India Unbound
Our Festivals
India has festivals for harvests, new years, birds and even kites! Let's explore a few celebrations you may not know yet.
Did you know?
Nagaland's Hornbill Festival runs from 1 to 10 December. It is named after the hornbill bird. People call it the 'Festival of Festivals'!
In 2021, UNESCO added Kolkata's Durga Puja to its list of treasured world traditions. Some pandals (decorated shelters) look like famous buildings!
During Uttarayan in Gujarat, the sky fills with kites. At night, people fly glowing kites called tukkals!
Try this: Grandparents' Festival Story
Ask a grandparent or an elder about a festival from their childhood. What did they eat? What did they wear? What games did they play? Draw a picture of their festival. Then draw how your family celebrates it today. What is the same? What has changed?
Go further: New Year in April!
In mid-April, many parts of India celebrate a new year or a harvest. Punjab has Baisakhi, and Kerala has Vishu. Tamil Nadu has Puthandu, and Assam has Bohag Bihu. Bengalis celebrate Pohela Boishakh. Around the same time, Thailand celebrates its new year, Songkran. People there splash water on one another for fun! Which new year does your family celebrate?