Hindu Festivals

Ekadashi emphasising six uses of sesame (til) - bathing, offering, donation, eating, etc.

Solar festival marking the sun's transit into Capricorn; celebrates harvest, kite-flying and sesame sweets.

Four-day Tamil harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God; rice is boiled in milk as an offering.

Celebrates Goddess Saraswati and the arrival of spring; students worship books and musical instruments.

Fasting on this day is believed to liberate one from ghostly forms and grant victory.

Phalguna month ekadashi associated with Lord Rama's victory over Ravana.

The Great Night of Shiva - night-long vigil, chanting and offering of bael leaves and milk on Shivalingam.

Dedicated to the sacred amla (gooseberry) tree; devotees worship Vishnu at the tree.

Bonfire night commemorating the destruction of demoness Holika and triumph of Prahlad's devotion.

Festival of colours celebrating love, spring and divine play of Radha-Krishna.

Ekadashi believed to absolve the observer of all past sins.

New Year in Telugu, Kannada and Marathi calendars; marks beginning of Chaitra Navratri.

Nine-day festival celebrating the nine forms of Goddess Durga, leading to Ram Navami.

Birth anniversary of Lord Rama, celebrated with bhajans, processions and readings from Ramayana.

First Ekadashi after Chaitra Navratri; grants fulfillment of desires.

Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman, the epitome of devotion, strength and service to Lord Rama.

Ekadashi offering protection (varutha) and happiness in this world and after.

Punjabi harvest festival and solar new year; also marks foundation of the Khalsa.

One of the most auspicious days of the year - ideal for new beginnings, gold purchase and charity.

Commemorates Vishnu's Mohini avatar who distributed amrita to devas.

Birth, enlightenment and nirvana of Gautama Buddha, observed as full moon of Vaishakh.

Married women worship the banyan tree and observe a fast for their husband's long life, inspired by Savitri's devotion that brought Satyavan back from death. Observed on Jyeshtha Amavasya in North India.

The strictest Ekadashi, observed without water; considered equivalent to all 24 ekadashis combined.

The same Vat Savitri observance, kept on Jyeshtha Purnima in Maharashtra, Gujarat and southern states, which follow the Amanta lunar calendar.

Puri's grand chariot festival where Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are pulled through the streets.

Day dedicated to spiritual teachers; marks the birth of Vyasa, composer of the Vedas.

Monsoon festival for married women; celebrates union of Shiva and Parvati.

Worship of serpent gods; milk is offered to snake idols and anthills.

Kerala's 10-day harvest festival marking the annual return of King Mahabali.

Sisters tie a sacred thread (rakhi) on their brothers' wrists as a symbol of protection and love.

Midnight birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated with fasting, bhajans and dahi-handi.

Ten-day festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha; culminates in immersion of idols.

Worship of Lord Ananta (Vishnu); concluding day of Ganesh Chaturthi with idol immersion.

Nine nights of Goddess Durga worship; largest Navratri celebrated across India.

Eighth day of Sharad Navratri; worship of Maa Mahagauri and Kanya Pujan.

Ninth day of Navratri; worship of Maa Siddhidatri, Havan and concluding rituals.

Victory of Lord Rama over Ravana; effigies are burnt and Durga is immersed.

Full moon believed to pour nectar; kheer is left under moonlight overnight.

Married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the long life of their husbands.

First day of Diwali; auspicious to buy gold, silver or new utensils.

Festival of lights - Lakshmi-Ganesh puja, diyas, fireworks and sweets light up every home.

Commemorates Krishna lifting Govardhan hill; Annakut (mountain of food) is offered.

Sisters apply tilak on brothers' foreheads and pray for their long life.

Four-day Bihari festival of gratitude to the Sun God; devotees stand in water giving arghya.

Ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu (Shaligram); marks start of wedding season.

The 'Diwali of the Gods' — falling 15 days after Diwali on the full moon of Kartik, commemorating Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura. Varanasi's ghats are lit with thousands of lamps.

Birth day of the Bhagavad Gita - when Krishna revealed it to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

Birth of Lord Dattatreya - the combined incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.