Holiday in India today. Holidays and weekends in India

The Indian calendar is a continuous series of holidays and festivals. All Indian holidays have an ancient history and are divided into state, religious and regional. Holidays in India are so colorful and popular that they attract thousands of tourists every year. Today we will tell you about the most significant events so that you can plan your vacation based on your preferences.

Kite Festival

On January 14, tourists will be able to watch thousands of paper kites being launched into the air by amateurs and professionals. The festival is organized in the state of Gujarat, the city of Ahmedabad. In the same city there is a kite museum; tourists usually visit this place before going to the festival. At the museum you can learn about Australian inventor Lawrence Hargrave. This man invented the paper kite, which in turn became the prototype of the first biplane.

Anyone can take part in the festival. During the festival, everyone tries to stand out and wow the crowd with a unique kite design, design or color. If you do not want to take part in the festival, you can watch the colorful show. For this purpose, special platforms for spectators are installed in the city. Sometimes local residents set up an observation deck on the roof of a house or commercial building.

Pongal

The harvest festival is celebrated annually on January 15, usually preceded by the winter solstice. During this celebration, the fields begin to bloom, so local residents hope for prosperity and a good harvest. To thank the Sun God for the harvest, Hindus prepare sweet rice and serve it to guests. For local residents, this holiday is very important; according to legend, the gods descend to earth every year, on whom the harvest this year will depend.

The festival is celebrated everywhere and lasts 4 days. The first day of the holiday is celebrated with family. The next day, men present gifts to the gods, and women decorate the home and courtyard. On the third day, mass celebrations take place; games with bulls are held in almost every city. A bag of coins is tied to the animal's horns and the men must get it without using violence. On the fourth day, a feast is organized with the family.

Holi holiday

The festival of colors is the most popular and awaited celebration in India. It is celebrated when a full month appears, in 2016 it is March 23. Everyone knows that during the festival it is necessary to sprinkle colored powder and pour colored water on everyone. Hindus believe that the festival of Holi appeared thanks to God Shiva. Once upon a time, Shiva punished Kama (God of Love) because he prevented him from meditating. Shiva destroyed the God of love and after that Kama had no body left. The divine wives persuaded Shiva to allow the God of love to use his body for 3 months every year. When Kama gets a body, everything around is transformed and the residents celebrate the holiday of love.

Through crushed paint and colored water, Holi symbolizes the blossoming of nature. Local residents believe that the more different colors a person wears, the closer he is to God Kama. In large cities, on the main square they show a dance that is quite explicit for Hindus. With its help, boys and girls tell another legend that is known about the festival of colors. It says that the son of the God of love Krishna flirted with a shepherdess. He distracted her and sprinkled paint on her, after which the girl became offended, and Krishna began to ask for forgiveness. The cowherd girl forgave Krishna only after she also sprinkled colored powder on him.

The Holi holiday in India is notable not only for the bright colors that need to be sprinkled on everyone around. On March 23, locals and tourists can drink bhang, a drink made from juice, milk and hemp leaves. Bhang helps many people relax and enjoy the celebration.

Holi is celebrated in different ways in different states of India. For example, in the southern states of the state the holiday is quite modest. Adults and elderly people usually celebrate the festival of colors at home, with family. Only boys and girls go outside. The Holi holiday is the Bengali New Year, so parents prepare gifts and sweets for their kids, the children will see them only in the morning.

In the center of the state, orange flags are hung or lights are lit on Holi. This tradition is primarily due to the fact that “Holi” translated from the local language means “burning” and flags also symbolize flame.

The festival of colors is most celebrated in the northern part of India. Every building in this location will have decorations in pink, red and purple. On Holi, most houses are repainted in the brightest colors and fresh flowers are scattered everywhere. There are a lot of sellers of colored powder, water dyes and water cannons here. However, local residents prefer to prepare for the celebration on their own. To celebrate Holi, most tourists come to the city of Vrindavan. Here the festival of colors lasts for several days, people gather near the steps of the temple and dance.

