List Of Festivals Celebrated In The Month Of August
Every month India is blessed with a bucketful of exciting festivals celebrated. August is a month for rains and most parts of the country enjoy the monsoon and are also known as Shravan month as per the Hindu calendar. Various religious festivals like Raksha Bandhan, Onam, and national important day like Independence Day of India is celebrated in August which helps you to enjoy the rain splashes all the more. Some of the main festivals celebrated in the country are.
Independence Day
India celebrates its Independence day on 15th August, the Prime Minister of the country unfurl the national flag at the Red Fort of Delhi. It is a National holiday to commemorate India’s independence from the British Empire. Along with Delhi, the tricolor is hoisted at all schools, government offices, etc. The capital and all government buildings are decorated with colorful lights on the eve of Independence Day. Many programs are organized in schools, colleges, and offices where patriotic songs are played and speeches are delivered for the love of their country.
When: 15 August 2024.
Where: Across India but especially in Red Fort, Delhi
What is Special: Flag hoisting ceremony by the Prime Minister in Delhi, along with march by the Indian Army and various cultural programs.
Raksha Bandhan
Raksha-Bandhan is one of the famous festivals of India. It is celebrated every year on the full moon day (Shravani Poornima) of the month of Shravan (July-August). This festival is a symbol of affection and the sacred relationship between brothers and sisters. Rakshabandhan is a sacred bond made of a thread of a social, mythological, religious, and historical spirit, which is celebrated with great pomp not only in India but also in Nepal and Mauritius. In this festival, sisters tie rakhi and give sweets to their brother. After tying the Rakhi, the brother gives rupees as a Dakshina to his sister or gives some gifts.
When: 19th August 2024.
Where: All across India
What is Special: The festival celebrating the beautiful bond of brothers and sisters is observed across the country.
Hariyali Teej Festival
Teej is a set of monsoon festivals celebrated in India during the month of Sawan / Shraavana India. The meaning of Haryali is greenery. It is believed that the earth will get wrapped in greenery after the summer season. This regional festivity is a celebration of Goddess Parvati’s reunion with Lord Shiva and a tradition for women to pray for the wellbeing of their husbands. The religious significance and the social implication of the Teej Festival are used in the celebration. It is a three-day-long festival with the first day is known as Sinjahara; Teej is the second day; Badi Teej is the third day. Sinjahara is marked by the Mehendi ritual among married women and the would-be married girls.
Worshipping for the long life of their husbands, the festival is marked by many preparations like buying new clothes, applying Mehendi, singing songs, and taking rides on swings. After this, women pray to Goddess Parvati and the Teej Vrat is completed successfully.
When: 7th August 2024.
Where: Rajasthan and parts of India
What is Special: The festival of swings commemorates the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Markets are usually crowded with women shopping for various items to adorn themselves. Teej procession is organized in various places with numerous artists, performers, band members, and folk dancers follow the procession showing their magnificent skills.
Nag Panchami
Shravana month holds special significance to Lors Shiva and snakes hold a vital place and are closely related to Lord Shiva. The fifth day after Amavasya in the month of Shravan is celebrated as Nag Panchami when the serpent God Nag Devta is worshipped. This festival falls two days after Hariyali Teej when the devotees offer milk, rice and perform aarti to impress Nag Devta in exchange for blessing and good fortune. This ritual of offering milk to snakes is unique and is celebrated with great joy across the country every year in the month of Shravana.
When: 9th August 2024.
Where: All over India
What is Special: People offer milk, flowers, fruits to the snake idol for the health, wealth & prosperity of their family members.
Varalakshmi Vrat
Varalakshmi Vratam is a popular pooja and fasting day to appease Goddess Varalakshmi known for granting boons (Vara). This Hindu festival is observed on the last Friday during Shravana Shukla Paksha which is July-August as per the Georgian calendar. Varalakshmi, meaning the one who grants wishes or boons, is worshipped by people, especially women, in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
When: 16th August 2024.
Where: Mainly in South India (Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and some parts of Maharashtra).
What is Special: Married women fast and pray to goddess Lakshmi for the desire of worldly pleasures, which include children, spouse, luxury, and all sorts of earthly pleasures.
Onam
‘Onam‘ is the main festival of Keralites celebrated with great fanfare throughout the ten days. This festival is celebrated in the months of August-September. It is a festival of feasting, dancing, and singing. This festival is celebrated in honor of King Mahabali. There is a legend about this day that the soul of King Bali comes to Kerala on Onam. The festival begins with colorful rangoli in the house and yard. It is called ‘Pakkam’ in the Malayalam language of Kerala. This festival is a public holiday in the entire state of Kerala and many cultural and recreational programs are organized.
When: 6th September – 15th September, 2024.
Where: Kerala
What is Special: The festival is celebrated with new clothes, feasts served on banana leaves, Kathakali dancing, sports, games, and snake boat races. You can witness the culture of Kerala at its best.
Krishna Janmashtami
Shri Krishna Janmashtami is the birth of Lord Krishna. Sri Krishna took his avatar on the Ashtami of the Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada month in Mathura at midnight to destroy the tyrannical Kansa. Since God Himself incarnated on this day, we celebrate this day as Krishna Janmashtami. That is why on the occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, the city of Mathura gets wet with colors of devotion, it is also celebrated all over India. Apart from this, the Dhankeshwar Temple in Bangladesh, Sri Swami Narayan Temple in Karachi, Pakistan, Nepal, America, Indonesia, including many other countries are celebrated in various ways through the Ascon Temple. In Bangladesh, it is celebrated as a national festival, and a national holiday is observed on this day.
