FESTIVALS OF INDIA
STATE WISE
FESTIVALS OF ASSAM
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Assam Majuli Festival
Elephant Festival
Dehing Patkai Festival
Bihu
Ambubachi Mela
Assam Tea Festival
FESTIVALS OF ASSAM
• Assam Majuli Festival
– One of the modern festivals
– Held in Majuli - the largest river island in the
world
– Located on the river Brahmaputra in Assam
– It has been a center of Vaishnavite culture in
Assam since the 16th century.
• Assam Elephant Festival
– For the purpose of conservation and
safeguard of Asiatic elephants.
FESTIVALS OF ASSAM
• Bihu Festival
– Traditionally associated with changing seasons & harvest
– Assamese celebrate Bihu thrice in a year:
1. Bohag or Rongali Bihu - Celebrated in Spring to mark the beginning
of Assamese New Year
2. Kati or Kongali Bihu
3. Maagh or Bhogali Bihu - marks the
end of the harvesting season
FESTIVALS OF ASSAM
• Ambubachi Mela
– Most important festival of Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati.
– Also known as Mahakumbh of the East
– Ambubachi Mela is associated with Fertility rituals and alleged “Tantrik
means”.
– Belief: Devi Kamakhya (Mother Shakti) goes through her annual cycle of
menstruation during this time stretch.
– Doors of theTemple remain closed for
three days.
– Belief: Mother Earth becomes unclean
for three days.
– During this time any kind of farming work
is not taken on
FESTIVALS OF ASSAM
• Assam Tea Festival
– Held in Jorhat district in Assam.
– Jorhat is well-known for its extensive tea gardens, and is the nerve centre
of the tea industry.
– Jorhat has the world famous Teklai Experimental Centre - research
work is carried out to find new varieties of tea and also the curative effects
of green tea.
FESTIVALS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
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Siang River Festival
Ziro Festival of Music
Dree Festival
Solung
Losar Festival – celebrated as Tibetan New Year.
Murung
Reh
Mopin
Boori Boot
Monpa Festival
FESTIVALS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
• Ziro Festival of Music
– Hosted by Apatani people in Ziro Valley
– Biggest and also the most happening outdoor festivals in Arunachal
Pradesh.
– This four-day festival is for all music lovers to enjoy both international
and local music artists
FESTIVALS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
• Dree Festival
– Primarily celebrated by Apatani Tribe in Ziro Valley; now by others
too
– Offerings made to 4 main Gods – Tamu, Metii, Danyi, Harniang
– Unique feature: cucumber is distributed to all attendees as a symbol
of good harvest
FESTIVALS OF NAGALAND
• Hornbill Festival
– Major agricultural festival of Nagaland
– Begins on 1st December each year
– Attended by all major tribes in Nagaland
• Lui-Ngai-Ni Festival
– Post harvest festival Celebrate dby Naga Tribes in Nagaland and
Manipur
FESTIVALS OF NAGALAND
FESTIVALS OF NAGALAND
FESTIVALS OF NAGALAND
FESTIVALS OF NAGALAND
FESTIVALS OF MEGHALAYA
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Nongkrem Dance Festival
Wangala Festival
Bob Dylan Festival
Ahaia Festival
FESTIVALS OF MEGHALAYA
• Nongkrem Dance Festival
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Religious dance festival, also called Shad Nongkrem
Important festival of Khasi tribe of Meghalaya.
Celebrated in November
Nongkrem Dance performed to seek blessings of Goddess ‘Ka Blei
Synshar’ for welfare of the people and a bulky agricultural yield
FESTIVALS OF MEGHALAYA
• Wangala Festival
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Also called festival of "The Hundred Drums”
Celebrated by the Garo tribe
Post harvest festival, marks beginning of Winter
Garos give thanks to ‘Misi Saljong’ the sun god,
for blessing people with a rich harvest
• Bob Dylan festival
– For several decades now, Shillong
has hosted an informal celebratory concert
every year on his birthday: 24 May.
FESTIVALS OF MANIPUR
• Sangai Festival
– Annual Cultural Festival in November.
– Started in 2010
– Named after State animal Sangai –
brow antlered deer found only in Manipur
• Cheiraoba Festival
– Celebrated in April, on New Year according to Manipuri Tribes
– Worship of domestic deity ‘Sanamahi’
– Peculiar traditions:
• a person is selected to be the ‘Chahitaba’,
one who is responsible for all good & ill luck to the community
• People climb to nearest hills
FESTIVALS OF MANIPUR
• Kang Chingba
– One of the biggest Hindu festivals in Manipur
– Similar to Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra
– Enacts journey of Lord Jagannath with brother Balabhadra & sister
Subhadra
– 8 day long celebration in July;
Rath Yatra begins from Sri Govindajee
Temple in Imphal
‘Kang’ means massive chariot on which
the idols are taken on yatra
FESTIVALS OF MIZORAM
• Chapchar Kut
– It is a spring festival
– Celebrated during March after completion of their most arduous task
of jhum operation i.e., jungle-clearing.
