10 Best and Unique Festivals of India
A potpourri of various unique cultures, India exhibits a spectrum of colourful festivals which are not only religiously significant but also mark communal harmony irrespective of creed and customs. Being a land of diverse religions, the country is an exceptional example of unity. It is said that India is a land of festivals where every month; you will find a new festival, be it regional or national. With so much cultural diversity, every festival has its own charm and meaning.
We have picked 10 best and unique festivals of India which are celebrated nation-wide; celebration of some festivals has even crossed the frontiers.
The Animal Fair
Just like Pushkar Fair, Bateshwar also organizes a cattle fair every year. Bateshwar is a village located in Agra (Uttar Pradesh). This village is known as ‘Son of the Dhams’ and thus holds a great religious significance in Hindu religion. Also, the 22nd Jain Tirthankar Nemichand was born here. The festival also occurs at the most sacred time to pray at the temples here. One can shop cattle like horses, goats, camels, oxen, etc. along with several other items such as furniture, handicrafts, etc.
Legends behind Bateshwar Festival – Why is Bateshwar Festival celebrated?
There are around 108 temples in Bateshwar making is a sacred place to visit. People come here during October and December to take a holy dip in the water and to pray at the temples for wellbeing and prosperity. In the Hindu epic Mahabharat, this village is said to be known as Shouripur, the city of King Suresaine. The festival has been organized annually for centuries which holds great significance in Hindu scriptures. Since the festival also involves the trading of livestock, it holds commercial significance too.
Best Places to Celebrate Bateshwar Fair : Bateshwar (Agra, Uttar Pradesh)
Tentative Dates of Bateshwar Festival :
- Wednesday 11th November to Tuesday 17th November 2020
The Festival of Physical Strenght
Also called Hola in short, Hola Mohalla is a major cultural festival of Sikh faith. The festival is celebrated in March every year by the Sikh people all over the world. This festival falls on the 2nd day of the lunar month, which is usually followed by Holi the next day. At Anandpur Sahib, the festival continues for three days where the Sikh people put traditional attire and showcase physical strength, perform adrenaline stunts. After this, music and poetry sessions are organized. After completing the battles and contests, people through colours at each other.
Legends behind Hola Mohalla – Why is Hola Mohalla celebrated?
The festival is said to have been initiated by the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh to strengthen Sikhs physically with the help of mock battles and military exercises. At Lohagarh Fort on 7th March 1701, he started mock ballets, exercises and poetry contests. Since then, this tradition is carried forward by the Sikh community all over the world.
Best Places to Celebrate Hola Mohalla in India – Anandpur Sahib, Kiratpur Sahib
Tentative Dates of Hola Mohalla :
- Tuesday 10th March to Thursday 12th March 2020
- Monday 29th March to Wednesday 31st March 2021
The Festival of Tibetan New Year
Among the most vibrant and colourful festivals, Losar is a Tibetan festival which is also celebrated in few parts of India majorly in Leh & Ladakh by Buddhist people. This festival is also known for Tibetan New Year. The festival is also celebrated in Nepal by the name Lhochhar which falls around 8 weeks before the Tibetan Losar festival. The festival is celebrated at the beginning of the lunar pattern as per the Tibetan calendar. This Tibetan Buddhist festival lasts for three days where people thank their God for crops and harvest.
Legends behind Losar – Why is Losar celebrated?
Losar is said to have started by the evolution of Buddhism in Tibet. It is also believed that the festival got related to harvest festival during the kingdom of Pude Gungyal (617-698) and later became the annual Losar festival. As per some historical records, Tibetan people were celebrating Losar even before Buddhism arrived in Tibetan. Before Buddhism, people used to ignite incense sticks for their local spirits and Gods. They believed that God and other spirits would remain happy and bless everyone with good health and prosperity.
Best Places to Celebrate Losar in India – Leh & Ladakh, Tawang, Gangtok, Pelling, Bodh Gaya, Kushalnagar, Spiti, Mcleod Ganj, Mechuka
Tentative Dates of Losar Festival :
- Monday 24th February to Wednesday 26th February 2020
- Friday 12th February to Sunday 14th February 2021
The Festival of God Surya
This Hindu harvest festival which majorly is celebrated in the Tamil community in South India is a multi-day celebration which falls in the month of Tai as per the Tamil solar calendar (usually around 14 January). Dedicated to God Surya (Sun), the harvest festival is similar to Makar Sankranti of North India. The festival is celebrated in four days as Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal. Pongal is also observed in Sri Lanka and Tamil diaspora in other parts of the world. Through this festival, the people, farmers mainly, thank God Sun for helping the farmers grow better crops and prosperity.
