List Of Festivals Celebrated In The Month Of February
India is a land of festivals and fairs, and there is a festival been celebrated in some parts of the country virtually every day of the year. Each festival refers to different occasions and different seasons. With February the first things that come in our mind are Valentine’s Day and Mahashivratri also falls at the end of February. The major festival celebrated in the month of February are.
Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Magha and from this day Vasant Ritu begins. Goddess Saraswati is worshiped on this day and is celebrated with great enthusiasm especially in eastern India. On this day people wear yellow clothes and offer prayers. Traditionally, this festival has been considered very auspicious for the education of the child. Therefore, in many parts of the country, the education of children is started on this day. The child is taught to write and read the first word.
It is the start of the spring season when the earth is naturally decorated with beautiful flowers and mustard flowers start shining in the fields. Barley and wheat earrings start blooming, mango trees blossom and butterflies start hovering everywhere, which indicates the coming of the festival of Vasant Panchami.
When: 14th February 2024
Where: Various regions in the Indian subcontinent especially eastern parts of India, particularly in West Bengal and Bihar, it is celebrated as Saraswati Puja.
What is Special: Vasant Panchami is a famous festival that marks the end of the winter season and ushers in the springtime, people wear yellow clothes and make yellow food as it is believed to bring good luck, in Punjab Meethe Chawal, Maake ki Roti and Sarso Ka Saag are eaten.
Valentines Day
14th February is celebrated as Valentine’s Day in different countries, while in China this day is celebrated as ‘Nights of Sevens‘, in Japan and Korea this day is known as ‘White Day‘. Traditionally in Western countries, it is a trend to celebrate Valentine’s Day, when people exchange cards, love signs, hearts, cupid, flowers, and greeting cards with the love of their life.
On Valentine’s Day, everyone takes out time to express their love, and not only a day the whole week before Valentine’s day is celebrated as Valentine’s week.
7th February: Rose Day
8th February: Propose Day
9th February: Chocolate Day
10th February: Teddy Day
11th February: Promise Day
12th February: Kiss Day
13th February: Hug Day
14th February: Valentine’s Day
When: 14th February 2024
Where: Worldwide
What is Special: The day of expressing and celebrating love.
Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri the ‘great night of Shiva‘, the festival is one of the most important in the list of spiritual festivals in India. Mahashivratri is considered to be the most important for Hindus, which falls in the month of February-March (The fourteenth day of every lunar month or the day before Amavasya).
It is believed that Lord Shiva descended from Brahma as Rudra at midnight on this very day at the beginning of creation. On this night, the northern hemisphere of the planet is positioned in such a way that human energy naturally moves upwards. People celebrate Mahashivratri as a celebration of Shiva’s marriage. If you worship Shiva on Mahashivratri then Goddess Parvati and Shiva will fulfill all your desires.
People worship God Shiva and keep fast asking God to bless his loved ones, and wishes for progress in life. Shivaratri is the darkest day of the month when devotees throng the Shiva temples, worship him and ask for blessings.
When: 8th March 2024
Where: Throughout India
What is Special: A Hindu festival celebrated in the month of Phalguna to worship Lord Shiva.
Taj Mahotsav
Taj Mahotsav is a ten-day festival celebrated every year in Shilpgram, Near Taj Mahal, Agra to promote India’s rich culture, food, art craft, dance, and music. In Taj Mahotsav, people get a chance to see and understand the culture of different states in one place along with the taste of the cuisines of the country.
A large number of Indians and foreigners come to visit Agra during Taj Mahotsav to witness the fabulous work of art and crafts from different states of India. Stalls of Phulkari of Punjab, Furniture of Saharanpur, Bhadohi’s carpet, Pilkhua Chadar, Baghpat’s Hand Block, Khurja’s Pottery, Jammu and Kashmir’s Shawls and Suits, Gujarat’s Embroidery, North-East’s Dry Flower, Bamboo Furniture, wood stalls of Andhra Pradesh is also set up. In the food festival of Taj Mahotsav, you can enjoy all delicacies from India like chole bhature, Indian samosa, poori sabji, gulab jamun, Lucknavi kebab, South Indian dosa, Amritsari naan, Hyderabadi biryani, etc.
When: 17th to 27th February 2024
Where: Agra, Uttar Pradesh
What is Special: This is a historic festival to celebrate the heritage of the Mughal era and shows India’s rich culture, dance music, and food in a unique way.
Goa Carnival
Goa Carnival is a celebration of Goa culture in a unique way and is one of the most popular festivals in Goa. The Carnival festival was celebrated during the colonial rule of the Portuguese during the 18th century. The Carnival festival of Goa is full of food, beverages, music, dance, and fun, which are held before the 40-day period of fasting and non-vegetarian food. The day passes with colorful and musical parades and is held in Panaji, the capital of Goa.
A trip is made across the state which makes it more popular than other Goa festivals. People are seen partying on the streets throughout the night. According to local tradition, a float parade in Panaji is organized by King Momo, who announces the initiation of eating, drinking, and partying. King Momo traditionally proclaims the Konkani message “Kha, piye aani majja kar” (English: “Eat, drink and make merry”). The concluding ceremony is performed on the last day of the festival with the famous black-red dance.
When: 10th February to 13th February 2024
Where: Goa
What is Special: The display of Goa culture is a superb way.
Losar Festival
Tibetans follow the lunar pattern and their first day of the first month of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar are celebrated as Losar which falls between the months of January to March. Losar is celebrated for 15 days, but the first 3 days are the most important. They burn incense sticks as a ritual to please God for the wellbeing of the local people.
It is one of the major festivals of Ladakh and is also celebrated in Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. In Ladakh Buddhists visit deities in the shrines and Gompas, along with celebration with dance, music, and merrymaking. Losar is marked with ancient ceremonies that represent the struggle between good and evil. Watching the ceremony, where hundreds of people carrying flaming torches and chanting prayers parade through the streets to chase away evil spirits and hungry ghosts, is an experience of a lifetime. People perform the dance of the deer and amusing battles between the king and his ministers, and so on, people are cheering for the coming new year by dancing, singing, and merrymaking.
When: 10th February 2024
Where: Ladakh
What is Special: Losar means New Year it is a Ladakhi or Tibet New Year celebrated by Buddhist communities.
Deccan Festival
Deccan Festival also is known as Hyderabad Festival is a vibrant 5-day festival held in Andra Pradesh. The culture of the Deccan region is reflected during these five days when the entire state comes alive with colors, music, and fairs. In this festival programs like qawwali, ghazal, dance, song, mushaira, etc. are organized. People from far and wide come here to enjoy these events.
Mythological artists who are quite famous in their respective regions come from different parts of the state and country. The main idea behind celebrating this festival is to keep the traditions and culture of the Deccan region alive. On your visit to the Deccan festival, you will get to taste the delectable dishes related to both Andhra and Hyderabad cuisine at the food fair.
When: 25th February to 1st March 2024
Where: Hyderabad
What is Special: This five-day festival reflects the culture of the Deccan region which comes alive with colors, music, and fair.
