India is diverse, and its rich cultural heritage is reflected in its festivals. There are festivals for almost every occasion in India, from religious to cultural. These festivals bring people together, provide an opportunity to celebrate and cherish traditions and serve as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage of India. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most famous festivals in India celebrated in 2023.
Indian Festivals in 2023: A Guide to Celebrating India’s Rich Culture
Indian Festivals in 2023 January | Festivals |
1 Sunday | New Year |
14 Saturday | Lohri |
15 Sunday | Pongal, Uttarayan, Makar Sankranti |
23 Monday | Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti |
26 Thursday | Basant Panchmi, Saraswati Puja, Republic Day |
Indian Festivals in 2023 February | Festivals |
18 Saturday | Mahashivratri |
Indian Festivals in 2023 March | Festivals |
7 Tuesday | Holika Dahan |
8 Wednesday | Holi |
22 Wednesday | Chaitra Navratri, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa |
23 Thursday | Cheti Chand |
30 Thursday | Ram Navami |
31 Friday | Chaitra Navratri Parana |
Indian Festivals in 2023 April | Festivals |
1 Saturday | Bank’s Holiday |
6 Thursday | Hanuman jayanti |
14 Friday | Baisakhi, Ambedkar Jayanti |
22 Saturday | Akshaya Tritiya |
Indian Festivals in 2023 June | Festivals |
20 Tuesday | Jagannath Rath Yatra |
29 Thursday | Ashadhi Ekadashi |
July 2023 | Festivals |
3 Monday | Guru Purnima |
Indian Festivals in 2023 August | Festivals |
15 Tuesday | Independence Day |
19 Saturday | Hariyali Teej |
21 Monday | Nag Panchami |
29 Tuesday | Onam/Thiruvonam |
30 Wednesday | Raksha Bandhan |
Indian Festivals in 2023 September | Festivals |
2 Saturday | Kajari Teej |
7 Thursday | Janmashtami |
18 Monday | Hartalika Teej |
19 Tuesday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
28 Thursday | Anant Chaturdashi |
Indian Festivals in 2023 October | Festivals |
2 Monday | Gandhi Jayanti |
15 Sunday | Sharad Navratri |
22 Sunday | Durga Puja Ashtami |
23 Monday | Durga Maha Navami Puja |
24 Tuesday | Dussehra, Sharad Navratri Parana |
Indian Festivals in 2023 November | Festivals |
1 Wednesday | Karva Chauth |
10 Friday | Dhanteras |
12 Sunday | Diwali, Narak Chaturdashi |
14 Tuesday | Govardhan Puja, Children’s Day |
15 Wednesday | Bhai Dooj |
19 Sunday | Chhath Puja |
Indian Festivals in 2023 December | Festivals |
25 Monday | Merry Christmas |
Structure of the Indian Calendar
The Indian calendar is a solar calendar used in India and other countries with a significant Hindu population. It consists of 12 months, each with either 30 or 31 days. The year begins with the Hindu month of Chaitra and ends with Phalguna.
Two calendars are used in India: the Gregorian calendar, widely used in daily life and for official purposes, and the Hindu calendar, used for religious purposes. The Hindu calendar is based on the moon’s movement and consists of 12 lunar months, each with 29 or 30 days.
The Hindu calendar is divided into several eras, including the Saka era, the Vikram Samvat era, and the Shalivahana era, each used in different parts of India. The Hindu calendar is also used to determine the dates of Hindu festivals and religious ceremonies.
In addition to the 12 months, the Indian calendar includes two intercalary months, Adhika Maasa and Kshaya Maasa, which are added to the calendar to align the lunar and solar calendars. These months are not recognized in all regions and are considered optional in some.
In summary, the Indian calendar is a complex system that incorporates both solar and lunar calendars and is used for various purposes, including determining the dates of religious festivals and ceremonies and keeping track of time in general.
- Chaitra
- Vaishakha
- Jyeshtha
- Ashadha
- Shravana
- Bhadra
- Ashwin
- Kartika
- Agrahayana
- Pausha
- Magha
- Phalguna
Types of Calendars in India
Calendars are systems used to organize and track time. There are several types of calendars, including:
Solar calendars: Solar calendars are based on the sun’s movement and are used to track the length of the year. Examples of solar calendars include the Gregorian calendar and the Julian calendar.
Lunar calendars: Lunar calendars are based on the moon’s movement and are used to track the moon’s phases. Examples of lunar calendars include the Islamic calendar and the Hebrew calendar.
Lunisolar calendars: Lunisolar calendars are a combination of solar and lunar calendars and are used to track the year and the moon’s phases. Examples of lunisolar calendars include the Hindu calendar and the Chinese calendar.
Agricultural calendars: Agricultural calendars are used by farmers to track the seasons and plan their activities, such as planting and harvesting crops. These calendars are often based on the sun’s movement and the moon’s phases.
Gregorian-Lunar calendars: Gregorian-Lunar calendars are used by some communities to track both the Gregorian calendar year and the moon’s phases.
Julian-Lunar calendars: Julian-Lunar calendars are used by some communities to track the Julian calendar year and the moon’s phases.
In conclusion, there are several types of calendars, each of which is used for different purposes and is based on different astronomical events, such as the movement of the sun or the moon.