India’s Most Famous Monsoon Festivals

The monsoon season is greeted with great enthusiasm in India. June marks the beginning of the rainy season, which lasts until late September or early October. After the oppressive summer heat, the nation’s rich biodiversity is restored, transforming flora and fauna alike. The arrival of the monsoon is also an important event for the agricultural economy of the country, as much of our crop yields are dependent on rainwater. Farmers and agriculturalists rejoice at the onset of the monsoons, and the celebratory spirit continues with diverse religious and cultural festivals across the country. In this blog, we explore some of the most popular monsoon festivals in India.  

Famous Monsoon Festivals in India

Rath Yatra, Bhubaneshwar

The 12th-century Jagannath shrine in Puri, Odisha hosts one of the largest Rath Yatra celebrations in the world. The Jaganath shrine sits at the foothills of the Nilachala Mountains, around sixty kilometres from Bhubaneswar. The celebration takes place on the second day of the Ashadha month, which often occurs in June or July. 

Known as the Festival of Chariots, the Ratha Yatra celebrates the mythos of  Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra and brother Balabhadra. Three elaborately decorated chariots that resemble temple buildings are drawn through the streets of Puri by pilgrims, symbolising Lord Jaganath’s journey to his aunt’s home – the Gundicha Temple.

Vinayak Chathurthi or Ganesh Utsav, Maharashtra

Lord Ganesh –  the elephant-headed god – is believed to have the power to eliminate barriers. He is the patron of new endeavours – be it launching a new business or the beginning of a new life.  Ganesh Chaturthi  is one of the most cheerful festivals celebrated in the monsoon season in India. Every year, Maharashtra is awash with festive music, dancing and decorations, while mouth watering sweets and savoury foods are prepared and shared with friends and neighbours. Devotees of Lord Ganesha worship idols of the god in their houses and on enormous area or community podiums during the monsoon season each year. On the tenth day of the festival, the idols are carried in a spectacular parade and submerged in the sea.

Onam, Kerala

Celebrated since ancient times, Onam holds a particular significance for farmers in Kerala. It is a harvest festival that is celebrated across the state to mark the arrival of rain that will nourish their crops.

Onam is celebrated with numerous cultural activities. The famous Kathakali dance of Kerala is performed during the festival.  The Kerala boat race, or Vallam Kali, is another customary event that is observed as part of the Onam celebrations. Homes across the state are colourfully decorated with the traditional flower arrangement called “Pookalam”, and the traditional meal called ‘sadhya’ is served on banana leaves to mark the festivities.

Janmashtami

Lord Krishna is one of the most adored gods in Indian Hindu mythology. India’s well-known monsoon holiday, Janmashtami, commemorates his birth with considerable enthusiasm. The month of ‘Shravan’ (August through September) coincides with his birth and is considered an auspicious time of  year.

Janmashtami is  one of the most colourful festivals celebrated in the monsoon season in the country. The northern regions – especially Mathura and Vrindavan – celebrate this monsoon festival by adorning temples, offering prayers, and listening to devotional music.  In Maharashtra, the spectacular custom of ‘Dahi Handi’ is exhilarating to watch. The custom recreates Lord Krishna’s favourite pastime of taking butter from pots that are out of reach. Pots filled with butter or curd are hung at great heights by local communities and groups. The participants build a human pyramid and one person climbs up the  pyramid to break a pot with a stick.  Delicious food like Makhan Mishri, Panchamrit and  Kheer are served on this day.

Hemis festival, Ladakh

The Hemis Festival, also called the Hemis Tsechu, is a two-day festival to celebrate the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, who is the founder of Tibetan Buddhism and is also considered a reincarnation of the Buddha. This festival is celebrated on the tenth day of the fifth month according to the lunar calendar. It is a vibrant festival involving dance, music, and other cultural performances.

The Hemis monastery is beautifully decorated for the festival.  The local people dorn their traditional attire and participate enthusiastically in the festivities. Buddhist paintings  are exhibited during this time, and the Cham dance – which depicts the battle between good and evil – is performed. Monks use musical drums, longhorns, and cymbals during this  dance drama which is characterised by  traditional costumes and ornate headdresses.

India is known as the “land of festivals,” with celebrations and festivals occurring almost every day. People celebrate the festivals in the monsoon season in India in different ways, depending on their culture and the regions from which they originate. The monsoon festivals are something everyone looks forward to as they celebrate the rain and enjoy the fairs and celebrations during this period. 

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