India is a land of colorful festivals, and Hindu festivals in 2025 will bring lots of fun, prayers, and family time! These special days are about celebrating gods, nature, and good winning over bad. From flying kites to lighting lamps, each festival has its own story and way of making people happy.
This list shows popular Hindu festivals with their dates, days, and holidays. They’re easy to understand and exciting to learn about. Let’s dive into these amazing celebrations that make India so special all year long!
List of Hindu Festivals in India 2025
1. Makar Sankranti or Pongal
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 15, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in some places)
Description: Makar Sankranti is a happy festival when the sun moves to a new place in the sky. It means winter is ending, and days get longer. People fly kites, make bonfires, and eat sweets like tilgul (made of sesame and jaggery). In South India, it’s called Pongal, with yummy rice dishes. Families take baths in rivers, pray for good luck, and thank nature for food. It’s a fun day to enjoy with friends!
2. Vasant Panchami
Day: Sunday
Date: February 2, 2025
Holiday: No (regional in some areas)
Description: Vasant Panchami celebrates Saraswati, the goddess of learning. Kids wear yellow, pray for good marks, and start new studies. People fly kites and eat sweet saffron rice. It’s a happy day for spring, with flowers and music everywhere. Everyone asks Saraswati to help them be smart and creative!
3. Thaipusam
Day: Tuesday
Date: February 11, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in some states)
Description: Thaipusam is a big day for Lord Murugan. People thank him with prayers and parades. Some carry heavy decorations or pierce their skin to show love. It’s loud and colorful, with music and dancing. Families come together to celebrate strength and faith in South India and Tamil areas.
4. Maha Shivaratri
Day: Wednesday
Date: February 26, 2025
Holiday: Yes
Description: Maha Shivaratri is a special night for Lord Shiva. People stay awake, pray, and give him leaves, milk, and water. They sing songs and fast to feel pure and happy. It’s about beating bad things and starting fresh. Temples are full of people, and some places have big parades.
5. Holika Dahan
Day: Thursday
Date: March 13, 2025
Holiday: No (but part of Holi)
Description: Holika Dahan is the night before Holi. People light bonfires to remember how good beat evil in an old story. Families gather, sing, and pray around the fire. It’s exciting and warm, getting everyone ready for the colorful fun of Holi the next day!
6. Holi
Day: Friday
Date: March 14, 2025
Holiday: Yes
Description: Holi is the colorful festival of fun! After the bonfire night, people throw colors and water at each other, dance, and eat sweets like gujiya. It’s about spring and love, and even strangers become friends. Holi makes everyone happy and forget their worries.
7. Hindi New Year
Day: Saturday
Date: March 29, 2025
Holiday: No (regional in some areas)
Description: Hindi New Year is when many Hindus start their year. People clean homes, wear new clothes, and pray for luck. They eat tasty food and visit temples. It’s a quiet, happy day to begin fresh and hope for good things in the months ahead.
8. Ugadi or Gudi Padwa or Telugu New Year
Day: Sunday
Date: March 30, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in some places)
Description: Ugadi and Gudi Padwa are New Year days for many Hindus. People eat neem and jaggery to remember life has good and tough times. They decorate homes with colors, put up flags, and cook tasty food. It’s a fresh start with prayers for happiness and success.
9. Ram Navami
Day: Sunday
Date: April 6, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in some places)
Description: Ram Navami is Lord Rama’s birthday. He was a brave and kind king. People fast, sing songs, and go to temples to pray. Some act out his story, showing how he beat evil. It’s a day to learn about being good and strong.
10. Hanuman Jayanti
Day: Saturday
Date: April 12, 2025
Holiday: No (regional in some areas)
Description: Hanuman Jayanti celebrates Hanuman, Rama’s strong monkey friend. People visit temples, pray, and tell his brave stories. They eat sweets and thank him for courage and help. It’s a fun day to feel strong and happy with family!
11. Vaisakhi or Baisakhi or Vishu
Day: Monday
Date: April 14, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in some states)
Description: Vaisakhi is a harvest festival and Sikh New Year. People dance bhangra, eat good food, and thank God for crops. In Kerala, it’s Vishu, with special meals and gifts. It’s a joyful day full of music, sharing, and hope for a great year.
