Content curated for each celebration through the year.
Tritiya, Vaishakha
The birth anniversary of Basavanna, founder of the Lingayat tradition, marked with Vachana recitation and gatherings at Basavakalyan and Kudalasangama; a gazetted public holiday in Karnataka.
Purnima, Vaishakha
The 'thrice-blessed day' commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Gautama Buddha, observed with meditation, temple visits, and recitation of Buddhist texts.
Shashthi, Shukla Paksha, Kartik
A four-day festival of gratitude to Surya, the Sun God, observed with rigorous fasting and river-bank worship across Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal.
Amavasya, Kartik
The festival of lights, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
11th lunar day (Shukla and Krishna Paksha of every month)
Sacred bi-monthly fasting day dedicated to Lord Vishnu across all 24 lunar fortnights, offering spiritual purification, meditation, and Vrat Kathas.
Shukla Paksha Chaturthi, Bhadrapada
Celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.
Shukla Paksha Ekadashi, Margashirsha
Commemorates the sacred day on Kurukshetra when Lord Krishna revealed the immortal teachings of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.
Purnima, Magh
The birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas Ji, marked with prayer, kirtan, and pilgrimage to his birthplace shrine and Ravidassia temples worldwide.
Purnima, Chaitra
Celebrating the birth of Lord Hanuman, embodiment of supreme devotion and strength.
Dashami, Ashadha
A masked Cham dance festival at Hemis Monastery in Ladakh, commemorating the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava with monks performing sacred ritual dances in elaborate costume.
Krishna Paksha Ashtami, Bhadrapada
Celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.
Purnima, Jyeshtha
The birth anniversary of Sant Kabir, observed with recitation of his dohas and sakhis, honored across Hindu, Sikh, and Kabir Panth traditions.
First day of the first month, Tibetan lunar calendar
The Tibetan New Year, a three-day festival of purification, renewal, and monastery ceremonies observed across Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhist communities.
Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi, Phalguna
The great night of Shiva, honoring the cosmic consciousness.
Trayodashi, Chaitra
The birth anniversary of Mahavira, the 24th and final Tirthankara of Jainism, observed with temple processions, Abhisheka rituals, and recitation of Jain scripture.
14 or 15 January, Sun's transit into Makara (Capricorn)
A pan-Indian harvest festival marking the Sun's northward journey (Uttarayana), celebrated with holy river baths, kite-flying, and offerings of til (sesame) and jaggery.
Mid-December to mid-January, the Sun's transit through Dhanu Rashi (Sagittarius) — the Tamil month also called Dhanurmasam
The Tamil Vaishnava month sacred to Andal, marked by pre-dawn Thiruppavai recitation, the Pavai Nombu vow, and Vaikunta Ekadashi.
Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi, Vaishakha
Celebrates the divine appearance of Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu, who incarnated to protect His ardent devotee Prahlada and destroy adharma.
Shukla Paksha, Ashwin
Nine nights dedicated to the Divine Mother in her various divine forms.
Thiruvonam nakshatra, Chingam (Malayalam month)
Kerala's ten-day harvest festival and Malayali New Year, celebrating the annual homecoming of King Mahabali.
Bhadrapada, Shukla Paksha (Svetambara: 8 days; Digambara Das Lakshana: 10 days)
The holiest Jain festival of the year, dedicated to intensive study, fasting, and self-reflection, culminating in Samvatsari and Kshamavani, the day of universal forgiveness.
Sixteen consecutive Fridays, beginning on any Friday of the devotee's choosing
Sixteen-Friday vow observed in devotion to Santoshi Mata, the goddess of contentment, marked by a single sattvic meal, avoidance of anything sour, and a closing udyapan ceremony on the final Friday.
Tritiya, bright or dark fortnight of Shravana or Bhadrapada
Monsoon-season fasting festivals (Hariyali, Kajari, and Hartalika Teej) honoring Goddess Parvati's penance and marital devotion to Lord Shiva.
Purnima, Thai
A festival honoring Lord Murugan, observed with devotees carrying kavadi burdens and undertaking acts of penance, most famously at Batu Caves in Malaysia and among Tamil communities in Singapore.
Shukla Paksha Ekadashi/Dvadashi, Kartika
The ceremonial wedding of the sacred Tulsi plant with Lord Shaligram (Vishnu), signifying devotion, purity, and the beginning of the annual Hindu wedding season.
Sankranti, Vaishakha
The Sikh New Year and harvest festival, marking the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699 with Nagar Kirtan processions and gatherings at gurdwaras.
Amavasya (North/East India) or Purnima (West/South India), month of Jyeshtha
Fasting observance for married women who worship a banyan tree and recount the story of Savitri and Satyavan for their husband's long life.