Here is the List of important Festivals in celebrated throughout India by different people and their different cultures. The List of festivals in Indian pdf is very important for different competitive exams as questions are asked from this topic in exams like SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC CPO, UPSC CSE etc.
| Name of Festival | Importance |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | |
| Ugadi | New Year’s Day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra |
| Deccan festival | Celebrated in Hyderabad for 5 days |
| Lumbini festival | The Lumbini Festival in Andhra Pradesh is celebrated every year to relive the Heritage of Buddhism in the state. It celebrated in Nagarjunasagar. |
| Rayalaseema Food and Dance festival | Celebrated every year in the month of October. The main aim of the festival is to honor and celebrate the flourishing and exquisite art and cuisine of Rayalaseema area of Tirupati in the Chitoor District of Andhra Pradesh. |
| Visakha Utsavam | Visakha Utsav is a tourism event . Main aim of the utsav is to promote the culture, arts, crafts, music and dance of Andhra Pradesh |
| Arunachal Pradesh | |
| Boori Boot Nyishi | Boori Boot is celebrated for successful harvest by the Hill-Miris of Nyishi community. |
| Reh- Idu Festival | Reh is one of the important festivals celebrated by the people of Indus. |
| Oriah festival | The yearly Oriah festival is held in March or April each year and it typically lasts for a week to 12 days. The Wanchos celebrate this festival as they believe it is a way to pay homage to their deities. |
| Mopin | The Mopin is an agricultural festival celebrated by the Galo tribe of Arunachal Pradesh to cebrate harvest. |
| Nyokum | This festival is celebrated by Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. Nyok means Earth and kum means togetherness. |
| Sanken Festival | Sanken festival is also regarded as the festival of water. It is believed that sprinkling water shows a sign of respect and a cleansing ritual to welcome the New Year. It is a three day long festival and it is celebrated on 14th February every year. This festival is mainly celebrated by the Khampti tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. |
| Mohmol festival | Mohmol is a pre-harvest festival celebrated by the Tangsa community of Arunachalrunachal Pradesh. |
| Dree festival | The Dree Festival is celebrated by Apatani tribe. It is an agricultural festival to bring huge amount of harvest. |
| Solung | Solung is a popular agriculture festivals, celebrated by the Adi Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. The festival is celebrated in the first week of September, after the sowing of seeds, to seek prosperity and a good harvest. |
| Chalo Loku | Chalo Loku is a colourful harvest festival, celebrated in the month of October-November,right after the harvest of the paddy field, and before the start of the new Jhum cultivation. Cha -paddy; Lo means season, and Loku means festival |
| Assam | |
| Magh – Biju | Magh Bihu is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam, which marks the end of harvesting season in the month of Jan – Feb |
| Dehing Patkai | This festival is named after the majestic Patkai range and the Dihing River.It is organized by the Government of Assam, providing the tourists with boundless chances for fun and feast. |
| Pragjyoti International Dance Festival | It is an annual festival organised by Kalpa, a Society for Promotion of Literature, Art, Culture and Social Harmony. |
| Bohag Bihu | Bohag Bihu also as called Haat Bihu is a festival celebrated in the state of Assam, which marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year. It usually falls on April 13. |
| Baishagu festival | Baishagu is one of the most popular seasonal festival of the Bodos tribe of Assam. |
| Bihar | |
| Rajgir Dance Festival | Rajgir Dance festival is takes place every year at Rajgir in Bihar for 3 days |
| Chhath Puja | Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival , which is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth |
| Bihula | Bihula, who was widowed on her marriage night by snake bite. She is worshipped like a goddess on Nag Panchami day, the fifth day of Shravan month. |
| Sonepur Cattle fair | Sonpur Cattle Fair is held on Full Moon Day in November month at Sonpur. |
| Gujarat | |
| Saptak music | The Saptak Music Festival is an annual thirteen-day Indian classical music festival held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is organised by Saptak School of Music from January 1 to 13 every year |