Legends behind Pongal – Why is Pongal celebrated?
As per the Hindu mythology, once Lord Shiva asked Basava (the bull) to visit planet Earth and asked him to inform the people on earth to do oil massage and take a bath every day. Instead of telling this, Basava told the people to eat every day. He also asked the people to take an oil bath once every month. Upon knowing this, Lord Shiva got angry. He cursed Basava in anger that he would live on Earth and would plough the fields, helping people in food production. That’s why this harvest festival is celebrated every year with cattle and crops.
Best Places to Celebrate Pongal in India – Madurai, Thanjavur, Pollachi, Coimbatore, Salem
Tentative Dates of Pongal :
- Wednesday 15th January to Saturday 18th January 2020
- Wednesday 14th January to Saturday 16th January 2021
The Festival of Devotion and Prosperity
Durga Pooja is a major festival which is predominantly celebrated in West Bengal, Odisha, Tripura, Bihar and Assam. Also known as Durgotsava, the festival has roots in Bangladesh and Nepal (celebrated as Dashain) as well. Durga Pooja is celebrated with great enthusiasm. In the celebration of this religious festival, people worship Goddess Durga and put clay idols which are later immersed in water bodies. People put on traditional clothes, cherish feats and pray to evoke the goddess.
Legends behind Durga Puja – Why is Durga Puja celebrated?
The festival marks the triumph of good over evil. As per the mythologies, Goddess Durga killed a demon who goes by the name Mahishasur. It is said that Lord Brahma blessed the demon with a boon that made him unconquerable; that he wouldn’t be defeated in any battle by any man or god. After receiving the boon, he created terror in Heaven, Netherworlds and Earth. Later, Goddess Durga, known as the destroyer of evil, fought and defeated him.
Another version of the story says that Durga made an army to fight against Mahishasur and it took them ten days to defeated and killed him. That is why the Durga Puja festival lasts for ten days as a symbol of victory. However the main festival lasts for five days only.
Best Places to Celebrate Durga Pooja in India – Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Guwahati, Varanasi, Patna
Tentative Dates of Durga Pooja :
- Thursday 22nd October to Monday 26th October 2020
- Monday 11th October to Friday 15th October 2021
The Festival of Dance and Music
The festival of North East, Bihu is another major festival associated with harvesting. There are three different sets of this festival. Bohag Bihu also called Rongali Bihu is celebrated in April which also embarks the Assamese New Year, Kati or Kongali Bihu takes place in October and Magh Bihu or Bhogali is celebrated in January. The harvesting festival of Bihu is primarily associated with rice crops. Young people dress up traditionally to do Bihu dance.
Legends behind Bihu – Why is Bihu celebrated?
One of the most famous legends is associated with Boridoisila who was presumed to be the daughter of Assam. She got married to a bridegroom who belonged to a very far off land. As per the legends, she comes to see her father once a year at the springtime of Bihu. People consider her as a female spirit. People also believe that she causes two strong gales (storm) before and after Bihu springtime. The first gale is considered to be the coming of Bordoisila and the second one is said to be her return which is usually devastating. Another myth speaks about her along with her sister Sorudoi.
Best Places to Celebrate Bihu in India – Dispur, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Tezpur
Tentative Dates of Bihu :
- Tuesday 14th April to Monday 20th April 2020
The Festival to commemorate King Mahabali
Among the most colourful and culturally vibrant festivals, Onam is primarily celebrated in Kerala as a harvest festival. The festival is celebrated in Chingam month in Malayalam calendar (August and September). On the occasion of this festival, people decorate their houses with beautiful floral designs known as Pookalam and prepare a scrumptious meal of 13 dishes, Onasadya. The major attractions of the festival are Kathakali dance, snake boat race, Vallamkali, Pulikali where people dress and paint themselves like hunters and tigers. The festival also marks Malayali New Year and the celebration continues for around ten days.
Legends behind Onam – Why is Onam celebrated?
People in Kerala celebrate the festival with great eagerness as the homecoming of the great King Mahabali. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu ordered King Mahabali to rule the underworld. The king visits the land and his people he ruled once a year which is why Onam is celebrated by all the Malayali people all across the globe. His visit to the land is reminiscent of his righteous rule. There is one more legend of Parashurama associated with the Onam festival but the most important is of King Mahabali who is known as the greatest king of Kerala.
