India, a predominantly agriculture-based economy, is also among the most culturally diverse countries in the world. However, it is the rain that truly unites the people in the most vibrant and unique celebrations. The monsoon brings much-needed water that supports more than 70% of the population, directly dependent on agriculture. The rains are consequently something that gives hope and is a reason for celebrations. In fact, every major region hosts at least one major festival in monsoon season in India to honor the life-giving rains.
Monsoon Season Festivals – Dates, Places & Highlights
| Festival | Date (2025) | State/Region | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karam Festival | 3rd September | Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bengal, Odisha | Tribal dance, nature worship |
| Teej | Between July and September | Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar | Swings, henna, women-centric |
| Janmashtami | 16 August | Pan India (UP, Maharashtra, Gujarat) | Dahi Handi, Krishna temples |
| Puri Rath Yatra | 27 June to 5 July | Odisha | Grand chariot procession |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | 27 Aug. to 6 Sept. | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh | Modak, immersion in sea |
| Onam | 5th September | Kerala | Boat races, floral carpets, Sadya |
| Nag Panchami | 29th July | Especially in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal | Snake worship, milk offerings |
| Narali Purnima | 9th August (Full Moon) | Maharashtra, Goa, Konkan | Coconut offerings, fishermen prayers |
| Hemis Tsechu Festival | 5th – 6th July | Ladakh | Cham dance, Traditional music |
| Hareli | 28 July | Chhattisgarh | Worship of farming tools |
| Behdienkhlam | 11 – 14 July | Meghalaya | Mud rituals, tribal invocations |
| Sao Joao Festival | 24 June | Goa | Pond diving, flower crowns |
| Aadi Perukku | 2nd August | Tamil Nadu | Cauvery rituals, river feasts |
| Saputara Monsoon Festival | Between July and August | Gujarat | Tribal shows, adventure sports |
Most Famous Festivals in India during Monsoon:
Most of these festivals have been celebrated for ages and this also gives the opportunity to witness the traditions of India in their true form. If you are looking to be a part of the Indian monsoon magic, here are our top picks:
1. Karam Festival:
Karam Festival revolves around the worship of God Karam – the bringer of power and youthfulness. Celebrated every year in and around Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, it brings together the tribal population including groups like Mundadri, Ho, Kurukh, Pargania, Korba, Kharia, Oraon, Kurmali, Nagpuri, and Santhali.
The festival is usually organized on the 11th Day of the Hindu month of Bhadra, falling between August and September in the English calendar. The rituals involve villagers going into the jungle in groups to collect fruits, flowers, and wood required for the puja. People dance and sing in unison and the entire valley is united by drumbeats. The people worship trees since they are a source of their livelihood.
Date: According to the English Calendar 3rd Sep 2025 and the Hindu month of Bhadra on the 11th Day
Location: The Karama Festival is prominent across villages in Eastern India including states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh.
Why It is Celebrated: To honor Karam Devta, the deity of strength, youth, and vitality, and to express gratitude for a good harvest.
2. Teej / Hariyali Teej / Saavan ki Teej:
Teej is among the principal festivals in the monsoon season in India, It is a celebration revolving around the wedded ladies and imprints the fancifully significant day when Goddess Parvati reunited with Lord Shiva after 100 years of separation. The celebration is celebrated in North, North-East and North-western regions under various names – Hartalika Teej, Kajari Teej, Hariyali Teej, and so forth.
Rajasthan is the best spot to be in to celebrate it – particularly in Bundi and Jaipur. During the festival, ladies pray to Shiva and Parvati for satisfaction and joy in their wedded life. They would get together, spruce up in customary wedding wear, beautify their hands with henna, sing customary songs reserved for this celebration, dance, and swing on swings (customarily enhanced with blossoms and attached branches of trees) that are specially crafted for this occasion.
