List of best and unique festivals in India

India is one of those countries that takes pride in its rich traditions, customs, communities, culture, and biodiversity. Every year thousands of festivals are celebrated in India. Furthermore, each festival has its own significance and traditions. In this article, we are sharing the list of the best and most unique festivals in India

Some of these festivals are celebrated all over the country, while some are regional. While some of the best and most unique festivals of India are ethnically religious, some festivals bring with them a lot of happiness and fun.

Indians settled abroad have taken their traditional festivals with them and celebrate them with unmatched zeal and enthusiasm, no matter where they live. Some Indian festivals like Diwali are world famous. Plus, they are declared public holidays in countries such as the USA and Canada.

 Why are festivals celebrated?

As you know, festivals are a time of happiness, celebration, feasts, games, etc. Also, this is the time when families come together to celebrate, no matter where they live, people forget about their distinctions and celebrate together. Moreover, most of the important festivals in India honor the spirit of the people of India and pay tribute to age-old traditions.

Festivals like Diwali, Durga Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Onam are celebrated for ten days, so people start preparing for some of these festivals months in advance.

On the other hand, festivals like Rakhi and Bhai Dooj, which have no religious significance, are celebrated to honor the bond between a brother and a sister. Likewise, festivals like Basant Panchami and Lori honor the hardworking farmers of India and celebrate the bountiful harvest.

Out of these thousands of festivals, some can actually be classified as best and unique festivals of India, the list of which you can see here.

List of best and unique festivals in India

Pongle

• Where: The festival is celebrated in Tamil Nadu
• When: Over four days in mid-January
  • In 2024: Mon, 15 Jan, 2024 – Fri, 18 Jan, 2024
  • In 2025: Tue, 14 Jan, 2025 – Fri, 17 Jan, 2025
• What is about: Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community for four days in January. It is a festival to express gratitude to the Sun, Mother Nature, and various farm animals that contribute to producing a bountiful harvest.

Mahashivratri

• Where: India
• When: Between February and March.
  • In 2025: Wed, 26 Feb, 2025
• What is about: Celebration of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, Worship of Lord Shiva’s, Tandava dance, Disclosure of Lingam

Holi

• Where: India
• When: Between March and April (depending on the moon sighting).
  • In 2025: Fri, 14 Mar, 2025
• What is about: Holi is a popular and important Hindu festival celebrated as a festival of colors, love, and spring. It is celebrated on the full moon day of Phalguna and is associated with the devotional love of Lord Krishna and Radha.

Eid-Ul-Fitr

• Where: India
• When: March
  • In 2025: Evening of Sun, 30 Mar, 2025 – Mon, 31 Mar, 2025
• What is about: Eid ul-Fitr is a celebration that marks the end of Ramadan and Eid means: ‘feast, festival, holiday’. On this festival, Muslims will celebrate the end of fasting and thank Allah for the support and strength given to them during Ramadan.

Bilhu

• Where: Assam
• When: April
  • In 2025: Mon, 14 Apr, 2025 – Sun, 20 Apr, 2025
• What is about: Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu is the most important festival of Assam; it celebrates the beginning of the harvest season and marks the Assamese New Year.

Onam

• Where: Kerala
• When: Fri, 6 Sept, 2024 – Sun, 15 Sept, 2024
• What is about: Onam, the most popular festival of Kerala, is honored throughout the state without any discrimination of religion or caste. This ten-day-long harvest festival is devoted to King Mahabali, the ancient ruler of the state, whose spirit visits his kingdom on the day of Onam.

Janmashtami

• Where: India
• When: Mon, 26 Aug, 2024
• What is about: Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami. It is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Ganesh Chaturthi

• Where: India
• When: Ganesh Chaturthi is on Saturday, September 7 and Ganesh Visarjan is on Tuesday, September 17.
• What is about: Ganesh Chaturthi, the ten-day festival or this vibrant and grand festival is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the god of wisdom, prosperity, and new beginnings.

Navratri & Dussehra

• Where: India
• When:
  • Dussehra: Sat, 12 Oct, 2024
  • Navratri: Thu, 3 Oct, 2024 – Sat, 12 Oct, 2024
• What is about: Navratri is a nine-day annual Hindu festival celebrated in honor of Goddess Durga, a form of the supreme goddess Adi Parashakti. The end of Navratri brings Dussehra, where effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Indrajit are burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Ram) over the forces of evil.

Diwali

• Where: Across India
• When: Thu, 31 Oct, 2024
• What is about: Deepawali or Diwali is known as the “Festival of Lights” and is a Hindu festival widely celebrated in India, South Asia, and throughout the Hindu community. People celebrate Diwali to commemorate the return of Prince Rama of Ayodhya, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshman after 14 years of exile.

Christmas

• Where: Across India
• When: Wed, 25 Dec, 2024
• What is about: Christmas is an important festival in India – a secular celebration that is not restricted to the Christian community alone. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God. The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus).