Festivals of India State wise List

India’s festivals — from Diwali and Holi to Eid, Christmas, and Independence Day — transcend regions, uniting people through shared joy and diverse traditions. These celebrations reflect the nation’s cultural richness and promote unity across communities.

Below, we explore how each Indian state adds its own unique touch to this vibrant festive shades.

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India is a land of festivals throughout the year

Prominent Festival of States(Click to see details)

Details

1. Andhra Pradesh

• Festival Name: Ugadi

• Description: The Telugu New Year, celebrated with special dishes, prayers, and cultural events.

• When It’s Celebrated: March/April

• What Makes It Special: Preparation of Ugadi Pachadi, traditional prayers, and cultural performances.

2. Arunachal Pradesh

• Festival Name: Losar

• Description: The Monpa tribe’s New Year festival, celebrated with traditional dances, music, and feasts.

• When It’s Celebrated: February/March

• What Makes It Special: Traditional rituals, dances, and community feasts.

3. Assam

• Festival Name: Bihu

• Description: A set of three festivals (Rongali, Kongali, and Bhogali) celebrating the Assamese New Year and harvest.

• When It’s Celebrated: April, October, January

• What Makes It Special: Traditional Bihu dance, music, and community feasts.

4. Bihar

• Festival Name: Chhath Puja

• Description: A festival dedicated to the Sun God, marked by fasting, prayers, and offerings to the setting and rising sun.

• When It’s Celebrated: October/November

• What Makes It Special: Devotees stand in water bodies to offer prayers to the Sun God.

5. Chhattisgarh

• Festival Name: Bastar Dussehra

• Description: A unique 75-day world longest festival celebrating the victory of good over evil, marked by rituals and cultural events.

• When It’s Celebrated: September/October

• What Makes It Special: Longest Dussehra celebration in India, with tribal rituals and cultural performances.

6. Goa

• Festival Name: Carnival

• Description: A vibrant festival with parades, music, and dance, reflecting the state’s Portuguese heritage.

• When It’s Celebrated: February/March

• What Makes It Special: Colorful parades, music, dance, and street performances.

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7. Gujarat

• Festival Name: Navratri

• Description: A nine-night festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, celebrated with Garba and Dandiya dances.

• When It’s Celebrated: September/October

• What Makes It Special: Vibrant Garba and Dandiya dances, traditional attire, and community gatherings.

8. Haryana

• Festival Name: Baisakhi

• Description: A harvest festival marking the Punjabi New Year, celebrated with bhangra dances and fairs.

• When It’s Celebrated: April

• What Makes It Special: Bhangra and Gidda dances, fairs, and community feasts.

9. Himachal Pradesh

• Festival Name: Kullu Dussehra

• Description: A week-long festival celebrating the victory of good over evil, marked by processions and cultural performances.

• When It’s Celebrated: October

• What Makes It Special: The grand procession of deities from various temples, cultural performances, and fairs.

10. Jharkhand

• Festival Name: Sarhul

• Description: A tribal festival celebrating the new flowers of the Sal tree, marked by rituals and dances.

• When It’s Celebrated: March/April

• What Makes It Special: Traditional tribal rituals, dances, and community feasts.

11. Karnataka

• Festival Name: Mysore Dasara

• Description: A 10-day festival celebrating the victory of good over evil, marked by grand processions and cultural events.

• When It’s Celebrated: September/October

• What Makes It Special: The grand procession with decorated elephants, cultural performances, and illuminated Mysore Palace.

12. Kerala

• Festival Name: Onam

• Description: A harvest festival celebrated with elaborate feasts, boat races, and traditional dances.

• When It’s Celebrated: August/September

• What Makes It Special: The grand feast called Onam Sadhya, Pookalam (flower rangoli), and Vallam Kali (boat races).

13. Madhya Pradesh

• Festival Name: Lokrang Festival

• Description: A cultural festival showcasing the folk traditions of India, marked by performances and exhibitions.

• When It’s Celebrated: January

• What Makes It Special: Folk dances, music, and cultural exhibitions from various states.