In India, Holi ends the day after the full moon appears. Usually people start going home around 16:00, most locals go to the nearest river to wash off the paint. The festival of colors equalizes all residents of India and erases differences between castes. Most tourists want to go to the Holi holiday because at this time everyone is as relaxed as possible, no one thinks about their problems and people enjoy simple things.

independence Day

In India, Independence Day is the most important holiday and is celebrated on August 15th. Hindus began to celebrate this event after 1947, when they separated from Great Britain. On the day of signing the Act of Independence, the Prime Minister hoisted the tricolor flag of India. Every year, a flag raising ceremony is held in cities and villages of the state. On August 15, politicians give a ceremonial speech and local residents reminisce about how poorly Indians lived before 1947. The holiday involves mass celebrations, the celebration is celebrated by all local residents, regardless of religion.

Diwali

The Festival of Lights symbolizes the victory of good over evil. The holiday begins to be celebrated on October 29, the celebration continues for 5 days. Legend connects the festival of lights with the coronation of King Rama, who at one time championed the virtues of marriage and considered the bond between husband and wife inextricable. Locals believe that during the reign of Rama, India came out of darkness, which is why everyone lights up lights during Diwali. In that day Hindus pray, smear themselves with coconut oil and in the evening light all the candles in the house. During the celebration, it is customary to give gifts to loved ones.

Vijaya Ekadasi

All Indian locals know the story of the Ramayana, which tells the story of the love of Rami and Sita. We know this story in the retelling of the great writer A.S. Pushkin from the work “Ruslan and Lyudmila”. However, the Ramayana is a myth, not a fairy tale. This story is considered an example of divine love, which only intensifies during separation. The festival of Vijaya Ekadashi is associated with myth and is a religious celebration. You can find out the history of this holiday by hiring a guide; this day is celebrated on March 5th.

Sunny New Year

The Hindu Solar New Year is celebrated on April 14th. Local residents believe that several thousand years ago the Goddess Ganga came to earth. On the holiday, residents gather near the Ganges River and perform rituals for the remission of sins. Celebrations are usually held in temples and other holy places. On April 14, it is customary to decorate your home with flowers and also display flags with the Goddess Ganga. Children and young people wear garlands of flowers on the holiday. During the sunny New Year, it is customary to congratulate everyone on the holiday. Performances will be organized for residents and tourists in the main squares of the city. Fireworks are always set off in the evening.

Dashahra

On October 11, India celebrates the most significant holiday for the local population. Dashahra lasts for 10 days, 9 of which are reserved for prayer. On the 10th day, everyone worships the Mother Goddess Devi. In the north of the country, this day is celebrated in the same way as the victory of God Rama, that is, they light candles everywhere and decorate their homes. In major cities of India, dances and performances are held that narrate the achievements of Rama. Also on October 11, it is customary to read excerpts from the Ramayana.

In the eastern part of the country, after 9 days of prayers, believers take the image of the Goddess, decorate it with garlands and take it to the nearest body of water. Then a ritual will be performed during which the men place the image of the Goddess on their shoulders and immerse it in water. On the days of Dashahr, it is customary to congratulate loved ones and give gifts.

Mahatma Gandhi's birthday

This holiday is dedicated to the great leader of the national liberation movement; many call this man the Father of the Nation. The celebration takes place on October 2. Gandhi led a movement that fought discrimination and racial classification. In 1915, the leader began to fight the authorities. He believed that Hindus and Muslims should be equal, was ready to eliminate social inequality and opposed untouchability of high-ranking citizens. In 1948, Gandhi was assassinated in the temple by a crazed Hindu. Mahatma Gandhi's birthday is celebrated in all localities, but the leader's grave is located in Delhi, where fresh flowers are regularly brought.

Holidays in India are not easy marks on the calendar; each of them carries a sacred meaning and gives a chance to start looking at many things differently.

