Important State Festivals

● Brahmotsavam- celebrated at Sri

Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, for 9 days
Andhra
during the months of September – October.
Pradesh
● Bhishma Ekadasi, Deccan Festival, Pitr,
Sankranthi, Tyagaraja Festival

● Losar Festival- Tibetan New year, Marked with

Arunachal ancient ceremonies that represent the struggle
Pradesh between good and evil
● Chalo Loku, Pongtu

● Bohag Bihu- The spring festival of Bohaag

Bihu or Rongali Bihu ushers in the New Year in
Assam the State of Assam, which marks the onset of a
new agricultural cycle.
● Magh or Bhogali Bihu

● Chhath Puja- Also called Dala Puja devoted to

Bihar worshiping the sun is traditionally celebrated by
the people of Bihar.
 ● Bastar Dussehra - The longest Dussehra
celebration in the world is celebrated in Bastar
and spans over 75 days starting around August
Chhattisgarh and ending in October.
● Maghi Purnima- It is the flagship festival of this
state which encompasses the birth anniversary of
Guru Ghasidas.

● Carnival- Three-day non-stop extravaganza of

fun, song, music, and dance celebrated just
before the 40 days of Lent.
Goa
● Shigmo Mela- it is a counterpart of the festival
of colors Holi
● Sunburn Festival

● Janmashtami - Birth anniversary of Lord

Krishna
Gujarat ● Diwali - Festival of Lights, Festival marks the
beginning of the New Year.
● Navaratra, Kutch Rann Utsav
 ● Gochi Festival- In this festival the villagers
celebrate the birth of male children. Token
marriages of children below the age of six are
also performed
Himachal
● Mahashivaratri- A week-long International
Pradesh
Mandi Shivratri Fair and Sobha Yatra are held
near the Temple of Bhoothnath (Lord Shiva)
every year
● Rakhadumni

● Gugga Naumi - Snake-worship. It is observed

Haryana in the months of August-September.
● Surajkund Mela, Baishakhi

● Eid-ul-Fitr - marks the end of fasting month of

Ramadan.
● Eid-ul-Azha - More prominent for the Qurbani
(sacrifice). People sacrifice goats, sheep and
Jammu and
some even camels
Kashmir
● Bahu Mela- It is a biannual festival held at the
Kali Temple in Bahu Fort. It is celebrated twice a
year in the month of March-April and
September-October.
 ● Chhari (Pilgrimage to Amarnath cave), Urs,
Har Navami

● Karam Festival - It is celebrated 15 days after

the Kunwaar-Shukla-Paksha.
Jharkhand
● Holi- Festival of colors, celebrated in the
months of February/March.

● Ugadi- Celebrated in the second half of March

or in early April. It marks the beginning of the
new Hindu lunar calendar.
Karnataka ● Mahamastakabhisheka – Held once every 12
years in veneration of Gomateswara Bahubali at
Sravanbelagola.
● Mysore Dasara, Makar Sankramana.
 ● Onam- The festival is celebrated to welcome
King Mahabali. It is celebrated in Chingam
(August-September) and lasts for ten days.
Vallamkali, the enchanting Snake Boat Race, Folk
Kerala
performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add
to the zest of celebrations. Nehru Trophy Boat
Race is also organized.
● Vishu, Pooram

● Lokrang festival - Most iconic dance festival of

Madhya MP which signifies the existing legacy of its
Pradesh dance
● Diwali, Khajuraho Dance Festival

● Nongkrem Dance Festival- Five days long

religious festival devoted to appeasing the
Meghalaya Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich bumper
harvest and prosperity of the people
● Khasis - Dance festival
 ● Ganesh Chaturthi- Falls in months of August -
September. Ganesh images are kept in houses as
a divine guest for five to ten days by people. The
Maharashtra image is then taken out ceremoniously and
immersed in the river, sea or well. It is called the
Visarjan.
● Nag Panchami, Navratri, Gudi Padva

● Yaoshang- It is celebrated for five days. It

commences from the full moon day of Phalguna
Manipur
(February/March). The main highlight of the
festival is the Thabal Chongba dance.

● ChapcharKut Festival - Marks the clearing and

Mizoram readying of hill slopes for jhum or shifting
cultivation.
 ● Hornbill Festival- It is one of the biggest
cultural extravaganzas in the North East & held
every year from Dec1-10. It is a festival to
protect, revive and promote the richness of the
Nagaland Naga heritage and traditions.
● Sekrenyi – It is celebrated by the Angami Tribe.
It is also associated with celebrating the rich
culture of the tribes that has lasted for many a
moon.