When: 26th August 2024.
Where: All over India especially Mathura and Vrindavan
What is Special: The birth of Lord Krishna is widely celebrated in India with great devotion and fervor as Krishna Janmashtami. Night-long prayers are offered in beautifully decorated temples.
Nand Mahotsav
The Nand Mahotsav festival is celebrated on the day following Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna and commemorates the celebrations in the home of Nandraya and Yashoda, Lord Krishna’s foster parents. One of the most important among these is the Dahi Handi. Across India, young boys/girls form a human pyramid and attempt to break a curd-filled earthen pot tied at a considerable height, mimicking Gokul’s original celebrations. Dahi Handi involves much skill and dexterity and can invoke much competition among the participating groups.
When: 27th August 2024.
Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra
What is Special: Dahi Handi is performed where boys and even girls form a human pyramid by standing one on top of the other, trying to break the pot with a stick.
Shravan Mela
Sawan month is the month for Lord Shiva and devotees go far and wide to please Lord. It is believed Lord Vishnu goes to rest in the Ksheer Sea in the month of Savan and Lord Mahadev protects the three worlds in Sawan month.
The holy month of Shravan as per the traditional Hindu calendar holds great importance to Lord Shiva and a lot of fairs are held in different parts of the country. The biggest fair is held in Haridwar for Shiva devotees where Kanwar visits Hindu pilgrimage places like Gangotri and Gaumukh in Uttarakhand and Haridwar, and Sultanganj in Bihar, to fetch water or “Gangajal” from the River Ganga or the Holy Ganges and then offer the jal at the Shiv temple.
When: Shravan month
Where: Haridwar and various other parts of the country
What is Special: Thousands of saffron-clad pilgrims bringing holy water from the Ganges during the auspicious month of Saravan.
Parsi New Year – Jamshed Navroz
The Parsi New Year is a regional holiday celebrated on the first day of the Zoroastrian calendar’s first month, Farvardin. The day is also referred to as Jamshed Navroz after the Persian King Jamshed who founded the Parsi calendar. The festival falls every year on Spring Equinox around 21st March, but the Parsi community in India follows the Shahenshahi calendar and thus celebrates their new year later in July or August.
When: 16th August 2024.
Where: Gujarat and Maharashtra
What is Special: The Parsi community in Mumbai and Gujarat who follow Zoroastrianism, celebrate Navroz or the Parsi New Year. They decorate their homes with flowers and make rangoli.
Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race
In Kerala, the monsoon is celebrated with full celebration and gaiety. Many water-related festivals are celebrated among which Nehru Trophy Boat Race is one of the most popular and competitive competitions. An estimated 15 small and big boat races are held during this monsoon season.
It is held in Alappuzha District of the state in the month of August every year. The 100-120 feet long canoe-like boats look like a snake and their serpentine movements through water popularize its name. The first boat race, conducted in honor to welcome the then Prime Minister of India – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru – to Alleppey, took place in 1952. Since then the event is named Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race and the winner gets the Nehru Trophy.
When: Second Saturday of August 2024.
Where: Kerala
What is Special: Thousands of people, including tourists from abroad, gathered at Punnamada Lake in Kerala to witness the annual Nehru Trophy boat race. This also marks the beginning of the tourism season in the state.
Bonderam Festival
Bonderam festival of Goa is celebrated on Divar Island which is a little island 12 kilometers from Panaji. It is an annual tradition celebrated on the 4th Saturday of August. The name Bonderam originates from ‘Bandeira’ – the Portuguese word for flag. The whole island comes alive during this festival with people, music, dance, and feasts. People celebrate this festival in Goa by creating colorful tableaux and embarking on massive parades throughout.
When: Fourth Saturday of August 2024.
Where: Panjim, Goa
What is Special: The island of Divar in Goa comes alive with the Bonderam festival with people, music, dance, and feasts.
Madras Week
Madras Week is a celebration of Madras. What began as a half-day celebration 13 years ago has now become a month-long event with August 22–28 being called Madras Week. Madras Week is a tribute to the richness of the history and culture that exists in the city.
When: August 2024.
Where: Madras
What is Special: Madras Week provides a glimpse into the sepia-tinted Madras that their ancestors lived in and loved.
Kajari Teej
Teej is a set of monsoon festivals celebrated in India during the month of Sawan / Shraavana India and is observed elaborately by women in North Indian states, especially in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. There are also three types of Teej Festivals known as Kajari Teej, Hartalika Teej & Hariyali Teej. Kajari Teej is celebrated on the third day of Krishna Paksha and Hartalika Teej is celebrated on the third day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada.
When: 22nd August 2024.
Where: Rajasthan and parts of India
What is Special: Teej procession is carried out all markets are usually crowded with women shopping for various items to adorn themselves.
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year. It is a month of remembrance for Muslims, who mourn from the first night of Muharram and continue for ten nights, culminating with a large procession on the 10th of Muharram, the Day of Ashura. Azadari procession carried out by Shiite Muslims in the Indian city of Hardoi on the Day of Ashura.
When: 7th July 2024.
Where: All over India
What is Special: Muharram is one of the four sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan. On the tenth day, you can witness the Azadari procession carried out.