Holidays in India last almost all year round: public holidays replace religious holidays, and each region has its own calendar. If you add festivals to this, it turns out that even if you come for two weeks, you will definitely find yourself on several holidays.

In January, celebrations are held throughout India in honor of the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad; every year the exact date is calculated according to the lunar calendar and falls on the 12th day of the third month.

January 12 marks the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, a famous Indian spiritual thinker, reformer and ideologist of the national liberation movement.

The main holiday of India - Republic Day (Gantantra Diwas) is celebrated on January 26. It appeared in 1950. Festive processions are held throughout the country, the most striking of which is, of course, the procession in Delhi. In the capital, it runs along the central Raj Path Avenue to the India Gate. Bright, decorated platforms, columns of scouts and schoolchildren, musicians and dancers - such a spectacle is worth a look.

The president and prime minister are always present at the festival in Delhi, and a parade of troops from the capital's garrison is held with all the necessary attributes: a demonstration of weapons, a squadron of aircraft, etc.

A folk dance festival is also required, which attracts groups from all states. And the holiday ends with a beautiful “Clear Signal” ceremony, in which the guardsmen of the presidential guard take part. Afterwards, the orchestra performs various pieces of music that end with the last ray of sunshine. And the fireworks become the bright final point of Republic Day.

On the fifth day of the two-week cycle of the waxing moon in January or February, a festival is held in honor of Saraswati Vasant Pachami, the goddess who patronizes science and art. On this day, it is customary to bring books, musical instruments and other gifts to the statues of Saraswati. And the goddess herself is dressed in yellow clothes, however, this color is recommended for everyone to wear. Saraswati festival is considered the best day to start learning.

February 28 is National Science Day. The date commemorates the discovery of Raman scattering of light by Indian physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in 1928, for which he received the Nobel Prize.

In February-March, the holiday of the onset of spring is traditionally celebrated - Holi, which is considered one of the brightest. On this day, it is customary to sprinkle colored powders on each other.

Baha'is and Zoroastrians celebrate their New Year in March. By tradition, the holiday is also accompanied by processions and performances.

On the ninth day of the first month of the Indian year, which is the period March-April, the appearance day of Lord Ramacandra is celebrated. He is a powerful incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in the realm of an ideal king.

The birthday of Mazavir Jayanti, the founder of Jainism, is also celebrated in March-April.

Easter is celebrated in the spring, which is also calculated separately every year.

In April-May, the main Buddhist holiday takes place - Buddha's Birthday. Baisakhi, which means “first day of the new year” according to the Hindu calendar, is also celebrated during these months. This period also marks one of the main Muslim holidays, Eid ul-Azha, or the holiday of sacrifice.

In May-June, according to the lunar calendar, another important holiday for Muslims takes place, namely the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Also during these months, Muslims celebrate the day of mourning Muharram.

According to the ancient scriptures of Hinduism, May-June marks the day of the arrival of Buddha as the incarnation of God on earth, or rather, an avatar of Vishnu. However, followers of Buddhism do not recognize the connection between Buddha and Hindu gods, but consider him a man named Siddhartha Gautama who achieved enlightenment. But, nevertheless, this day is a day off in all government and public institutions in India.

August 15 marks India's Independence Day, which can be called one of the largest in the country. It appeared in 1947, when India's independence from Great Britain was declared. On this day, a flag-raising ceremony is held in all settlements of the country, festive processions and receptions are organized. It is important that this holiday unites all residents of the country, regardless of religious preferences.

In August-September, on the eighth lunar day, the appearance day of Sri Krishna is celebrated, which is a day off. Krishna is the absolute meaning of life, the supreme personality of God, the cause of everything.

Also at the end of summer, Ganesh's birthday is celebrated (Ganesh Chaturthi). In the last month of summer, the Parsi community celebrates the birthday of Zoroaster.