● Rath Yatra (Dola Yatra) – It triggers the

construction of the Oriya calendar and its
consequent presentation to their deity Jagannath
who also carries another name of Dola Govinda.
Odisha Mainly celebrated at Puri.
● Raja Parba - It is the living cultural heritage and
agricultural way of life. It is held for three days in
June.
● Akshaya Tritiya, Konark Festival
 ● Lohri – It is celebrated on the 13th of January a
day before Makar Sankranti. It is dedicated to the
Sun god.
● Baisakhi - Marks the time for the harvest of
Punjab
Rabi crops. Traditional folk dances Bhangra and
Giddha are performed by men and women to the
beat of Dhol
● Bandi Chhor Divas, Guru Parab

● Gangaur Festival - It falls a fortnight after Holi

& is celebrated for 18 days in honor of Goddess
Rajasthan Parvati mostly by the womenfolk of Rajasthan. It
is also the consequent celebration of the harvest.
● Teej, Pushkar Fair, Urs at Ajmer.

● Losar – Celebrated on the dawn of the new

Tibetan year
Sikkim
● Saga Dawa - Magnificent carnival famous for
masked dances
 ● Pongal- Four-day-long harvest festival which
falls in the month of January-February. Bhogi
Tamil Nadu festival, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal is celebrated.
It is the local Makar Sankranti of this state.
● Thyagaraja Aradhana, Jallikattu, Panguni
Uthiram, Puthandu (Tamil New Year)

● Bonalu- The word Bonalu came from

"Bhojanalu" which is offered to the goddess
Telangana during festival time.
● Bathukamma – It involves the worship of
goddess Gauri and consequent celebrations.

● Kharchi Puja - It is the worship of the fourteen

gods of Tripura and is celebrated in the month of
Tripura July-August. It ends up with sacrifices of cattle to
the Earth God.
● Tripureshwari Temple Festival.

● Durga Puja- Also referred to as Durgotsava. It

West Bengal is commemorated by worshipping Goddess
Durga
 ● Ganga Dusshera- It is a day of devotion and
Uttaranchal faith celebrated in the month of June.
● Purna Kumbh Mela

● Navaratri - Celebrated for nine nights during

which people worship Goddess Durga and her
nine forms to seek her blessings.
Uttar ● Ram Navmi - Marks the birth anniversary of
Pradesh God Rama and is celebrated with the worship of
girls and other females of the society
● Brahmostav, Kans ka Mela, Sravana festival,
Ram Leela, Ganga Mahotsav

Popular Harvest Festivals Of Indian States

 ● Makar Sankranti (January) – celebrated Pan India
in different ways but mainly in the north.

● Baisakhi (April)- Punjab and Haryana

● Ladakh Harvest Festival (September) - Ladakh,

North
Zanskar, Kargil (J&K)
India
● Lohri (January) - Punjab

● Basant Panchami (January)– A festival to

celebrate the birth of goddess Saraswati,
Celebrated in different states of North India

North ● Bhogali Bihu (January)– Assam

East ● Wangala (November)- Meghalaya and Assam

India ● Ka Pomblang Nongkrem (November) – Meghalaya

East ● Nuakhai (August) – Orissa

And ● Gudi Padwa (March) – Maharashtra
West ● Nabanna (November and December) - West
India Bengal

● Onam (August) – Kerala

South ● Pongal (January) - Tamil Nadu

India ● Ugadi (March) - Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka

● Vishu (April) - Kerala and Karnataka.

 New Year Festival

Ugadi / Chaitra Suddha Andhra Pradesh and

Padyami Karnataka

Gudi Padva Maharashtra

Samvastsar Padvo Goa

Naba Barsha West Bengal

Puthando Tamil Nadu

Vishu Kerala

Important Fairs of Indian States

Fair Venue Place

Ambubachi Mela Kamakhya Temple Assam

Baneshwar Fair Dungarpur Mahadev

Rajasthan
Temple

Chandrabahaga Fair Jhalarapatan Rajasthan

Gangasagar Fair Gangasagar Island West Bengal

Madhavpur Mela Porbander Gujarat

Medaram Jatara or
Sammakka Medaram in
Telangana
Warangal
Saralamma Jatara

Thrissur Pooram Vadakkunnathan

Kerala
Temple in Thrissur

Surajkund
Surajkund in
Haryana
Handicrafts Mela Faridabad
Nauchandi Fair Uttar
Meerut
Pradesh

