Top Festivals to Celebrate in October 2024 in India offer a vibrant mix of cultural, religious, and regional events. From Dussehra’s grand processions to Diwali’s sparkling lights, October brings people together in celebration, joy, and tradition
Top Festivals to Celebrate in October 2024
India boasts a rich diversity of cultures, languages, and customs, which contribute to its vibrant festivals that fill the nation with joy, color, and song. Each festival showcases India’s enduring traditions and rich cultural legacy, highlighting the unique aspects that make each celebration special. In this blog, we will examine the Top Festivals to Celebrate in October 2024 celebrations, emphasizing not only their cultural significance but also the folklore and customs associated with them. Furthermore, we will explore the joyous atmosphere that permeates the country during this festive season, bringing people together in celebration.
Top Festivals to Celebrate in October 2024
Gandhi Jayanti
Date: October 2, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Nationwide
Gandhi Jayanti honors the nation’s founding father, Mahatma Gandhi, on his birthday. India reveres this day to honor Gandhi’s contributions to the freedom movement and his belief in truth and nonviolence. People gather for prayers, remembrance ceremonies, and tributes at Raj Ghat in New Delhi. Schools, colleges, and other groups hold events to educate about his life and principles. Recognizing Gandhi’s global influence, this day is also celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Navratri
Date: October 3 – October 12, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Across India, with grand celebrations in Gujarat, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Karnataka
Navratri, which translates to “nine nights,” is a festival honoring Goddess Durga in all nine of her heavenly guises. This celebration, which represents the triumph of good over evil, is intricately woven into India’s cultural fabric. The exuberant Garba and Dandiya Raas dances, in which men and women dressed in colorful traditional attire move in circles with clapping hands and sticks to create a lively and rhythmic show, are synonymous with Gujarati culture during Navratri. Navratri is a celebration that captures the diversity of Indian culture, which combines community spirit, art, and devotion.
Durga Puja
Date: October 9-13, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Predominantly in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar and Tripura
The major celebration of the divine feminine, known as Durga Puja, honors Goddess Durga’s conquest of the demonic Mahishasura. Notably, the festival is defined by the elaborate and creative pandals (temporary structures) that house the goddess’s statues, showcasing her in various avatars. In addition to these stunning displays, the celebration features musical acts, traditional dances, cultural exhibitions, and showcases of rich Bengali customs, creating a vibrant atmosphere that captivates attendees and fosters a sense of community. In addition to performing rituals and offering prayers, devotees partake in a wide range of traditional meals, such as the well-known bhog and a variety of sweets. The celebrations come to an end on the final day, Vijaya Dashami, when the idols are submerged. Devotees bid the goddess farewell with sorrowful eyes, promising that she will return the following year.
Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
.Date: October 13, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Nationwide, with grand celebrations in North India, particularly Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Karnataka
The celebration of Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, commemorates the epic Ramayana’s story of Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana. This widely celebrated holiday represents the triumph of good over evil. In North India, especially in towns like Varanasi and Delhi, thousands witness the burning of massive effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakarna in open spaces. Fireworks accompany this symbolic defeat of evil forces. In Mysore, Karnataka, the grand Mysore Dasara parade honors the goddess Chamundeshwari, adding to the vibrant celebrations of Dussehra in the southern part of India. The procession is led by dancers, musicians, and exquisitely decorated horses, and it features the statue of the goddess carried on an ornate elephant. People get together during the event to share a common display of happiness, faith, and cultural pride.
Karva Chauth
Date: October 17, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Predominantly in North India, especially Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan
During the ancient holiday of Karva Chauth, married Hindu women fast from dawn to moonrise in hopes of extending their husbands’ lives and well-being. This celebration, which is based on stories of love and devotion, has great cultural significance. Women assemble in groups to tell stories and sing traditional music, adorn themselves in colorful sarees, and apply elaborate henna designs to their hands. The fact that women only break their fast upon seeing the moon, when husbands often serve their spouses water and the first bite of food, is a testimonial to the strength and dedication of women. This ceremony highlights the enduring customs that honor the union of a husband and wife in addition to highlighting the sacredness of marriage.
