THE SACRED CALENDAR

Hindu Holidays

Twelve major festivals. Thousands of years of tradition. Celebrated by 4.1 million Hindu Americans.

JANUARY 14

Makar Sankranti

The sun's journey into Capricorn. A harvest festival celebrated across India under different names — Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat.

Flying kitesSesame and jaggery sweets
FEBRUARY/MARCH (VARIES)

Maha Shivaratri

The Great Night of Shiva. One of the most sacred nights in all of Hinduism.

All-night prayerFasting
MARCH (FULL MOON)

Holi

The Festival of Colors. The most joyful celebration in the Hindu calendar.

Throwing colored powderWater celebrations
MARCH/APRIL (VARIES)

Ram Navami

The birthday of Lord Ram. The ideal king. The seventh avatar of Vishnu.

Reading the RamayanaFasting
JULY (FULL MOON)

Guru Purnima

The day to honor all gurus. Spiritual teachers, academic mentors, life guides.

Honoring teachersMeditation retreats
AUGUST (VARIES)

Krishna Janmashtami

The midnight birthday of Lord Krishna. The eighth avatar of Vishnu.

Midnight celebrationsDahi Handi (breaking the pot)
AUGUST (FULL MOON)

Raksha Bandhan

The sacred bond between brothers and sisters.

Tying the rakhi threadGift exchange
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER (VARIES)

Ganesh Chaturthi

The birthday of Lord Ganesha. The remover of obstacles. The god invoked before every new beginning.

Installing Ganesha idols10-day celebration
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER (9 NIGHTS)

Navratri

Nine Nights of the Divine Feminine. The goddess in her nine forms.

Garba and Dandiya dancesFasting
OCTOBER (10TH DAY OF NAVRATRI)

Dussehra

Ram defeated Ravana. Good defeated evil. Light defeated darkness.

Burning effigies of RavanaRam Lila performances
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER (VARIES)

Diwali

The Festival of Lights. The most celebrated Hindu festival in the world.

Lighting diyas (oil lamps)Fireworks
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER (VARIES)

Karva Chauth

A day-long fast observed by married Hindu women for the long life of their husbands.

Sunrise-to-moonrise fastApplying mehndi