Top 10 Most Popular Religious Festivals of India.

India is a country where many religions observe many festivals. The top 10 popular religious festivals of India are as follows.

India is a country of many religions that are free to celebrate festivals and fairs according to their traditions and rituals. All festivals in Hinduism are predominantly religious in character and significance. Many festivals are seasonal. Some celebrate the festival harvest or birth of God. There are 33 religious festivals in India. Among the Top 10 religious festivals are as follows:

1. HOLI: –

The festivals of colors and Holi are the most vibrant of all Hindu festivals. It marks the end of winter in India and welcomes the spring season. The festival of color, Holi, is the most vibrant of all Hindu festivals. It marks the end of winter in India and welcomes the spring season. Holi is the most popular religious festival of India.

On this festive day, people play with colors, meet and greet one another and create new beginnings.  Holi celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love and for many, it is the festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive and repair a broken relationship.

Although it is a Hindu festival. It is also popular in the Non-Hindus family. People gather the night before Holi and perform religious rituals and pray for the destruction of their evil. The next morning people start their real carnival traditions and smear each other with colored powders. They sometimes water guns and water-filled balloons for more fun.

 Groups of people march the streets drums with other instruments singing and dancing. People also gather with their families and friends to color each other and share Holi. The Holi has a huge cultural significance in Hindu culture. It opens a new beginning from past errors, serving as the end of the conflict. On the eve of Holi, the pyre is light enough to signify Holika Dahan.

People also gather around the fire, singing and dancing. In West Bengal and Odisha, Holi is celebrated as Dolo Jatra with complete dedication to Lord Krishna. Which Lord Krishna is believed to have expressed to Radha are carried and smeared with coloured powder. Colours are thrown at people and on-street as well. Presently the Holi festival is celebrated not only in India but also in other states of India. The fun and culture shared is an interesting experience that promotes social interaction among people of different backgrounds.

2. Diwali: –

 Diwali is a five day festival of light. It is celebrated from the month of (Mid October till November). It is one most popular festivals celebrated by millions of Hindus, Janis and Sikhs around the world. The name Diwali, also spelled as Diwali, is derived from the Sanskrit term Deepavali; meaning is a row of lights. Diwali is the most popular religious festival of India.

 This festival is associated with the goddess Lakshmi and is celebrated as a form of worship to the goddesses of India. Spiritual Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Knowledge over ignorance and most importantly good over evil. Goddess Lakshmi is known as the Goddess of wealth. Maa Laxmi generally symbolizes three virtues as Property, abundant crops and fertility.

This festival lasts for five days and is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Janis across the world. Each of the five days Diwali has a specific significance according to Hindu Mythology. On the first day, the celebration starts with Dhantaras. Dhantararas indicates the beginning of the new financial year for Hindus. The second day of Diwali is known as Chhoti Diwali. It is celebrated to remember the victory of Lord Krishna over the devil king Narka. In south India also known as Naraka Chaturdashi. The third day is known as Main Diwali. This involves worshipping Goddess Lakshmi.

In West Bengal, Odisha and Assam state it is celebrated as Kali puja. The fourth day is known as Gobardhan puja. Which is celebrated venerate the triumph of Lord Vishnu over the demon king Bali. In Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Karnataka people celebrate this day as Bali pratipada. The first day of Diwali is also known as Bhai Dooj. It is celebrating the love and bond of brothers and sisters.

 Bursting crackers on Diwali have been one of the key rituals of this festival since forever. Right from simple phooljhadi, to Phatak as to charities, you will find a range of crackers lighting up to the sky etc. The most exciting part of Diwali is Dhantaras. Gifting to one’s relatives is the greatest tradition in India, especially on Diwali when families exchange presents as a way of wishing each other joy and love.

The celebration of Diwali or Dipawali is the biggest festival that all the people of India celebrated irrespective of all the casts, religions and tribes.

3. Makar Sankranti/Pongal:-

 Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year in January-14. It is dedicated to the Lord Sun. It also refers to the specific solar day in the Hindu Colander. On this auspicious day, the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar which marks the end of winter months and the beginning of longer days. This is the beginning of the month of Magha. Makar Sankranti is the most popular religious festival of India.

