India is, perhaps, the only country in the world with such diversity, and an endless number of festivals. The list of festivals of India is long and exciting, as each festival has specific rituals and traditions. The best part of Indian holidays and festivals is that we don’t see them being celebrated by just one community; people from all religions and backgrounds come together to spread smiles and love during these festivals and celebrate them together. Here’s a list of national festivals of India that bring together everybody and spread the message of brotherhood. 

Holi

The festival of colours, Holi is one of the important festivals of India. Everyone celebrates with coloured powders, snacks and a traditional beverage called Thandai. People apply colours on each other’s faces, spray coloured water with water guns, dance and have the time of their lives. 

A night before the grand colour carnival, they light a huge bonfire which signifies the victory of good over evil. This is the ‘Holika Dahan’ which translated to ‘burning of Holika’. Holika was a demon who sat on a pyre with her nephew Prahlad to smother him. She did not fear as she was granted a boon that fire won’t harm her. But the purity and goodness of Prince Prahlad turned the tables and burnt her instead. 

Holi often falls in the month of March and a grand celebration takes place across the country. 

Know more about the vibrant festivals of India: https://indiachalk.com/blog/where-to-celebrate-the-most-vibrant-festivals-of-india/

Eid-Ul-Fitr

Eid-Ul-Fitr is a major festival of the Muslim community, yet many Indians celebrate it by visiting their friends to wish them and celebrate the festival with them. Eid marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan when the devotees of Allah fast from dusk till dawn for the entire month. On the last day of the holy month, when the sacred crescent moon is visible in the sky, the celebration begins. This includes praying in the morning, dressing up in new clothes, visiting friends and relatives to exchange sweets and wishes, and a feast of scrumptious food. 

We observe this grand celebration as a tribute to Allah for bestowing strength during the month-long fasting. 

The festival often falls between the month of April and May.

Ganesh Chaturthi

This is among the biggest holidays and festivals of India, especially in Maharashtra. It celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god. While the festival lasts 10 days where one can witness a grand carnival-like vibe on the cramped stress of Mumbai as various associations bring massive hand-made idols to a make-shift temple on grounds, society compounds, and even on the streets. People buy smaller idols and worship in homes. After 10 days of Poojas and Aartis, they perform the ritual of Visarjan. Later, the Ganesh idol is immersed in a water body, which is considered his home. 

They prepare ‘Modak’ a special sweet during Ganesh Chaturthi as it is Lord Ganesha’s favourite. It is a rice flour pastry-like sweet stuffed with coconut crumbs and jaggery, and steam cooked.    

The festival often falls between the months of August and September. 

Read more about the art of Ganesh Idols: https://indiachalk.com/blog/celebrating-ganesh-chaturthi-with-molela-terracotta/

Diwali

This is the grand Indian holiday and festival that lits every nook and corner with the glow of lights, lanterns and Diyas. Diwali is celebrated as on this day, Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman returned to his kingdom after spending 14 years in exile and defeating the might demon Ravana in a war with an army of monkeys and his biggest devotee Lord Hanuman. The war began as Ravana kidnapped Sita and held her hostage with other beasts until Lord Rama won the war and burned his golden kingdom of Lanka. 

This is another celebration of good over evil. The best part of Diwali is that it includes long holidays, sweets and scrumptious snacks, new clothes, and many beautiful memories with friends and family. 

Diwali generally falls between the months of October and November.

Christmas

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Lord Jesus that people across the globe, including India, celebrate. It is not only a big day for the Christian community but also for most Indians, as they gather at friends’ places to party and have fun. Decorating their homes with beautiful lights, Christmas trees and cribs. It is a joyous occasion that brings friends and family together to share gifts, wishes and love. 

Moreover, many celebrate Christmas eve in churches where you can hear angelic hymns and carols, and the ringing of the grand bells at the stroke of midnight announcing the birth of Lord Jesus Christ. 

The celebration of Christmas is on the 25th of December every year.

The list of Indian holidays and festivals can go on and on, but we hope this helped you get a better understanding of the major festivals celebrated in India. 

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