π Chapter 09 Β· Topic 03 Β· Festivals of India
Religious Festivals of India
Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, Dussehra, Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Rath Yatra β complete UPSC & PSC notes.
πͺ Major Hindu Festivals
| Festival | Month | Significance | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diwali (Deepavali) | OctoberβNovember (Kartik Amavasya) | Return of Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years; victory of light over darkness; Lakshmi worship | Lighting of diyas; fireworks; Lakshmi puja; exchange of sweets; 5-day festival |
| Holi | March (Phalguna Purnima) | Victory of Prahlada over Holika; arrival of spring; Krishna’s Holi with Gopis | Holika Dahan (bonfire) on eve; playing with colours; Lathmar Holi (Barsana); Shigmo (Goa) |
| Navratri | SeptemberβOctober (Ashwin Shukla 1β9) | Nine nights of Goddess Durga worship; victory of good over evil | Garba and Dandiya Raas (Gujarat); Durga puja (Bengal); fasting; Kolu (Tamil Nadu) |
| Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | October (Ashwin Shukla 10) | Victory of Rama over Ravana; victory of Durga over Mahishasura | Burning of Ravana effigy; Ramlila performances; Mysore Dasara (Karnataka) β famous procession |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | AugustβSeptember (Bhadra Shukla 4) | Birthday of Lord Ganesha | Clay Ganesha idols installed; 10-day festival; immersion (Visarjan); biggest in Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune) |
| Durga Puja | October (Ashwin Shukla 6β10) | Worship of Goddess Durga; her victory over Mahishasura | Elaborate pandals; clay idols; 5-day festival; biggest in West Bengal; UNESCO Intangible Heritage (2021) |
| Rath Yatra | JuneβJuly (Ashadha Shukla 2) | Annual chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra | Puri, Odisha; three massive chariots; millions of devotees; UNESCO Intangible Heritage |
| Janmashtami | August (Bhadra Krishna 8) | Birth of Lord Krishna | Midnight celebrations; Dahi Handi (Maharashtra); fasting; Mathura and Vrindavan most famous |
β Durga Puja β UNESCO Intangible Heritage (2021): Durga Puja of Kolkata was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021. It is celebrated over 5 days (Shashthi to Dashami) in the month of Ashwin. Elaborate temporary structures (pandals) are built to house clay idols of Goddess Durga. The festival involves art, music, food, and community participation. The immersion (Visarjan) on Dashami is a spectacular event. Durga Puja is the biggest festival of West Bengal and is celebrated by Bengalis worldwide.
βͺοΈβοΈ Muslim and Christian Festivals
| Festival | Religion | Significance | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eid-ul-Fitr | Islam | End of Ramadan (month of fasting); celebration of breaking the fast | Special prayers; Eid namaz; Seviyan (vermicelli); exchange of gifts; Zakat-ul-Fitr (charity) |
| Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid) | Islam | Commemoration of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son; Hajj pilgrimage | Animal sacrifice (Qurbani); distribution of meat; special prayers; Hajj at Mecca |
| Muharram | Islam (Shia) | Martyrdom of Imam Hussain at Karbala (680 CE) | Processions; Taziya (replica of Hussain’s tomb); mourning; observed by Shia Muslims |
| Christmas | Christianity | Birth of Jesus Christ (25 December) | Midnight Mass; Christmas tree; gifts; carols; biggest celebrations in Goa, Kerala, Northeast India |
| Good Friday | Christianity | Crucifixion of Jesus Christ | Fasting; church services; solemn observance |
| Easter | Christianity | Resurrection of Jesus Christ | Church services; Easter eggs; celebration of new life |
π Mysore Dasara: The Mysore Dasara (Vijayadashami) is one of the most spectacular festivals in India, celebrated in Mysuru (Mysore), Karnataka. It has been celebrated for over 400 years, originally by the Wadiyar dynasty. The highlight is the grand procession (Jamboo Savari) on Vijayadashami β the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari is carried on a golden howdah atop a decorated elephant, accompanied by tableaux, folk artists, and the Mysore Palace illuminated with 100,000 lights. Mysore Dasara is the state festival of Karnataka.
β Revision Checklist β Religious Festivals
β
Diwali = Kartik Amavasya = return of Rama = Lakshmi puja = 5 days
β Holi = Phalguna Purnima = Holika Dahan + colours = spring festival
β Navratri = 9 nights = Durga worship = Garba/Dandiya (Gujarat)
β Dussehra = Ashwin Shukla 10 = Rama’s victory over Ravana = Ravana effigy burning
β Mysore Dasara = Karnataka state festival = Jamboo Savari = golden howdah
β Ganesh Chaturthi = Bhadra Shukla 4 = 10 days = biggest in Maharashtra
β Durga Puja = West Bengal = 5 days = UNESCO Intangible Heritage 2021
β Rath Yatra = Puri, Odisha = Jagannath + Balabhadra + Subhadra = three chariots
β Eid-ul-Fitr = end of Ramadan; Eid-ul-Adha = Ibrahim’s sacrifice + Hajj
β Christmas = 25 December = birth of Jesus = biggest in Goa, Kerala, Northeast
β Holi = Phalguna Purnima = Holika Dahan + colours = spring festival
β Navratri = 9 nights = Durga worship = Garba/Dandiya (Gujarat)
β Dussehra = Ashwin Shukla 10 = Rama’s victory over Ravana = Ravana effigy burning
β Mysore Dasara = Karnataka state festival = Jamboo Savari = golden howdah
β Ganesh Chaturthi = Bhadra Shukla 4 = 10 days = biggest in Maharashtra
β Durga Puja = West Bengal = 5 days = UNESCO Intangible Heritage 2021
β Rath Yatra = Puri, Odisha = Jagannath + Balabhadra + Subhadra = three chariots
β Eid-ul-Fitr = end of Ramadan; Eid-ul-Adha = Ibrahim’s sacrifice + Hajj
β Christmas = 25 December = birth of Jesus = biggest in Goa, Kerala, Northeast