12. Bengali New Year or Bihu
Day: Monday
Date: April 14, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in some states)
Description: Bengali New Year, or Pohela Boishakh, is a fresh start in Bengal. People wear new clothes, eat sweets, and sing. In Assam, it’s Bihu, with dancing and feasts. It’s a happy day to celebrate life and culture with friends and family.
13. Tamil New Year
Day: Monday
Date: April 14, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in Tamil Nadu)
Description: Tamil New Year, or Puthandu, is a big day in Tamil Nadu. People clean homes, make rangolis, and cook yummy food like mango pachadi. They pray for happiness and visit each other. It’s a simple, joyful way to start the year!
14. Akshaya Tritiya
Day: Friday
Date: May 30, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Akshaya Tritiya is a lucky day to start new things. People buy gold, pray to Lakshmi, and eat sweets. It means “never-ending luck,” so everyone hopes for wealth and success. It’s a quiet but special day for families.
15. Savitri Pooja
Day: Tuesday
Date: June 10, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Savitri Pooja is for married women. They pray to Savitri, who saved her husband from death, for their husbands’ long life. Ladies fast, wear red, and tie threads on trees. It’s a day of love, faith, and family care.
16. Puri Rath Yatra
Day: Friday
Date: June 27, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in Odisha)
Description: Puri Rath Yatra is a huge parade for Lord Jagannath. People pull big chariots with his idol through the streets. There’s singing, dancing, and lots of excitement. It’s a fun, loud day to show love for God in Odisha!
17. Guru Purnima
Day: Thursday
Date: July 10, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Guru Purnima is a day to thank teachers and gurus. People pray to Vyasa, a wise sage, and give gifts to those who teach them. It’s quiet, with prayers and respect. Kids thank their school teachers too!
18. Nag Panchami
Day: Tuesday
Date: July 29, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Nag Panchami is for snake gods. People pray to them for safety from bites and bad luck. They offer milk and draw snake pictures. It’s a small, interesting day to respect nature and stay safe.
19. Varalakshmi Vrat
Day: Friday
Date: August 8, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Varalakshmi Vrat is when women pray to Lakshmi for wealth and happiness. They fast, decorate homes, and make sweets. It’s a day for ladies to ask for good luck for their families with love and care.
20. Raksha Bandhan
Day: Saturday
Date: August 9, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Raksha Bandhan is for brothers and sisters. Sisters tie rakhis (threads) on brothers’ wrists, and brothers give gifts. They eat sweets and promise to care for each other. It’s a sweet, fun day of family love!
21. Krishna Janmashtami
Day: Saturday
Date: August 16, 2025
Holiday: Yes
Description: Janmashtami celebrates Krishna’s birth. People fast till midnight, decorate temples, and sing. Kids dress up like Krishna and break curd pots. It’s a joyful day full of love and play.
22. Ganesh Chaturthi
Day: Wednesday
Date: August 27, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in some places)
Description: Ganesh Chaturthi is for Ganesha, the elephant-head god. People bring his idols home, give him modaks, and pray. After 10 days, they say goodbye with water immersion. It’s a happy time with parades and music.
23. Onam
Day: Thursday
Date: September 4, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in Kerala)
Description: Onam is Kerala’s harvest festival. People make flower carpets, wear new clothes, and eat a big feast on banana leaves. They dance and tell stories of King Mahabali. It’s a colorful, happy time for families!
24. Vishwakarma Puja
Day: Wednesday
Date: September 17, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Vishwakarma Puja is for the god of tools and work. People clean machines, pray for safety, and thank him. Workers and builders celebrate with small prayers and sweets. It’s a day for jobs and skills.
25. Mahalaya Amavasya
Day: Sunday
Date: September 21, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Mahalaya Amavasya starts Durga Puja prep. People pray for their ancestors and welcome Goddess Durga. It’s a quiet day with early morning chants. Everyone gets ready for the big festival coming soon!
26. Navratri Begins
Day: Monday
Date: September 22, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Navratri starts nine nights of fun for Goddess Durga. People dance garba, fast, and pray to her. It’s the beginning of a big celebration with music and excitement everywhere!
27. Durga Puja Begins
Day: Sunday
Date: September 28, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Durga Puja is when Bengal celebrates Durga with big statues and pandals. People dress up, dance, and eat tasty food. It’s loud, colorful, and super fun as the festival grows bigger each day.
