Top 10 Most Vibrant Festivals to Attend In and Around October 2024

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As the air gets crisper and mother nature changes colour to the hues of fall, the people of India start preparing for the festive season. October is thus the month of celebration in the country. It usually starts with Navratri and Durga Puja in early October, and the festivity continues till mid-November. Several festivals in South India, Northeast, and Central India are celebrated alongside Diwali and Dussehra.

So, it is important to know the popular and most vibrant festivals to attend this month of October 2024. Continue reading this article to learn and experience the joy of celebrating the festivals in October.

This way, you will know when and where to book your India tour packages with SOTC. So, go ahead and give this one a good read!

1. Navratri – Honouring the Divine Feminine in her Nine Forms 

Navratri, meaning ‘nine nights’, is one of the most vibrant October festivals 2024, celebrated in parts of North India, Gujarat, and Kolkata. Navratri celebrations are held to remember and honour Goddess Durga, who killed a demon named Mahishasur and established the victory of good over evil.

So, on this auspicious festival, people fast for nine days while worshipping the nine forms of Goddess Durga. On the 10th day, they break fast by preparing meals for at least nine ‘kanyas’ or young girls.

In Gujarat, people perform traditional dances like Garbha and Dandiya to celebrate the sacred festival. However, if you really want to experience the essence of Navratri, make sure to visit the Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata, where women can be seen adorned in beautiful sarees and red bindi with aarti thali in their hands.

You can also enter puja pandals in parts of North India and Gujarat. Don’t miss the evening aarti and try delicious food from the stalls, such as Mandavi Paak, Singoda ki Kheer, Chola Bhatura, Chowmein, etc.

Dates for Navratri in 2024: 9^th October to 17^th October.

2. Dussehra – Mythology meeting Celebrations 

Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, always marks the end of Durga Puja or Navratri and is celebrated throughout the country, even in Sri Lanka. One of the most famous festivals in October, Dussehra, symbolises the triumph of good over evil. On this day, Lord Ram ended Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakarana in the Treta yug. You can thus see their effigies burning on every nook and corner of the streets.

Mysore and Kullu, however, are best known for Dussehra celebrations. You can also come across street fairs, and Ram-Leela shows to experience the grandeur of Vijayadashami.

Date for Dussehra in 2024: 12^th October.

3. Diwali – The Most Popular Indian Festival 

Diwali or Deepawali is one of those Indian festivals October welcomes with much pomp and gusto! The festival of lights marks the return of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lord Laxman to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. Diwali is another way of celebrating the victory of good over evil as Lord Rama returned to his hometown after defeating Ravana of Lanka. It is said that the entire town of Ayodhya was lit up and decorated with diyas and rangolis to welcome Him, Mother Sita, and Lord Laxman.

To honour the tradition, every household in India is embellished with clay diyas, candles, rangolis, and flowers. It is also when everyone returns to their hometowns and celebrates the festival with their families. People also worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi on this day. They leave their gates unlocked at night because they believe the Goddess visits and blesses homes with wealth and abundance.

Even though Diwali is celebrated in November this year due to the double Sawan months, it usually falls during October. So, it was necessary to mention the biggest festival in India in this list.

While Diwali is celebrated throughout India, here’s the list of best places to celebrate Diwali.

Date for Diwali in 2024: 31^th October.

4. Bathukamma – A Celebration of Nature’s Abundance

Bathukamma, which translates to ‘Mother Goddess’ or ‘Life Giver,’ is a culturally rich festival primarily celebrated in Telangana, South India. One of the most celebrated South Indian festivals in October, it is very special for women. They gather colourful and seasonal flowers to create stunning floral arrangements.

The final arrangement resembles the shape of a cone or temple. Once ready, the ladies worship the flower stacks as they sing and dance to folk songs. The festival is dedicated to the Goddess Maha Gauri, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Perhaps this is why Bathukamma is celebrated around the same time as Navratri.

Besides, it allows South Indian women to showcase their artistic abilities while bonding throughout the festival. In this way, they find a profound connection with nature, the Goddess, and each other.

Date for Bathukamma in 2024: 3^th October to 11^nd October.

5. Milad-un-Nabi – Commemorating the Birth of the Prophet 

Milad-un-Nabi, also known as Mawlid, is one of the sacred Islamic festivals in October in India. The day commemorates the birth of the Prophet Mohammad, who is revered as the last prophet of Islam. People gather at mosques worldwide for special prayers and sermons on this festival.

People spend the day remembering the life and teachings of the Prophet and engage in donating food and clothes to the less fortunate. Many also decorate the streets and houses with illuminating lights to display joy and reverence.

Date for Milad-un-Nabi in 2024: 28^th September.

6. Tawang Festival – Celebrating Arunachal’s Culture 

Tawang is a hill station nestled in the lush greenery and rich culture of Arunachal Pradesh. No prizes for guessing; the Tawang Festival is a way to promote and celebrate the cultural, artistic, and natural splendour of the beautiful northeastern state of India. The most spectacular thing about this festival is that the traditional dances, music, and talents are put on display by several tribes. Apart from enjoying the cultural performances, you can purchase various items like jewellery, clothes, bags, and showpieces.

