The Most Traditional Festivals in Indian States – Celebrating India’s Rich Culture
India is a
land of colours, celebrations, and traditions. Every state here has its own
unique way of expressing joy through festivals that reflect its history,
faith, and local culture.
From the
snowy valleys of Kashmir to the sunny beaches of Tamil Nadu, each festival
tells us a story of unity, belief, and togetherness.
Let’s take a
beautiful journey through the most traditional festivals of every Indian
state.
North India – The Land of Spiritual Grandeur
1. Jammu & Kashmir – Eid and Lohri
In Kashmir,
Eid is celebrated mostly with warmth, prayers, and traditional feasts like Wazwan.
In Jammu, Lohri marks the end of winter with bonfires, folk songs, and dancing
around flames — it's a symbol of hope and
harvest.
2. Himachal Pradesh – Kullu Dussehra
Unlike the
rest of India, Himachal celebrates Dussehra for a week (Navratri), which may
fall between September and October, after it ends elsewhere.
Deities from the surrounding villages gather together to celebrate in Kullu
Valley, creating a spiritual atmosphere filled with music, faith, and colour.
3. Punjab – Baisakhi
Baisakhi is
the heartbeat of Punjab. It marks the harvest season and the founding of the
Khalsa Panth. This will mostly be celebrated in April. The day is celebrated
with bhangra, colourful turbans, and fields dancing in golden mustard blooms.
4. Haryana – Teej
Teej is a
festival of love and monsoon joy. Women dress in green attire, sing folk songs,
and swing under banyan trees — celebrating the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess
Parvati.
5. Uttarakhand – Ghee Sankranti
It is also known
as Olgia, farmers and herders exchange gifts of butter and ghee to thank nature
and cattle. It’s a mountain festival of gratitude and local pride.
6. Uttar Pradesh – Holi
The festival
of colours, Holi, takes on its most vibrant form in Mathura and Vrindavan. It’s
not just a celebration — it’s an emotion where love, devotion, and joy mix like
the bright colours in the air.
West India – Vibrance, Dance, and Devotion
7. Rajasthan – Gangaur
Women
worship Goddess Gauri, decorating idols with flowers and ornaments. The
festival showcases Rajasthan’s royal heritage, vibrant processions, and songs
echoing through the desert towns.
8. Gujarat – Navratri
Gujarat
lives and breathes Navratri, which falls before Diwali. For nine nights, people
dance garba and dandiya around beautifully in the temples, which indicates the
power of Goddess Durga.
9. Maharashtra – Ganesh Chaturthi
Maharashtra’s
pride, Ganesh Chaturthi, fills the streets with chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya!
Clay idols of Lord Ganesha are worshipped in homes and public pandals before
being immersed with devotion.
10. Goa – Shigmo Festival
Shigmo, Goa’s
Spring festival, mixes folk dance, colours, and processions. It’s a celebration
of spring’s arrival, where traditional and coastal cultures meet joyfully.
East India – Heritage, Faith, and Folk Traditions
11. West Bengal – Durga Puja
No festival
in India matches the artistic splendour of Durga Puja. The entire state
transforms into an open-air gallery of devotion — with clay idols, cultural
performances, and the rhythmic beats of dhak.
12. Odisha – Rath Yatra
The grand
chariot festival of Lord Jagannath in Puri is one of India’s oldest. Millions
pull the majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra through
cheering crowds.
13. Bihar – Chhath Puja
This festival
is for the Sun of God. Chhath Puja is about purity, prayer, and discipline.
Women fast and offer arghya to the setting and rising sun on riverbanks — a
sight both spiritual and serene.
14. Jharkhand – Sarhul
Celebrated
by tribal communities, Sarhul marks the beginning of spring. Villagers worship
Sal trees and nature spirits, symbolising harmony between people and nature.
South India – Grace, Culture, and Grandeur
15. Tamil Nadu – Pongal
Pongal is a
harvest festival that honours the Sun God. Families cook two different pongal, i.e.,
Ven Pongal and Sakarai Pongal, sweet rice in clay pots, letting it overflow as
a sign of prosperity, while homes are decorated with kolam (rangoli). Pongal will
be celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai 1 (January)
16. Kerala – Onam
Onam
welcomes the mythical King Mahabali with flower carpets, feasts, and the famous
Vallam Kali (boat races). It’s Kerala’s biggest festival, celebrated across all
religions and castes.
17. Karnataka – Mysuru Dussehra
The Mysuru
Palace glows in golden lights as processions, elephants, and traditional
performances fill the streets. It’s a royal celebration symbolising the victory
of good over evil.
18. Andhra Pradesh – Ugadi
Ugadi marks
the Telugu New Year, celebrated with mango leaf decorations and the famous Ugadi
Pachadi, symbolising the six tastes of life — happiness, sadness, anger, fear,
disgust, and surprise.
19. Telangana – Bathukamma
Women
celebrate Bathukamma by arranging colourful flowers in tiered patterns and
singing folk songs around them. It’s a festival of femininity and nature.
Central & North-East India – Nature and Diversity
20. Madhya Pradesh – Lokrang Festival
A
celebration of folk dance, music, and art, the Lokrang Festival showcases the
tribal and cultural richness of central India. It’s a feast of rhythm and
colour.
21. Chhattisgarh – Bastar Dussehra
Unlike
elsewhere, Bastar’s Dussehra celebrates Goddess Danteshwari. It lasts over 75
days — a deep spiritual event mixing tribal traditions and devotion.
22. Assam – Bihu
Assam’s
heart beats with Bihu — a festival of music, dance, and farming. The dhol and pepa
sounds fill the air as people thank nature for the harvest.
23. Meghalaya – Wangala
Also called
the Festival of 100 Drums, Wangala is celebrated by the Garo tribe to honour
the Sun God. It’s full of traditional music, dance, and colourful costumes.
24. Manipur – Yaoshang
Manipur’s
version of Holi, Yaoshang, is celebrated with dancing, sports, and songs. It’s
both joyful and deeply rooted in Manipuri culture.
25. Nagaland – Hornbill Festival
Known as the
“Festival of Festivals,” Hornbill unites all tribes of Nagaland. It showcases
music, dance, traditional games, and the spirit of unity.
26. Arunachal Pradesh – Losar
Losar marks
the Tibetan New Year in Arunachal’s Buddhist regions. Monasteries are
decorated, and monks chant prayers for peace and prosperity.
27. Mizoram – Chapchar Kut
This is the
most popular festival of Mizoram, celebrating the completion of jhum (shifting
cultivation). Folk dances and bamboo music make it a lively sight.
28. Tripura – Garia Puja
Dedicated to
the deity of fertility, Garia Puja involves folk dance, drums, and colourful
processions — celebrating the blessings of nature.
29. Sikkim – Saga Dawa
A sacred
Buddhist festival that marks Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.
Monks carry processions and chant hymns through peaceful streets.
A Land Where Every Day Is a Celebration
From the
majestic Rath Yatra in Odisha to the calm grace of Pongal in Tamil Nadu,
India’s festivals are not just events — they’re emotions that connect hearts,
families, and generations.
Every
drumbeat, every diya, every flower petal tells us one thing — India’s real
beauty lies in its unity through diversity.