India is blessed with diversity in religion, culture, tradition, heritage, lifestyle, and people. Different parts of the country have their own sets of festivals and annual events. These festivals and events are celebrated with great pomp and show, and people eagerly wait for these events. Festivals in August 2023 in India – Raksha Bandhan to Onam. Check the complete list here.
The month of August is also the monsoon month in most parts of India, and along with rain, these festivals bring joy and happiness to people’s lives.
However, there are certain places in India that celebrate these festivals with more excitement and love than the rest. And therefore, it is important to have proper knowledge and understanding of the most important places in India where the month of August brings more joy, fun, and colours into the lives of locals and tourists. That is why August is a great time to plan a vacation, as you’re going to get a cherry on top after being part of these fantastic festivals.
Let’s start with the List of Festivals in August 2023.
Major festivals in August 2023
Raksha Bandhan
| Date | August 30, 2023 |
| Major destinations | Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Goa |
| Activities to do | Shopping in beautifully decorated markets, interacting with the locals, getting to know the culture and traditions, etc. |
| What to expect? | Most of the places in India at the time of Raksha Bandhan are filled with happiness and colours. The markets have many beautiful gifts, handicrafts, and artefacts where you can shop and buy something for your loved ones. |
Raksha Bandhan is known by different names in different parts of India, and it is one of the favourite festivals celebrated across the country. The festival is a symbol of love between brothers and sisters where a sister ties Rakhi to the hand of her brother as a symbol of protection. The brother, in return, gifts something to his sister. The festival is celebrated annually on the full moon day of Shravan month.
Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race
| Date | August 12 2023 |
| Major destinations | Kerala |
| Activities to do | Attend the event, enjoy the festivities and decoration, shop, take photographs, interact with locals, etc. |
This event is organized in Kerala, where a huge crowd comes to cheer for a boat race. It is one of the most important festivals in Kerala, where people are excited and happy for the event. The boat race is organized at Punnamada Lake in Alleppey.
Thousands of men participate in this particular event, rowing their snake boat to win the competition. It is also a great show of team spirit, coordination, and love for the decades-old event. When the snake boat race starts, the locals sing folk songs and cheer for their teams. It is a beautiful sight to witness.
Onam
| Date | 20 Aug 2023 – 31 Aug, 2023 |
| Major destinations | Kerala, majorly at Trivandrum, Thrissur, Kottayam, etc. |
| Activities to do | Wear traditional clothes, be part of the boat racing, enjoy the Kathakali dance, witness the elephant rallies, etc. |
It is one of the major festivals celebrated in the month of August, and it is the most important festival of Kerala. It is celebrated for 10 days in the memory of a king named Mahabali. At the time of this festival, people wear traditional clothes, decorate their houses with Rangoli, and special kinds of dishes are prepared to enhance the beauty of this festival. There are various local competitions that are organized such as boat racing, Kathakali dance shows, etc.
Krishna Janmashtami
| Date | 6 Sept, 2023 – 7 Sept, 2023 |
| Major destinations | Mathura, Mumbai, Dwarka, Udupi, Mayapur, Gokul, etc. |
| Activities to do | Draw Rangoli, Read Out Krishna’s Storybooks, be part of Dahi handi processions, read Bhagavad Gita, visit temples, witness the Juhlanotsav at Mathura, etc. |
This festival is celebrated with deep love and happiness in almost all parts of India. This day is considered to be the birthday of the Hindu God, Krishna who is also the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Mathura is known as the birthplace of Lord Krishna and therefore, this festival has a different meaning to the locals here.
The Dahi Handi procession in Mumbai is also one of the major events to attend. On this day, temples are beautifully decorated, people sing devotional songs, many dance and drama skits are also organized, and many people fast, along with other things.
Independence Day
| Date | 15th August,23 |
| Major destinations | Wagah Border, Red Fort, India Gate, Kargil War Memorial, etc. |
| Activities to do | Hoist a National Flag of India, Organise Plays or Skits, Watch a patriotic movie, teach kids about the great freedom fighters, Attend events at Red Fort, etc. |
India celebrates its Independence Day on the 15th of August, which is special for people throughout India. On this day, there is a presence of love and patriotism in everyone. On the 14th of August, the President of India gives a patriotic speech, and on the 15th of August, the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag at the Red Fort.
After hosting the flag, the Prime Minister addresses the nation, thanking people for their contribution towards the development of the nation and highlighting the efforts to be taken in the progress of the country. Although the significant celebration takes place at Red Fort, this day is celebrated throughout India with equal energy and excitement. Kite flying is also one of the activities that most people in India do today.
Ganesh Chaturthi
| Date | September 19th, 2023 |
| Major destinations | Pune, Mumbai, Goa, etc. |
| Activities to do | Prayers are organized, immersion of idols of Lord Ganesh, shop, eat, take photos, etc. |
This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on 31st August to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh. The festival is celebrated throughout India, where various cultural activities, processions, and events are organized. If you want to enjoy this festival to the fullest, then try visiting places in Maharashtra. The Ganesh temples throughout India are also some of the best places to visit to witness the liveliness and the colours of this festival.
Nag Panchami
| Date | 21 Aug, 2023 |
| Major destinations | Karnataka, Varanasi, Most Southern states, etc. |
| Activities to do | go to temples to worship snake deities, observe a fast, shop, interact with locals, enjoy the legends and stories, etc. |
It is a major Hindu festival where a snake is worshipped and in many parts of India, milk is offered to the snake. In Hindu mythology, snakes are believed to be very close to Lord Shiva, especially the cobras. Hence, this festival is organized in respect and devotion to the devotees (snakes) of Lord Shiva. To witness the pure, authentic celebration of this festival, try visiting the rural areas of Maharashtra, Jaipur, Kerala, etc.
Teej
| Date | 19 Aug, 2023 |
| Major destinations | Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Bihar |
| Activities to do | prayers are organized, fast, visit temples, etc. |
This is one of the most important festivals celebrated in northern India. The festival is celebrated mainly by women who keep a fast without even drinking water. Goddess Teej is worshipped on this particular day, and women dress up beautifully to celebrate this festival.
If you visit Jaipur to celebrate Teej, you can witness people organizing traditional songs, dance, music, etc. Women wear traditional clothes and bangles and put on Mehendi. Animals such as elephants, camels, and horses are also decorated, and the atmosphere is filled with colours and joy. In many parts of India, sweet dishes such as ghewar and malpua are also prepared.
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