Diwali (Deepavali)
Date: October 31, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Across India, with distinctive styles in North, South, East and West India
One of the most eagerly awaited and extensively observed holidays in India is Diwali, also referred to as the Festival of Lights. It honors Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya following his 14-year banishment, during which he vanquished the demon king Ravana. Lighting candles and oil lamps (diyas) to commemorate the festival represents the triumph of good over evil and the dispelling of darkness. People clean and adorn their houses, decorating doorways with colorful rangolis—patterns made with colored powders—to welcome wealth and joy. In addition, family get-togethers, gift-giving, and the consumption of sweet and savory treats are all part of Diwali celebrations. Fireworks light up the night sky, enhancing the joyous atmosphere. Diwali is a festival that represents harmony, wealth, and cultural celebration.
Dhanteras
Date: October 29, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Predominantly in North India, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar
India celebrates Dhanteras, or Dhanatrayodashi, as the first day of the five-day Diwali festival. Notably, October 29, 2024, marks an auspicious day for wealth, health, and prosperity, signaling the start of major celebrations. The term “Dhan” means wealth, while “Teras” refers to the thirteenth day of the Krishna Paksha, or the dark fortnight, in the Hindu month of Ashwin. Together, these two words form “Dhanteras.” Additionally, the festival revolves around worshipping Lord Dhanvantari, the Hindu god of medicine, and Kubera, the god of wealth, emphasizing the event’s focus on health and prosperity. Hindus think that buying precious goods on this day, particularly metals like gold and silver, brings good fortune.
Ayudha Puja
Date: October 12, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Predominantly in South India, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka andhra Pradesh and Kerala
An important aspect of the Navratri holiday, Ayudha Puja, involves worshiping tools, instruments, and vehicles to thank the gods for their smooth operation. The celebration, which has its roots in the veneration of weapons by ancient warriors, has expanded to encompass a diverse range of professionals who honor their work equipment. Consequently, everyone cleans and decorates their instruments, from engineers and painters to mechanics and craftspeople, all in an effort to invoke blessings for success and wealth. Furthermore, the celebration emphasizes admiration and respect for the tools used in daily life and work, showcasing the strong cultural value placed on labor in all its manifestations. Ultimately, this occasion fosters a sense of unity and appreciation across various fields.
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti
Date: October 23, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Predominantly in North India, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti honors the birth of the sage Valmiki, the creator of one of the most significant epics in Hinduism, the Ramayana. On this day, people hold processions, prayers, and Ramayana recitations to honor the sage’s teachings and cultural contributions to India. Additionally, temples get decorated, and unique cultural events celebrate Valmiki’s life and contributions. This vibrant celebration serves as a reminder of the importance of moral principles, literature, and knowledge in shaping civilization, inspiring people to reflect on the values he embodied.
Eid-e-Milad
Date: October 15, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Across India, with significant observances in states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengal
The celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth, known as Eid-e-Milad or Mawlid al-Nabi, stands as a significant occasion for Muslims worldwide. During this time, people hold special prayers, speeches, and processions to observe the holiday, focusing on the Prophet’s teachings and the values of justice, compassion, and peace. Moreover, to encapsulate the spirit of brotherhood and charity, families illuminate their homes and gather in mosques. They not only share meals but also participate in philanthropic activities, fostering a sense of community and togetherness.
Kojagari Puja
Date: October 16, 2024
Regions Celebrated: Across India, there are significant observances in states like West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
A major Hindu festival, Kojagiri Puja (also called Sharad Purnima or Kojagari Lakshmi Puja) is observed mostly on the full moon night of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin. This celebration, which falls on October 16, 2024, heralds the conclusion of the monsoon season and the start of the harvest season. On this day, devotees invoke the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune, Goddess Lakshmi, emphasizing its great cultural and spiritual significance. The Bengali phrase “Ko Jaa Gori,” meaning “Who is awake?” inspired the term “Kojagiri.” According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Lakshmi descended to Earth on this night and asked, “Who is awake?” Consequently, people believe that those who stay up late and perform the Kojagiri Puja with great dedication will receive blessings of wealth and success.
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