In the Pink City, Jaipur you can not only watch a wonderful celebration in devotion to Goddess Parvati that is held during this Monsoon festival in India, but also enjoy devouring tasty delicacies like Ghewar, Kheer, Dal Bati Churma, and so on.
Date: Between July and September as per the Hindu Calendar
Location: North, North East and North Western regions of India
Why It is Celebrated: Teej is celebrated to remember the holy marriage of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. It shows love, faith, and the happiness of married life.
3. Janmashtami:
Janam means Birth and Ashtami means eight- symbolizing the birth of Lord Krishna on the eighth day of the fortnight of the new moon in the Hindu month of Saavan. The festival marks the worship of Lord Krishna as an infant. And is celebrated pan India, with Mathura (birthplace) and Vrindavan (where he spent his adolescent days) in Uttar Pradesh celebrating it on a very large scale even globally with the ISKCON foundation Lord Krishna worshipping various nations. And Maharashtra’s Dahi Handi festival the most prominent Janmashtami celebration of India is telecast worldwide.
Extensive decorations of temples, singing holy songs, prayers, etc., and feasting of curd, white butter, and milk-made sweets after offering them to infant Lord Krishna, are the major highlights of this rainy season festival. You will also see tiny tots dressed up as Krishna and his friend Radha across the states.
Date: August or September as per the Hindu Calendar (August 16, 2025)
Location: Pan India, with Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, Dwarka in Gujarat, and Maharashtra’s Dahi Handi festival being the most prominent Janmashtami celebrations of India. These are telecast worldwide.
Why It is Celebrated: Janmashtami is the festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, who is loved as the savior and protector of truth and goodness.
4. Puri Rath Yatra:
Rath Yatra has been celebrated for ages at the 900-year-old Jagannath temple at Puri in Odisha during the monsoon. The temple is one of the Char Dhams or four top religious places of the Hindus (the other three being Dwarka, Rameshwaram, and Badrinath). The festival is celebrated on the second day of the Ashadha month as per the Hindu Calendar, which falls between June-July months. The Jagannath Puri temple is located just 60 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar.
The main ritual involves huge idols of Lord Jagannath (Krishna), his sister Subhadra, and elder brother Balbhadra, being taken out in massively adorned chariots. These are pulled by thousands of devotees. And you can imagine the grandeur of these chariots from the size of their wheels which are as high as 45.6 feet and 18 in number. Devotedly pulled through the streets of Puri to the Gundicha Temple, (where they rest and are worshipped for nine-day), the festivity marks sheer devotion, and bliss experienced. This magnificent festival draws devotees and tourists from across the world.
Date: The Yatra will start on June 27, 2025, and end on July 5, 2025.
Location: Jagannath Puri in Odisha (a similar Rath Yatra is also taken out at the same time in Ahmedabad).
Why It is Celebrated: Jagannath Rath Yatra is a festival that celebrates the yearly journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, which is believed to be their aunt’s home, and then back again.
5. Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayak Chaturthi:
Among the top festivals of the monsoon season in India, Ganesh Chaturthi is the one that is famous worldwide, especially via the Southwestern state of Maharashtra, where Lord Ganpati/ Lord Vinayak is considered the main deity and protector of the region. Such is the grandeur that the city of Mumbai typically comes to a halt, to hail the elephant God who is also the second son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It marks the birth of Lord Ganesha/ Lord Ganpati and new idols of God are brought home and typically worshipped for the next ten days, before being immersed in the seas, or river waters.
The idols are also kept in huge pandals, for those who cannot keep them home for ten days, for regular prayers. Lord Ganpati’s favourite sweet Modak or the Laddoo is the main food offered during the rituals. On the tenth day, the idols are taken out in grand processions amid Marathi music, devotional songs and dance before they are immersed in the water bodies.
This immersion, during this 10-day long rainy season festival, is a world-famous phenomenon that attracts tourists from across the globe, plus is telecast LIVE on news channels including the BBC.
