The 5 Most Celebrated and Popular Indian festival in the World

Have you ever wondered why India has such vibrant decorations and mouth-watering aromas during certain seasons of the year? Perhaps a peculiar Indian festival is going on. India is a country full of festivals, with lively festivals every month. You will be familiar with most of the major festivals including Diwali, Holi and Eid. However, there are many other festivals of equal importance.

Are you longing to fully immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of India, but not sure where to start? All you need to do is attend one of the biggest Indian festival. India, one of the world’s most vibrant nations, is full of festivals, many of which date back centuries. Every season has its own celebration, be it dancing in the streets for Holi, lighting up the sky for Diwali or feasting with friends . In the coming months, you will have many opportunities to witness Indian customs at their best. Listed below are the top 10 Indian festivals with information on their historical significance and great places to celebrate.

Most Celebrated and Popular Indian festival in the World

1. Diwali – The Festival of Lights

One of the best Indian holidays is Diwali, sometimes called the Festival of Lights. It is a five-day festival that represents the victory of light over darkness.

Diwali first appeared in the Hindu epic Ramayana. It commemorates Lord Rama’s return to his native Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana. The custom of lighting lamps to greet Rama is still followed by the residents of Ayodhya. Goddess of prosperity and good luck, Lakshmi is also honored on Diwali.

Depending on the lunar calendar, Diwali falls in either October or November every year. The five-day festival of lights begins on the night of the dark new moon, which is Diwali, the primary festival.

Apart from exchanging gifts and lights known as divas, people decorate their homes with vibrant rangoli artwork. Fireworks light up and music fills the air. Besides, people organize ladoos and barfis, gambling and extravagant parties.

2. Holi – The Festival of Colors

One of the most joyous and well-known Indian holidays is Holi. Holi is a festival celebrated at the beginning of spring, usually around March, to celebrate the victory of good over evil.

This important Indian holiday honors the life of Prahlad, a follower of Lord Vishnu. Legend has it that Prahlad continued to worship Vishnu even though his father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu, wanted everyone to worship him. Holika, the king’s fire-proof sister, sat in the flames with the intention of killing Prahlad, but was burnt to death. Hence Holi represents the embers of evil.

March is the main month to celebrate Holi every year. In the Hindu calendar, the last full moon or full moon of the month of Phalguna, is when people celebrate Holi, the festival of colours.

People congregate in the streets to celebrate Holi by hurling water and colored powder at one another. It’s all about having a good time, having fun, and laughing. The night before Holi, people also kindle bonfires and dance around them.

Sweet treats such as malpuas and gujiyas are prepared and served. Bhang, an edible form of cannabis, is also ingested.

The ideal locations to celebrate Holi are the Krishna birthplaces of Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, and Nandgaon in Uttar Pradesh. Here, the festivities can extend for a week.

So let your hair down, put your troubles aside, and just enjoy yourself at Holi with lots of color, candy, bhang, and late-night dancing! That is, after all, the essence of one of the greatest Indian festivals, Holi.

3. Navratri – The Festival Honoring the Goddess Durga

Hindus worship Goddess Durga during Navratri by fasting, praying and celebrating her birthday.

Nine days and nights are dedicated to the major Indian festival of Navratri, which means “nine nights” in Sanskrit. This event takes place every year in autumn. This event commemorates Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura, according to Hindu mythology. Durga’s form is honored on every day of Navratri.

Navratri celebrates the victory of good over evil. Durga is the manifestation of Shaktipriya, the sacred female power of the universe. Hindus believe that by defeating evil entities such as Mahishasura, Durga protects humanity from suffering and evil.

In October, during the harvest season, Navratri festival is celebrated. The first day of the bright half of the month of Ashwin (usually in September or October) marks the beginning of a major Indian festival.

During Navratri, devotees worship the nine incarnations of Durga, fast and offer prayers. Many people visit temples, celebrate with loved ones, dance and wear vibrant traditional costumes. The well-known Gujarati folk dance, Dandiya Ras, is a remarkable tradition. This is done with decorated sticks.

Navratri is a time of faith, celebration and community building. The major Indian festival honors the sacred feminine, which is the power in every person and all creation.

4. Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu holiday. Generally, it falls in the month of Bhadrapada, in August or September. Ganesh Visarjan is the grand finale of this ten-day celebration of Indian culture.

Clay idols of Ganesha painted in attractive colors are placed in pandals and residences during this festival. Praise to Lord Ganesha is expressed through hymns, pujas and prayers. Rice flour shells called modak are served as prasad and are filled with coconut and jaggery.

On the last day of the festival when the idols are immersed in water, people chant “Ganpati Bappa Morya, come early next year!” They form a huge parade. It symbolizes saying goodbye to Lord Ganesha and hoping for his reappearance next year.

The following are some of the top locations to witness the magnificence of Ganesh Chaturthi:

Pune, Maharashtra: Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati is the most famous Ganesh mandal.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Watch the majestic Ganesh idols at Siddhivinayak Temple and Lalbaugcha Raja.
Hyderabad, Telangana: Khairatabad Ganesh is renowned for its extravagant sizes.

Bhakti and unity are the ways that bring people together on Ganesh Chaturthi. It is an amazing Indian event made even more memorable by the exuberant festivities, mouth-watering modaks and jovial atmosphere.

5. Pongal/Makar Sankranti

a group of colorful kites hanging on a wall

Mid-January is the time of Pongal, also known as Makar Sankranti, a multi-day Indian harvest festival.

Pongal heralds the end of winter and the northward journey of the sun. They celebrate for four days. People thank the sun for a bountiful harvest by participating in this grand Indian event.

In South India, this festival is celebrated as crops are about to ripen. People rejoice on the first day of the Tamil month of “Thai”, which marks the beginning of the sun’s six-month northward trek.

Every year, Pongal is celebrated between January 13 and January 16. This four-day Indian festival usually takes place.

People clean their houses and use rice flour to create designs on the ground known as “Kolam” on the first day. On the next day Sun God is to be worshipped. On the third day, brothers and sisters spend time together and exchange gifts. Cattle that help farmers plow their fields are honored on the fourth day. To commemorate this grand Indian festival, people decorate their cattle with flowers and bells and parade them.

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