Indian Festivals and Culture

Diwali is celebrated on the new moon day (Amavasya) of Ashwin month, which falls at the Ashwin-Kartik transition. The main Diwali day occurs in Ashwin while the next day (Govardhan Puja) falls in Kartik. Sravana and Chaitra are months in completely different seasons.

The Pushkar Mela, held in the town of Pushkar in Rajasthan, is one of the world's largest camel and livestock fairs. It is a significant cultural and commercial event attracting thousands of tourists.

Mysore (now officially Mysuru) is famous for its Dasara festival, a traditional celebration that honors the goddess Chamundeshwari and commemorates the victory of good over evil. The festival has been celebrated for centuries by the Wadiyar dynasty. Bengaluru is the state capital but not the Dasara venue.

Onam is Kerala's harvest festival celebrated in honor of the legendary King Mahabali. The festival commemorates the mythical return of Mahabali, who is believed to visit his subjects annually during Onam. It is not a new year celebration (that's Vishu in Kerala), temple festival, or boat race festival (those are separate like Nehru Trophy Boat Race). The legend of Mahabali is central to Onam's significance.

Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala, and Vallam Kali (boat races) are a special feature of Onam celebrations, particularly the Aranmula Boat Race and Nehru Trophy Boat Race. These snake boat races are held on the Pamba River and are major tourist attractions. Rongali Bihu is Assam's harvest festival (April), Navratri is across India, and Pongal is Tamil Nadu's harvest festival (January).

Candlemas, celebrated on February 2nd, does not occur in December. The other holidays - Kwanzaa (Dec 26-Jan 1), Boxing Day (Dec 26), and Feast of St. Nicholas (Dec 6) - all occur in December.

Ugadi (also spelled Ugadhi) is the Telugu New Year festival celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Vishu is Malayalam New Year, Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival in January, and Makara Sankranti is a harvest festival across India in mid-January.

Nowruz is the Persian New Year celebrated on the spring equinox, and Parsis are of Persian Zoroastrian origin who continue this tradition. Jews celebrate various holidays including Passover and Rosh Hashanah, while Scientologists and Eskimos have different cultural celebrations.

Cheti Chand is the Sindhi New Year festival, celebrating the birth of Jhulelal, the patron saint of Sindhis. It is celebrated on the same day as Ugadi (Kannada/Telugu) and Gudi Padwa (Marathi), which mark the New Year for other Indian communities. The Marwari celebrate Diwali as their New Year.

Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) is celebrated on the first day of the Vaishakh month in the Bengali calendar. This typically falls on April 14th in both West Bengal and Bangladesh. Chaitra is the last month of the previous year, while Jyaishtha and Ashadha come after Vaishakh.

Ugadi (or Yugadi) is indeed celebrated as the New Year in Karnataka (as Yugadi) and Andhra Pradesh/Telangana (as Ugadi). It marks the beginning of the new year according to the Hindu lunar calendar, typically falling in March or April. The name derives from Yuga (era) and Adi (beginning).

This is a duplicate of question 104119 (appears to be a typo in the ID sequence). Gudi Padwa is the Maharashtrian Hindu New Year celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh celebrate their new year festivals at different times (Bestu Varas in Gujarat, for example).

Modak is a sweet dumpling made during Ganesh Chaturthi as it is considered Lord Ganesha's favorite food. It is not prepared during Diwali (when sweets like ladoo are preferred), Pongal (a South Indian harvest festival), or Mahashivratri (when different offerings are made).

Diwali is widely considered the most popular festival in India, celebrated by millions across the country regardless of religion. Known as the Festival of Lights, it symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. While festivals like Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Durga Puja are regionally very popular, Diwali has the pan-India reach.

The Konark Dance Festival is held annually in December at the Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha. This classical Indian dance festival showcases various traditional dance forms including Odissi, Bharatanatyam, and Kathak. December is the correct month as the festival is scheduled during winter when weather is pleasant in coastal Odisha.