List Of Festivals Celebrated In The Month Of September
September marks the last month of the monsoon season with light rains and a lot of sunny days. The pleasant weather comes with a lot of festivals lining up the whole month, among the major festival celebrated in the month of September are Ganesh Chaturthi, Ladakh Festival, and Ziro Festival. India observes Labor Day on the 2nd of September and National Teachers Day on the 5th of September. India celebrates all the festivals and events with high energy and luster, here is the list of famous festivals celebrated in September when you can witness loads of culture on the display.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the month of Bhado, and Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated every month. Ganesh puja is done for ten days from this day. Its importance is seen more in the Maharashtra province of the country. Lord Ganesh has a special place in Maharashtra. Ganesh Ji is established there with full customs and worship. The entire country celebrates the Ganesh festival which ends with statues being paraded through streets accompanied by singing and dancing to be submerged in the ocean.
When: September 6th, 2024.
Where: Maharashtra on a grand scale, also celebrated in Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
What is Special: 10-day festival celebrated to mark the birth of elephant-headed deity Lord Ganesh.
Pitru Paksha
Pitru paksha is a 16 days period of Shraddha (sraddh) from Bhadrapada Purnima to Sarva Pitru Amavasya. It is also known as Shraddha Paksha. It is the period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, especially through food offerings. According to Hindu mythology, Pitru paksha day is considered to be very inauspicious for any new beginnings but it is the perfect day for all who are not able to do proper tharpanam for their dead ancestors. These days are marked with pujas, rituals, and daan, which pay homage to the departed soul and helps the latter attain liberation of moksha.
When: 17th September – 2nd October 2024.
Where: All over India
What is Special: Special time period in Hindu year when they pay respects to the souls of their ancestors by performing Shradh rituals.
Ramnagar Ramlila
Ramnagar is about 8 km away from Varanasi and it has its world-famous Ramlila which got a UNESCO certificate of heritage because of its strong cultural moorings. In Varanasi, the local folks celebrate the return of Rama to Ayodhya by way of the Ramnagar ki Ramleela. Ramnagar is the perfect place to partake in the visual delights of this ancient dance-drama of India. It is a 31-day festival that portrays the story of Ram in a unique way, this Ramlila is being played for the past 233 years in the Ramnagar Fort of Varanasi.
When: 3rd October – 12th October 2024.
Where: Ramnagar, Varanasi
What is Special: Whole Varanasi turns into one big stage where the story of Ram unfolds in 31-days of this festival.
Hartalika Teej
Teej is a set of monsoon festivals celebrated in India during the month of Sawan / Shraavana India and is observed elaborately by women in North Indian states, especially in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. There are also three types of Teej Festivals known as Kajari Teej, Hartalika Teej & Hariyali Teej. Kajari Teej is celebrated on the third day of Krishna Paksha and Hartalika Teej is celebrated on the third day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada.
When: 6th September 2024.
Where: Rajasthan and parts of India
What is Special: Teej procession is carried out all markets are usually crowded with women shopping for various items to adorn themselves.
Ladakh Festival
Many festivals are celebrated throughout the year in various regions of Ladakh. The natural beauty of Ladakh and many festivals are quite popular among tourists. Ladakh Festival is one of them celebrated in Leh and its villages in the month of September. The path to Leh-Ladakh opens only during a few months of summer. This is the season when tourists reach here and enjoy the panoramic natural views.
At the Ladakh festival, people dress in very colorful robes, mask, and their traditional jewelry. The gathering of locals and tourist fills up the entire space around the gompas, a Buddhist monastery, where various stalls and tents are erected. People come from all parts of Ladakh to celebrate and participate in this cultural fest with utmost joy and opulence. The event also hosts adventure sports like bike rallies, archery, and river rafting up to Khardungla Pass for adventurous enthusiasts.
When: 21 – 24 September 2024.
Where: Leh
What is Special: In this festival, tourists can enjoy polo matches, concerts, and mask dances and witness the best of Ladakh in the harvest season.
Chakradhar Samaroh
The Chakradhar Festival, a combination of classicalism, locrang, and Maharaja Chakradhar Singh’s favorite sports kabaddi and wrestling, is a special and prestigious cultural event of the state. It is a music festival organized by ustad Alauddin khan sangeet academy and chakradhar Lalit Kala Kendra on Ganesh Chaturthi every year in Raigarh (Chhattisgarh), to commemorate the memory of Maharaja Chakradhar Singh. Each year, participants and artists from various parts of the nation perform in this Musical Festival in Chhattisgarh to show their talents. It is a 10-day long cultural extravaganza and the harmonious tradition of rhythm held every year.
When: 1st September 2024.
Where: Raigarh, Chhattisgarh
What is Special: In this festival music and dance exponents from all over India visit and display their arts.
Abhaneri Festival
The Abhaneri Festival is a cultural event that runs for two days since its inception in 2008 and promotes Rajasthani rural culture and tourism. It is celebrated in the period between the Kajli Teej and the Marwar festival of Jodhpur, usually in September and/or October. The festival name Abhaneri is after the village name in the Dausa district which is around 90 km from Jaipur.
