Indian Festivals are the celebrations that bring together either religious or regional communities for gathering and happiness through various activities that may be nationwide or in a particular area of the country. The National Festivals of India are celebrated everywhere in the entire country by almost all citizens of India.
Independence Day, Republic Day, and Gandhi Jayanti are the holiday celebrations that are declared by the government as National Festivals of India. These three festivals are celebrated mainly at schools, colleges, universities, offices, government organizations by all communities. These festivities not only highlight Indian cultural heritage but also unite to celebrate their shared pride and love for the country, and educate the younger generation about the struggles, values, and achievements that shaped the nation. Understanding their importance helps in appreciating the role they play in strengthening national identity.
List of National Festivals of India
List of National Festivals of India: Govt. Declared
List of National Festivals of India | Date of Celebration | Importance |
Republic Day | 26th January in Every Year | Celebrates the adoption of the Indian Constitution. |
Independence Day | 15th August in Every Year | Marks India’s freedom from British rule in 1947. |
Gandhi Jayanti | 2nd October in Every Year | Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. |
1. Independence Day (15th August)
One of the most important events in Indian history is remembered on Independence Day: August 15, 1947, the day India won its freedom from British domination. With a variety of ceremonies, festivities, and cultural programs, this national festival is proudly observed throughout the nation.
The prime minister raises the national flag at Red Fort and gives a speech during the main ceremony in New Delhi, the country’s capital. Parades, patriotic songs, and other cultural events are held to commemorate the day. In honor of India’s liberation fighters and the country’s independence, schools, government buildings, and other organizations also raise the flag, plan marches, and host cultural activities.
2. Republic Day (26th January)
Republic Day honours the day that India became a republic on January 26, 1950, when the Constitution went into force. One of the most significant national holidays, it symbolizes India’s transformation from a British colony to a democratic, self-governing republic.
The main festivities are held at Rajpath in New Delhi, where a large Republic Day procession is conducted. India’s innovative technology, military strength, and cultural variety are all on display throughout the parade. At the event, which features performances by military units, schoolchildren, and cultural troupes, the President of India serves as the principal guest. Following the parade, the Padma Awards are distributed and the renowned Gallantry Awards are presented.
3. Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October)
In honor of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, on October 2, 1869, Gandhi Jayanti is observed. Gandhi promoted the idea of the International Day of Non-Violence, which is celebrated on this day in addition to honoring his life and legacy.
The President and other political figures pay their respects with flowers at Gandhiji’s samadhi (monument) at Raj Ghat in New Delhi to start the day. Across the nation, organizations, government buildings, and schools celebrate two minutes of silence in his honor. Gandhi’s ideas of truth, non-violence, and independence are promoted through a variety of educational events, seminars, and debates. Community service, peace marches, and cultural events are held to remember the day.
List of National Festivals of India: Declared Centrally by Union Govt.
