Key Dates and Events
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Vasant Pañcamī
(Varies each year depending on the lunisolar calendar. Typically in January or February)
Vasant Pañcamī (or Vasant Panchami) is a Hindu festival that commemorates the coming of spring. The festival is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Sarasvatī. The colour yellow is auspicious during this time, signifying the wonder of nature and vibrancy of life. People will often dress in yellow and offer yellow flowers to others as well as gods and goddesses.
DZī
(Varies each year depending on the lunisolar calendar. Typically in February or March)
DZī is a festival typically celebrated over two days during March. Though primarily a Hindu festival, it is also celebrated by some Buddhist and Jain communities. DZī is a lively festival filled with singing, dancing and sharing of traditional sweets. During the festival, people dress in white and throw colourful powders or dyes (gulal) and water that represents the arrival of spring. Some people also throw water balloons.
Śٰ
(Varies each year depending on the lunisolar calendar. Typically in February)
Śٰ (‘Night of Shiva’, also spelt Shivaratri) is a Hindu festival dedicated to Shiva. Those who participate in Shivaratri commemorate the occasion by staying awake throughout the night, visiting temples, making prayers and pū (worship) as well as playing music and dancing. Devotees of Shiva will offer special food to the god.
Guru Pūrṇimā
(Varies each year depending on the lunisolar calendar. Typically in July)
Guru Pūrṇimā (also spelt Guru Purnima) is a Hindu event that commemorates one’s spiritual teacher (guru). On this day, people visit their guru and show respect through meditation, serving () and giving food. The day also commemorates the birthday of the great sage Vyāsa, who is regarded as the author of many seminal texts such as the Ѳٲ.
Rakshā Bandhan
(Varies each year depending on the lunisolar calendar. Typically in August)
Rakshā Bandhan, sometimes referred to as 鲹ī, is a Hindu event that commemorates the love between siblings or close friends. A widespread practice during the event is for the sister or female to tie a ī thread on her brother’s or male friend’s wrist.
Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī
(Varies each year depending on the lunisolar calendar. Typically in August or September)
Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī (also known as Krishna Janmāṣṭamī) is a Hindu event that commemorates the birth of Krishna, one of the most popular deities in the pantheon. Throughout the festivities, people sing traditional Hindu songs known as bhajans and participate in dances. Some may also reenact scenes from Krishna’s early life. The most active time of the festival is midnight, which is believed to be the time that Krishna was born. Foods said to be favoured by Krisha are prepared and eaten.
Gaṇeśa Caturthī
(Varies each year depending on the lunisolar calendar. Typically in September)
Gaṇeśa Caturthī (also known as Ganesh Chaturthi) is a Hindu event that marks the birthday of the elephant-like Hindu god Gaṇeśa. As the son of the god Shiva and goddess Parvatī, Ganesh is known as the ‘remover of obstacles’. Gaṇeśa Caturthī typically goes for multiple days, entailing various activities such as singing and making offerings. One of the most prominent activities is taking clay statues of Ganesha and immersing them in water, symbolising the removal of misfortunes.
ٰ
(Varies each year depending on the lunisolar calendar. Typically in September or October)
ٰ (‘Nine Night Festival’) typically celebrates the goddess’ victory (usually in her manifestation as the fierce Durgā) over the buffalo demon. Some commemorate ٰ as the victory of Rāma over the demon Rāvaṇa (as told in the 峾ⲹԲ). Various festivities occur over the nine nights, such as decorations, reciting the legend, dance and music.
Dussehra
(Varies each year depending on the lunisolar calendar. Typically in October)
Dussehra is a Hindu event that marks the end of the ten-day ٰ festival. The event commemorates the triumph of good over evil, symbolised in the epic poems 峾ⲹԲ (Rāma's victory over the demon king Rāvaṇa) and the Ѳٲ (the Pāndava brothers' victory over the Kaurava brothers). Although celebrations of this day vary depending on the region, common activities include starting a new venture, project or journey and exchanging gifts of leaves from the Shami tree.
پī
(Varies each year depending on the lunisolar calendar. Typically in October or November)
پī, also known as Diwali, ī屹, Deepavali or the Festival of Lights, is a festival celebrated by many Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain communities. People often decorate their home and workplaces with small electric lights, lanterns, clay oil lamps or bowls of water with candles and flowers floating on the surface. For Hindus, various gods or goddesses are worshipped. For some, the event commemorates the return of Rāma to Ayodhyā after a fourteen-year exile.
Kumbha Melā
The Kumbha Melā, also known as the Kumbh, or the ‘Festival of the Water Pot’, is a Hindu festival celebrated four times over the course of 12 years (thus held every three years). The site of observance rotates between four major pilgrimage destinations on the banks of four sacred rivers, all located in India. These four locations are Haridvār (Gaṅgā River), Ujjain (Śiprā River), Nāsik (Godāvarī River), and at Allahabad (also known as Prayāgarāj) at the confluence of the Gaṅgā, Yamunā and mythical Sarasvatī River. The Kumbh Mela held at Allahadbad is particularly auspicious and attracts millions of people each year. The celebration at each site is based on astrological positions of the sun, the moon and the planet Jupiter.
Attendees of the Kumbha Melā are diverse, ranging from holy men and women of different kinds, to ordinary Hindus and spectators. The main purpose of the festival is for ritual practices such as bathing in the sacred river and meetings held for religious leaders to debate and discuss various matters.