Festivals of India

India is a land of festivals, and no month passes by without a festival being celebrated. There is a lot of pomp, splendour and gaiety associated with each festival. Sharing of gifts, gift articles and tokens of money are a part of such celebrations. Some of the major festivals are mentioned below with a description of each festival mentioned underneath.

Ganesh Chaturthi - 23rd August 2009

Ganesh Chathurthi is the festival that celebrates the birth of Ganesha the son of Siva and Parvati. This festival starts on the fourth day (Shukla Chaturthi) of the waxing period of the moon in the Hindu month of Bhaadrapada, and lasts 10 days in most regions of India. People also celebrate this festival by exchanging gifts and cards amongst each other. Read More

Teacher's Day - 5th September 2009

Teacher's day in India is celebrated on the birth anniversary of the second president of India Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. School students commemorate this day by conducting various academic activities and celebrations as an act of thanks and remembrance to their teachers. On this day, children offer cards and gifts to their teachers as a token of love and appreciation. Read More

Onam - 2nd September 2009

Onam is the annual harvest festival celebrated in the State of Kerala. It falls during the month of Chingam, the first month of the Malayalee calendar, and lasts for 10 days. People send special Onam gifts like jewellery, flowers, apparel, aesthetic indoor decoration, and cards to each other to celebrate the occasion. Read More

Grandparent's Day - 13th September 2009

Grandparent's day is a secular festival that is celebrated to honour and strengthen family values and the role that grandparents play in the family. People celebrate this festival by giving gifts and cards to their grandparents.

Durga Puja - 29th September 2009

Durga Puja is celebrated with pomp and splendour all over India especially in West Bengal in worship of Goddess Durga. People purchase new clothes, jewellery, and other finery to participate in the Durga Puja celebrations.

Navratri / Dussehra - 19th September - 27th September 2009

Navratri, meaning nine nights, is the worship of nine forms of Shakti, or divine energy of the Goddess Durga. This festival lasts nine nights and is celebrated during the commencement of Sharad Ritu - i.e the winter months of September and October. People purchase new clothes like chaniya cholis, jewellery, and other finery to participate in the Navratri celebrations. Read More

Id-ul-Fitr

Id-ul-Fitr is a festival that commemorates the end of fasting during Islamic holy month of Ramadan or Ramzan. This festival lasts three days and beings the day after Ramzan ends. The commencement of this festival is verified by the sighting of the new moon. Muslims buy new clothes and exchange sweets as part of the gaieties.

Boss's Day - 16th October 2009

Boss's day is celebrated to thank bosses for their motivation and encouragement to their staff and employees. People celebrate this day by giving cards and gifts to their bosses.

Dhanteras - 15th October 2009

Dhanteras is an auspicious day is celebrated on the 13th day of the dark fortnight (shukla paksh) of the month of Kartik. It is celebrated either in worship of Goddess Lakshmi - the Goddess of wealth or in the honour of Dhanavantari - the physician of the Gods.

On this day, Hindus purchase auspicious items like gold, silver, jewellery, utensils, and other precious metals in keeping with the traditional convention. People also send gifts like sweets, silver coins, crockery and utensils, jewellery, and cooking accessories to each other as part of celebrating Dhanteras.

Diwali - 17th October 2009

Diwali is the Indian festival of lights. It is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Ram and His wife Sita to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. On this day, people light lamps and burst crackers. It is symbolic of the victory of good over evil. People also send gifts like sweets, dry fruits, gift hampers, diwali decor, diwali puja thali and such to each other. Read More

Bhai Dooj - 19th October 2009

Also called Bhaiya Dooj, this festival is celebrated two days after Diwali in the Hindu month of Kartik. Sisters apply auspicious 'tikka' on their brother's foreheads and brothers promise to protect them and keep them away from harm. Towards the end of this custom, they exchange gifts and sweets for each other.

Children's Day - 14th November 2009

Children's day in India is celebrated on 14th November 2009 - the birthday of India's first Prime Minister - Jawahar Lal Nehru. Celebrating this day means giving children the right to enjoy their childhood and grow to become healthy and educated children of the country. Read More

Thanksgiving Gifts - 26th November 2009

Thanksgiving Day is a traditional North American Holiday, which is a form of harvest festival. It is celebration as a way of thanks for whatever one has at the end of the harvest season. Read More

Christmas - 25th December, 2009

Christmas is traditionally celebrated on 25th December of every year with aplomb and much gaiety as the birth of Jesus Christ. Although a Christian holiday, it is also observed as a cultural holiday the world over. On this day, Jesus was born in a manger. He has millions of followers all across the world. People celebrate Christmas by attending mass in churches and giving Holy Christmas gifts to each other. Read More

New Year - 1st January, 2009

New Year day celebrates the end of one year and the beginning of another year. New Year is celebrated by many cultures and countries around the world including the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and India. Read More

Lohri - 13th January, 2010

Lohri is an annual thanksgiving Indian festival at the end of the harvest season that is celebrated with much joy and gaiety especially in Northern India. Read More

Makar Sakranti / Uttarayan - 14th January, 2010

Makar Sankranti celebrates the transition journey of the sun from the Saggitarius to Capricon (Makar Rashi). This festival is celebrated in various ways in many states across India. In Gujarat, people celebrate this occasion by flying kites. In other states, people exchange sweets made from jaggery, sesame seeds, and puffed rice. This festival is also known as Uttarayan - the transition of the sun towards the northern hemisphere. Read More

Pongal - 14th January, 2010

Pongal is the annual harvest festival in southern India, especially in the Southern State of Tamil Nadu. It marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayan - the transition of the sun towards the northern hemisphere. This festival lasts four days. Read More

Valentine's Day - 14th February, 2010

Valentine's Day is a cultural holiday on which lovers express their love for one another by sending greeting cards and gifts to each other. It is essentially a western festival and is celebrated by western and western influenced cultures. Recenty, the trend of celebrating St.Valentine's day is picking up in India as well. Historically, it is the name of several martyred saints of ancient Rome. Read More

Women's Day - 8th March, 2010

Womens day observed on 8th March every year in India and all across the World & celebrates the spirit of womanhood. An epitome of care, love and sacrifice, the women plays an all-enveloping character of a mother, daughter, wife, sister, friend, and many more. Womens day is indeed a fitting tribute to the economic, social, cultural and political achievements made by women over the years. Read More

Holi - 1st March, 2010

Holi is the festival of colours celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Phagun, which falls in late February or early March according to the Gregorian calendar. On Holi eve, people burn a bonfire of Holika. According to legend, Holika was King Hiranyakashyap's sister who was endowed with a boon that she would remain protected even if she would enter fire. Read More

Mother's Day in UK - 14th March, 2010

Mother's day in the UK is the equivalent of Mother's day in other countries. It is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This festival is celebrated since at least the 16th century. It is a time when children honour their mothers by giving them gifts and cards. Read More

Gudi Padva / Ugadi - 16th March, 2010

Gudi Padva is an auspicious festival celebrated by Hindus in the Maharashtra and Konkan region. This day marks the end of one harvest and the beginning of another. It also signifies the beginning of Chaitra - the month signifying the beginning of spring. This festival essentially venerates Lord Brahma - the first mentioned in the Hindu Trinity. On this day, a Gudhi - flag of Brahma is hoisted prominently in many Maharashtrian and Konkani households. On this day, people exchange gifts and sweets with each other. Read More

Mother's Day in USA - 9th May, 2010

Mother's day is a secular festival that is celebrated to honour motherhood and the positive contribution of mothers to American society. On this day, children give cards and gifts to their mothers as a token of appreciation. Read More

Mother's Day in India - 9th May, 2010

Mother's day is celebrated to honour motherhood and the positive contribution of mothers to Indian society. People take this day as a time to reflect the positive difference that mother's day makes to their lives and present gifts and cards to their mothers. Read More

Mahavir Jayanti - 28th March, 2010

Mahavir Jayanti is the celebration of the birth of Lord Mahavir, who was born on the the 13th day of the rising moon in the Hindu month of Chaitra. It coincides with late march of early April according to the Gregorian calendar. On this day, Jain temples are decorated with flags and the idol of Lord Mahavir is taken for a procession after a morning ritual called 'abhiskek' in which the idol is bathed and offered milk, rice, fruits, and other auspicious items.

Easter - 4th April, 2010

Easter is commemorated as the day on which Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. On this day, people gift Easter eggs, cakes, pastries, Easter baskets, and other gifts to each other. Read More

Baisakhi - 13th April, 2010

Baisakhi is celebrated as the beginning of the solar year and the harvest festival of Punjab. People visit Gurudwaras, attend processions and take part in social gatherings on this day. Read More

Father's Day - 20th June 2010

This is a secular festival that commemorates fathers and forefathers. It is related to mother's day and it celebrates parenting by fathers and guardians. It is celebrated in many countries including India. On this day, children exchange gifts and cards with their fathers... Read More

Parent's Day - 25th July 2010

Parent's day is celebrated as the fourth Sunday of July every year. This festival honours mothers and fathers for their devotion and sacrifices made to provide a secure and promising future for their children. On this day, children give gifts and cards to express their love and honour for their parents. Read More

Friendship Day - 01st August, 2010

Friendship Day is celebrated to honour the relationship between friends. This festival first originated in the USA. On this day, people spend time with friends and exchange cards and gifts. Read More

Raksha Bandhan / Rakhi - 24th August 2010

Raksha Bandhan is an Indian festival in which sisters tie a sacred thread of protection around their brother's wrists. By accepting a thread from his sister, the brother is bound to protect his sister from harm.

The frail rakhi thread is considered stronger than iron chains in India as it binds brothers and sisters in a bond of everlasting trust and love. Sisters apply 'tikka' on their brother's foreheads and brothers reciprocate by giving them gifts and tokens of cash.

In turn, sisters buy gifts and sweets for their brothers. The meaning of this festival has expanded, so those who do not have brothers tie rakhis to others and initiate a new brother-sister relationship that usually continues for a lifetime... Read More

Janmashtami - 2nd September, 2010

Janmashtami is the festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna on the eight day of the Hindu month of Shravana, which coincides with the 28th of August according to the Gregorian calendar.