Lohari is celebrated in India with enthusiasm mainly in Haryana and Punjab. At night people gather around the bonfire and throw puffed rice and popcorn into the flame of the bonfire. Prayers were offered to the bonfire, seeking abundance and prosperity. Kite festival in Gujarat organized on the occasion of maker Sankranti.

Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festivals in south India. Pongal falls in mid-January every year and marks an auspicious beginning for Uttarayan. Sun’s journey towards northwards. Pongal is mostly celebrated at the beginning of Tai month. According to Tamil Nadu Tamil solar calendar is which generally falls on January 14. Pongal means “to boil over the overflow” about the dish that is traditionally prepared on this day. The dish involves a new harvest of rice, milk, and jaggery.

The dish was first offered to the God and Goddesses, then cows, and then served to the family members. During the celebrations, cows and their horns are decorated. The festivities also include decorating their houses. This festival also includes decorating houses with kolam artwork made with rice powder along with banana leaves.

Prayers are offered at the temples and families meals and gala time together. The four-day Pongal festival is celebrated in Tamil Nadu. The first day is known as the Bogi festival.2 and the day is known as Mattu pongal.3rd day is known as Surya Pongal. The 4th day is also known as Kannum Pongal.

4. Easter:-

The story behind Easter is the new treatment of the Bible which narrates how Jesus was arrested by the Roman Authorities because he claimed to be the son of God, and later crucified. His resurrection three days later marks the occasion of Easter. Easter is a Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.Easter is the most popular religious festival of India.

The holiday falls in April. According to the New Testament of the Bible, Easter occurs three days after the crucifixion of Jesus by Romans. Easter concludes the “Passion of Christ” which begins with 40 days fasting –Lent and it is concluded by the Holy week. Holy Thursday (celebration of Jesus’ last supper) and crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday are part of Holy Week and end on Easter Sunday.

Easter is celebrated as a joyous occasion and the Sunday prior is called Palm Sunday which marks the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem. Each year devout Christians celebrate Easter with their families by attending church services followed by Easter lunch. Among Christians, it is believed that on the third day of Jesus Christ crucifixion he was resurrected by God marking the victory of good over evil.

5. Maha Shivaratri:-

Maha Shivaratri is a significant Hindu festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva. On this day devotees of Lord Shiva observe a day-long fast, remain awake all night and perform puja during Nishita Kala to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri. As per the South Indian calendar, this auspicious festival is celebrated in the month of Magha on Chaturdashi tithi during the Krishna paksha. Maha shiva ratri is the most popular religious festival in India.

The married women of Hindus for well being of their husbands is observed on Mahashivaratri. Many unmarried women also observe a fast on this day. Worship of Lord Shiva and praying to find a husband like him is considered the ideal husband.

The importance of this festival can be found in the religious scriptures. It is said that Goddesses like Parvati, Laxmi, Sati, Rati Sita, Savitri, Sarswati and Indrani used to celebrate the festivals by observing fast. On this day devotees of Lord Shiva, observe a day-long fast, remain awake all night and perform puja during Nishita Kaal to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri.

6. Eid-ul-Fitr:-

 India is a country of many religions, which are free to celebrate their festivals and fairs according to their traditions and rituals. Muslims of India are ready to celebrate the biggest Islamic festival called “Eid –ul –Fitr”. Eid means festivity after breaking the fast. Eid is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting Islam.

Eid ul fitar is the most popular religious festival in India.

A month of fasting is when people do not eat and drink during the day. The most important festival of Islam falls after the holy month of Ramadan celebrated at the end of long fasting. The three day festival of breaking of the fast the new moon sighted.

Muslims of India are ready to celebrate Eid-ul –Fitar on the first day of the Shawwal in the Islamic calendar. Special traditional cuisines like a sweet dish Sheer Khurma and famous saviyaan with dates are prepared to celebrate Eid. Muslims decorate their homes and workplaces of businesses to celebrate the festival.

The celebration begins with shopping and traditional dishes for Eid like sweets, dishes including sheer kurma, saviyaan with dates, Malai, Kibbeh and other festive dishes.     On the day of Eid, they go to mosques to perform the Eid prayer in the early morning, visit various friends and families to exchange gifts and good wishes.

