Maharashtra Janmaashtami, popularly known in Mumbai and Pune as…
Festivals
Onam festival
Onam festival is the largest festival in the Indian state of Kerala. The festival lasts for ten days and is linked to many elements of Kerala’s culture and tradition. Intricate…
Festivals
Ugadi festival
Ugadi festival – The people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa. Sindhis, people from Sindh, celebrate the same day as their New Year day…
Festivals
Sri Rama Navami
Sri Rama Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya. Rama is the 7th incarnation of the Dashavatara of Vishnu…
Festivals
Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. Traditionally, this has been one of many harvest days in India. Makar…
Festivals
Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti, also known as Buddha Purnima, celebrates the birthday of Lord Buddha. It also commemorates his enlightenment and death. It’s the most sacred Buddhist festival…
Festivals
Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering anywhere in the world in recorded history. Kumbha Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage that takes place at the following four locations of India…
Festivals
Dasara or Dussehra
Dasara is celebrated all over India to mark the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama. The tenth day of Navaratri marks the end of fasting and is celebrated as Dussehra. This festival is…
Festivals
Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is a festival primarily observed in North India, which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. The festival is observed by Hindus, Sikhs…
Festivals
Independence Day
Independence Day of India is celebrated on Fifteenth of August to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The main event takes…
Festivals
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this…