Nasik, Ujjain,
Kumbh Mela Nasik, Ujjain,
Allahabad,
Allahabad, Haridwar
Haridwar

Pushkar Fair Pushkar Rajasthan

Sonepur at the
Sonepur Cattle Fair confluence of Ganga Bihar
and Gandak

Important State Festivals

● Brahmotsavam- celebrated at Sri

Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, for 9 days
Andhra
during the months of September – October.
Pradesh
● Bhishma Ekadasi, Deccan Festival, Pitr,
Sankranthi, Tyagaraja Festival
 ● Losar Festival- Tibetan New year, Marked with
Arunachal ancient ceremonies that represent the struggle
Pradesh between good and evil
● Chalo Loku, Pongtu

● Bohag Bihu- The spring festival of Bohaag

Bihu or Rongali Bihu ushers in the New Year in
Assam the State of Assam, which marks the onset of a
new agricultural cycle.
● Magh or Bhogali Bihu

● Chhath Puja- Also called Dala Puja devoted to

Bihar worshiping the sun is traditionally celebrated by
the people of Bihar.

● Bastar Dussehra - The longest Dussehra

celebration in the world is celebrated in Bastar
and spans over 75 days starting around August
Chhattisgarh and ending in October.
● Maghi Purnima- It is the flagship festival of this
state which encompasses the birth anniversary of
Guru Ghasidas.
 ● Carnival- Three-day non-stop extravaganza of
fun, song, music, and dance celebrated just
before the 40 days of Lent.
Goa
● Shigmo Mela- it is a counterpart of the festival
of colors Holi
● Sunburn Festival

● Janmashtami - Birth anniversary of Lord

Krishna
Gujarat ● Diwali - Festival of Lights, Festival marks the
beginning of the New Year.
● Navaratra, Kutch Rann Utsav

● Gochi Festival- In this festival the villagers

celebrate the birth of male children. Token
marriages of children below the age of six are
also performed
Himachal
● Mahashivaratri- A week-long International
Pradesh
Mandi Shivratri Fair and Sobha Yatra are held
near the Temple of Bhoothnath (Lord Shiva)
every year
● Rakhadumni
 ● Gugga Naumi - Snake-worship. It is observed
Haryana in the months of August-September.
● Surajkund Mela, Baishakhi

● Eid-ul-Fitr - marks the end of fasting month of

Ramadan.
● Eid-ul-Azha - More prominent for the Qurbani
(sacrifice). People sacrifice goats, sheep and
some even camels
Jammu and
● Bahu Mela- It is a biannual festival held at the
Kashmir
Kali Temple in Bahu Fort. It is celebrated twice a
year in the month of March-April and
September-October.
● Chhari (Pilgrimage to Amarnath cave), Urs,
Har Navami

● Karam Festival - It is celebrated 15 days after

the Kunwaar-Shukla-Paksha.
Jharkhand
● Holi- Festival of colors, celebrated in the
months of February/March.
 ● Ugadi- Celebrated in the second half of March
or in early April. It marks the beginning of the
new Hindu lunar calendar.
Karnataka ● Mahamastakabhisheka – Held once every 12
years in veneration of Gomateswara Bahubali at
Sravanbelagola.
● Mysore Dasara, Makar Sankramana.

● Onam- The festival is celebrated to welcome

King Mahabali. It is celebrated in Chingam
(August-September) and lasts for ten days.
Vallamkali, the enchanting Snake Boat Race, Folk
Kerala
performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add
to the zest of celebrations. Nehru Trophy Boat
Race is also organized.
● Vishu, Pooram

● Lokrang festival - Most iconic dance festival of

Madhya MP which signifies the existing legacy of its
Pradesh dance
● Diwali, Khajuraho Dance Festival
 ● Nongkrem Dance Festival- Five days long
religious festival devoted to appeasing the
Meghalaya Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich bumper
harvest and prosperity of the people
● Khasis - Dance festival

● Ganesh Chaturthi- Falls in months of August -

September. Ganesh images are kept in houses as
a divine guest for five to ten days by people. The
Maharashtra image is then taken out ceremoniously and
immersed in the river, sea or well. It is called the
Visarjan.
● Nag Panchami, Navratri, Gudi Padva

● Yaoshang- It is celebrated for five days. It

commences from the full moon day of Phalguna
Manipur
(February/March). The main highlight of the
festival is the Thabal Chongba dance.

● ChapcharKut Festival - Marks the clearing and

Mizoram readying of hill slopes for jhum or shifting
cultivation.
 ● Hornbill Festival- It is one of the biggest
cultural extravaganzas in the North East & held
every year from Dec1-10. It is a festival to
protect, revive and promote the richness of the
Nagaland Naga heritage and traditions.
● Sekrenyi – It is celebrated by the Angami Tribe.
It is also associated with celebrating the rich
culture of the tribes that has lasted for many a
moon.

