8 Most Popular Festivals in India

Diwali honors the victory of good over evil and brightness over darkness. It celebrates Lord Ram and his wife Sita returning to their kingdom of Ayodhya. This follows Ram's and monkey god Hanuman's defeat of the demon King Ravana, and rescue of Sita from his evil clutches. It's known as the "Festival of Lights" for all the fireworks, small clay lamps, and candles that are lit. For most Indian families, Diwali is the biggest and most anticipated festival of the year.

• Date: November 7, 2018.
• Essential Guide to the Diwali Festival
• 9 Ways and Places to Celebrate Diwali in India
• 13 Captivating Pictures of Diwali in India

The spectacular Ganesh Chaturthi festival honors the birth of the beloved Hindu elephant-headed god, Lord Ganesha. The start of the festival sees huge, elaborately crafted statutes of Ganesha installed in homes and public podiums, which have been especially constructed and beautifully decorated. At the end of the festival, the statutes are paraded through the streets, accompanied by much singing and dancing, and then submerged in the ocean. The best place to experience it is in Mumbai.

• Dates: September 13-23, 2018.
• Essential Guide to the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
• Guide to Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai
• 31 Stunning Photos of the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

Holi also celebrates the victory of good over evil, as well as the abundance of the spring harvest season. It's commonly referred to as the "Festival of Colors". People exuberantly throw colored powder and water all over each other, have parties, and dance under water sprinklers. Bhang (a paste made from cannabis plants) is also traditionally consumed during the celebrations. Holi is a very carefree festival that's great fun to participate in if you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.

• Date: March 2, 2018.
• Essential Guide to the Holi Festival
• 10 Ways and Places to Celebrate Holi in India
• 13 Colorful Photos of the Holi Festival

The first nine days of this festival are known as Navaratri, and are filled with dance in honor of the Mother Goddess. The tenth day, called Dussehra, is devoted to celebrating the defeat of the demon king Ravana by Lord Ram. It also coincides with revered warrior Goddess Durga's victory over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. In eastern India, the festival is observed as Durga Puja. It's the biggest festival of the year in Kolkata. Huge statues of the Goddess are made and immersed in the river there. In Delhi, nightly plays are held around the Red Fort, recounting episodes from the life of Lord Ram.

• Dates: October 10-19, 2018.
• Essential Guide to the Navaratri Festival
• Essential Guide to the Durga Puja Festival
• Essential Guide to the Dussehra Festival

Onam is the biggest festival of the year in Kerala. This lengthy 10-day harvest festival marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali. It’s a festival rich in culture and heritage. People strikingly decorate the ground in front of their houses with flowers arranged in beautiful patterns to welcome the King. The festival is also celebrated with new clothes, feasts served on banana leaves, dancing, sports, games, and snake boat races.

• Date: August 15-27, 2018.
• Essential Guide to the Onam Festival
• 6 Kerala Onam Festival Attractions (with Dates)
• 11 Photos that Reflect the Splendor of Onam

Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Govinda, commemorates the birthday of Lord Krishna. An extremely fun part of the festival involves teams of guys climbing on each other to form a human pyramid to try and reach and break open clay pots filled with curd, which have been strung up high from buildings. This activity, called Dahi Handi, falls on the second day. It's best experienced in Mumbai.

• Date: September 3, 2018.
• Essential Guide to Krishna Janmashtami Festival

An astonishing number of camels converge on the tiny desert town of Pushkar, in India's state of Rajasthan, for the Pushkar Camel Fair. The camels are dressed up, paraded, shaved, entered into beauty contests, raced, and of course traded. It's a great opportunity to witness an old, traditional style Indian festival.

• Dates: November 15-23, 2018.
• Where to Stay for the Pushkar Camel Fair
• Essential Guide to the Pushkar Camel Fair

The south Indian state of Kerala is filled with temples that are renowned for their exotic temple festivals. The large processions of elephants, resplendent in ornaments, are the main attractions of these festivals. The processions are accompanied by colorful floats, drummers and other musicians.

• Dates: Throughout Kerala, from January until May each year.