Although Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti are declared by the government as National Festivals of India, there are thousands of festivals are available in the country which are also declared centrally as National Festivals of India by the Union Government. These festivals are given below-
Names of National Festivals of India: Centrally Declared | Importance |
Pitru Paksha | Ancestor Rituals |
Pitrupaksha Begins | Ancestor Rituals |
Pitra Visarjan Amavasya | Ancestor Worship |
Piu’a Visarjan Amavasya | Ancestor Worship |
Anvadhan, Pithori Amavasya | Ancestral Worship |
Bamboo Day | Awareness |
Van Mahotsav (Forest Day) | Awareness |
Sharadiya Navratri begins | Beginning of Navratri |
Solar New Year, Mesha Sankranti | Beginning of Solar Calendar |
Geeta Jayanti, Mokshada Ekadashi | Bhagavad Gita Celebration |
Babu Jagjivan Ram Jayanti | Birth Anniversary |
Maharishi Parashuram Jayanti | Birth Anniversary |
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti | Birth Anniversary |
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti | Birth Anniversary |
Valmiki Jayanti | Birth Anniversary |
Vamana Jayanti | Birth Anniversary |
Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti | Birth Anniversary of Ramakrishna |
Saint Ravidas Jayanti | Birth Anniversary of Saint Ravidas |
Sant Guru Kabir Jayanti | Birth Anniversary of Sant Kabir |
Sant Ravidas Jayanti | Birth Anniversary of Sant Ravidas |
Sita Navami | Birth Anniversary of Sita |
Ram Navami | Birth of Lord Rama |
Shani Jayanti | Birth of Lord Shani |
Holika Dahan | Bonfire Night |
Buddha Poornima | Buddha’s Birthday |
Children’s Day | Celebration of Childhood |
Shri Krishna Astami | Celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth |
Shri Krishna Janmashtami | Celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth |
Shri Krishna Jayanti (Sri Jayanthi, Gokulashtami) | Celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth |
Sanskrit Diwas | Celebration of Sanskrit Language |
New Year Eve | Celebration of the New Year |
Christmas Day | Christian Holiday |
Christmas Eve | Christian Holiday |
Film | Cinema Celebration |
Children’s Folk/Classical Dance | Dance |
Baisakhi Purnima | Devotional |
Chandrasekhar Jayanti | Devotional |
Ekadasi | Devotional Fasting |
Deepavali Eve | Diwali |
Ram Leela | Dramatic Re-enactment of Ramayan |
Devshayani Ekadashi | Ekadashi Celebration |
Devutthana Ekadashi | Ekadashi Celebration |
Indira Ekadashi | Ekadashi Fast |
Papankusha Ekadashi | Ekadashi Fasting |
Papmochani Ekadashi | Ekadashi Fasting |
Parsva Ekadashi | Ekadashi Fasting |
Pausha Putrada Ekadashi | Ekadashi Fasting |
Rama Ekadashi | Ekadashi Fasting Day |
Shattila Ekadashi | Ekadashi Fasting for Lord Vishnu |
Mohini Ekadashi | Ekadashi Observance |
Mokshada Ekadashi | Ekadashi Observance |
Mukkoti Ekadashi | Ekadashi Observance |
Aja Ekadashi | Ekadashi Vrat |
Amalaki Ekadashi | Ekadashi Vrat |
Utpanna Ekadashi | Ekadashi Vrat |
Christian Fair | Fair |
Parents’ Worship Day | Family & Social Celebration |
Bhai Dooj | Family Celebration |
Anvadhan, Magha Amavasya, Darsha Amavasya | Farming & Lunar Phases |
Anvadhan | Farming Ritual |
Nirjala Ekadashi | Fasting |
Vaishnava Nirjala Ekadashi | Fasting |
Vaishnava Papmochani Ekadashi | Fasting |
Varuthini Ekadashi | Fasting |
Vighnaraja Sankashti Chaturthi | Fasting |
Vijaya Ekadashi | Fasting |
Yogini Ekadashi | Fasting & Worship |
Saphala Ekadashi | Fasting & Worship of Lord Vishnu |
Sankashti Chaturthi | Fasting for Lord Ganesha |
Amavasya, Anvadhan | Fasting, Rituals |
Amavasya, Ishti | Fasting, Rituals |
Down Sterling | Festival of Arts |
Phulera Dooj | Festival of Colors |
Dhanteras | Festival of Lights |
Diwali | Festival of Lights |
Chaitra Navaratri | Festival of Nine Nights |
Food & Cultural | Food Celebration |
Pausha Purnima | Full Moon |
Sharad Purnima | Full Moon |
Vikata Sankashti Chaturthi | Ganesha Worship |
Navarathri | Goddess Durga Worship |
Navaratri | Goddess Durga Worship |
Navratri and Durga Puja | Goddess Durga Worship |