| Uttarayan Kite/ International Kite festival | During this festival, each and every family in Gujarat will start manufacturing kites, before a month. |
| Modhera Dance | Modhera is a place located in Gujarat. Modhera Dance Festival attracts national and international tourists every year. |
| Dangs Darbar | This festival is celebrated to honor the forefathers of five kings namely, Gadhavi, Pimpri, Amala-Linga, Vasurana and Daher |
| Vad festival | This Art festivalis celebrated to promote Vadodara as a cultural capital of India. It is one of India’s biggest art and cultural festivals, held in the month of January. |
| Tarnetar | The Tarnetar is held at Tarnetar, near the town of Thangadh, Gujarat. It takes place along with the festival held at Trineteshwar Temple, celebrating the wedding of Arjuna with Draupadi |
| Haryana | |
| Suraj Kund Craft mela | Suraj Kund Craft mela held for 15 days in February.It showcases the traditional Indian handicrafts, music, dance & food. |
| Pinjore Heritage Festival | It is celebrated to promote the rich culture and historic tradition of Pinjore. |
| Himachal Pradesh | |
| Halda festival | Halda festival is celebrated by the Lamas tribe in the month of January. Halda is a festival of lights celebrated in Magha Poornima. |
| Nawala festival | Nawala is usually celebrated by the Gaddis tribe, as a thanks-giving ceremony to Lord Shiva. |
| Jammu and Kashmir | |
| Leh Sindhu Darshan | This festival is celebrated on full moon day in the month of June. |
| Guru Tse Chu | Stok Guru Tsechu is an unique monastic festival that takes place in Ladakh.It is held in the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. |
| Dosmoche festival | This festival takes place in Leh and was started by the royals of Ladakh. During this festival, there is a popular traditional dance called sacred mask dance. |
| Shachukul Gustor | This festival is celebrated by people of Shachukul monastery. Shachukul Gustor will take place in the month of July. |
| Phyang Tsedup | Phyang Tsedup Festival is one of the special festival, celebrated in the Dringungpa monastery in the month of July and August. |
| Chemrey Angchok | This festival is celebrated in Ladakh for two days with great joy. |
| Jarkhand | |
| Lawalong mela | Lawalong Mela is one of the biggest cattle fairs held in the Chatra District of Jharkhand. |
| Bhadlihadli mela | Bhadli Mela takes place in Jharkhand on the festive day of Makar Sankranti. |
| Sohrai festival | Sohrai is a cattle worship festival, celebrated by Santal and oraon people living in Jharkhand. |
| Karnataka | |
| Pattadakal Dance Festival | Pattadakkal Dance Festival is an annual dance festival of Karnataka held in Pattadakkal. |
| Kerala | |
| Onam | Onam is an Hindu festival with origins in the state of Kerala. It falls in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam. |
| Vishu | New year of Malayali |
| Thrissur Pooram festival | Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu temple festival held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple on the Pooram day. |
| Theyyam festival | Theyyam is a grand dance festival in Kerala. It is said to be ritual dance in Kerala and is known as Kaliyattam. |
| Arthunkal perunnal | Arthunkal Perunnal is a ten day annual feast at the St. Sebastian’s church at Arthunkal, a coastal region in Alappuzha District. |
| Adoor gaja mela | The Adoor Gajamela is a fair of elephants. |
| Madhya Pradesh | |
| Khajuraho dance festival | Khajuraho dance festival is a one- week festival of classical dances held annually. It is organised by the Madhya Pradesh Kala Parishad. |
| Bhagoria mela | During this festival, young boys and girls are allowed to choose their life partner. |
| Lokrang | This is a five-day long festival begins every year on 26th January, the Republic Day. It is organized by the Madhya Pradesh Adivasi Lok Kala Academy. |
| Maharashtra | |
| Kalidas festival | Kalidasa festival celebrated in the honor of the great poet Kalidasa. It is held in Nagpur, Maharashtra every year for two days. |
| Chikoo Utsav | Chikoo Utsav is by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). Venue: Bordi, Maharashtra. |
| Pola | Famous bull festival of Maharashtra |
| Meghalaya | |
| Ahaia festival | Ahaia is a winter festival, celebrated to boost the culture and heritage of tribes living in the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya. |