7. Janmashtami:-

Janmashtami is a Hindu festival. They celebrate the birth (Janma) of Lord Krishna on the 8th day (Ashtami) day of the dark fortnight of the month of (August- September) Bhadraba. Lord Krishna legend in that he is the eighth child of his mother, Devaki. Janmashtami is the most popular religious festival in India.

This occasion is observed especially in Mathura and Brindaban, the scenes of Krishna’s childhood and early youth. On a preceding day, devotees kept a vigil and fast until midnight, the traditional hour of his birth. Then the image of Lord Krishna Ji bathed with milk and essence water. Then the image of Krishna bathed in water and milk, dressed in new clothes and worshiped.

This festival is enthusiastically celebrated in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) temples and other temples dedicated to Lord Krishna across India. Many can be found around Mathura, where Lord Krishna was born in Uttarpradesh. People spend the whole day at temples, offering prayers, singing and reciting their deeds. At midnight, traditional prayer is offered.

8. Durga Puja / Dussehra:-

Durga puja especially celebrates the victory of the Goddess Durga over the bull demon  Mahishuara. According to legend, Maa Durga was summoned by the God Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva to defeat the demon. Durga puja is popularly famous in West Bengal &Odisha.

Durga puja celebration is the “pandal” a temporary pavilion and place of worship, where ceremonies and rituals take place. The pandel is usually built with bamboo and cloths. Pandels are decorated with lights. Artisans work for months to build them and make beautiful clay. Durga puja  is the most popular religious festival in India.

Dussehra is celebrated distinctively in the Southern part of India. On this festive day toys and dolls are decorated in all houses. This day is popular as Gomba Habba in South India. Vjaya Dashami also known as Dussehera in India.

Vijayadashmi in Hinduism is a holiday marking the triumph of Rama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu over the 10 headed demon king Ravana. Ravana stolen Rama’s wife Sita. This festival name is derived from the Sanskrit word Dasha (Ten) and hara means (defeat). This symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Dussehra is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Ashvina (September-October).The 10th day of Durga puja s celebrated as Dussehera.

9. Ratha Yatra:-

 Ratha Yatra is also known as Car Festival or Chariot festival. It is also a Hindu religious festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Odisha. In the state of Odisha, Rath Yatra is the world-famous car festival of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra & Subhadra. Chariots of Lord Jagannath are celebrated every year at Puri in the state of Odisha on the second day of Shula paksha of Ashada month.

The hugely colorful decorated chariots are drawn by a multitude of devotees on bad Dhanda. The grand avenue to the Gudicha temple. On this day the idols of Lord Jagannath and his siblings’ Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra are decorated and brought to cover 3 km. A long journey from Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple in chariots by hundreds of devotees every year.

Jagannath temple in Puri is one of the famous sacred Dhammas in India. It is also one of the oldest temples in India and is worshiped by Lord Srikrishna, Balaam and his sister Goddess Subhadra. In Jagannath temple in Odisha, only Hinduism is allowed to enter the premises to offer prayers.

But in Rath Yatra, Puri Jagannath temple is open to all, irrespective of caste, religion during the Rath Yatra festival. The chariots of Lord Jagannath are known as Nandighosh, Lord Balabhadra chariot is known as Taladhwaja and Goddess Subhadra chariot is known as Devadelan. This festival is also known as the Chariot festival.

10. Christmas:-

 Christmas is the birthday of Lord Jesus, which is celebrated on December 25th every year. The word “Christmas” is a modern version of the English term” Cristes Masses” which refers to the Mass of Christ. Christmas is the most significant festival of the Christian community.

The soul-stirring festive occasion not only sends a wave of joy to people around. This festival is imbued with the spirit of love, sharing togetherness, Christmas festival touches every one heart. Christians decorate their houses with Christmas trees, lights streamers, flowers and candles. The red and green colors of Christmas signify passion and fertility are as ubiquitous as red berries and green leaves of holly.

Christians celebrate the idea of warmth and closeness of families’ relationships, friendship, and human bonds and bring hope. At Christmas families decorate their houses with x mas trees exchanging gifts and singing Christmas carols.

Christmas is the biggest festival for the Christian community in India. Christmas celebrates in the entire major town of India by the Christian community with lots of joy and happiness.