In September-October, Dashahra is celebrated - the day of worship of Devi. The ten-day Navratri and Dasera celebrations take place in October.

In October, Muslims celebrate the day of remembrance of the Prophet Muhammad.

In October-November, the festival of lights and the goddess of prosperity Diwali takes place, which many consider to be perhaps the most popular folk holiday. Also during these months is the New Year according to the Hindu calendar.

The month of Ramadan falls between September and November, depending on the year.

November also brings Dan-Teras, the day of worship of Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and prosperity). During this period, an important holiday is celebrated - the Birthday of Baha'i Baha'u'llah.

On November 19, Indira Gandhi's birthday and Dev Diwali (a holiday in honor of Shiva) are celebrated throughout India.

November-December marks the end of Ramadan, in honor of which the Ramadan-Eid holiday is held.

These are only the main holidays that are celebrated at the state level. In each state and region, this list is much longer, however, when traveling around India, you can see this for yourself.

Stock Exchange Istanbul Stock Exchange Australian Stock Exchange American Stock Exchange Amman Stock Exchange Arizona Stock Exchange Athens Stock Exchange BOVESPA (Brazil) Bahrain Stock Exchange Bermuda Stock Exchange Bulgarian Stock Exchange Bolivian Stock Exchange Bombay Stock Exchange Boston Stock Exchange Bratislava Stock Exchange Bucharest Stock Exchange Hong Kong Stock Exchange Far East Oil Prices (FEOP) Danish Stock Exchange Euronext Egypt Stock Exchange Zimbabwe Stock Exchange Indonesian Stock Exchange Irish Stock Exchange Iceland Stock Exchange Italian Stock Exchange Johannesburg Stock Exchange Kansas City Board of Trade Columbian Stock Exchange Costa Rica Stock Exchange Cote D "Ivoire stock exchange Luxembourg stock exchange Malaysian stock exchange Mexican stock exchange Panama stock exchange Commodity exchange (COMEX) Finland stock exchange Finland stock exchange Cincinnati stock exchange Chicago Board exchange options Chicago stock exchange Chicago Board Functions Exchange (share capital) Chicago Board Exchange functions ( interest rates Chicago Board of Trade (Stock Exchange) Chicago Board of Trade Chicago Board of Trade (Stock Index) Chicago Board of Trade (Equity) Chicago Board of Trade (Metals) Chicago Board of Trade (Agriculture) Chicago Board of Trade (financial) Chicago Mercantile Exchange (foreign exchange) Chicago Mercantile Exchange (dairy) Chicago Mercantile Exchange (interest rates) Chicago Mercantile Exchange (equity) Chicago Mercantile Exchange (commodities) Chicago Mercantile Exchange (GSCI) Sri Lanka stock exchange Japanese stock exchange ( JASDAQ) securities market GreTai Warsaw Stock Exchange US Federal Reserve Banks Vilnius Stock Exchange Winnipeg Commodity Exchange Algiers Stock Exchange Armenia Nasdaq Omx Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) Vietnam Stock Exchange Vienna Stock Exchange (CECE Ext. Fut.) Vienna Stock Exchange (CECE Fut.) Vienna Stock Exchange (CTXEUR) Vienna