10 Famous Harvest Festivals of India that You Should Attend in 2022

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Monday, September 19, 2022

India is a land known for its rich culture, heritage, traditions, and festivals. It is considered a vibrant and colourful country where people live together in harmony and peace. Festivals in India are celebrated with much joy and happiness. The harvest festivals of India are of great importance. Each state in the country celebrates its harvest festivals differently, with a lot of excitement and fun.

For most travellers, visiting a country during the time of festivities makes their holiday even more memorable. India’s festivals are diverse and incredible; catching a glimpse of these festivals can surely make your travel exciting!

If you’re planning a tour to India, here is a list of the famous harvest festivals of India that you must know about.

What is a Harvest Festival?

Harvest festivals are celebrations that take place during the primary harvest of a region. India is home to 29 states, and each state celebrates its harvest festival at different times of the year. Some popular harvest festivals are Makar Sankranti, Bihu, Pongal and Lohri. It’s a celebration to be thankful for the plentiful harvest. Since a sizeable proportion of the country’s population is engaged in agricultural activities, the first harvest is celebrated with great excitement and joy.

1. Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is one of India’s most colourful and oldest harvest festivals and a top festival in Uttar Pradesh. It’s a festival celebrated with great excitement all over the country. The festival is enjoyed in Kerala, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and West Bengal. The first harvest is celebrated with song, dance, rallies, kite flying, carnivals, and bonfire. The Kumbh Mela is one of the main attractions you must visit during the harvest festival. Makar Sankranti is one of the top harvest festivals of India that you must check out when visiting these different states in India.

Date: 14^th January 2022
Where is it celebrated: All over India but mainly in North India
Key attractions of the festival: Kumbh Mela and sweet dishes made of jaggery and sesame.

2. Lohri

A famous harvest festival of Punjab, Lohri is a grand harvest festival celebrated with song and dance. It is one of the top 5 harvest festivals in India. People set up a bonfire and gather around it to sing and dance. Grains, nuts, and corn are offered to appreciate the harvest of the sugarcane crops. It is also a famous harvest festival in Himachal Pradesh. If planning a trip to India, witness this famous harvest festival for the best experience. Lohri is a great harvest festival of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab that you can enjoy.

Date: 13^th January 2022
Where is it celebrated: Punjab and Himachal Pradesh
Key attractions of the festival: People singing and dancing around the bonfire singing the popular Punjabi song Sunder Mundriye

3. Bhogali Bihu

Bhogali Bihu is a famous harvest festival of Assam that’s quite interesting. It’s celebrated in January, and the entire state showcases delight and happiness. The farmers of the state celebrate their efforts with song and dance. Celebrations begin the night before with the community feast (Uruka). On the day of the festival, the mejis made of hay and clay are bunt. Women dress in traditional attire, dance, and sing together. It’s an exciting harvest festival of Assam that people enjoy together with fun and excitement. It’s a lively harvest festival that tourists enjoy in Assam.

Date: 15^th January 2022
Where is it celebrated: Assam
Key attractions of the festival: Bullfight, Bihu dance, Til pitha, Laru, Sunga pitha, and birds fight

4. Gudi Padwa

Gudi Padwa is a grand harvest festival of Maharashtra that you cannot miss. It marks the beginning of the New Year, and people celebrate it by making rangoli and decorating it with handmade dolls and flowers. People visit family and friends, and sweets like shrikhand, sunth paak, and Puran poli are prepared during this time. You must enjoy this unique harvest festival of Maharashtra when in India.

Date: 13^th April 2022
Where is it celebrated: Maharashtra
Key attractions of the festival: delicious, sweet dishes prepared, rangoli, and handmade dolls

5. Onam

Onam festival is a famous harvest festival of Kerala celebrated with a lot of excitement in various parts of the state. It’s celebrated for about ten days, and people decorate their homes with rangoli and flowers, wear traditional clothes, and cook delicious dishes. Music and dance are also part of the festivities. Witnessing this exciting harvest festival of Kerala will leave you with a memorable holiday experience.