– Traditional bamboo dances such as Cheraw are also performed.
– Chapchar Kut is named after bamboo that has been cut and is drying.
FESTIVALS OF TRIPURA
Kharchi Puja
– Originally began as a festival of the Royal Family of Tripura
– Hindu festival performed for 10 days in July or August
– Celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva who had order the people to
worship 14 other deities
– These 14 deities housed in Puran Haveli in Agartala
– People trek to this temple
FESTIVALS OF SIKKIM
•Saga Dawa
– Celebrated by Buddhist communities living in Sikkim
– Celebrated on the full moon of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar
called Saga Dawa or the Month of Merits [celebrated as Buddha Purnima
in the rest of India]
– Celebrated to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death (par
nirvana) of Buddha
FESTIVALS OF SIKKIM
• Losoong Festival
– Celebrated in honour of Sikkimese New Year & harvest season
– Traditionally celebrated by Bhutia tribe, now even by Lepchas
– People drink locally brewed wine called Chaang
FESTIVALS OF LADAKH
• Hemis Festival
– Hemis is the largest monastery (gompa) located in Ladakh
– Hemis Festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of
Padmasambhava who is known as the founder of Tibetan Buddhism
– Celebrated for two days in the fifth month of the year, also called Tibetan lunar
month
FESTIVALS OF JAMMU & KASHMIR
Tulip Festival
• Srinagar hosts the great Tulip Festival every year
• Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Kashmir
is Asia's largest tulips garden.
Shikara Festival
•Celebrated once in a year on Dal Lake in Kashmir
•Kashmir's government began this festival in 2016.
•Shikaras are painted and dressed beautifully.
•Shikaras participate in Shikara Race, Dragon Boat
Race and Canoe Polo Match.
FESTIVALS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
Kullu Dussehra
• One of the most significant festivals in Himachal
Pradesh.
• Grand fair is organised in October in the Kullu
valley.
• Fair commences on Vijaya Dashmi and continues
for the next seven days
Losar
• Religious festival of Buddhists in Himachal Pradesh
• The new year according to the Tibetan calendar.
FESTIVALS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
Halda
• One of the beautiful festivals in Himachal Pradesh closely
resembles Diwali, the festival of lights.
• 2-day grand carnival celebrated in the secluded region of
Lahaul valley.
• It is dedicated to Shiskar Apa, the Goddess of wealth.
Chaitraul Festival
• Celebrated in Sirmaur Area in the month of Chaitra on a bright fortnight of moon.
• Also known as festival of pictures - walls in the house are cleared, painted and
decorated with figures of male animals and crops symbolising plenty.
FESTIVALS OF PUNJAB
• Hola Mohalla
• An annual event at Anandpur Sahib that spans
three days.
• Celebrations include displays of bravery and
military prowess by the Nihang Sikhs.
Gurupurab
• A celebration related to the lives of the Sikh Gurus, typically their
birth or death anniversary.
• A number of gurupurabs are observed through the year, with Guru
Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary being amongst the major
celebrations.
FESTIVALS OF PUNJAB
Baishakhi
• Also called Vaisakhi - marks the first day of the month of Vaisakha
• Marks the end of peak winter & beginning of Punjabi New Year, birth of the Khalsa
• A harvest festival of northern India
Lohri
• Marks the end of peak winter; celebrates the harvest of crops.
• It is a popular festival in Punjab and Jammu.
FESTIVALS OF UTTARAKHAND
Kumbh Mela
• One of the biggest and the most popular festival of Uttarakhand.
• Although technically it is a mela or fair, it is a significant occasion for the
people of this northern state.
Phool Dei
• Is the harvest festival of Uttarakhand that is celebrated in the month of
Chaitra (March-April) in the Hindu calendar.
• On this occasion, girls decorate their houses with flowers.
Harela
• Harela is a Hindu festival celebrated basically in the Kumaon region of
Uttarakhand and some regions of Himachal Pradesh.
FESTIVALS OF TAMIL NADU
Pongal
• The most famous festival in Tamil Nadu. It is the
harvest festival that lasts for four days and is
celebrated in the middle of January.
Jallikattu (or sallikkattu),
• A traditional event in which a bull is released into a
crowd of people, and multiple human participants
attempt to grab the large hump on the bull’s back with
both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to
escape.
FESTIVALS OF TAMIL NADU
Thaipusam
• It is celebrated by the Tamil and Malayali Hindu community to
mark the victory of good over evil.
Natyanjali Festival
• It is an annual dance festival devoted to Lord Shiva.
Chithirai Thiruvizha
• Annual celebration of the city of Madurai
Mahamaham Festival
• Celebrated once in twelve years in the holy Mahamaham pond in
the Kumbakonam town in Tamil Nadu.
FESTIVALS OF KERALA
Onam
• It is the most important harvest festival of Kerala celebrated in the
month of September.
