Hindu Festivals & Celebrations
Discover the rich tapestry of Hindu festivals, their significance, and how to celebrate them with devotion
🗓️ Upcoming Festivals
Navratri
Nine Nights of Divine Goddess
A nine-day festival celebrating the divine feminine energy, featuring dance, music, and devotion to Goddess Durga.
Diwali
Festival of Lights
The most celebrated Hindu festival, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
Christmas (Bada Din)
Celebration of Jesus Christ
While not traditionally Hindu, many Hindu families celebrate Christmas as a festival of love and peace.
🎊 Major Hindu Festivals
Diwali
Festival of Lights
Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. It's a five-day festival that includes Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj.
Traditions:
- Lighting diyas and candles
- Rangoli decorations
- Fireworks and celebrations
- Exchanging sweets and gifts
- Lakshmi Puja for prosperity
Navratri
Nine Nights of the Goddess
Navratri honors the nine forms of Goddess Durga over nine nights. It's a time of fasting, prayer, and celebration of the divine feminine energy that protects and nurtures the universe.
Traditions:
- Garba and Dandiya dance
- Nine days of fasting
- Daily prayers to different forms of Durga
- Colorful traditional attire
- Community celebrations
Holi
Festival of Colors
Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. It commemorates the love between Lord Krishna and Radha, and the burning of the demoness Holika.
Traditions:
- Playing with colors (gulal)
- Water balloons and water guns
- Holika Dahan bonfire
- Special Holi delicacies
- Forgiveness and new beginnings
Janmashtami
Birth of Lord Krishna
Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. It's observed with fasting, prayers, and joyous celebrations including the famous Dahi Handi tradition.
Traditions:
- Midnight prayers and aarti
- Dahi Handi (pot breaking)
- Krishna Leela performances
- Fasting until midnight
- Decorating Krishna idols
🌸 Seasonal Festivals
🌸 Spring Festivals
- Holi - Festival of Colors
- Vasant Panchami - Worship of Goddess Saraswati
- Maha Shivratri - Night of Lord Shiva
- Ram Navami - Birth of Lord Rama
☀️ Summer Festivals
- Akshaya Tritiya - Auspicious day for new beginnings
- Buddha Purnima - Birth of Buddha
- Rath Yatra - Chariot festival of Lord Jagannath
- Guru Purnima - Honoring spiritual teachers
🌧️ Monsoon Festivals
- Janmashtami - Birth of Lord Krishna
- Raksha Bandhan - Brother-sister bond
- Ganesh Chaturthi - Birth of Lord Ganesha
- Teej - Monsoon celebration
🍂 Autumn/Winter Festivals
- Navratri - Nine nights of Goddess
- Dussehra - Victory of good over evil
- Diwali - Festival of lights
- Bhai Dooj - Brother-sister celebration
📅 2024-2025 Festival Calendar
Note: Festival dates are based on lunar calendar and may vary by region. Please consult your local Hindu calendar for exact dates.