"Life is a celebration" is a popular phrase in India. With over a thousand Hindu festivals alone, as well as regional festivals, this isn’t so far from the truth. Indians are very, very good at finding a reason to party and enjoy themselves and it is during these times that people really come together.
Here you can find a list of the most popular festival in India

Holi Festival
Where: All India
When: end of March
The Holi festival commemorates the victory of good over evil, brought about by the burning and destruction of the demoness named Holika. This was enabled through unwavering devotion to the Hindu god of preservation, Lord Vishnu.
Holi got its name as the "Festival of Colors" from Lord Krishna, a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who liked to play pranks on the village girls by drenching them in water and colors.
The festival marks the end of winter and the abundance of the upcoming spring harvest season.

Gangaur Festival
Where: Rajasthan
When: March
This is a festival loved by the women of Rajasthan and quite possibly the most important celebration in the state. Gangaur is all about honoring the goddess Gauri and celebrating love and marriage. Women dress up in their best formal wear and pray for their husbands and future husbands. The best cities to join in the celebration are Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner.

Pushkar Camel Fair
Where: Pushkar, Rajasthan
When: Late October to early November
In the days leading up to this annual extravaganza, hundreds of rural farmers from around Rajasthan descend on the tiny village of Pushkar to trade their livestock. “Camel camps” are set up on the outskirts of the village, providing an unmissable opportunity to witness cattle, including camels and horses, decorated and ready to sell. The trading lasts for up to five days and ends in a four-day mela (fair) with fairground rides and various interesting competitions, including the famous “best mustache” competition!

Arattupuzha Pooram
Where: Kerala
When: Late March to early April
If you’d like to see one of the world’s most regals creatures, the elephant, dressed up better than a king, then this is the festival for you. Actually, you’ll see hundreds of such elephants at Arattupuzha Pooram, one of Kerala’s oldest temple festivals. As many as 23 gods and goddesses are honored during this seven-day state festival, making for a stunning visual and electric atmosphere.

Navratri
Where: All over India
When: Late-September to early-October
The nine-day festival is a celebration of female divinity, celebrating the three main Hindu goddesses: Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Depending on where it is celebrated, Navratri takes various forms, with the most popular being in Gujarat, where it erupts into a full-on celebration of dance, song, and drama.


Kumbh Mela
Where: at the banks of the River Ganges
When: Varies
Those who are able to experience India’s holy Kumbh Mela are lucky, as it only happens four times in 12 years. It is well-known as being the largest gathering of people in the whole world as Hindu pilgrims from far and wide travel to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganges river. The location changes each time and it is a spectacular display of Hindu culture and traditions.

Ganesh Chaturthi
Where: Maharashtra
When: late August to early September
For 10 days, Hindu’s throughout India put on a birthday bash like no other in honor of the “elephant God,” Lord Ganesh, also known as Ganpati. During this time Ganesh is believed to visit the homes of devotees who purchase huge idols of the god and set up altars in their homes. Visitors pay visits throughout the 10 days and bring gifts (usually modak – a sweet dumpling believed to be Ganesh’s favorite) and offer prayers in return for blessings. The festivals ends on the tenth day, with the idol being immersed in water, usually a local river, signifying Ganesh’s return to his parents.

Durga Puja
Where: Kolkata, West Bengal
When: Late September to early October
A festival honoring the strength and power of a woman, Durga Puja is one of the best festivals to experience in India. During this nine-day celebration of the Goddess Durga’s victory over a demon, Kolkata is awash with beautiful and colorful rangolis (patterns made from colored rice and flour) and music and dance spills onto the streets of every neighborhood.

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