Indian Festivals & Traditions

The Hornbill Festival is held annually in Nagaland from December 1st to 10th. It is named after the Indian Hornbill bird, which is revered in Naga folklore. [Memory Trick: Nagaland has 'Nagas' who love playing 'Horns' = Hornbill.]

Nuakhai is a major social-harvest festival in western Odisha to welcome the new rice of the season. 'Nua' means new and 'khai' means food. [Memory Trick: 'Nua' sound resembles 'Nua' (New) clothes which you wear to eat 'Odi' (Odia) rice.]

Bathukamma is a colorful floral festival celebrated by women in Telangana, representing patron goddess Gauri. It aligns with Durga Navratri. [Memory Trick: 'Bathu' means life, and 'Telangana' has 'Tej' (brightness/life) in its culture.]

Thrissur Pooram is an annual temple festival held in Thrissur, Kerala. Formulated by Shakthan Thampuran, it features grand caparisoned elephants. [Memory Trick: Thrissur starts with 'Thri' (three), Kerala has backwaters, and elephants drink plenty of water!]

Chapchar Kut is celebrated in Mizoram after clearing forests for Jhum (slash-and-burn) agriculture. [Memory Trick: 'Chapchar' sounds like 'chattering' with your 'Mizo' friends under the bamboo tree.]

The Sangai Festival is celebrated annually in Manipur. The Sangai is a critically endangered brow-antlered deer endemic to Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur. [Memory Trick: 'Sangai' is a deer that loves 'Money' (Mani) in Manipur.]

Losar is celebrated in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh by Tibetan Buddhists to welcome the New Year. [Memory Trick: 'Lo' is high up in Ladakh, 'Sar' is head of Arunachal's hills.]

The Ambubachi Mela is held at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam during monsoon, celebrating the yearly menstruation course of Goddess Kamakhya. [Memory Trick: Kamakhya goddess exhibits spiritual 'Ambu' (water/fertility) flows during monsoon Ambubachi.]

Saga Dawa is a major Buddhist festival in Sikkim that celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Gautama Buddha. [Memory Trick: 'Saga' is an epic saga of 'Sikkim' (Sikka/coin) collectors.]

Hemis Festival is held at Hemis Monastery in Ladakh to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, who brought Buddhism to Tibet. [Memory Trick: 'Hemis' monastery is cold, and Guru 'Padma' (lotus) brings spiritual warmth.]

Bohag Bihu (also called Rongali Bihu) is celebrated in mid-April, marking the arrival of spring and the Assamese New Year. [Memory Trick: 'Bohag' sounds like 'Bahaar' (spring) which brings joyful Bihu dances.]

Pongal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu to thank the Sun God. [Memory Trick: You gather in a 'Tamil' home to cook milk and rice till it boils over ('Pongal').]

Vallam Kali (snake boat race) is a major attraction during Onam, the state festival of Kerala celebrating King Mahabali. [Memory Trick: Onam has 'Ooo' sound resembling the 'Oars' used in the boat race!]

Ugadi is the Telugu and Kannada New Year celebrated on Chaitra Suddhadyami with a mixture of six tastes representing various life emotions. [Memory Trick: 'Uga-di' means the beginning of a new 'Yuga' (era) celebrated in the Deccan belt.]

Gudi Padwa is the Marathi New Year celebrated in Maharashtra. A Gudi represents victory, hoisted outside houses using a bamboo staff and bright silk cloth. [Memory Trick: 'Gudi' is hoisted high on Marathi 'Maati' (Maharashtra).]

Sajibu Cheiraoba is celebrated by the Meitei community of Manipur on the first day of the Sajibu month. [Memory Trick: 'Cheiraoba' sounds like a cheer in the capital Imphal (Manipur).]

Kharchi Puja is celebrated in Tripura during July, worshipping 14 dynastic deities of the royal family. [Memory Trick: 'Kharchi' is like spendings at 'Tri'-pura (three cities).]

Wangala is the post-harvest festival of the Garo tribe in Meghalaya, characterized by beating 100 drums simultaneously. [Memory Trick: 'Wangala' has 'Gala' (festive time) for 'Garo' in Meghalaya.]

Lai Haraoba is a ritualistic festival celebrated by the Meiteis of Manipur to please forest deities and celebrate local cosmogony. [Memory Trick: 'Lai' means deity, and 'Mani' (jewel) is worn to please them in Manipur.]

Nabakalebara is a recreation ritual of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra deities in Puri, Odisha, which takes place every 8, 12, or 19 years. [Memory Trick: 'Naba' means new body ('Kalebar') given to Puri's Lord Jagannath.]

Chhath Puja is an ancient Vedic festival dedicated to the Sun God, celebrated with immense purity in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern UP. [Memory Trick: 'Chhath' is celebrated along the holy rivers with a 'Bihari' traditional folk song.]

Lathmar Holi is played in Barsana and Nandgaon near Mathura. Women beat men with sticks (lathis) while men defend themselves with shields. [Memory Trick: RADHA's hometown 'Barsana' is where they 'Baras' (rain) blows with Lathis!]

Tarnetar Mela is held in Tarnetar village of Surendranagar district, Gujarat. It is famous for tribal dance, folk music, and embroidery-covered umbrellas. [Memory Trick: 'Tarnetar' sounds like 'Taar-Netar' (star wires), which you knit in 'Guj'-arat.]

Pushkar Fair is a massive camel and livestock fair held in Pushkar, Rajasthan near the sacred Brahma Lake. [Memory Trick: Pushkar is the land of desert sands and camels in 'Raja's' land = Rajasthan.]

Bhagoriya is a traditional festival celebrated by Bhil and Bhilala tribes in Madhya Pradesh and neighboring Maharashtra. [Memory Trick: Bhil youth 'Bhago' (elope) with partners during Holi in 'Madhya' (center/ heart) of MP.]