One app for all your study abroad needs
Did you know that there are several carnivals and festivals in October 2023 in India, where everyone participates, regardless of their religion, caste, race or sex? India is known for its vibrant and beautifully celebrated festivals which highlight the regional cultural and traditional activities. Festivals like Vijayadashami or Dussehra are directly derived from legends, highlighting the triumph of good over evil.
Some even call October the ‘Month of Carnivals in India’ because of the festivals falling one after another. Starting from Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October to the Trick-or-Treat Day, aka. Halloween is on the 31st of October, festivals in India are celebrated to represent all communities and people. Here are all the details about festivals in October 2023 in India.
Also Read – Regional Festivals in India
List of October 2023 Festivals
Festivals in India are celebrated according to the Indian calendar which is based on the Luni-Solar system and has different variations depending on the region. Most of the festivals in India, starting from Lorhi in January, are celebrated according to the Indian calendar. Here is a list of all the festivals in October 2023 in India with their dates.
| Festivals | Date |
| Gandhi Jayanti and Lal Bahadur Shahstri Jayanti | 2nd October 2023 |
| Sankashti Chaturthi | 2nd October 2023 |
| Rohini Vrat | 4th October 2023 |
| Tsokum Festival | 5th October 2023 |
| Kalasthami | 6th October 2023 |
| Guru Ram Das Jayanti | 9th October 2023 |
| Indira Ekadashi | 11th October 2023 |
| Masik Shivratri | 12th October 2023 |
| Darsha Amavasya | 14th October 2023 |
| Koratty Muthy Feast and Shard Navratri | 15th October 2023 |
| Maha Navratri | 15th to 24th October 2023 |
| Chandra Darshan | 16th October 2023 |
| Kati Bihu | 18th October 2023 |
| Durga Puja | 20th to 24th October 2023 |
| Masik Durgashtami | 22nd October 2023 |
| Maha Navami | 23rd October 2023 |
| Ayudha Puja | 23rd October 2023 |
| Dussehra | 24th October 2023 |
| Laksmi Puja | 28th October 2023 |
| Rashtriya Ekta Diwas | 31st October 2023 |
| Halloween | 31st October 2023 |
All You Need To Know About These Festivals
Here are top 5 upcoming festivals which will be celebrated with full strength.
Durga Puja
Durga Puja, one of the most important Hindu religious festivals, draws devout devotees of the goddess every year. Durga Puja commenced on October 14 and will go on till October 24. Durga Puja is happily observed in states like Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Tripura, and Jharkhand. The five-day festival is observed in Bengal as Shashthi, Maha Navami, and Vijayadashami.
The celebration of Durga Puja celebrates Goddess Durga’s triumph over the evil Mahishasura. He is claimed to have been defeated by Goddess Durga on the tenth day, also known as Vijayadashami, following a nine-day conflict. On this day, Dussehra is celebrated as the culmination of the Durga Puja.
Laksmi Puja
One of the most significant and colourful rituals practised during the Diwali holiday is Laksmi Puja. In order to bring peace, money, and prosperity to the new year, we invite Goddess Laksmi into our homes during the ritual. The simplest way to invite Goddess Laksmi to our homes it to light a simple terracotta lamp in front of the idol.
Dussehra
A Hindu celebration called Dussehra (also known as Vijaya Dashami, Dasara, or Dashain) honours the triumph of good over evil. As per the Hindu calendar, it is observed on the tenth day of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Ashvin (Ashwayuja) and is a gazetted holiday in India.
Kati Bihu
The Assamese holiday of Kati Bihu is a joyous occasion. It is referred to as Kongali Bihu and represents the translocation of rice saplings. It is one of the three Bihu festivals, all of which have an agricultural theme and are observed in Assam. People burn clay lamps and candles to celebrate Kati Bihu, with a particular emphasis on lighting a diya close to the Tulsi plant. Early morning wake-up calls, house cleaning, watering the Tulsi plant, and burning “Akash Banti” lamps in rice fields are all part of rituals.
Halloween
Halloween is a historic Celtic holiday that is observed in Europe and the US on the final day of harvest.
Interesting Facts About Indian Festivals
Indian festivals are known for their vibrant celebrations, rich culture and diverse heritage. Hindu festivals are called ‘melas’ meaning a festival fair. Festivals in India are a mix of worshipping religious ideas with community participation from all sections. Several factors contributed to the abundance of festivals in India. Some of these factors are listed below.
- India is a secular country where several religious practices are followed, and each religion has its own set of festivals and religious observances. Hindus, for example, have numerous gods and goddesses, each with their own festivals.
- India’s cultural diversity extends beyond religion. Different regions have their own cultural festivals, which may or may not have religious significance.
- Festivals in India often correspond to seasonal changes and agricultural cycles. For example, Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn.
- Festivals like Diwali and Dusshera are references from legends. Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana in the Ramayana.
FAQs
Here are all the festivals which will fall in October 2023 in India:
Dussehra will be observed on 24 October 2023 all over the country.
Although Halloween or the Trick-or-Treat Day is a Christian festival, it is celebrated in India. But it is not celebrated as such a huge festival as it is done in any Western country.
for more information related to such interesting topics, visit our trending events page and make sure to follow Leverage Edu.