The India Zone

India, being a multicultural and multireligious society, celebrates holidays and festivals of various faiths and special interest groups. There are three national holidays: Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti. Hindu festivals of Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi, Ugadi, Dussehra, Sankranthi/Pongal and the Islamic festivals of Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Muharram, and Ramadan are the most popular religious festivals in India. A number of festivals are common to most parts of India. In addition, many states and regions have local festivals depending on prevalent religious and linguistic demographics.



The following is a List of Festivals in India:

1 Hinduism
2 Islamic
3 Christian
4 Sikhism
5 Zoroastrian
6 Jain
7 Others
8 Unofficial
9 External links

Hinduism

Hindu festivals

People celebrating Holi.
The largest religious gathering on Earth. Around 70 million Hindus from around the world participated in Kumbh Mela at one of the Hindu Holy city Prayag (India).Hindus celebrate a number of Festivals all through the year. From celebrating the advent of spring to celebrating the win of good over evil, Hindu religion and culture provide its followers endless reasons to celebrate. Given below is the list of just a few of these festivals that are celebrated with great zest and fervour.

Diwali or Deepawali
Ganesh Chaturthi
Dussehra or Daserra
Ugadi
Sankranthi
Pongal
Holi
Raksha Bandhan
Krishna Janmastami
Gudi Padwa
Durga Puja
Navratri
Maha Shivaratri
Basant
Bonalu
Teej
Bhaubeej (Bhai Dooj)
Ramanavami
Hanuman Jayanti
Chhath
Guru Purnima
Baisakhi
Onam
Karwa Chauth
Thaipusam
Ratha Yatra
Gita Jayanti
Kumbh Mela
Thrissur Pooram
Laxmi puja
Kumar Purnima
Saraswati Puja
PrathamAstami
Vasant Panchami
Amavasya
Kojagiri Purnima
Anant Chaturdashi
Ekadashi
Nag panchami
Sankranthi
Vat Pournima
Zatra

Islamic
Chand Raat
Eid-ul-Azha (or Eid-ul-Adha)
Eid-ul-Fitr
Muharram (day of mourning observed by Shiites only)
Milad-un-nabi

Christian
Good Friday
Easter
Christmas

Sikhism
Diwali
Guru Nanak's Birthday Jayanti
Guru Govind Singh's Birthday Jayanti
Guru Teg Bahadur's Martyrdom Day
Baisakhi

Zoroastrian
The Traditional Haft Seen for NavrozThe Parsis account for less than 0.007% of the Indian population, but as Mahatma Gandhi said, they are "in number beneath contempt, but in contribution, beyond compare." The same could be said of their festivals. Unfortunately, like the Parsis themselves, these are private and celebrated primarily within the community. The Parsis use the Shahenshahi ("Imperial") version of the Zoroastrian calendar, which differs significantly from the Qadimi ("Ancient") version that their Iranian co-religionists use. For example, New Year is celebrated in the spring by Iranians but falls in late summer for Parsis. In addition to seasonal festivals, called Gahambars, the most eminent celebratory occasions are listed below.

Maidyozarem Gahambar - Mid-Spring Festival. Early October.
Maidyoshahem Gahambar - Mid-Summer Festival. Early December
Paitishahem Gahambar - Festival of bringing in the harvest. Mid February.
Ayathrem Gahambar - Festival if bringing home the herds. Mid March.
Maidyarem Gahambar - Mid-Winter Festival. Lit. 'Mid-Year'. Early June.
Hamaspathmaidyem or Muktad - All Souls Festival. Cf. Día de los Meurtos
Pateti - New Year's Day Eve. August-September.
Jamshed-e Navroz - New Year's Day, (Norouz). August-September.
Jashan-e Sadeh - Festival of Fire. Lit. the 100th day (before Navroz).
Jashan-e Mehragan - Festival of Mihr. A day of thanksgiving dedicated to the highest Angel, Mithra (c.f. Metatron).
Jashan-e Tirigan - Festival of Tir. A day dedicated to Tishtrya, Angel of the star Sirius and rain.
Farvardigan - Festival of the Farohars ('guardian angels').
Khordad Sal - Birthday of the Prophet Zarathushtra.
Zartosht No-Diso - Anniversary commemorating the death of the Prophet Zarathushtra.
See also: Zoroastrian calendar

Jain
Mahavir Jayanti
Kshamavaani
Mahamastakabhisheka
Paryushana
Kali Chaudas

Others
Buddha Purnima (Buddha Jayanti or Vesak), Buddhist
Ayya Vaikunda Avataram

Unofficial
New Year's Day
Valentine's Day, mostly in urban areas
April Fool's Day
Children's Day, 14th November
Vijay Diwas (Victory Day)