Hinduism is often described as a religion of fasts, feasts and festivals. In India, the celebrations of fairs and festivals form a wondrous and joyful series of events, marking the rites of passage between birth, death and renewal. There are said to be more festivals in India than there are days of the year. There is celebration for every religious occassion, change of season and for every harvest. They are times when people gather together, linked by ties of shared social and religious beliefs. Vibrant colours, music and festivities make the country come alive throughout the year.

Festivals in India are characterized by color, gaiety, enthusiasm, prayers and rituals. Foreign travelers are struck by the scale and multiplicity of Indian festivals that have evolved in the society. Fairs and festivals are moments of remembrance and commemoration of the birthdays and great deeds of gods, goddesses, hero's, heroine's, gurus, prophet's and saints.

Indian Festival Calendar 2007
January February March April
Tue 02 Purnima
Fri 05 - Guru Gobind Jayanti
Sat 13 - Lohri
Sun 14 - Pongal
Sun 14 - Makar Sankranti
Thu 18 - Amavasya
Tue 23 - Vasant Panchami
Fri 26 - Republic Day
Tue 30 - Muharram (Tajiya)
Thu 01 - Purnima
Fri 16 - Maha Shivaratri
Fri 16 - Natyanjali festival
Fri 16 - Amavasya
Tue 27 - Amalaki Ekadasi
Fri 02 - Purnima
Sat 03 - Holi
Sun 04 - Dhulivandan
Sun 18 - Amavasya
Mon 19 - Hindu New Year
Mon 19 - Gudi Padwa
Mon 19 - Navratri
Tue 27 - Ram Navami
Sat 31 - Mahavir Jayanti
Sun 01 - Id-e-Milad
Sun 01 - Purnima
Mon 02 - Hanuman Jayanti
Sun 08 - Easter
Sun 08 - Yugaadi
Sat 14 - Baisakhi
Mon 16 - Amavasya
Thu 19 - Akshaya Tritiya
Mon 30 - Narasimha Jayanti


May June July August
Tue 01 - Purnima
Wed 02 - Buddha Jayanti
Tue 15 - Amavasya
Sun 03 - Kabir Jayanti
Thu 14 - Amavasya
Fri 29 - Purnima
Fri 13 - Amavasya
Mon 16 - Rath Yatra
Sun 29 - Guru Purnima
Sat 11 - Amavasya
Mon 13 - Shravan Mas
Wed 15 - Independence Day
Sat 18 - Nag Panchami
Mon 27 - Onam
Tue 28 - Raksha Bandhan
Tue 28 - Purnima

September October November December
Mon 3 - Krishna Janmashtami
Mon 10 - Amavasya
Sat 15 - Ganesh Chaturthi
Tue 25 - Anant Chaturdashi
Tue 25 - Purnima
Thu 27 - Shraadh(Pitr-Paksha)
Tue 2 - Gandhi Jayanti
Wed 10 - Amavasya
Fri 12 - Navrati
Sun 21 - Dusshera
Thu 25 - Sharad Purnima
Mon 29 - Karva Chauth
Wed 07 - Dhanteras
Thu 08 - Diwali
Thu 08 - Amavasya
Fri 09 - Lakshmi Puja
Sat 10 - Kali Puja
Sun 11 - Bhai Dooj
Fri 23 - Purnima
Fri 23 - Sai Baba Jayanti
Sat 24 - Guru Nanak Jayanti
Sat 08 - Amavasya
Fri 14 - Naag Panchami
Sun 23 - Purnima

All Hindu festivals have a deep spiritual import or high religious significance. All great Hindu festivals have religious, social and hygienic elements in them. In every festival there is bathing in the morning before sunrise in the river or tank or well. Every individual will have to do some Japa, prayer, Kirtan, recitation of Sanskrit verses and meditation.

Indian Festivals are much more than celebrations. They are windows into the history of rich Hindu legends. They reveal the mind and philosophy of a nation through the different ages. Festivals have a cultural and social aspect which many feel transcends even their spiritual significance. They bring people together in friendship and love, and help heal broken relationships.