Gayatri Jayanti | Goddess Gayatri Worship |
Worship of Lakshmi Ji | Goddess Lakshmi Worship |
Vyasa Puja | Guru Purnima |
Makar Sankranti | Harvest |
Sankranthi (Makar Sankranti) | Harvest |
Hindi Diwas | Hindi Language Day |
Bastille Day | Historical Event |
Christmas Holiday | Holiday |
Sarva Pitru Amavasya | Honoring Ancestors |
Rishi Panchami | Honoring Ancient Sages |
Cultural Programme in connection with Independence Day | Independence Celebrations |
Bakrid (Eid-ul-Adha) | Islamic |
Barawafat (Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi) | Islamic |
Ramzan (Ramadan) | Islamic Holy Month |
Muharram | Islamic New Year |
Paryushan | Jain Fasting |
Good Friday | Jesus Christ’s Crucifixion |
May Day | Labor Rights Celebration |
Hanuman Jayanti | Lord Hanuman |
Govardhan Puja | Lord Krishna |
Gokul Ashtami | Lord Krishna Birth |
Narasimha Jayanti | Lord Narasimha’s Birth |
Amavasya, Ishti, Shani Jayanti | Lord Shani Worship |
Shayani Ekadashi | Lord Vishnu Goes into Yoga Nidra |
Vishnu | Lord Vishnu Worship |
Durga Naumi or Navaratri | Navaratri Celebration |
Dussehra Mahanavmi | Navaratri Celebration |
Shab e Barat | Night of Forgiveness |
Shab e Qadr | Night of Power (Ramzan) |
Navaratri Ends / Maha Navami | Ninth Day of Navaratri |
Shravana Putrada Ekadashi | Observed for having a son |
Śrāddha | Offering to Ancestors |
Narak Chaturdashi | Part of Diwali Celebrations |
Dr. B.R Ambedkar Jayanti | Political Commemoration |
Milad-un-Nabi | Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday |
Eid e Milad | Prophet’s Birth |
Eid-e-Milad | Prophet’s Birth |
Friday Following Eid-e-Milad | Prophet’s Birth Celebration |
Akshaya Tritiya | Prosperity, Charity |
Defense Bond | Public Holiday |
Independence Day | Public Holiday |
Rakhi Purnima | Raksha Bandhan |
Rakhi Bandhan | Raksha Bandhan Celebration |
Ramadan Ending Celebration | |
Fair of Ramlila | Ramlila Play & Fair |
Easter | Resurrection of Jesus |
Easter Sunday | Resurrection of Jesus |
Chaturmasya | Ritual Period |
Tulasi Vivah | Ritual/Marriage of Tulsi |
Navratri Begins, Ishti, Ghatasthapana | Rituals of Navaratri |
Narada Jayanti | Sage Narada Celebration |
National Space Day | Science & Space Awareness |
Basant Panchami | Seasonal |
Dakshinayana | Seasonal |
Vrishabha Sankranti | Seasonal |
Pradosha | Shiva Worship |
April Fools’ Day | Social Event |
Amavasya, Anvadhan, Surya Grahan (Anshika) | Solar Eclipse |
Surya Grahan *Anshika | Solar Eclipse |
National Sports Day | Sports and Athletics |
Holi, Navratri | Spring Navratri |
Navaratri Begins | Start of Navaratri |
Palm Sunday | Sunday before Easter |
Simha Sankranti | Sun’s transition to Leo |
Guru Poornima | Teacher Worship |
Drama Workshop | Theatre Arts |
S. Bhagat Singh’s Martyrdom Day | Tribute to Freedom Fighter |
Martyr’s Day | Tribute to Freedom Fighters |
Mother’s Birth Anniversary | Tribute to Mothers |
Parakram Diwas | Tribute to Netaji Subhash Bose |
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti | Tribute to Sardar Patel |
Teacher’s Day | Tribute to Teachers |
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas | Unity Day (Sardar Patel Jayanti) |
Vijay Dashami | Victory of Good |
Dussehra | Victory over Evil |
Dussehra / Vijaya Dashmi | Victory over Evil |
Prabodhini Ekadashi | Vishnu Devotion |
Vishwakarma Puja Anant Chaturdashi | Vishwakarma Worship |
Dhantrayodashi, Pradosh Vrat | Vrat |
Halloween Day | Western Influence |
May Day (Labour Day) | Workers’ Celebration |
Shardiya Navratri | Worship of Goddess Durga |
Saraswathi Pooja | Worship of Goddess Saraswati |
Saraswati Puja | Worship of Knowledge Goddess |
Maha Shivratri | Worship of Lord Shiva |
Nag Panchami | Worship of Serpent Gods |
Ratha Saptami | Worship of Sun God |
Tulsi Pujan Diwas | Worship of Tulsi |
Vishwakarma Puja | Worship of Vishwakarma |
Meena Sankranti | Zodiac-based |
Mesha Sankranti | Zodiac-based |