Vishu
• New year of Kerala
Alpashi Utsavam
• Celebration of the annual bathing ritual of deities in the Sree Padmanabhaswamy
temple.
Thrissur Pooram
FESTIVALS OF KARNATAKA
Mysore Dasara
• Spans over a period of ten days.
• The festival celebrates the victory of Goddess Chamundeshwari who killed the
demon Mahishasura on the day of Vijay Dashmi
Hampi Utsav
• Celebrated over three days in the first week of November. This festival, also
called the Vijay Utsav
Karaga
• One of the oldest festivals of Karnataka & auspicious festival of the Thigala
community
• Karaga is celebrated in honour of Goddess Shakti at the famous
Dharmarayaswamy temple in Bangalore.
FESTIVALS OF TELANANA
Bonalu
• Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Mahakali.
Batukamma
• Nine days long floral festival which starts on the first day of
Navratri and ends on Durgashtami.
FESTIVALS OF ANDHRA PRADESH
Brahmotsavam
• Nine days long festival celebrated at the Venkateshwara
Temple, Tirupati.
Ugadi
• Telugu New Year
Dasara
FESTIVALS OF MAHARASHTRA
Gudi Padwa
• Maharashtrian New Year
Khandoba Festival/ Champa Shashthi
• Six-day festival for worshipping Lord Shiva.
• Prayers are offered to Khanderao or Khandoba who is an
incarnation of Lord Shiva.
FESTIVALS OF ODISHA
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra
• It is also known as Gundicha Yatra, Chariot festival, Dasavatara or
Navadina Yatra.
• The festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra
and his elder brother Balabhadra.
FESTIVALS OF ODISHA
NuAkhai Festival
• Nukahai or Nabanna is the harvesting festival held in the
months of August and September.
Raja Praba
• Three days long harvest festival where the first day is called
Pahili Raja, second day is called Raja Sankanthi and third day
is called Basi Raja.
FESTIVALS OF WEST BENGAL
Durga Pooja
• One of the oldest traditions of the Hindu community in Bengal.
• They worship Goddess Durga during the festival. Women put red powder on
each other’s faces.
FESTIVALS OF BIHAR
Bihula
• People worship Devi Mansa for the welfare of their families.
Chhath Pooja
• Sun God, along with His wife Usha, is worshipped to thank them for
bestowing life on Earth.
Madhushravani
• Mainly celebrated by the Maithil Brahmins of Bihar. It marks the
arrival of Monsoon in the region.
FESTIVALS OF JHARKHAND
Hal Punhya
• Also known as Akhain Jatra- marks the beginning of the ploughing.
Rohini
• Harvest festival and marks the start of the
sowing season.
Tusu
• Harvest festival - celebrated in Jharkhand, West
Bengal and Odisha.
FESTIVALS OF CHATTISGARH
Bastar Dussehra
• It is the longest celebrated Dussehra in the world. It is
celebrated for 75 days from August to October.
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Bhoramdeo Festival
Goncha Festival
Madai Festival
Pola
Hareli
First fruit Festival
Earth Festival
FESTIVALS OF MADHYA PRADESH
Bhagoria Haat Festival
• Tribal Festival of Malwa Region
• Young girls and boys try to entice each other and if both like
each other, then they put red powder on their partner’s face.
FESTIVALS OF MADHYA PRADESH
Malwa Utsav
• Malwa Utsav Malwa Utsav is one of the biggest, largest and most
spectacular events in Madhya Pradesh. Dance and music
performances are the most integral part of the festival.
OTHER FESTIVALS
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Khajuraho Dance Festival
Ujjain Kumbh Mela
Lokrang Festival
Nagaji Fair
Tansen Music Festival
Pachmarhi Utsav
FESTIVALS OF UTTAR PRADESH
Kumbha Mela
• Mass Hindu pilgrimage - Hindus bathe in holy river of Ganges.
Kicheri
• Makar Sankranti is called Kicheri or Khichdi in Uttar Pradesh
• It is a harvest festival and involves ritual bathing.
FESTIVALS OF RAJASTHAN
Gangaur
• Celebrated by females and dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati as
the symbol of love and successful marriage.
Rajasthan International Folk Festival
• An annual music and art festival organized to promote traditional
folk music and arts held at Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
Summer Festival:
• Held in Mount Abu every year
FESTIVALS OF RAJASTHAN
Camel Festival:
• Held in Bikaner, the Camel Festival and Fair is one of the biggest
fairs and festivals of Rajasthan celebrated in winters.
elephant Festival:
• Celebrated in Jaipur. It is held on the day of Holi festival, usually in the
month of March. The festival features Elephant polo and Elephant Dance.
International Kite Festival
• celebrated around Makar Sankranti every year.
FESTIVALS OF GUJARAT
Uttrayan
• Celebrated to mark the transit of Sun northwards from tropic of
Capricorn to tropic of Cancer.
Rann Utsav