28. Navratri Ends or Maha Navami
Day: Wednesday
Date: October 1, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Maha Navami is the last big day of Navratri. People pray hard to Durga and get ready for Dussehra. There’s dancing, singing, and joy as the festival winds down with hope and power.
29. Dussehra
Day: Thursday
Date: October 2, 2025
Holiday: Yes
Description: Dussehra celebrates Rama beating Ravana. People burn big effigies, watch plays, and cheer for good winning over bad. It’s exciting with firecrackers and family time after Navratri’s end.
30. Sharad Purnima
Day: Monday
Date: October 6, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Sharad Purnima is a full-moon night. People eat sweet rice under the moonlight and pray to Lakshmi. It’s calm and pretty, with stories and songs about the bright moon.
31. Karwa Chauth
Day: Thursday
Date: October 9, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Karwa Chauth is for wives. They fast all day for their husbands’ long life, then eat after seeing the moon. Women dress up, pray, and share food. It’s a loving, special day.
32. Dhanteras
Day: Saturday
Date: October 18, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Dhanteras starts Diwali fun. People buy gold or utensils and pray to Lakshmi for money. Homes get cleaned, and lamps are lit. It’s a busy, happy day to welcome wealth!
33. Diwali
Day: Tuesday
Date: October 21, 2025
Holiday: Yes
Description: Diwali is the festival of lights! People light lamps, burst firecrackers, and eat laddoos. They pray to Lakshmi for luck. Homes shine bright, and families share gifts and joy.
34. Bhai Dooj
Day: Thursday
Date: October 23, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Bhai Dooj is like Raksha Bandhan. Sisters pray for brothers, put tilak on their heads, and share sweets. Brothers give gifts back. It’s a sweet day of sibling love!
35. Chhath Puja
Day: Monday
Date: October 27, 2025
Holiday: Yes (in some states)
Description: Chhath Puja thanks the Sun God. People stand in water, pray, and offer fruits. It’s hard work but full of faith. Families celebrate together, especially in Bihar and UP.
36. Kartik Poornima
Day: Wednesday
Date: November 5, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Kartik Poornima is a bright full-moon day. People light lamps, take river baths, and pray. Some celebrate with fairs. It’s peaceful and pretty under the big moon.
37. Geeta Jayanti
Day: Monday
Date: December 1, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Geeta Jayanti is when Krishna gave the Bhagavad Gita. People read it, sing, and pray in temples. It’s a quiet day to learn wise lessons about life.
38. Dhanu Sankranti
Day: Tuesday
Date: December 16, 2025
Holiday: No
Description: Dhanu Sankranti is when the sun changes again. People pray, eat rice dishes, and thank God. It’s a small festival to end the year with hope and peace.
FAQ: All About Hindu Festivals in 2025
What Are Hindu Festivals?
Hindu festivals are special days when people celebrate their gods, nature, and big stories from old times. They pray, eat yummy food, and have fun with family and friends.
Why Do Dates Change Every Year?
The dates change because Hindu festivals follow a moon calendar, not the regular one. The moon decides when each festival happens, so it’s different every year.
Are All These Festivals Holidays?
Not all! Some are holidays everywhere, like Diwali, but others, like Ugadi, are holidays only in some states. It depends on where you live.
Why Do People Fast During Festivals?
Fasting means not eating or eating less to show love for the gods. It helps people feel closer to them and stay pure and strong.
What’s the Most Fun Festival?
It depends! Holi is super fun with colors and water. Diwali has lights and firecrackers. Ganesh Chaturthi has big parades. Everyone has a favorite!
Do Kids Get to Join In?
Yes! Kids fly kites on Makar Sankranti, play with colors on Holi, and break pots on Janmashtami. Festivals are for everyone, especially kids!
Why Do People Light Lamps or Bonfires?
Lamps and bonfires mean light beating darkness, or good beating bad. Like on Diwali, lamps welcome happiness, and on Holi, bonfires tell an old story.
Can I Celebrate If I’m Not Hindu?
Of course! These festivals are about joy and sharing. Anyone can join the fun, eat sweets, and learn the stories—no matter who you are!
What Food Do People Eat?
Each festival has special food! Sweets like laddoos for Diwali, modaks for Ganesh Chaturthi, and gujiya for Holi are super tasty. There’s always something delicious!
How Do I Know the Exact Date?
Dates might shift a little because of the moon. Check with a calendar closer to the time or ask someone who knows, like a priest or family member.