Short backgrounds on observances across the faiths listed on this site.
Holiday names open the Holiday Calendar with dates for that observance.
Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters and commonly concludes the main Diwali festival period. Sisters traditionally perform a ceremony for their brothers that may include applying tilak and offering prayers for their well-being, while brothers may give gifts in return. Customs vary by region and family, and the festival is especially prominent in northern and western India.
Chhath Puja is a major festival dedicated to Surya, the sun god, and is especially important in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Nepal's Terai region, and related diaspora communities. Observed over several days, it includes fasting, ritual bathing, and offerings to the setting and rising sun, often at rivers or other bodies of water.
Dhanteras marks the beginning of the Diwali festival period in many traditions. Associated with prosperity and well-being, it is linked particularly with Lakshmi and Dhanvantari. Customs may include cleaning and decorating the home, lighting lamps, worship, and purchasing items such as metal utensils, jewelry, or gold. It is generally observed two days before the main Diwali celebration.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals. Homes and temples are illuminated with lamps, and observances may include worship, family gatherings, sweets, gifts, and fireworks. Its religious associations vary by region and tradition, including Rama's return to Ayodhya and the worship of Lakshmi. The festival broadly celebrates light over darkness and good over evil.
Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, celebrates the victory of good over evil and concludes the Navaratri period. In different traditions it commemorates Rama's victory over Ravana or Durga's victory over Mahishasura. Celebrations may include Ramayana performances, processions, the burning of Ravana effigies, or the immersion of Durga images. Customs vary considerably by region.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates Ganesha, the deity associated with wisdom, new beginnings, and the removal of obstacles. Families and communities install images of Ganesha, offer prayers and sweets, and later carry the images in procession for immersion in water. The festival may last from one to eleven days and is especially prominent in Maharashtra and parts of western and southern India.
Govardhan Puja commemorates Krishna's lifting of Mount Govardhan to protect the people of Vrindavan and is generally observed during the Diwali festival period. In many Vaishnava traditions it is associated with Annakut, when large displays of vegetarian food are offered to Krishna. The observance emphasizes gratitude, divine protection, and devotion.
Guru Purnima honors spiritual teachers and the tradition through which sacred knowledge is transmitted. Hindus may offer respect to gurus and teachers, participate in worship or study, and reflect on the importance of guidance and learning. The observance falls on the full moon of the Hindu month of Ashadha and is also significant in other Indian religious traditions.
Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the birth of Hanuman, revered for his devotion to Rama, strength, courage, and selfless service. Observances may include temple worship, fasting, devotional singing, and recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa or passages from the Ramayana. The date varies among regional Hindu traditions, with many communities observing it around the full moon of Chaitra.
Holi is a spring festival associated with joy, renewal, and the triumph of good over evil. The evening before the main celebration commonly features Holika Dahan, a ritual bonfire recalling the story of Prahlada and Holika. The following day is widely celebrated with colored powders, water, music, food, and community gatherings. Customs vary significantly by region.
Karva Chauth is a fasting observance practiced particularly by married Hindu women in parts of northern India for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. The fast traditionally extends from before sunrise until the moon is sighted at night and may include a pre-dawn meal, prayer, storytelling, and evening rituals. Customs and participation vary by family and community.
Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Krishna, one of the most widely revered deities in Hindu traditions. Devotees may fast, sing devotional songs, recite or hear accounts of Krishna's life, and hold nighttime worship associated with the traditional hour of his birth. Temple celebrations can continue past midnight, with customs varying among Vaishnava traditions and regions.
Maha Shivaratri, the Great Night of Shiva, is a major festival devoted to Shiva. Many devotees observe fasting, prayer, meditation, and an all-night vigil, with repeated worship of the Shiva linga and offerings such as water and bilva leaves. The festival emphasizes devotion, spiritual discipline, and contemplation and occurs during the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna.
Pongal is a major Tamil harvest festival expressing gratitude for the harvest, the sun, cattle, and agricultural life. Its central observance, Thai Pongal, includes boiling newly harvested rice with milk until it overflows, symbolizing abundance. The festival extends over several days, commonly including Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal, and coincides closely with Makar Sankranti.
Naraka Chaturdashi is part of the Diwali festival period and is often called Choti Diwali in northern India. Traditions commonly associate it with Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura, while customs in some regions include early-morning ritual bathing, lamps, and festive preparations. Its meaning and manner of observance vary considerably across India.
Navaratri, meaning nine nights, is a festival devoted to the Divine Feminine, particularly forms of the Goddess such as Durga. Worship, fasting, devotional music, and dance may mark the nine nights, with regional traditions including garba and dandiya in Gujarat and Durga Puja in eastern India. The major autumn observance culminates in Vijayadashami, or Dussehra.
Onam is a major festival of Kerala associated with the legendary return of King Mahabali and with harvest and regional cultural traditions. Celebrations may include elaborate floral designs called pookalam, the Onam sadya feast, family gatherings, performances, and boat races. The festival extends over several days, with Thiruvonam serving as its principal day.
Pongal is the Tamil harvest festival, giving thanks for the sun, rain, and crops. Fresh rice is boiled with milk and offered; homes are cleaned and decorated. It often aligns closely with Makar Sankranti on the solar calendar. Celebrations may extend over several days with different names (Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal). It is major in Tamil Nadu and among Tamil diaspora communities. Agricultural gratitude is the central theme.
Raksha Bandhan celebrates bonds of affection, protection, and responsibility, traditionally between sisters and brothers. A sister commonly ties a rakhi, or sacred thread, around her brother's wrist and offers prayers for his well-being, while he may give a gift and pledge support in return. Practices have broadened in many families and communities beyond the traditional brother-sister relationship.
Ram Navami celebrates the birth of Rama, revered as an incarnation of Vishnu and the central figure of the Ramayana. Devotees may attend temple worship, recite or listen to the Ramayana, sing bhajans, fast, and participate in processions. The festival falls on the ninth day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Chaitra.
Ugadi and Gudi Padwa are related New Year observances celebrated in different regions of India at the beginning of the Hindu lunisolar year. Ugadi is especially associated with Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, while Gudi Padwa is prominent in Maharashtra. Customs include cleaning and decorating homes, special foods, worship, and prayers for prosperity in the year ahead.
Vasant Panchami marks the approach of spring and is widely associated with Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, learning, music, and the arts. Worship may include prayers to Saraswati and the honoring of books, musical instruments, and tools of study. Yellow clothing, flowers, and foods are common in many regions, reflecting the colors associated with the season.
This holiday reference covers major observances across the faiths listed on this site. Local and regional customs can still differ. If something important to your community is missing, or a description needs a correction, please write to us at info@mysacredtimes.com.
