List of Hindu festivals
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The following is a list of Hindu festivals. The religion of Hinduism has many festivals, including Diwali, Holi, and Durga Puja. They are celebrated in South Asia and many other parts of the world with great enthusiasm and passion.
[edit] Hindu festivals
An idol maker gives finishing touches to a Ganesha statue during the Chaturthi festival.
Batukamma is a spring festival celebrated by Hindu women of the Telangana region.
| Festival | Date of Observance | Date of Observance (2008 Gregorian calendar) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makara Sankranti | First day of Uttarayana, coinciding with the beginning of the Tamil month of Thai | January 14 | Makar Sankranti (harvest festival also known by other various names) is the only Hindu festival which is based on the Solar calendar rather than the Lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated by taking dips in the Ganges river or any river and offering water to the Sun god. In Tamil Nadu this is popularly called Pongal, and special prayers and offerings are given the Sun to thank him for the harvest. |
| Vasant Panchami | Fifth day of waxing moon of Magh (Hindu Calendar) | January 22 – 23 | Vasant Panchami (also called Saraswati Puja by Bengalis) is celebrated for the blessing of Saraswati, goddess of wisdom and fine arts.[1] |
| Maha Shivaratri | Thirteenth night of the waning moon of Magh (Hindu Calendar) | March 6 | Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, followers of Shiva observe religious fasting and the offering of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Shiva.[2] |
| Holi | Full moon of Phalgun (Hindu Calendar) | March 21 | Holi or Phagwah is a popular spring festival. Holi commemorates the slaying of the demoness Holika by Lord Vishnu's devotee Prahlad. Thus, the festival's name is derived from the Sanskrit words "Holika Dahanam", which literally mean "Holika's slaying" |
| Vasant Navratri | April 12 | Navratri is the Hindu festival of worship and dance. In Sanskrit the term literally means "nine nights". During this festival the forms of Shakti are worshipped. | |
| Rama Navami | April 13 | Rama Navami is the celebration of the birth of Rama. | |
| Gudi Padwa | First Day of waxing moon of Chaitra (Hindu Calendar) | April 6 | Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, and is celebrated as New Year's Day by Marathis. According to the Brahma Purana, this is the day on which Brahma created the world. |
| Ugadi | April 6 | Ugadi (meaning "the start of an era" in Kannada) is the New Year's Day for the Deccans. It takes place on the same day as Gudi Padwa.[3] | |
| Vishu and Tamil New Year | April 14 | Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala. The Tamil New Year follows the nirayan vernal equinox. These festivals falls around April 14 of the Gregorian year. | |
| Shigmo | February – March | Shigmo is celebrated in Goa as one of the prominent festivals of the Konkani Hindu community there. | |
| Hanuman Jayanti | April 19 | Hanuman Jayanti is the celebration of the birth of Hanuman; Rama's loyal devotee. | |
| Vat Pournima | Full moon of Jyeshta (Hindu Calendar) | June 22 | Vat Pournima is observed in Maharashtra. Pournima means "full moon." Women pray for the prosperity of their husbands by tying threads around a banyan tree. |
| Bonalu | August | Bonalu is a celebration of Mother Goddess, and is celebrated in Telangana Region. | |
| Rath Yatra | July 4 | Rath Yatra is the festival associated with Jagannath. | |
| Guru Purnima | Full moon of Ashadh (Hindu Calendar) | July 29 | Guru Purnima is the day devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru. This was the day when Vyasa; author of the Mahabharata was born. |
| Mahalakshmi Vrata | August 11 | Mahalakshmi Vrata is a puja performed by married Hindu women to seek the blessings of Mahalakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity.[4] | |
| Onam | September 12 | Onam is a harvest festival, celebrated mainly in the Indian state of Kerala. Like many other religious festivals in India, Onam is celebrated by people across all castes and faiths. | |