● Rath Yatra (Dola Yatra) – It triggers the

construction of the Oriya calendar and its
consequent presentation to their deity Jagannath
who also carries another name of Dola Govinda.
Odisha Mainly celebrated at Puri.
● Raja Parba - It is the living cultural heritage and
agricultural way of life. It is held for three days in
June.
● Akshaya Tritiya, Konark Festival
 ● Lohri – It is celebrated on the 13th of January a
day before Makar Sankranti. It is dedicated to the
Sun god.
● Baisakhi - Marks the time for the harvest of
Punjab
Rabi crops. Traditional folk dances Bhangra and
Giddha are performed by men and women to the
beat of Dhol
● Bandi Chhor Divas, Guru Parab

● Gangaur Festival - It falls a fortnight after Holi

& is celebrated for 18 days in honor of Goddess
Rajasthan Parvati mostly by the womenfolk of Rajasthan. It
is also the consequent celebration of the harvest.
● Teej, Pushkar Fair, Urs at Ajmer.

● Losar – Celebrated on the dawn of the new

Tibetan year
Sikkim
● Saga Dawa - Magnificent carnival famous for
masked dances
 ● Pongal- Four-day-long harvest festival which
falls in the month of January-February. Bhogi
Tamil Nadu festival, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal is celebrated.
It is the local Makar Sankranti of this state.
● Thyagaraja Aradhana, Jallikattu, Panguni
Uthiram, Puthandu (Tamil New Year)

● Bonalu- The word Bonalu came from

"Bhojanalu" which is offered to the goddess
Telangana during festival time.
● Bathukamma – It involves the worship of
goddess Gauri and consequent celebrations.

● Kharchi Puja - It is the worship of the fourteen

gods of Tripura and is celebrated in the month of
Tripura July-August. It ends up with sacrifices of cattle to
the Earth God.
● Tripureshwari Temple Festival.

● Durga Puja- Also referred to as Durgotsava. It

West Bengal is commemorated by worshipping Goddess
Durga
 ● Ganga Dusshera- It is a day of devotion and
Uttaranchal faith celebrated in the month of June.
● Purna Kumbh Mela

● Navaratri - Celebrated for nine nights during

which people worship Goddess Durga and her
nine forms to seek her blessings.
Uttar ● Ram Navmi - Marks the birth anniversary of
Pradesh God Rama and is celebrated with the worship of
girls and other females of the society
● Brahmostav, Kans ka Mela, Sravana festival,
Ram Leela, Ganga Mahotsav

Popular Harvest Festivals Of Indian States

 ● Makar Sankranti (January) – celebrated Pan India
in different ways but mainly in the north.

● Baisakhi (April)- Punjab and Haryana

● Ladakh Harvest Festival (September) - Ladakh,

North
Zanskar, Kargil (J&K)
India
● Lohri (January) - Punjab

● Basant Panchami (January)– A festival to

celebrate the birth of goddess Saraswati,
Celebrated in different states of North India

North ● Bhogali Bihu (January)– Assam

East ● Wangala (November)- Meghalaya and Assam

India ● Ka Pomblang Nongkrem (November) – Meghalaya

East ● Nuakhai (August) – Orissa

And ● Gudi Padwa (March) – Maharashtra
West ● Nabanna (November and December) - West
India Bengal

● Onam (August) – Kerala

South ● Pongal (January) - Tamil Nadu

India ● Ugadi (March) - Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka

● Vishu (April) - Kerala and Karnataka.

 New Year Festival

Ugadi / Chaitra Suddha Andhra Pradesh and

Padyami Karnataka

Gudi Padva Maharashtra

Samvastsar Padvo Goa

Naba Barsha West Bengal

Puthando Tamil Nadu

Vishu Kerala

Important Fairs of Indian States

Fair Venue Place

Ambubachi Mela Kamakhya Temple Assam

Baneshwar Fair Dungarpur Mahadev

Rajasthan
Temple

Chandrabahaga Fair Jhalarapatan Rajasthan

Gangasagar Fair Gangasagar Island West Bengal

Madhavpur Mela Porbander Gujarat

Medaram Jatara or
Sammakka Medaram in
Telangana
Warangal
Saralamma Jatara

Thrissur Pooram Vadakkunnathan

Kerala
Temple in Thrissur

Surajkund
Surajkund in
Haryana
Handicrafts Mela Faridabad
Nauchandi Fair Uttar
Meerut
Pradesh

Nasik, Ujjain,
Kumbh Mela Nasik, Ujjain,
Allahabad,
Allahabad, Haridwar
Haridwar

Pushkar Fair Pushkar Rajasthan

Sonepur at the
Sonepur Cattle Fair confluence of Ganga Bihar
and Gandak