| Manipur | |
| Chavang kut | This festival is celebrated by the Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes in Manipur in the month of November. |
| Chumpha | Chumpha Festival is an annual harvest Festival celebrated by the Tanghul Nagas of Manipur in the month of December |
| Mizoram | |
| Chapkhar kut festival | The Chapchar Kut is an annual harvest festival, celebrated in the month of march. |
| Nagaland | |
| Hornbill | The Hornbill is a Festival celebrated, in Nagaland, from december 1 to 10 . It is also called the ‘Festival of Festivals’. |
| Odisha | |
| Bali Trutiya | The Bali Trutiya festival is, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. |
| Bahuda Yatra | Bahu Jatra is the return journey of Jagannath Ratha Jatra. |
| Puri beach festival | The Puri Beach Festival is celebrated every year in the month of November at the coastal city of Puri in Orissa. |
| Konarch dance festival | Konark Dance Festival is celebrated for five days in the month of December in the Sun temple of Konark, Odisha. |
| Nuakhai | Nuakhai is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Odisha. |
| Bali Jatra | Bali Jatra means a voyage to Bali, held in Odisha |
| Punjab | |
| Lohri | Lohri is a Punjabi folk festival, celebrated mostly by Sikhs and Hindus. |
| Chappar mela | Chhapar Mela is celebrated in the village of Chhapar in the district of Ludhiana, Punjab in the month of September. |
| Rajasthan | |
| Bikaner camel festival | Bikaner, The Camel Festival is a colourful event organised in Bikaner by the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan. |
| Jaipur Literature festival | The Jaipur Literature Festival is an annual literary festival which takes place in Jaipur in January month. |
| Ramdeoji cattle fair | Ramdeoji Cattle fair is a cattle fair and also it is the second largest fair in Rajasthan. |
| Sikkim | |
| Pang Lhabsol | Pang Lhabsol is the colourful festival which is celebrated annually. |
| Losoong Sikkimese | Losoong is the Sikkimese New Year, celebrated by Bhutia tribe, in the month of December. |
| Tamil Nadu | |
| Pongal | Thai Pongal is a four-day harvest festival dedicated to Nature, celebrated in the month of January. |
| Jallikattu | Jallikattu is also known as eru thazhuvuthal and manju virattu. It is a traditional festival in which a bull is released into a crowd of people, and multiple participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull’s back with both arms. finally the winner will be honoured with prize amount. |
| Telangana | |
| Bathu Kamma | Bathukamma is floral festival celebrated by the Hindu women of Telangana. |
| Bonalu | Bonalu is an annual festival celebrated in Hyderabad and Secunderabad of Telangana. |
| Peerla panduga | Peerla Panduga is a festival celebrated by Hindus and Muslims in the state of Telangana |
| Tripura | |
| Ker puja | Ker puja is the most peculiar festival of Tripura. Typically held in the month of August.The deity of Vastu Deva is Ker ,which means boundary or a particular area. |
| Kharchi puja | Kharchi puja is a Hindu festival celebrated in the month of July or August. During this festival people worship fourteen gods. |
| Uttarkand | |
| Uttarayani mela | The people of Uttarakhand celebrates the end of winter season with the Uttarayani or Uttarayan Fair . |
| Uttar Pradesh | |
| Mochan music festival | The Sankat Mochan Sangeet is an annual music festival organised in Varanasi in lieu of Hanuman Jayanti. |
| West Bengal | |
| Kenduli mela | The Kenduli Mela is a fair held in Kenduli and it is famous for the gathering of the Bauls, a group of mystic minstrels. |
| Ganga sagar mela | Gangasagar Mela is second largest festival celebrated in India. |
| Union Territories | |
| Andaman and Nicobar | |
| Island tourism festival | The Island Tourism Festival is the annual cultural event organized for promotion of tourism for islanders. |
| Daman and Diu | |
| Garba festival | Garba dance is the dance performed during navarathri festival |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | |
| Holika Dahan | Holika Dahan also called as Kamudu pyre is celebrated for burning Holika, the devil. |
| Delhi | |
| Taj Mahotsav | Taj Mahotsav is an annual 10-day event held at Shilpgram in Agra in memories of the old Mughal era |
| Goa | |
| Ladainha festival | It is a thanksgiving festival. People thank God not only for the material benefits but also spiritual. |
| Chovoth | It is also known as Ganesh chathurthi |