| Raksha Bandhan | Full moon of Shravana (Hindu Calendar) | August 16 | Raksha Bandhan is a festival celebrated mainly in northern Indian states. Rakhi is a special occasion to celebrate the chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister. |
| Krishna Janmaashtami | Eighth day of waning moon of Shravana (Hindu Calendar) | August 24 | Krishna Janmaashtami is the Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna.[5] |
| Gowri Habba | September 14 | Gowri Habba is celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Gowri is worshipped for her ability to bestow courage to her devotees. Newly wed couples are invited to the house of the groom's parents and served with varieties of food. | |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Fourth day of the waxing moon of Bhadrapada (Hindu Calendar) | September 3 | Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth of Ganesh.[6] |
| Navratri | First nine nights of the waxing moon of Ashwin | September 30 | Navratri is the Hindu festival of worship and dance. In Sanskrit the term literally means "nine nights". During this festival the forms of Shakti are worshiped. |
| Vijayadashami | Tenth day of waxing moon of Ashwin (Hindu Calendar) | October 9 | Vijayadashami is the Hindu celebration of good over evil. |
| Deepavali | New moon of Ashwin (Hindu Calendar) | October 28 | Diwali is the abbreviation of the Sanskrit word "Deepavwali", which means "row of lights". The festival is celebrated on the occasion of Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama killing a demon Narakasura. Another story says the festival is celebrated for the return of Rama and Sita to the kingdom Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile.[7] |
| Bhaubeej | Second day of the waxing moon of Kartik (Hindu Calendar) | November 1 | Bhaubeej, also referred to as Bhai dooj, is the ceremony performed by Hindus, generally, on the second day of Diwali. It is celebrated among brothers and sisters and is similar to Raksha Bandhan, except there is no tying of rakhi involved. |
| Kartik Poornima | 15th of the Full moon day of Kartik (November-December) | [November 13] | A unique festival is celebrated in Varanasi this day which is called Dev Devali. The Kartik Purnima festival also coincides with the Jain light festival and Guru Nanak Jayanti |
| Chhath | November 4 | Chhath is unique to Bihar and Terai, but is also celebrated elsewhere. It is a festival dedicated to the Sun God for bestowing the bounties of life and fulfilling wishes.[8] | |
| Prathamastami | November 30 | Prathamastami is a festival that originated in Oriya. It is held on the eighth day of the month of Agrahayana, when older female relatives pray for the prosperity of the eldest child. The festival is followed by rituals and recitations of the Glory of Mahalakshmi. | |
| Yatra | October – March | Yatra (also Zatra and jatra) refers to the pilgrimage festivals celebrated at Hindu temples. Idols and murtis are taken out on special procession in a palkhi (a palanquin) or a chariot called the rath. Every temple observes this festival once a year on the traditional day. | |
| Pancha Ganapati | is a Winter Solstice celebration that lasts five days. | December 21 to 25 | Pancha Ganapati is a modern Hindu festival celebrating Lord Ganesha the Five-Faced Maha Ganapati—Lord of Categories. |
[edit] References
- ^ Meera Sashitala. "Vasant Panchami". http://www.bawarchi.com/festivals/vasant-panchami.html. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
- ^ "Maha Shivarati". Iloveindia. http://festivals.iloveindia.com/mahashivratri/. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
- ^ "Ugadi". http://www.cuisinecuisine.com/Festival%20of%20Ugadi.htm. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
- ^ Sathyan, B. (1965). Mysore State Gazetteer. Stationery and Publications at the Govt. Press.
- ^ "Krishna Janmaashtami". Iloveindia. http://festivals.iloveindia.com/janmashtmi/. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
- ^ "Ganesh Chaturthi". Iloveindia. http://festivals.iloveindia.com/ganesh-chaturti/. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
- ^ "Diwali". Iloveindia. http://festivals.iloveindia.com/diwali/. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
- ^ "Chhat Puja". Tripod. http://chhat.tripod.com/. Retrieved on 2007-01-21.
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