Festival Rituals

Rituals in this group (35)

• Holika Dahan Panditji booking optional Agni, Vishnu (Narasimha/Prahlad legend)

  Bonfire ritual commemorating the burning of Holika and Prahlad's protection by Vishnu.
• Holi Puja Panditji booking optional Krishna, Radha

  Worship and celebration marking the arrival of spring, playing with colours.
• Basant Panchami Puja Panditji booking optional Saraswati

  Worship of Saraswati marking the onset of spring and start of learning ventures.
• Chaitra Navratri Puja Book a Panditji Durga (nine forms)

  Nine-day spring worship of the Goddess culminating in Ram Navami.
• Gudi Padwa Puja Panditji booking optional Brahma, Vishnu

  Regional New Year worship marking the start of the Hindu lunar calendar year.
• Ganga Dussehra Puja Panditji booking optional Ganga

  Worship marking the descent of the Ganga to earth, with ritual bathing.
• Guru Purnima Puja Panditji booking optional Guru, Ved Vyasa

  Worship honouring one's spiritual and academic gurus.
• Nag Panchami Puja Panditji booking optional Naga deities

  Worship of serpent deities for protection and removal of Naga-related doshas.
• Raksha Bandhan Puja Panditji booking optional Ishta Devata, sibling bond

  Ritual tying of the sacred thread by sisters on brothers' wrists.
• Onam Puja Panditji booking optional Vamana, Mahabali

  Kerala's principal harvest festival worship honouring the mythical King Mahabali.
• Pitru Paksha Rituals Book a Panditji Pitru (ancestors)

  Fortnight of daily shraddha and tarpan rituals for ancestors.
• Sharadiya Navratri Puja Book a Panditji Durga (nine forms)

  The principal autumn Navratri worship, culminating in Vijayadashami.
• Naraka Chaturdashi Puja Panditji booking optional Krishna, Kali

  Worship commemorating Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura.
• Govardhan Puja Panditji booking optional Krishna, Govardhan Hill

  Worship commemorating Krishna's lifting of Govardhan Hill, with mountain of food offerings.
• Bhai Dooj Puja Panditji booking optional Yama, Yamuna

  Ritual worship celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.
• Tulsi Vivah Puja Book a Panditji Tulsi Devi, Vishnu (Shaligram form)

  Ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu, marking the end of Chaturmas.
• Karthika Deepam Puja Panditji booking optional Shiva (Jyoti form)

  South Indian festival of lights culminating in the lighting of a giant beacon atop Tiruvannamalai hill.
• Dussehra Puja Book a Panditji Durga, Rama

  Public worship and effigy-burning of Ravana marking the culmination of Navratri.
• Deepavali Puja Book a Panditji Lakshmi, Ganesha, Rama

  The principal festival of lights across Hindu traditions, marked by Lakshmi worship and illumination.
• Bihu Puja Panditji booking optional Agni, agricultural deities

  Assamese festival marking the agricultural new year with ritual and community celebration.
• Ugadi Puja Panditji booking optional Brahma, Vishnu

  Telugu/Kannada New Year worship, includes eating the symbolic Ugadi Pachadi.
• Vishu Puja Panditji booking optional Krishna, Surya

  Kerala New Year ritual centred on the Vishukkani (auspicious first sight of the day).
• Kartik Purnima Puja Panditji booking optional Shiva, Vishnu

  Worship performed on the full moon of Kartika, especially significant at Varanasi as Dev Deepawali.
• Mahalaya Amavasya Puja Book a Panditji Pitru (ancestors), Durga

  Concluding day of Pitru Paksha and the day the Goddess's descent to earth is invoked.
• Poila Boishakh Puja Panditji booking optional Ganesha, Lakshmi

  Bengali New Year rituals including the Halkhata (opening of new account books).
• Baisakhi Puja Panditji booking optional Surya, agricultural deities

  North Indian harvest festival and solar new year, prominent in Punjab.
• Rongker Puja Book a Panditji Nature deities

  Karbi community ritual of North-East India performed for village welfare and protection.
• Skanda Shashti Puja Book a Panditji Kartikeya (Murugan)

  Six-day worship commemorating Kartikeya's victory over the demon Surapadman.
• Thaipusam Rituals Book a Panditji Kartikeya (Murugan)

  Tamil festival involving penance and the carrying of decorated kavadi in honour of Murugan.
• Ayyappa Mandala Puja Panditji booking optional Ayyappa

  Forty-one/forty-eight day vratam of austerity undertaken before the Sabarimala pilgrimage.
• Makara Vilakku Rituals Book a Panditji Ayyappa

  Concluding ritual of the Sabarimala pilgrimage season observing the sacred celestial light.
• Onam Thiruvonam Puja Panditji booking optional Vamana, Mahabali

  Principal day of the Onam festival with elaborate floral carpets (pookalam) and worship.
• Ratha Yatra Snana Yatra Book a Panditji Jagannath

  Ceremonial bathing of the Jagannath deities preceding the Rath Yatra.
• Durga Puja Sandhi Puja Book a Panditji Chamunda (Durga form)

  The most sacred 48-minute juncture of Durga Puja marking the moment of the Goddess's victory.
• Chariot Festival - Puri Bahuda Yatra Book a Panditji Jagannath

  Return chariot procession of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra to the main temple.