Stock Exchange (HTXEUR) Vienna Stock Exchange (Kassamarkt) Vienna Stock Exchange (NTX) Vienna Stock Exchange (PTXEUR) Vienna Stock Exchange (RDX) Baku Stock Exchange Banja Luka Stock Exchange Barbados Stock Exchange Bayerische Boerse Beirut Stock Exchange BELEX (Serbia) BISX (Bahamas) Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago Bolsa de Madrid Bolsa de Valores de Asuncion (BVPASA) Bolsa de Valores de Caracas Bolsa de Valores de El Salvador Bolsa de Valores de la Repъblica Dominicana Bolsa de Valores de Lima Bolsa de Valores de Montevideo Bolsa de Valores de Quito Botswana Stock Exchange Bourse de Casablanca Bourse de Tunis Bourse d\"Alger Budapest Stock Exchange Zagreb Stock Exchange Calcutta Stock Exchange Cambodia Securities Exchange Capo Verde (Bolsa de Val. ) Casablanca Stock Exch. Cayman Island Stock Exchange Cyprus Stock Exchange Dar Es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) Deutsche Burse (XETRA) Riga Stock Exchange Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Russian Trading System Doha Securities Market Qatar Stock Exchange RTX Eurex Fiji SE (SPSE) FRI Corp Georgian Stock Exchange Ghana Stock Exchange GLOBEX Malawi Stock Exchange Namibian Stock Exchange Iboxx Eur. Iboxx US Prague Stock Exchange New Zealand Stock Exchange IMAREX Osaka Securities Exchange Osaka Stock Exchange Oslo Stock Exchange international Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) Jamaica Stock Exchange Karachi Stock Exch. Kazakhstan Stock Exch. Korea Stock Exch. Korea Stock Exch. (Option) KOSDAQ Kuwait Stock Exch. Kyrgyz Stock Exchange Laos Stock Exchange LIFFE Ljubljana Stock Exch. London Metal Exchange London Stock Exch. Lusaka Stock Exchange Macedonian Stock Exchange Malta Stock Exchange Malta Stock Exchange (Borza ta Malta) MERVAL (Argentina) Minneapolis Grain Exchange Moldova Stock Exchange Mongolian Stock Exchange Montenegro Stock Exch. Montréal Exch. MTS Amsterdam MTS Austrian Market MTS Belgium MTS Denmark MTS Deutschland MTS Espaсa MTS Finland MTS France MTS Greek Market MTS Ireland MTS Israel MTS Italy MTS Poland MTS Portugal Muscat Securities Market Sarajevo Stock Exchange (SASE) Nagoya Stock Exch. Saudi Stock Exchange NASD TRACE Nasdaq Nasdaq Dubai NASDAQ Stock Market National Stock Exch. of Lithuania National Stock Exchange of India Singapore securities New York Board of Trade - Financial New York Board of Trade - New York New York Federal Reserve New York Stock Exchange Stockholm Stock Exchange NYMEX Taiwan stock exchange Tallinn Stock Exchange Trinidad and Tobago stock exchange Ukraine PFTS (Kiev) Philadelphia Stock Exchange Philippine Stock Exchange Tokyo Stock Exchange Tokyo Financial Exchange Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) Mauritius Stock Exchange Port Moresby Stock Exchange Thailand Stock Exchange Toronto Tehran Stock Exchange Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Palestine Securities Exchange Rwanda Stock Exchange SAFEX . (S. Africa) TARGET calendar Vir-X Shanghai Stock Exchange Shanghai Stock Exchange settlement (B shares) Swiss Exchange Stuttgart Stock Exchange Shenzhen Stock Exchange

