India is known as the land of festivals. We literally have a festival every other week, which is not that surprising considering the vast geography and rich history of the country. This is especially true in the second half of the year. The month of July marks the beginning of what is informally known as the Indian Festival Season. It is called this because there are a lot of festivals in the second half of the year, literally one after the other. Also, not to mention, but a number of these festivals justify a party, so, its party central people.
Comprising of over a billion people of nearly every major religion, caste and creed, it is no wonder that India has a day for everyone. There is the festival of lights, and the festival of colours. There are loud over the top festivals, and then there are quiet, spend time with your family festival. There are religious festivals, and there are cultural festivals. No matter what you prefer, there is probably a festival for you.
Here are the festivals that make up the upcoming Indian Festival Season:
Raksha Bandhan – 3 August 2020
The celebration of the relationship between a brother and a sister. This marks the start of our Indian Festival Season. The brother promises to protect his sister, while the sister prays for his wellbeing. The actual ritual is that the sister ties a rakhi to their brother’s wrist, while the brother is expected to give money or gifts to the sister.
Janmashtami – 11 August 2020
This festival celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. People get together and make human pyramids in order to try to break a Dahi Handi (a clay pot filled with yogurt) that has been tied several feet up. This ritual aims to honour Lord Krishna who loved yogurt and would often break dahi handis in to get at it in his childhood.
Muharram – 21 August 2020
Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic Calendar. It is literally the first month. The day often varies as the Islamic Calendar follows a Lunar Calendar. Shia Muslims mourn this month in remembrance of Hussein ibn Ali, who was martyred. Sunni Muslims, on the other hand, observe it more peacefully.
Ganesh Chaturthi – 22 August 2020
Primarily celebrated in Maharashtra and other western states, Ganesh Chaturthi marks the anuual return of Lord Ganesha to the earthly plane. This is second biggest celebration during the Indian Festival Season, following Diwali. People make or buy idols of Lord Ganesha and welcome him to their homes, or to large common Mandaps and Pandals, with music and dancing. He stays there for a certain number of days, as decided by the host family. At the end of his visit, people bid him farewell with large processions, music and dancing, and by eventually immersing his idol in water.
Onam – 22 August 2020 to 2 September 2020. But main day is 31 August 2020
The harvest festival of the South, it also commemorates Vamana, the avatar of Lord Vishnu, as well as the homecoming of the King Mahabali. The festival showcases the culture and heritage of the people via boat races, dance showcases, sports and games, as well as people dressing in new clothes and a feast served on banana leaves. People also decorate the ground in front of their houses with patterns made with flowers.
Navratri – 17 to 25 October 2020
Navratri which literally translates to ‘nine nights’, is a festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. The festival celebrates power and purity of Durga Maa. People often fast and pray to the Goddess Durga, as well as Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati for their blessings. The nine days of the festival are marked with great celebrations. People often bhajans and folk songs at the pujas, whereas as night they often party with music and dancing, including the garba and dandiya.
Durga Puju -22 to 26 October 2020
Durga Puju celebrates the victory of good over evil, as on this day Goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura, the demon buffalo. The entire festival lasts 10 days, where Pandals has made to honor Durga Maa, with flowers, lights, dancing, and Bhajans. Large clay idols of the goddess are made and housed in Pandals. These idols are then immersed in water on the last day. People often observe strict fasts and offer prayers to the Goddess to seek her blessings.
Dussera – 25 October 2020
Dussera also celebrates the victory of good over evil, when Lord Rama defeated the ten headed demon king, Ravana. Plays, dances and dramas are staged all over the country telling the story of Lord Rama and how he defeated Ravana. Large effigies of Ravana are made which are then set on fire to celebrate his defeat. People celebrate late into the night as Ravana burns.
Halloween – 31 October 2020
Even though Halloween is not an India festival, it has steadily been gaining popularity, especially in the cities with the younger generations. Mainly because it is yet another excuse to dress up in costumes and party! Halloween originally honours family members who have passed over as the veil between the living world and the dead is thinnest on this day. However, the modern Halloween has little to do with these traditions.
Diwali – 14 November 2020
Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom of Ayodhya, after 14 years of long exile. This is the largest and most nationally celebrated festival during the Indian Festival Season. People light diyas in front of their houses to light the way of Lord Rama, while also drawing rangolis, decorating houses, wearing new clothes, distributing gifts and burning crackers to celebrate his return and to welcome him home. People also pray to Goddess Lakshmi, who is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity and to Lord Ganesha, who symbolises ethical beginnings, to bring them luck and fortune in the new year.
Bhai Dhooj – 16 November 2020
Bhai Dhooj is another festival that honours the relationship between a brother and a sister. Coming at the end of Diwali celebrations, it celebrates the bond between siblings. Here the sister places a tilak on the forehead of the brother, and conducts an aarti. The brother, in return, promises to always protect the sister and then gives her money and/or gifts.
Christmas – 25 December 2020
Christmas celebrates the birth of Lord Jesus, and is one of the biggest holidays of Christianity. There is a mass at midnight so that people can start the day praying to the lord. Today, Christmas is often celebrated culturally by non Christians as well. People spend the day with family, exchanging gifts, and good cheer.
New Years Eve and New Years – 31 December 2020 and 1 January 2021
Celebrated all around the world, New Years Eve marks the last night of the year, while New Years is the first day of the New Year. It celebrates the end of something old, and the beginning of something new. People mostly party late into the night of New Years Eve, and celebrate as the clock strikes 12, officially marking the end of the year and the start of the New Year.
These are the major Indian festivals that make up the second half of the year. Lets gear up for the Indian Festival Season, and celebrate with much pomp and vigor, but please remember to stay safe with your families, especially since we have no idea what Covid has planned. Please check out our Latest New Article on Upcoming Events.
