1. Major Festivals of India – State-wise
| State/UT | Important Festivals | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Ugadi, Sankranti, Tirumala Brahmotsavam | Ugadi marks the Telugu New Year |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Losar, Solung, Nyokum, Dree, Si-Donyi | Solung is an important festival of the Adi tribe |
| Assam | Bihu, Ambubachi Mela | Bihu is the major festival of Assam |
| Bihar | Chhath Puja, Sonepur Mela, Sama-Chakeva | Chhath is dedicated to the Sun God |
| Chhattisgarh | Bastar Dussehra, Hareli, Madai | Bastar Dussehra is famous for tribal traditions |
| Goa | Carnival, Shigmo, Sao Joao | Goa Carnival is famous for colourful processions |
| Gujarat | Navratri, Uttarayan, Janmashtami, Rann Utsav | Garba and Dandiya are associated with Navratri |
| Haryana | Baisakhi, Teej, Surajkund Crafts Mela | Teej is important among women |
| Himachal Pradesh | Kullu Dussehra, Minjar, Losar | Kullu Dussehra is internationally famous |
| Jharkhand | Sarhul, Karma, Sohrai, Tusu | Sarhul is an important tribal festival |
| Karnataka | Mysuru Dasara, Ugadi, Hampi Utsav, Kambala | Mysuru Dasara is famous for grand processions |
| Kerala | Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram | Onam is Kerala’s major harvest festival |
| Madhya Pradesh | Khajuraho Dance Festival, Bhagoria, Tansen Samaroh | Bhagoria is associated with tribal communities |
| Maharashtra | Ganesh Chaturthi, Gudi Padwa, Nag Panchami, Makar Sankranti | Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on a grand scale |
| Manipur | Yaoshang, Lai Haraoba, Ningol Chakouba | Yaoshang is often called the Manipuri Holi |
| Meghalaya | Wangala, Nongkrem Dance Festival, Shad Suk Mynsiem | Wangala is associated with the Garo community |
| Mizoram | Chapchar Kut, Mim Kut, Pawl Kut | Chapchar Kut is a major Mizo festival |
| Nagaland | Hornbill Festival, Moatsu, Sekrenyi | Hornbill Festival showcases Naga culture |
| Odisha | Rath Yatra, Nuakhai, Raja Parba, Konark Festival | Rath Yatra is associated with Lord Jagannath |
| Punjab | Baisakhi, Lohri, Gurpurab, Hola Mohalla | Baisakhi is an important Sikh and harvest festival |
| Rajasthan | Gangaur, Teej, Pushkar Fair, Desert Festival | Pushkar Fair is held in Pushkar |
| Sikkim | Losar, Losoong, Pang Lhabsol, Saga Dawa | Pang Lhabsol is associated with Mount Kanchenjunga |
| Tamil Nadu | Pongal, Tamil New Year, Thaipusam, Natyanjali | Pongal is the major harvest festival |
| Telangana | Bathukamma, Bonalu, Ugadi, Sammakka Saralamma Jatara | Bathukamma is a major floral festival |
| Tripura | Kharchi Puja, Garia Puja, Ker Puja | Kharchi Puja is celebrated in Agartala |
| Uttar Pradesh | Kumbh Mela, Holi, Diwali, Dev Deepawali, Ram Navami | Prayagraj is famous for Kumbh Mela |
| Uttarakhand | Kumbh Mela, Nanda Devi Raj Jat, Harela, Phool Dei | Harela is associated with greenery and agriculture |
| West Bengal | Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Poila Boishakh, Gangasagar Mela | Durga Puja is the most famous festival |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Baisakhi, Lohri, Shivratri, Hemis Festival | Hemis is a major Buddhist festival of Ladakh region |
| Ladakh | Hemis, Losar, Dosmoche, Losoong | Hemis Festival is held at Hemis Monastery |
| Delhi | Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Republic Day celebrations | Major national and religious festivals |
2. Important National & Religious Festivals
| Festival | Religion/Community | Important Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Diwali | Hindu, Jain, Sikh traditions | Festival of Lights |
| Holi | Hindu | Festival of Colours |
| Dussehra/Vijayadashami | Hindu | Victory of good over evil |
| Navratri | Hindu | Nine-night festival dedicated to Goddess Durga |
| Makar Sankranti | Hindu | Marks the Sun’s transition into Capricorn |
| Ram Navami | Hindu | Birth of Lord Rama |
| Janmashtami | Hindu | Birth of Lord Krishna |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu | Birth of Lord Ganesha |
| Mahashivratri | Hindu | Dedicated to Lord Shiva |
| Raksha Bandhan | Hindu | Celebration of brother-sister bond |
| Onam | Hindu/Kerala cultural festival | Harvest festival of Kerala |
| Pongal | Hindu/Tamil cultural festival | Harvest festival of Tamil Nadu |
| Baisakhi | Sikh/Hindu | Harvest festival; important in Sikh history |
| Gurpurab | Sikh | Celebrates Sikh Gurus |
| Eid-ul-Fitr | Islam | Marks the end of Ramadan |
| Eid-ul-Adha | Islam | Festival of Sacrifice |
| Muharram | Islam | Important Islamic observance |
| Christmas | Christianity | Birth of Jesus Christ |
| Good Friday | Christianity | Commemorates crucifixion of Jesus |
| Easter | Christianity | Celebrates resurrection of Jesus |
| Buddha Purnima | Buddhism | Associated with Gautama Buddha |
| Mahavir Jayanti | Jainism | Birth of Lord Mahavira |
| Paryushan | Jainism | Important Jain religious observance |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | Sikhism | Birth anniversary of Guru Nanak |
| Losar | Tibetan Buddhism | Tibetan/Ladakhi New Year |
3. Important Harvest Festivals
