Vasant Panchami

Basant Panchami (also called Saraswati Puja by Bengalis) is celebrated for the blessing of Saraswati, goddess of wisdom and fine arts.

Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, followers of Shiva observe religious fasting and the offering of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Shiva.

Holi

Holi or Phagwah is a popular spring festival.

Navratri

Navratri is the Hindu festival of worship and dance. In Sanskrit the term literally means "nine nights". During this festival the forms of Shakti are worshiped.

Rama Navami

Rama Navami is the celebration of the birth of Rama.

Gudi Padwa

Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, and is celebrated as New Years day by Marathis. According to the Brahma Purana, this is the day on which Brahma created the world.

Ugadi

Ugadi (meaning "the start of an era" in Kannada) is the New Years day for the Deccans. It takes place on the same day as Gudi Padwa.

Shigmo

Shigmo is celebrated in Goa as one of the prominent festivals of the Konkani Hindu community there.

Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman Jayanti is the celebration of the birth of Hanuman; Rama's loyal devotee.

Vat Pournima

Vat Pournima is observed in Maharashtra. Pournima means "full moon." Women pray for the prosperity of their husbands by tying threads around a banyan tree.

Bonalu

Bonalu is a celebration of Mother Goddess, and is celebrated in Hyderabad.

Rath Yatra

Rath Yantra is the festival associated with Jagannath.

Guru Purnima

Guru Purnima is the day devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru. This was the day when Vyasa; author of the Mahabharata was born.

Mahalakshmi Vrata

Mahalakshmi Vrata is a puja performed by married Hindu women to seek the blessings of Mahalakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Onam

Onam is a harvest festival, celebrated mainly in the Indian state of Kerala. Like many other religious festivals in India, Onam is celebrated by people across all castes and faiths.

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan is a festival celebrated mainly in northern Indian states. Rakhi is a special occasion to celebrate the chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister.

Krishna Janmaashtami

Krishna Janmaashtami is the Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna.

Gowri Habba

Gowri Habba is celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Gowri is worshipped for her ability to bestow courage to her devotees. Newly wed couples are invited to the house of the groom's parents and served with varieties of food.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth of Ganesh.

Vijayadashami

Vijayadashami is the Hindu celebration of good over evil.

Deepawali

Diwali is the abbreviation of the Sanskrit word "Deepavwali", which means "row of lights". The festival is celebrated for the return of Rama and Sita to the kingdom Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile.

Bhaubeej

Bhaubeej, also referred to as Bhai dooj, is the ceremony performed by Hindus, generally, on the second day of Diwali. It is celebrated among brothers and sisters and is similar to Raksha Bandhan, except there is no tying of rakhi involved.

Chhath

Chhath is unique to Bihar and Terai, but is also celebrated elsewhere. It is a festival dedicated to the Sun God for bestowing the bounties of life and fulfilling wishes.

Prathamastami

Prathamastami is a festival that originated in Oriya. It is held on the eighth day of the month of Agrahayana, when older female relatives pray for the prosperity of the eldest child. The festival is followed by rituals and recitations of the Glory of Mahalakshmi.

Zatra

Zatra (also yatra and jatra) refers to the pilgrimage festivals celebrated at Hindu temples. Idols and murtis are taken out on special procession in a palkhi (a palanquin) or a chariot called the rath. Every temple observes this festival once a year on the traditional day.