Date: 27 August to 6 September, on the fourth day or Chaturthi of the month of Bhadrapada, the sixth month of the Hindu calendar.
Location: Prime festival of Maharashtra, with Mumbai being an international spot for celebration. Since Bollywood has popularized this festival big time, so now even states like Gujarat, Delhi, Goa (Konkani regions), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh celebrate this festival to some extent.
Why It is Celebrated: People celebrate this festival to show their love for Ganesha and ask for his blessings to live a life full of wisdom, good luck, and success.
6. Onam:
Kerala is full of cultural festivals. A rundown of the best monsoon festivals in India can’t be complete without Onam. The ten-day-long harvest celebration is for the individuals who celebrate the bliss of Monsoons. And during this Rainy season festival in India, God’s Own Country Kerala – comes alive in the entirety of its bountiful joy.
During Onam there are staggering festivals of elephants, strict age-old ceremonies held in sanctuaries, customary music, people singing customary melodies and obviously, Kerala’s brand name the Kathakali dance is held across the state from villages to cities. Individuals likewise wear customary dresses, create Rangoli called ‘Pookalam’ to enliven their homes in gorgeous ways and there is a banquet or Saadya of 21 hand-made extraordinarily delectable curries and sweet payasam made and served in all conventional homes on banana leaf on Thiruvonam, the second day of the celebration.
However, the highlight of Onam festivities is Vallam Kali – the Snake boat races that are held at the backwaters during this time. The members sing songs and chant slogans as they compete to keep the morale high. The Nehru Trophy Boat race which is held in Punnamada Lake close to Alappuzha, Kerala is the most well-known of these races and is famous globally. People from across the world come here to witness this monsoon season festivals in India spectacle.
Date: 5th September 2025
Location: Kerala
Why It is Celebrated: It celebrates the great return of King Mahabali, a kind and fair ruler who once ruled Kerala with love and care.
Also Read: Lesser-Known Festivals Of India
7. Nag Panchami:
The festival of snakes, Nag Panchami is among the most enchanting and adventurous experiences among the Festivals in monsoon season in India. The word ‘Nag’ means snake and ‘Panchami’ signifies the fifth day of a fortnight. Celebrated on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha (the fortnight driving from new moon to the full moon) of Saavan month, it is praised by adoring snakes and the Snake God – the Shesh Nag. Prayers are performed while offering milk to their symbolic idols and wish is sought that the Shesha Nag should protect them from all evils.
Date: 29th July 2025 as per the Hindu calendar
Location: Across India, with the Northern states, Bihar and Maharashtra witnessing major celebrations.
Why It is Celebrated: Nag Panchami is a festival when people worship snakes and snake gods. It is believed that snakes bring safety and good luck, and they have an important place in Hindu stories and traditions.
8. Narali Purnima or Nariyal Purnima:
Next in our rundown of the best of rainy season festivals in India is the Nariyal Purnima or Narali Poornima. The word ‘Nariyal’ signifies coconut and ‘Purnima’ signifies full moon. Narali Purnima is seen with extraordinary energy and excitement in Maharashtra and its adjoining Konkani areas. Individuals from the fishermen community or Koli, hail this festival to pray and avert and mishaps during the fishing season.
The celebration denotes the finish of the rainstorm season in Maharashtra and the start of the fishing season. The fishermen offer obeisance to the ocean God, Varun, for a smooth excursion out in the waters and towards seeking bliss, satisfaction and abundance in life. Moving and singing are a vital piece of this celebration.
Among the brightest festivals in monsoon season in India, fishermen fix their nets, paint their boats or buy new ones in the preceding fortnight of Narali Purnima. While the Brahamans of the region observe fast and culminate it by eating only the sweetened coconut, on the other hand the conventional food includes coconut is arranged like Narali Bhat or coconut rice.
Date: Full moon night of the Hindu month of Saavan which falls on 9th August 2025.
Location: Maharashtra and adjoining Konkani areas of the state.
