Festival
Hindu festivals explained — their origin story, rituals, and why the date changes every year.
Ganesh Chaturthi
A ten-day festival celebrating the birth of Ganesha, ending with the immersion of his idol in water.
Read more →FestivalDussehra
Vijayadashami — the victory of good over evil, marking both Durga's triumph over Mahishasura and Rama's defeat of Ravana.
Read more →FestivalHoli
The festival of colors, celebrating the arrival of spring and the playful love of Radha and Krishna.
Read more →FestivalDiwali
The festival of lights, celebrating the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
Read more →What you'll find on each festival page
Every festival here covers the mythology or historical event behind it, how it's traditionally observed — specific rituals, foods and customs — and, where relevant, regional variations in how it's celebrated across India. Diwali and Holi are covered in full, including the story of Prahlada behind Holika Dahan.
Why the date isn't fixed
Unlike a birthday on the Gregorian calendar, most Hindu festivals are dated by the lunar Panchang, which is why they fall on a different date each year. Our article on why Hindu festival dates change every year explains the tithi-based system and the periodic leap month that keeps it aligned with the seasons.
More than a single day
Many major festivals, Diwali included, actually span several connected days, each with its own name and significance rather than being a single isolated celebration — our festival pages break down each day rather than treating the festival as one undifferentiated event.