– a very culturally rich and multinational state. Therefore, a huge number of holidays of different cultures, traditions, and beliefs are celebrated throughout the country. Multi-day festivals and colorful Indian folk festivities are held annually.

National Indian holidays

If we talk about state public holidays that do not belong to any particular nationality, but are celebrated throughout the country, then there are only three of them in India. Indian Independence Day celebrated annually on August 15th. Second public holiday - Republic Day. It is celebrated on January 26th. The whole country celebrates Gandhi's birthday on October 2.

In addition, holidays of different religions, beliefs and nationalities are celebrated in different provinces of the country. The most popular and numerous are the holidays of the Hindu religion. The largest of them is Diwali, is marked by a multi-day festival of lights (the very name of the celebration is translated from Sanskrit as “bunch of fire”). Numerous celebrations mark the victory of light over darkness and are accompanied by carnival processions, fireworks, songs and dances. Diwali is usually celebrated in the month of October or November and lasts for five days.

Among other major Indian celebrations, mention should be made of the “festival of colors” - Holi(floating date). It has already become known throughout the world and is celebrated in many parts of it. Other Hindu holidays: Pongal(holiday of gratitude for the harvest, January 15), Rama Navami(appearance day of Rama, April 13), K rishna-janmashtami(Krishna's appearance day, August 24).

Indian holidays and rituals

India is also one of the countries where the proportion of Muslim population is very large. are the second in the number of people celebrating. The dates of celebrations in this religion are tied to the lunar calendar (Hijri), and therefore change from year to year. Among the most important Muslim holidays celebrated in India is the festival of breaking the fast. Eid al Adha, which marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan, as well as the Feast of Sacrifice Eid al-Adha.

Mon 5 January
The birthday of the tenth and last Guru is celebrated by Sikhs. On this day, large processions are organized and special prayers are said in all gurudwaras (Sikh temples).

Guru Govind Singh (1675 – 1708 AD) created...
Wed 7 January

The tenth day of the first month of Muharram of the Muslim calendar, a day of mourning strictly observed by adherents of Islam. On this day, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, Hussein (626 - 680), died. Hussein was the second son of the Prophet Muhammad's daughter Fatima....
Tue 13 January

Celebrated in North India. On this holiday bonfires are lit as a symbol of the end of a hard winter. Bonfire is associated with Lord Agni (fire). A parikrama is performed around it - a walk around clockwise, and they repeat “prosperity and need will come...
On this holiday, rice is prepared from the first harvest after a long and difficult winter. The word “pongal” means “sweet rice dish”, which is prepared in honor of the festival. The festival is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. This is a very important holiday...

Mon 26 January
The holiday was introduced in 1950 and is celebrated annually on January 26. “Republic Day” is celebrated by the widest sections of the country’s population. A characteristic feature of this holiday is the organization of festive processions in Delhi, as well as in the capitals of all states....

Sy 30 January
The Day of Remembrance of the Fighters for Independence in India was established in connection with the death of Mahatma Gandhi. The leader of the Indian national liberation movement, Mahatma Gandhi, died on this day in 1948...

Sat 31 January
A holiday in honor of Goddess Saraswati, patroness of science and art. Celebrated in the month of Magha (January-February). Vasant Panchami is also called Shri Panchami. This festival is of greatest importance in Bengal. Goddess Saraswati patronizes...

Mon 23 February
The “Maha Shivaratri Festival” is also called the “Great Night of God Shiva” and is celebrated in honor of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. It falls in the month of Magha (January-February). It is preceded by a sleepless night, during which they glorify in churches and squares...

Sun 8 March
The birthday of Prophet Muhammad is celebrated throughout India with traditional celebrations and religious fervor. Muhammad was born in 570 AD. and he is revered as the last Prophet of Islam. The Muslim era began with his immigration from Mecca to...

Wed 11 March
Holi is the most colorful and vibrant holiday in India. In the weeks leading up to Holi, local youth scour the area for flammable material for a bonfire. It is a special valor to take without asking permission. On the evening of Holi they light...

Fri 27 March
On Amavasya (new moon) at the beginning of the month of Chaitra (March-April), the celebration of Vasanta Navaratri begins - the nine spring nights dedicated to the Mother Goddess. The Autumn Nine Nights are celebrated at the beginning of the month of Ashwin (September-October). According to...

Mon 30 March
The birthday of the seventh incarnation of the mighty Vishnu - the legendary King Rama - is celebrated in the month of Chaitra. The hero of the Ramayana is an ideal and at the same time very real person - a king, and a faithful son and brother. Rama ruled in his...

Fri 10 April
Christians dedicate Friday of Holy Week - the last week of Lent - to memories of the suffering of the Savior. Christians in India celebrate this day across the country, but especially in Mumbai, Goa and the North-Eastern states of India. According to...