The two-day festival has gained immense popularity amongst tourists around the globe. Various Rajasthani and local folk performances like Kachhi Ghori, Kalbelia, Ghoomar, and Bhawai can be witnessed here. The village Abhaneri was originally named Abha Nagri, meaning “city of brightness has popular Chand Baori-stepwell, Which is one of the largest stepwell built over a thousand years ago.
When: 4 – 5th October, 2024.
Where: Village Abhaneri in Dausa district
What is Special: Perfect festival to experience the color, vibrancy, and richness of Rajasthan.
Brahmotsavam Festival, Tirupati
Brahmotsavam Festival is one of the important festivals of Lord Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. It is celebrated for nine days in the month of September and October involving the procession of festival images on gaily decorated mounts. Lord Venkateswara, along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, is taken on a procession along the streets (madaveedhulu) surrounding the temple. This year in 2020 there is one extra month i.e. 13 months instead of 12 months in the traditional Hindu lunar calendar, two Brahmotsavams are being conducted at the shrine.
When: 3rd – 12th October 2024.
Where: Tirupati
What is Special: A grand nine-day festival celebrated with great zeal at the world-famous Tirumala Tirupati Sri Venkateshwara Temple every year.
Ziro Festival of Music
India’s largest and most extravagant outdoor 4-day music festival is organized every year in Zero Valley, Arunachal Pradesh. Zero Valley of Arunachal Pradesh is famous for its natural beauty and the music festival held in September attracts large numbers of tourists. A number of national and international bands like Steve Shelley, Lee Ranaldo, Induscreed, Peter Cat Recording Company, Barmer Boys, Sha’air, and Func to name some, have taken the Festival altogether to new heights.
When: 26 – 29 September 2024.
Where: Zero Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
What is Special: The four-day Ziro Music festival is set in the middle of this picturesque Zero valley, where you can listen to amazing music from across the country, cultural events from the region, yummy food, and tons of other outdoor activities.
India Art Festival
India Art Festival, is a Contemporary Art Fair, is the biggest art fair hosted annually at three metro cities, Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai. The artworks including paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs, and editions as well as video and digital art by over 1000 artists represented by various galleries are displayed at India Art Festival annually. IAF aims to democratize the process of art viewing and buying by bringing it from the confines of unapproachable art spaces. Founded in 2011, the India Art Festival is a collaborative platform where many creative hands and special innovators come together to share their skills and creations with the public.
When: October 2024.
Where: Mumbai
What is Special: It is the celebration of Indian culture and modern and contemporary art, it provides the opportunity to emerge, independent artists to show their skills.
Pune International Literary Festival
Pune International Literary Festival is celebrating written words in all forms and media. “Engage, explore and experiment with all forms and genres of the written word inspiring you to fall in love with the written word, and light the lamp of knowledge!” says the founder-director of the Pune International Literary Festival, Ms. Manjiri Prabhu. This festival is an excellent opportunity for sharing an interactive platform with famous and talented authors, writers, and creative personalities. It is a hub for expressing creative energy and expression in history, literature, movies, and arts.
When: September 2024.
Where: Pune
What is Special: Pune International Literary Festival has been rated as one of the top ten literary festivals in India. It provides a space for young authors to gain insight into the writing process, listen to personal stories from acclaimed authors, and attend panels on international topics to add relevance to their work.
Jaipur Shopping Festival
Jaipur Shopping Festival is an initiative of Patrika Group that seeks to position Jaipur from a tourist destination to a shopping paradise. Starting from Navratras to Diwali Jaipur becomes a city full of festive fervor and shopping becomes an intrinsic part of this celebration. The shopping festival will be staging exciting activities and offer a comprehensive festive experience through its unique blend of shopping, winning family entertainment, and leisure options. Festivities, fervor, prizes, and jubilation enhance the celebration spread over a month. The festival is conceived to capture the fancy of the shopper.
When: September 2024.
Where: Jaipur
What is Special: Jaipur Shopping Festival is a carnival of entertainment and shopping it has something for everyone.
Bastar Dussehra Festival
Bastar Dussehra is a 75-day unique festival, now being held in the tribal heartland of Chhattisgarh. It is a blend of cultures, traditions, colors & rituals. Bastar Dussehra is believed to have been started, in the 15th century, by Maharaj Purushottam Deo, the fourth Kakatiya ruler. This would make it a 500-year-old festival. Beginning with Amavasya (dark moon) in the month of Shravan, Bastar Dussehra spans over 75 days, ending on the thirteenth day of the bright moon in the month of Ashwin. It is thus the longest Dussehra in the world.
When: September 2024.
Where: Bastar, Chhattisgarh
What is Special: Bastar Dussehra is the world’s longest festival and all about the tribes, their maharaja, and God and Goddesses. Best time to witness the art and culture of the region.
Solung Festival
Solung Festival is a socio-cultural festival of the Adi community of Arunachal Pradesh. Adi community is an agricultural community, and the ‘Solung’ festival is primarily connected with the agricultural activities of the people and is also called the festival of refreshment. Meat and Apong (rice-beer) are gifted to strengthen human relationships. Solung is celebrated to reap a rich harvest, to raise more mithuns or pigs, and to protect from fire, diseases, etc.
When: September 2024.
Where: Arunachal Pradesh
What is Special: Solung Festival is celebrated for rich harvesting, the prosperity of human beings. It showcases the rich cultural heritage, folk dances and songs, costumes, and ethnic cuisines of the region.