As it is a top Tawang festival in October 2024, you can expect Arunachal’s natural beauty at its peak with clear skies, mesmerising valleys, and colourful landscapes. So, you can book a trip to tawang and attend the Tawang Festival in October.

Dates for Tawang Festival in 2024: 9^th October to 11^th October.

7. Mannarasala Ayilyam – The Annual Serpent Worship Festival

One of the most unique festivals in October, Mannarasala Ayilyam is an annual serpent worship at the Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple in Alleppey, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to the serpent deity, Nagraja, which translates to Serpent King. Not many people know about this festival, but those who do are immensely devoted to worshipping the serpent God. They offer special pujas, light lamps, and ‘prasad’ and seek the blessings of the Nagaraja for protection, fertility, and overall well-being.

Another interesting thing about this festival is that the female temple priest and the serpent God are taken to her ancestral home for special prayers. The grand procession comprising serpent effigies and idols of Gods is carried by priests and devotees who sing and dance throughout the celebration. The festival also coincides with the Ayilyam Nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Thulam (October), believed to be a highly auspicious time for serpent rituals. However, in 2024, the date of the festival has shifted to November, so you still have a lot of time to

So, if you want to glimpse Kerala’s mysticism, traditions, and folklore, you must book your India tour packages to Kerala and attend this festival.

Date for Mannarasala Ayilyam in 2024: 26^th October.

8. Marwar – Jubilation of a Royal Heritage

One of the many October festivals of 2024, Marwar is celebrated for two days in the splendorous Jodhpur city of Rajasthan. It is an enchanting extravaganza that promises an immersive experience of the culture and tradition of the royal state. The Marwar festival comprises puppet shows, traditional dances, musical performances, magic shows, horse riding, and races of several types. You can expect a spell-binding showcase of Rajasthani music and captivating folk dances like Ghoomar and Kalbeliya.

It also allows you to try various Rajasthani cuisines in one place without travelling to different cities. So, don’t miss the stalls of Dal Baati Churma, Ghevar, Gatte ki Sabzi, Pyaaz Kachori, and Mirchi Bada. As the name suggests, the festival aims to bring out and promote the artistry of the Marwar region of Rajasthan, once known for its Rajput rulers. This festival also serves as a tribute to the valiant fighters. Their legacy of courage, chivalry, and appreciation for art and culture.

Date for Marwar Festival in 2024- 22^nd October to 24^th October.

9. Karwachauth – An Auspicious Day of Love and Devotion

A sacred festival in October in India, Karwachauth shows the love and devotion of Indian women towards their husbands. The festival falls in the Karthik month of the Hindu calendar, usually in October. The married woman holds a full-day fast (without even drinking water) for their husband’s long life and health.

They break the fast once the moon rises and after completing their puja at night, which comprises a holy urn known as karwa filled with water. She pours the water from karwa in front of the moon and looks at her husband, praying for his long life and good health. Traditionally, the husband gives his wife the first glass of water to break the fast, followed by a grand meal. The day is also marked by sharing stories, advice, and laughter, strengthening the bonds of sisterhood.

While fasting is a personal commitment, many couples now celebrate the festival together, with husbands fasting alongside their wives in a display of solidarity and love. The festival has also gained significance as an occasion for gift-giving and expressing affection through jewellery, clothing, and other tokens of love. Even young girls who wish to marry a good man fast on Karwa Chauth and worship Goddess Gauri, Lord Shiva’s wife. It is thus a beautiful festival that brings a lot of love and commitment between a wife and her husband.

Date for Karwachauth in 2024: 16^th October.

10. Durga Puja – Bow Down to the Divine Mother

Durga Puja, one of the most significant festivals in October, is eagerly anticipated every year. It is a grand celebration dedicated to Goddess Durga, the embodiment of divine feminine power and a symbol of strength and courage. Various rituals and customs occur over the five days of the puja pandals. You will see mesmerising idols of Goddess Durga slaying the demon Mahishasura placed in these decorated pandals. These idols, often crafted by skilled artisans, become the centrepiece of the festivities.

Devotees seek the blessings of the goddess for strength, protection, and victory over obstacles through the first few days. The last day, Vijayadashami marks the triumph of good over evil and is a day of immersion. The idols are submerged in rivers or other bodies of water.

It’s a time for traditional dance forms, music, and elaborate decorations that transform the cities and towns into vibrant hubs of creativity and artistry. Pandal-hopping, where people visit different puja pandals to admire the idols and decorations, is a popular pastime. Durga Puja is celebrated throughout North India, but Kolkata is one place that showcases the best pandals, idols, and festivities of this popular Indian festival.

Date for Durga Puja in 2024: 9^th October to 17^th October.

Are you ready for the festivity?

From the grandeur of Vijayadashami to the beauty of Karwachauth, the Indian October festivals 2024 deserve to be celebrated with appetite and enthusiasm. So, book SOTC’s India tour packages to the places that celebrate your favourite festivals today!

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