Hindu Festivals 2025
24 festivals
Every Hindu festival in 2025, organised by month. From major nationwide observances like Diwali, Holi, and Janmashtami to regional vrats and ekadashis — each links to a full panchang reading for that date.
January
February
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Vasant Panchami
Sun 2Dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts. Schools and households place books and instruments before her image; yellow is worn to mark the arrival of spring.
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Maha Shivratri
Wed 26The Great Night of Shiva. Devotees fast, keep an all-night vigil, and offer bilva leaves and water to the Shivalinga.
March
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Holi
Fri 14The festival of colours, celebrating the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. People smear coloured powders, sing, dance, and visit friends and family.
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Gudi Padwa
Sun 30The lunar new year of the Deccan — households raise the gudi flag at dawn to mark Brahma's creation of time. One of the sade-teen muhurat, the almanac tradition's three-and-a-half days held auspicious for any new beginning.
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Chaitra Navratri
Sun 30Nine nights dedicated to the nine forms of the goddess Durga, beginning the Hindu lunar new year. Marked by fasting, prayer, and devotional music.
April
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Ram Navami
Sat 5The birthday of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu. Observed with readings from the Ramayana, temple visits, and devotional songs.
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Hanuman Jayanti
Sat 12Celebrates the birth of Hanuman, the devoted disciple of Rama. Devotees read the Hanuman Chalisa and visit Hanuman temples.
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Akshaya Tritiya
Wed 30Considered one of the most auspicious days of the year. Traditionally, any task begun, gift given, or gold bought on this day is believed to bring lasting prosperity.
May
July
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Guru Purnima
Thu 10A day to honour spiritual teachers and mentors. Devotees pay respects to their gurus and remember Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas.
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Nag Panchami
Tue 29Dedicated to the worship of serpent deities (nagas). Devotees offer milk and prayers at snake idols and anthills, seeking protection from harm.
August
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Raksha Bandhan
Sat 9Sisters tie a protective thread (rakhi) on their brothers' wrists; brothers in turn promise to protect them. A celebration of the sibling bond.
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Janmashtami
Sat 16Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna at midnight. Devotees fast through the day, decorate cradles, sing bhajans, and break their fast after midnight aarti.
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Ganesh Chaturthi
Wed 27Marks the birth of Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Clay idols are installed in homes and public pandals, worshipped for one to ten days, then immersed in water.
September
October
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Dussehra
Thu 2Celebrates Rama's victory over Ravana — the triumph of good over evil. Effigies of Ravana are burned in many cities; in others, the day marks the conclusion of Navratri.
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Karva Chauth
Fri 10Married women fast from sunrise to moonrise, praying for their husbands' long life. The fast is broken after sighting the moon through a sieve.
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Dhanteras
Sun 19The first day of the Diwali festival. Considered auspicious for buying gold, silver, or new utensils, and for worshipping Dhanvantari, the deity of health.
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Diwali
Tue 21The festival of lights, marking Rama's return to Ayodhya and the worship of Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity. Homes are lit with diyas; families perform Lakshmi puja and exchange sweets.
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Govardhan Puja
Wed 22Commemorates Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill to shelter the villagers of Vrindavan. Devotees prepare an Annakut — a 'mountain of food' — offered to Krishna.
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Bhai Dooj
Thu 23Sisters apply a tilak on their brothers' foreheads and pray for their wellbeing; brothers offer gifts in return. The closing day of the Diwali festivities.
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Labh Pancham
Sun 26The fifth day after Diwali, held in the Gujarati trade tradition as the day of labh (gain) — shops reopen, new account books are inaugurated and businesses make their first entries of the new year.
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Chhath Puja
Tue 28A four-day festival devoted to Surya, the Sun god, and Chhathi Maiya. Devotees observe strict fasts and offer arghya to the setting and rising sun at rivers and ponds.