Lamps at a religious festival

Category

Religious

Faith, ritual, and sacred calendars

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53 festivals

Traditional offerings arranged on a banana leaf for Aadi Perukku

Seasonal

Aadi Perukku

Tamil Nadu, India · 18th day of Aadi (Jul–Aug)

A Tamil festival honoring rising river waters, monsoon abundance, agriculture, and the life-giving power of water.

East Indian women in traditional attire in Mumbai

Seasonal

Agera

Mumbai & North Konkan · First Sunday of October

An East Indian harvest thanksgiving rooted in faith, farming, community, and the sharing of the first sheaves.

Santal women gathered during Baha Parab in West Bengal

Seasonal

Baha Parab

Eastern India & Bangladesh · Feb–Mar (Falgun; varies by community)

A Santal spring flower festival honoring nature through sacred flowers, music, dance and community rituals.

Tribeni Ghat on the riverbank in Hooghly, West Bengal

Religious & cultural

Bansberia Kumbh Mela

Tribeni, Bansberia, West Bengal, India · Jan–Feb (Magh; lunar)

A Hindu pilgrimage gathering at Tribeni Sangam in West Bengal, centered on sacred bathing and spiritual observances.

A large layered Bathukamma made from colourful seasonal flowers

Seasonal

Bathukamma

Telangana, India & diaspora · Sep–Oct (lunar)

A nine-day Telangana floral festival of seasonal flowers, songs, community and devotion.

Ceremonial Bhai Dooj plate with sweets, flowers, rice, and ritual items

Seasonal

Bhai Dooj

India, Nepal & diaspora · Oct–Nov (lunar)

A Hindu festival honoring the bond between brothers and sisters with tilak, prayers, sweets, and gifts.

Chakma women carrying flowers during the Bizhu festival

Seasonal

Bizhu

Bangladesh & northeast India · 13–15 April

A three-day Chakma New Year festival of flowers, hospitality, traditional food, dance and renewal.

Decorated temple chariot during the Brihadeeswarar Temple Car Festival in Thanjavur

Religious & cultural

Brihadeeswarar Temple Car Festival

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India · Apr–May (Chithirai)

A Chithirai temple procession in Thanjavur featuring a richly decorated wooden chariot.

Italian nativity scene with traditional figures

Seasonal

Buon Natale

Italy & Italian diaspora · December–early January

Italian Christmas celebrations bring together worship, family gatherings, nativity scenes, music and regional foods.

Devotees offering prayers in the water during Chhath Parwa

Seasonal

Chhath Parwa

India, Nepal & diaspora · Oct–Nov (Kartik lunar)

A four-day Hindu festival of gratitude to the Sun, marked by fasting and offerings at water bodies.

Traditional horse effigy used during Chinakkathoor Pooram in Palappuram

Hindu temple & folk festival

Chinakkathoor Pooram

Palappuram, Palakkad, Kerala, India · Feb–Mar (Malayalam Kumbham; Makam)

A temple pooram in Palappuram known for elephant processions, percussion and traditional folk arts.

Meenakshi Amman procession during Chithirai Festival in Madurai

Religious & cultural

Chithirai Thiruvizha

Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India · Apr–May (Tamil month Chithirai)

Madurai’s major Tamil festival uniting Meenakshi’s celestial wedding with the journey of Kallazhagar.