Best Places to Celebrate Onam in India – Trivandrum, Palakkad, Thrissur, Alleppey, Ernakulam, Kannur
Tentative Dates of Onam :
- Saturday 22nd August to Wednesday 2nd September 2020
The Camel Festival of Rajasthan
One of the most culturally significant festivals of Rajasthan, Pushkar Fair is a cattle trading festival which takes place in Pushkar (Ajmer). Visiting Pushkar during the festival is truly a remarkable experience when you will get to see the place totally drenched the colours of Rajasthani culture. Though the festival is a cattle trade event but the festival also represents the regional heritage. The festival is considered to be holy for the cattle traders and cattle. During the festival, this tiny town comes to life and starts to burst with devotees and cattle traders.
Legends behind Pushkar – Why is Pushkar Fair celebrated?
As per the mythologies of Hindu religion, all the 330 million gods and goddesses come down to the earth at Pushkar on the auspicious occasion of Poornima (Full Moon) to sanctify the pious. Thus, pilgrims from all over the country, come here to take bath in Pushkar lake with the belief to wash off their sins and to pray at the only Brahma Temple in the world. The cattle fair is organized to attract the cattle traders. Countless shops sell cattle including cows, bulls, horses where the camel is the center of attraction of the festival. This cultural festival is celebrated for a week long.
Best Place to Celebrate Pushkar Fair – Pushkar (Ajmer, Rajasthan)
Tentative Dates of Pushkar Fair :
- Sunday 22th November to Monday 30th November 2020
- Thursday 11th November to Saturday 19th November 2021
The Festival of Lights
Diwali or Deepavali is the second most famous Hindu festival in India which falls on No-Moon day (Amavasya). Celebrated by lighting up diyas (earthen lamps), the festival is celebrated in the memory of Lord Ram’s homecoming. The festival of great pomp & show, Diwali falls in October or November month. People decorate their houses with lights, candles, Ashoka leaves and distribute sweets to each other, burst firecrackers, etc. The celebration continues for around 5 days with the worship of different deities every day.
Legends behind Diwali –Why is Diwali celebrated?
The festival of Diwali is celebrated to mark the homecoming of Lord Ram who went on 14 years of exile with his wife Sita and younger brother Lakshman. During his exile period, asura king of Lanka, Ravan abducted Sita, in the absence of both the brothers. Later, Ram with the help of ape-army, killed Ravan, freed his wife and returned to his home. The people lit up their homes and streets with earthen lamps in joy to welcome them. And the tradition is stilled followed with the same spirit. There are other mythological legends behind this festival apart from the main event.
Best Places to Celebrate Diwali in India – Varanasi, Amritsar, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kolkata, Goa
Tentative Dates of Diwali :
- Saturday 14th November 2020
- Thursday 4th November 2021
The Festival of Colours
The most famous national festival of the country, Holi is the festival of colours and is celebrated with colours (gulal) not only in India but outside too. Observed on the occasion of Full Moon (Poornima) as per the lunisolar calendar of Hindu (March month of the Gregorian calendar), Holi signifies the victory of good over evil. The festival also ends winter and welcomes spring. The festival takes place in two days. The first day is Holika Dahan and the second day is the main colourful celebration.
Legends behind Holi – Why is Holi celebrated?
As per one legend, it is said that the Lord Brahma blessed the demon king Hiranyakashyap with immortality which turned him arrogant. He wanted people to worship him but his son Prahlad was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and this irked him. His sister, Holika was blessed with a shawl that would protect her from fire. He asked her to sit on a pyre with Prahlad in her lap. When she sat on the pyre with Prahlad, the fire burnt her into ashes & left the son unharmed. This symbolized the victory of good over evil.
In another legend, the celebration of Holi is connected with Radha Krishna who lived in Vrindavan and Mathura. Krishna used to whine about his dark colour, thinking why Radha was so fair-skinned. His mother suggested him to throw colour on Radha’s face and that’s how it all began.
Best Places to Celebrate Holi in India – Vrindavan, Mathura, Nandgaon, Barsana, Shantiniketan, Udaipur, Songkran
Tentative Dates of Holi :
- Monday 9th March and Tuesday 10th March 2020
- Sunday 28th March and Monday 29th March 2021