List Of Festivals Celebrated In The Month Of January

India is a land of festivals where each festival has its own significance and charm which brings the vibrant beauty of India at its best. January marks the new year and the start of the festival season. The major festival celebrated in the month of January are.

Lohri

Lohri is the festival of harvest for people of the northern province, Punjab, and Haryana. Lohri is the last night of Paush month and in the morning Makar Sankranti is celebrated. It is celebrated on 13th January every year with great fanfare and enthusiasm. The festival is celebrated all over India with different names. It is the day when farmers celebrate their bountiful harvest with pleasant weather with friends and family.

When: 13th January every year

Where: North India mainly Punjab and Haryana

What is Special: Light up bonfire with dance and music, and popcorn, maize seeds, jaggery, rewari, gajak, peanuts, and sesame seeds, are put in the fire as an offering then eaten as prasad.

Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti (the festival is also called Magha Sankranti or Magha festival in parts of India) is the festival celebrated on 14 or 15 January every year, when the sun enters cancer in the Pausha month and faces towards the north it is called Uttarayan. The festival is important for farmers who harvest their crops and sow new seeds. On this day people make dishes of sesame, jaggery, and holy bath is taken in several places. People fly kites and there is a custom of eating khichdi on this day.

When: 14th January

Where: Every part of India, is known as Pedda Panduga in Andhra Pradesh, Makara Sankranti in Karnataka and Maharashtra, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magh Bihu in Assam, Magha Mela in parts of central and north India, as Makar Sankranti in the west, and by other names. Kite flying is done in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

What is Special: People exchange sweets and greetings, while others take a holy dip in the river and fly kites.

Pongal

Pongal is a festival of farmers celebrated in south India, it is like Makar Sankranti and Lohri the festival celebrated in north India. The festival is celebrated for four days when people offer prasad to the Sun god called Pongal hence the festival is named Pongal. This four-day festival is called Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kanya Pongal. The festival begins on the first date of the Tamil month ‘Tai’ hence this festival also brings Tamil New Year.

When: 14th to 17th January, 2024

Where: Tamil Nadu

What is Special: People adorned their houses with rangoli (kolam), you can see kolams in the streets everywhere. They cook the Pongal dish have bull fights and bird fights.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

Patna Sahib, the birthplace of the tenth Sikh Guru, is considered one of the holiest places for Sikhs around the world. Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is celebrated in December or January as per the Nanakshahi calendar. On this day all gurudwaras are decorated. People organize Nagar kirtans, martial arts ‘Gatka’, and community kitchens (langar) in which free meals are served to people in gurdwaras.

When: 17th January, 2024

Where: Patna and Punjab

What is Special: Gurudwara Patna Sahib celebrates Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti with grandeur, where devotees gather and offer their prayers for blessings. Large processions are organized and they sing devotional songs and organize langars.

Republic Day

Republic Day is one of the three national festivals of India and is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm all over the country. This is the day when the Constitution came into force in India. On this day many programs are held throughout the country and a grand parade show is organized by the Indian Army in Delhi. After the army parade, all the states of the country present their culture and tradition through tableaux. After this, flowers are showered from the sky by the Indian Air Force like the colors of our national flag (saffron, white, and green).

When: 26th January

Where: New Delhi

What is Special: The Republic Day parade showcases India’s diverse culture and capabilities of armed forces.

Rann Utsav

Rann Utsav is one of the most popular festivals of Kutch, Gujarat. During the chilly winter months November to February when the dessert is most attractive the festival comes alive. The festival celebrates the unique culture of Gujarat with music and dance performances, storytelling sessions, walks through the desert, fabulous displays of handicrafts, and of course some authentic, mouth-watering food native to the Rann of Kutch. Kutch Rann Utsav is the shimmering landscape that gives the enchanting moments of this Fest, which feels like Heaven On Earth during Festival Time.

When: November 10th, 2023 – February 25th, 2024

Where: Kutch, Gujarat

What is Special: Enjoy spectacular performances under the moonlight and learn about the traditional music and culture of Gujarat.

India Art Festival, Delhi Edition

India Art Festival, is a Contemporary Art Fair, is the biggest art fair hosted annually at three metro cities, Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai. The artworks including paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs, and editions as well as video and digital art by over 1000 artists represented by various galleries are displayed at India Art Festival annually.

When: 1 – 4 February 2024

Where: Constitution Club of India, Delhi

What is Special: It is the celebration of Indian culture and modern and contemporary art, it provides the opportunity to emerge, independent artists to show their skills.

Magh Bihu

Bihu is the staple festival of the Assamese people. Magh Bihu is also called Bhogali Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam. This festival means bhog/feasting and marks the end of harvesting season in the month of Magh (January). The festival is marked by feasts and bonfires, traditional games like a bullfight, cockfight, etc.

The feasts are generally prepared from the products of the new harvest. A house of straw known as Bhela Ghar is made where the feasting is held and the next day morning it is burnt and worshipped as the fire god. A popular belief is that lighting bonfires will drive away from the coldness of the winter season for the year. Special dishes known as pithas are made at homes and they visit friend’s and families’ homes to congratulate them for good crops and harvest.

When: 14th-15th January 2024

Where: Assam

What is Special: One of the most auspicious festivals of Assam, Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu is the harvest festival that is celebrated by feasting often over a bonfire and get-togethers.

Bikaner Camel festival

The Camel Festival is a lively and colorful event organized in Bikaner by the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan. An enchanting desert city that comes alive with music and dance. It is fast gaining popularity as the visitor finds an opportunity to see some unusual folk performances, camels, camel racing, and dance.

When: 12th – 13th January 2024

Where: Bikaner

What is Special: It is one of the most popular events in Rajasthan where you can witness the true culture and heritage of this beautiful state.