Indian Festivals 2007

All great Indian festivals have religious, social and seasonal elements to them.

Indian festivals are a good way to get-together for social functions. To create an awareness of the heritage and culture that has been handed down to us for generations. These get together can enhance our mental and spiritual dimension that, if left in the dark, make us only poorer and less worthy of our heritage.

So make it a point to get a few of your friends together to celebrate and remember the age old traditions of the past.

It is difficult to transport the same enthusiasm and feeling for the festival when it occurs in India as the number of people recognizing it and celebrating it is far less and spread out. We have outlined some of the major festivals and celebrations held in India. We hope that this can be a starting point to understanding the vast culture and heritage of India.


Diwali - 9th November
Dusshera – 21st October
If there is one occasion which is all joy and all jubilation for one and all - the young and the old, men and women - for the entire Hindu world.

This is among the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar and comes as the finale of the nine-day festival, Navaraatri.


Sri Rama Navami - 27th March
The first day of the year according to the National Calendar of Bharat.

Wherever four Hindus live, Rama and Sita will be there" so said Swami Vivekananda.


Mahaveera Jayanti - 31st March
Buddha Jayanti - 02nd May
Mahaveera, also known as Vardhamana, is the last one in the galaxy of Twenty-four Teerthankaras (Jain Prophets).

One of the greatest spiritual teachers of mankind which Bharat has produced is undoubtedly, Buddha.


Raksha Bandhan -28th August
Sri Krishnaashtami - 3rd September
The Raksha Bandhan stirs up one of the deepest and noblest emotions in the human breast - the abiding and chaste bond of love.

No other God in the Hindu pantheon, or for that matter in any other religion, is associated with so many romantic tales.


Guru Nanak Jayanti - 24th November
Makara Sankranti/Pongal- 14th January
Punjab, rightly claimed as the traditional sword-arm of Bharatvarsha, has valiantly borne the first brunt of all the pre-European aggressors on her.

Certain Hindu festivals are associated with the annual cycle of seasons. Pongal in the South and Sankranti in the North.


Holi - 3rd March
Ganesh Chaturthi - 15th September
This is pre-eminently the spring festival of Bharat. The trees are smiling with their sprout of tender leaves and blooming flowers.

Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati is widely worshipped as the munificent god of wisdom.


Christmas- 25th December
Christmas is the celebration of the birth or Nativity of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity on 25th of December every year.


Independence Day - 15th August

Republic Day - 26th January

Gandhi Jayanti - 2nd October