14. Maharashtra

• Festival Name: Ganesh Chaturthi

• Description: A 10-day festival honoring Lord Ganesha with grand processions and idol immersions.

• When It’s Celebrated: August/September

• What Makes It Special: Elaborate pandals, cultural performances, and the immersion of Ganesha idols in water bodies.

15. Manipur

• Festival Name: Yaoshang

• Description: A five-day festival similar to Holi, marked by sports events, cultural performances, and rituals.

• When It’s Celebrated: February/March

• What Makes It Special: Thabal Chongba (traditional dance), sports events, and community feasts.

16. Meghalaya

• Festival Name: Wangala

• Description: A harvest festival of the Garo tribe, featuring traditional music, dance, and rituals.

• When It’s Celebrated: November

• What Makes It Special: Traditional drum beats, dances, and rituals celebrating the harvest season.

17. Mizoram

• Festival Name: Chapchar Kut

• Description: A spring festival celebrating the end of the jhum cultivation season, marked by traditional dances and music.

• When It’s Celebrated: March

• What Makes It Special: Traditional dances, music, and community feasts.

18. Nagaland

• Festival Name: Hornbill Festival

• Description: A cultural festival showcasing the heritage of the Naga tribes, marked by traditional dances, music, and crafts.

• When It’s Celebrated: December

• What Makes It Special: Traditional Naga dances, music, crafts, and food.

19. Odisha

• Festival Name: Rath Yatra

• Description: A chariot festival celebrating Lord Jagannath, marked by grand processions of deities on chariots.

• When It’s Celebrated: June/July

• What Makes It Special: The pulling of the chariots by devotees, symbolizing unity and devotion.

20. Punjab

• Festival Name: Baisakhi

• Description: A harvest festival marking the Punjabi New Year, celebrated with bhangra dances and fairs.

• When It’s Celebrated: April

• What Makes It Special: Bhangra and Gidda dances, fairs, and community feasts.

21. Rajasthan

• Festival Name: Teej

• Description: A festival celebrating the monsoon season and marital bliss, marked by swings, songs, and dances.

• When It’s Celebrated: July/August

• What Makes It Special: Women dress in traditional attire, perform folk dances, and enjoy swings decorated with flowers.

22. Sikkim

• Festival Name: Losar

• Description: The Tibetan New Year celebrated with traditional music, dance, and feasts.

• When It’s Celebrated: February/March

• What Makes It Special: Traditional rituals, dances, and community feasts.

23. Tamil Nadu

• Festival Name: Pongal

• Description: A harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God, celebrated with cooking of the Pongal dish.

• When It’s Celebrated: January

• What Makes It Special: Traditional cooking of Pongal, cattle races, and Kolam (rangoli) designs.

24. Telangana

• Festival Name: Bonalu

• Description: A festival dedicated to the Goddess Mahakali, marked by offerings, dances, and processions.

• When It’s Celebrated: July/August

• What Makes It Special: Colorful processions, traditional dances, and offerings to the goddess.

25. Tripura

• Festival Name: Kharchi Puja

• Description: A festival dedicated to the 14 deities, marked by rituals, dances, and community feasts.

• When It’s Celebrated: July

• What Makes It Special: Traditional rituals, dances, and community feasts.

26. Uttar Pradesh

• Festival Name: Diwali

• Description: The festival of lights, celebrating the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

• When It’s Celebrated: October/November

• What Makes It Special: Lighting of diyas, bursting of fireworks, and elaborate feasts.

27. Uttarakhand

• Festival Name: Ganga Dussehra

• Description: A festival dedicated to the worship of the Ganges River, marked by rituals and fairs.

• When It’s Celebrated: May/June

• What Makes It Special: Devotees take a dip in the Ganges to cleanse their sins, and fairs are held along the riverbanks.

28. West Bengal

• Festival Name: Durga Puja

• Description: A grand celebration of the goddess Durga with elaborate pandals, cultural performances, and processions.

• When It’s Celebrated: September/October

• What Makes It Special: Artistic pandals, traditional dances, and community feasts.

Please note above list includes only 28 states, several festivals are also celebrated in 8 Union Territories that are not mentioned in this post.

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