| Festival | State/Region |
|---|---|
| Pongal | Tamil Nadu |
| Onam | Kerala |
| Baisakhi | Punjab & North India |
| Bihu | Assam |
| Makar Sankranti | Pan-India |
| Lohri | Punjab, Haryana & North India |
| Nuakhai | Odisha |
| Nabanna | West Bengal |
| Harela | Uttarakhand |
| Wangala | Meghalaya |
| Sohrai | Jharkhand |
| Losoong | Sikkim |
4. Important Tribal Festivals
| Festival | State | Tribe/Community |
|---|---|---|
| Hornbill Festival | Nagaland | Naga tribes |
| Wangala | Meghalaya | Garo |
| Chapchar Kut | Mizoram | Mizo |
| Sarhul | Jharkhand | Tribal communities |
| Karma | Jharkhand/Chhattisgarh | Tribal communities |
| Solung | Arunachal Pradesh | Adi |
| Nyokum | Arunachal Pradesh | Nyishi |
| Dree | Arunachal Pradesh | Apatani |
| Bhagoria | Madhya Pradesh | Bhil/Bhilala |
| Bastar Dussehra | Chhattisgarh | Bastar tribal communities |
| Harela | Uttarakhand | Kumaoni tradition |
5. Famous Dance & Cultural Festivals
| Festival/Fair | State | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Hornbill Festival | Nagaland | Naga culture |
| Surajkund International Crafts Mela | Haryana | Handicrafts |
| Pushkar Camel Fair | Rajasthan | Camel/livestock fair |
| Khajuraho Dance Festival | Madhya Pradesh | Classical dance |
| Konark Dance Festival | Odisha | Classical dance |
| Mysuru Dasara | Karnataka | Cultural procession |
| Kullu Dussehra | Himachal Pradesh | Dussehra celebrations |
| Goa Carnival | Goa | Processions and cultural celebrations |
| Hemis Festival | Ladakh | Buddhist cultural festival |
| Thrissur Pooram | Kerala | Temple festival and decorated elephants |
| Bastar Dussehra | Chhattisgarh | Tribal traditions |
6. Important Festivals & Their Famous Locations
| Festival | Famous Place |
|---|---|
| Durga Puja | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Kumbh Mela | Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, Ujjain |
| Rath Yatra | Puri, Odisha |
| Pushkar Fair | Pushkar, Rajasthan |
| Hornbill Festival | Kisama, Nagaland |
| Hemis Festival | Hemis, Ladakh |
| Thrissur Pooram | Thrissur, Kerala |
| Kullu Dussehra | Kullu, Himachal Pradesh |
| Mysuru Dasara | Mysuru, Karnataka |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Onam | Kerala |
| Pongal | Tamil Nadu |
| Bihu | Assam |
| Bathukamma | Telangana |
| Nuakhai | Odisha |
| Gangaur | Rajasthan |
| Wangala | Meghalaya |
| Chapchar Kut | Mizoram |
7. Important Unique Festivals
Bihu – Assam
Three major forms:
- Rongali/Bohag Bihu – Assamese New Year and spring
- Bhogali/Magh Bihu – harvest festival
- Kongali/Kati Bihu – associated with the agricultural season
Onam – Kerala
- Major festival of Kerala.
- Associated with the legend of King Mahabali.
- Famous for Vallam Kali (boat races) and Pookalam.
Pongal – Tamil Nadu
- Four-day harvest festival.
- Important forms include Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal.
Bathukamma – Telangana
- Famous floral festival of Telangana.
- Celebrated mainly by women.
Hornbill Festival – Nagaland
- Also called the “Festival of Festivals.”
- Showcases the culture and traditions of Nagaland’s tribes.
Rath Yatra – Odisha
- Famous Jagannath Rath Yatra is held at Puri.
- Associated with Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
Kullu Dussehra – Himachal Pradesh
- Celebrated in Kullu Valley.
- Famous for its unique week-long celebrations.
Hemis Festival – Ladakh
- Held at Hemis Monastery.
- Celebrates Guru Padmasambhava and Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
8. Important Buddhist Festivals
| Festival | Significance |
|---|---|
| Buddha Purnima | Birth, enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of Gautama Buddha |
| Losar | Tibetan/Ladakhi New Year |
| Hemis | Buddhist festival of Ladakh |
| Saga Dawa | Important Buddhist festival |
| Lhabab Duchen | Buddhist religious festival |
9. Important Jain Festivals
| Festival | Significance |
|---|---|
| Mahavir Jayanti | Birth of Lord Mahavira |
| Paryushan | Major Jain period of spiritual observance |
| Samvatsari | Important concluding day of Paryushan among Shvetambar Jains |
| Paryushan Parva | Forgiveness, fasting and spiritual purification |
10. Important Sikh Festivals
| Festival | Significance |
|---|---|
| Baisakhi | Formation of Khalsa in 1699 |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | Birth anniversary of Guru Nanak |
| Hola Mohalla | Sikh martial and cultural festival |
| Lohri | Popular harvest festival in Punjab |
11. Important Muslim Festivals
| Festival | Significance |
|---|---|
| Eid-ul-Fitr | End of Ramadan |
| Eid-ul-Adha | Festival of Sacrifice |
| Muharram | Important Islamic month/observance |
| Milad-un-Nabi | Birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad |
| Shab-e-Barat | Night of forgiveness/mercy in many Muslim traditions |
12. Important Christian Festivals
| Festival | Significance |
|---|---|
| Christmas | Birth of Jesus Christ |
| Good Friday | Crucifixion of Jesus |
| Easter | Resurrection of Jesus |
| Palm Sunday | Beginning of Holy Week |
| Epiphany | Commemoration of the manifestation of Christ |