Sun 12 April
Although the Christian population in India is approximately 2.5% of the country's total population, the festival of Easter is celebrated with pomp and religious obsessiveness. Christians across the country, especially in Mumbai, Goa and the North-Eastern states, are carefully...

Mon 13 April
This day marks the beginning of the Hindu solar new year. Hindus believe that several thousand years ago on this day the goddess Ganga descended to earth, so on April 13, many of them gather together near the banks of the sacred Ganges River on...

Mon 13 April
In the Indian state of Punjab, one of the most beloved Sikh holidays, Baisakhi, is celebrated on April 13. For the Sikhs who inhabit Punjab, it is both a religious holiday, a harvest festival, and a New Year's Day. Sikhs are Indian...

Fri 8 May
A holiday in honor of the birthday of Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. According to legend, Buddha was born on this day in 623 BC, on the same day he achieved enlightenment and in 543 BC. died on the same day, having achieved complete nirvana. Thus, at the same time...

Wed 24 June
Rath Yatra (lit. “chariot parade”), an annual religious festival of the removal of God Jagannath (one of the forms of Krishna-Vishnu) from the temple on a giant chariot. Celebrated in the month of Ashadha (June-July). The main place of the festival is the Jagannath Temple in the city...

Tue 7 July
Hindus attach the greatest importance to spiritual Teachers (Gurus). They are often equated to God and considered intermediaries between man and the Almighty. On the full moon of the month of Ashad (July-August), Guru Purnima is celebrated. This is the day of remembrance of the great sage...

Fri 14 August
The holiday is celebrated in honor of the birthday of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu. According to legend, he was born at midnight on the eighth day of the month of Shravan (July-August), therefore, during this holiday, temples are decorated with illumination and there all night...

Sat 15 August
August 15 is Independence Day, the anniversary of India's declaration of independence from Great Britain. Independence Day has been celebrated since 1947. It is India's largest national holiday, celebrated on 15 August every year. On this day in 1947 over...

Sun 23 August
Birthday of the God of wisdom and abundance Ganesha with the body of a man and the head of an elephant, the remover of obstacles, the son of Shiva and his wife Parvati. Celebrated in the month of Bhadra (August-September). Ganesha is one of the most revered gods...

September

Mon 28 September
Dashahra - one of the most popular and colorful Hindu holidays is celebrated in the month of Ashwin (September-October) for 10 days, of which 9 nights are devoted to worship (this is where another name for the holiday comes from - Navratri, i.e....

Fri 2 October
Birthday of the outstanding leader of the national liberation movement of the Indian people, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born on October 2, 1869 in the city of Porbandar (Gujarat). From 1893 to 1914 he lived in South Africa, where he led...

Sat 17 October
Diwali (or Deepavali, which means “bunch of fire” in Sanskrit) is the festival of lights, celebrated everywhere in India and symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. It falls at the beginning of the month of Kartik (October-November) and is celebrated throughout...

Sun 18 October
Govardhan Puja is celebrated on one of the days of Diwali, mainly in the North of India in honor of the raising of Mount Govardhan by Krishna. According to legend, the people of Gokul used to celebrate this festival in honor of God Indra and worship him after...

Sat 14 November
The birthday of the outstanding statesman, the first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru (born in the city of Allahabad on November 14, 1889) is celebrated throughout the country as “Children's Day”. On this day various...

Fri 27 November
One of the most popular Muslim holidays is dedicated to Ibrahim’s sacrifice of his son Ismail. It falls on the tenth day of the last month of the Muslim calendar, Dhu-ul-Hijjah, and lasts three to four days. According to legend...

Fri 4 December
The fourth of December is celebrated as Navy Day in India. The day when the navy played a significant role in the bombing of the port territory in Karachi (a port in Pakistan that was not only the strategic center of the country, but also...

Fri 25 December
Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrated on December 25th. It is one of the most celebrated holidays of Indian Christians. Banana and mango trees are decorated instead of the traditional pine tree, and small oil lamps are also hung on them....