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Information on Hindu Festivals |
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Most Hindu festivals are linked with the movements of the sun, moon and seasonal changes. The myths of the Ramayana, and Krishna’s activities are also incorporated into the celebrations. If you find our pages useful please tell us! Sign our guestbook |
Diwali (Divali) |
Other Hindu FestivalsMakar Sankrant / Lohri Winter Festival Saraswati Puja / Vasanta Panchami January / February People wear bright clothes at this festival. Yellow stands for the warmth of spring. |
Every night of the new moon is dedicated to Shiva but this one is particularly important. It is the night which Shiva is said to perform the cosmic dance from creation to destruction. Many Hindus fast. |
Maha Shivaratri February / March Holi February / March Various stories are associated with the festival. Hindus remember the story of Lord Krishna, a form of God. When he was young, Krishna loved to play tricks and have fun. Krishna, his friends and his relatives used to throw coloured water over each other. Another story associated with Holi is that of Prahlada and Holika. Prahlada survived when his aunt, Holika, supposedly immune to fire, held him in her arms while she sat on a bonfire. |
Rama Navami March / April Rama is the hero of the famous story, the Ramayana. His faithful servant was Hanuman, the monkey king. Hanuman helped rescue Rama's wife, Sita. At Ramnavami, people read or act out parts of the Ramayana. At the mandir (temple), a murti (statue) of baby Rama is placed in a cradle. |
Ratha Yatra June / July |
Raksha Bandhan July / August She ties a rakhi around her brother's wrist. A rakhi is a bracelet made from thread. It is to protect him from evil. |
Krishna Janmashtami August / September Hindus believe that Krishna was born at midnight. In the evening, they meet at the mandir (temple). They move lamps in circles in front of the murtis (statues). This is the arti ceremony. People sing religious songs and dance too. Many Hindus fast all day until midnight. At midnight they share fruit and sweets, or a big meal. |
 Ganesha Chaturthi August / SeptemberGanesha is a popular god. He has an elephants head. For this festival, in western India, people make clay images of Ganesha. They place them in their home shrines. At morning and evening prayers they pray to Ganasha. |
Navaratri & Durga-puja September/ October At this lively festival, Hindus worship different mother goddesses. The main goddess is Lord Shiva's wife. She is often called Parvati or Durga. Everyone dances around a special shrine. It has pictures of the mother goddesses on it. There are two special dances, a circle dance and a stick dance. |
Dassehra (Vijay Dashami) September / October A festival to remember the story of the god, Rama, who resued his wife, Sita, from Ravana, a wicked demon king. This story reminds Hindus that good always wins over evil. |
Diwali (Deepvali) October / November |
New Year (September / October |