Date: 23^rd August 2022.
Where is it celebrated: Kerala
Key attractions of the festival: Payasam, rasam, brown rice, parippu curry, and avial are served in the green leaf to guests. Tiger dance, boat, and snake race are key attractions of the festival

6. Pongal

Pongal is a harvest festival of Tamil Nadu that is celebrated at the same time as Makar Sankranti. It’s a grand thanksgiving festival that people celebrate with great joy and express their gratitude for the year’s harvest. It is a colourful festival that’s celebrated for four days and is among the top festivals of Tamil Nadu.

Date: 17^th January 2022
Where is it celebrated: Tamil Nadu
Key attractions of the festival: Bonfire, houses decorated with kolam, and bull taming contests

7. Vishu

Another famous harvest festival in India is Vishu. It’s a harvest festival of Karnataka and Kerala that is worth witnessing. People worship Lord Krishna and Lord Vishnu with evening prayers, lunch, and fireworks. In Kerala, it is celebrated on the first day of the Malayalee New Year. Women prepare various dishes like golden lemon, jackfruit, rice, and golden cucumber to offer to the Gods.

Date: 14^th April 2022
Where is it celebrated: Karnataka and Kerala
Key attractions of the festival: Kani Kanal (the first sight of Vishnu) and Sadya (the lavish midday meal)

8. Gangaur

Gangaur is an important harvest festival in Rajasthan. It’s a famous and colourful festival observed throughout Rajasthan with devotion and enthusiasm. Gangaur is a festival of harvest, marital fidelity, and monsoon. Gangaur is made up of a mix of two words – Gana and Gaur. Gana stands for Lord Shiva, and Gaur stands for Parvati or Gauri. Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva are worshipped in the harvest festival of Gangaur. It’s a festival specially meant for women who pray for the good health of their husbands. If you’re planning a trip to Rajasthan during this time of the year, get a glimpse of this fantastic festival for the best holiday.

Date: 4^th April 2022
Where is it celebrated: Rajasthan
Key attractions of the festival: Colourful and famous festival

9. Agera

Agera is a famous harvest festival of India celebrated with enthusiasm in Mumbai. The festival is celebrated in many regions of Mumbai, Vasai, Raigad, and Thane. It’s a festival to mark the harvest season when Catholics come together to thank God for the blessings. This festival is also called ‘Thanksgiving Sunday.’ A procession is organized to the paddy fields, and a priest then blesses and plucks sheaves from the farm. During the procession, people dance and sing with a lot of enthusiasm. Food stalls are also set up on the church grounds, where the blessed paddy sheaves are distributed to the people. Check out our India tour packages to get a glimpse of these fantastic harvest festivals of India.

Where is it celebrated: Mumbai
Key attractions of the festival: Kani Kanal (the first sight of Vishnu) and Sadya (the lavish midday meal)

10. Ladakh

The harvest festival of Ladakh has gained a lot of fame and popularity all over the globe. It’s a grand, beautiful, and bright harvest festival that you must experience if you are visiting Ladakh. The stunning stupas and monasteries are beautifully decorated, and pilgrims visit the Thangka of Kyabje Gombo as part of the celebration. Archery, cultural and social events, handicrafts, and arts are the other interesting things about this exciting harvest festival. Make sure to plan your trip during the harvest festival of Ladakh for a memorable and exciting vacation!

Date: 3^rd January
Where is it celebrated: Ladakh
Key attractions of the festival: Chhams or dramas are organized to display Buddha’s teachings and the culture’s various dance forms

These are some of the top harvest festivals of India that you must experience when visiting these beautiful states. Make sure to plan your vacation accordingly, so you get a chance to witness these fantastic harvest festivals for the best experience. For more such travel bookings, check out SOTC for the best holiday packages available at great rates and discounts!