Indian festivals—the best of festivals in August

There are numerous events in India taking place each month, and August is no different. The month of monsoon sees some important Indian festivals and events that range from cultural to religious in nature. Festivals in August include the famed Raksha Bandhan, and the harvest festival of Kerala known as Onam. Then, you also have the Independence Day of India as one of the most important August festivals. So, if you happen to be in India this month of August, you have the good fortune to explore some of its important events and festivals.

Independence Day
On August 15 every year, India celebrates its independence that the nation got from the British in 1947. The day is a national holiday, and people all across India celebrate by playing patriotic music, and hoisting the national flag with great pomp and show. One of the best things you can do during this day is to go to Red Fort, Delhi, and watch the Independence Day Parade. The President also addresses the nation from the Red Fort on this day.

Date – August 15, 2018
Venue – Red Fort, Delhi

Madras Week

Madras or Chennai is believed to have been founded on August 22, 1639. So, every August, the city celebrates its birthday for a whole week, and you can take part in activities such as heritage walks, food festivals, photo festivals, bike tours, and more. This year, there are two contests for participants—the t-shirt designing contest and short story competition. There are two nature walks as well, Bird Walk at Perumbakkam Tank on August 19, and Butterfly Walk on August 25 at Adyar Poonga.

Date – August 19 – 26, 2018
Venue – Chennai
Teej

A much revered festival that is celebrated in the month of monsoon, Teej holds importance for married women, who worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and celebrate their union. The festival is celebrated thrice in a year; it falls in August this time, to be held on the third day of the month of shravan, and third day of waning and waxing phases of the moon. The three festivals are known as Haryali Teej, Kajari Teej, and Hartalika Teej. Two of these are going to be celebrated in August, while one is in September.

Date – August 13-14, and 28-29 2018.
Venue – Jaipur, Rajasthan

Raksha Bandhan

A celebration like no other, Raksha Bandhan is the day, where brothers and sisters celebrate their bond and love. On this day, women tie a thread, talisman, or amulet on their brother’s wrist and pray for their long live and success. The festival is mostly celebrated by Hindus in the Indian subcontinent, and is a day when families come together to celebrate their everlasting love. Every year, the ritual is performed on the Indian month of shravana, which usually falls in August.

Date – August 26, 2018
Venue – All across India

Onam
A harvest festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, you can witness a host of beautiful rituals and celebrations during this festival. Onam is an official state holiday in Kerala, and is usually punctuated by the traditional sadya, or feast. On this day, you will witness elephant processions all over Kerala, alongside music, dance, and parade floats that depict scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata. You can also watch boat races, and attend a Kathakali performance or two.

Date – August 15 – August 27, 2018
Venue – Kerala