Why It is Celebrated: The festival is mainly about praying to Lord Varuna, the god of the sea, and asking for his blessings and protection.
9. Hemis Tsechu Festival:
Hemis Tsechu is a well-known two day festival in Ladakh which takes place in the Hemis Monastery. It marks the birth of Guru Padmasambhava with Cham dances in which monks dressed in silk robes and gods and demon masks. The key attraction here is the large presence of a 22-feet high thangka of the Guru. Traditional music with drums and horns makes the experience even more special.
Date: 5th July – 6th July 2025
Location: Ladakh
Why It is Celebrated: This day celebrates the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, who is also called Guru Rinpoche.
10. Hareli:
Celebrated with huge pomp and show, the Hareli Festival in Chhattisgarh is synonymous with Hariyali (Hindi word for Greenery). It is celebrated by several communities of farmers and agricultural workers in the Hindu Month of Shravan, between July and August of the English Calendar.
Organized on a new moon day, it marks the beginning of the monsoons and the worship of Goddess “Kutki Dai” – the God of Agriculture. The celebration is particularly prominent among the people of the Gond Tribes. The theme of the celebration revolves around nature and though the manifestations are simple, the prayers are uniquely keen.
Date: 28th July on a New Moon Night
Location: Chhattisgarh
Why It is Celebrated: It is celebrated to thank the gods for a good harvest and to show our gratitude for the crops we have received.
11. Behdienkhlam:
The Behdienkhlam is a ritualistic homage to the God of the Seven Huts who are believed to have arrived in the region from heaven and established their kingdom in the hills. The Jowai People of the Jaintia Hills consequently worshiped the divine elements in expectation of good weather and protection against the Demon of Cholera. It is also a prayer to seek a rich harvest after the monsoon season. The ceremonial invocation of the Gods by the tribal chief and the religious ceremonies weaved against natural elements are something that everyone should witness. Another main attraction of the festival is men smearing mud all over their faces and engaging in duels.
Date: 11th July to 14 July 2025
Location: Jaintia Hills, Jowai, Meghalaya
Why It is Celebrated: It is a time to thank God for a good harvest and to keep away bad spirits. People come together to pray for happiness and a good life for all.
12. Sao Joao Festival:
The state of Goa witnesses a unique form of monsoon celebration in the form of the Sao Joao Festival. The Sao Joao, marked by the beginning of heavy monsoons is organized synonymous with the feast of St. John the Baptist. The ritual of Sao Joao is not just celebrated in Goa but also in Portugal and according to beliefs, is also the day that Mother Mary announced the birth of baby Jesus. Locals celebrate the day by jumping into lakes, and ponds and well, cheering “Viva San Jao”. Sao Joao is also described as the Festival of Fertility and Goans are at their colorful best, wearing flowers, leaves, and fruits.
Date: 24th June 2025
Location: Goa
Why It is Celebrated: celebrated to remember the birth of St. John the Baptist, an important day in the Catholic faith. It is also a time to enjoy and welcome the rainy season.
13. Aadi Perukku:
Rainy season starts in Tamil Nadu in the long stretch of the Tamil Month – Aadi, when the water level in streams and rivers rises considerably. Aadi Perukku is celebrated to show the appreciation of Tamil individuals to Mother Nature, pay obeisance to the main river of the region the – Cauvery River and to seek safety from the wrath of rainfall, because it rains very heavily in this Southern State of India.
Adiperukku is an interesting Tamil celebration of South India celebrated on the eighteenth day of the Tamil month Aadi. Consequently, it is known as “Pathinettam Perukku”, Pathinettu implies eighteen, and Perukku alludes to rising. Mainly celebrated by the women of Tamil Nadu, Goddess Parvathi is worshipped on this auspicious day.
Various kinds of rituals and offerings are done to her. Holy bath in river Cauvery is one of the major highlights of this monsoon festival in India. After the pooja rituals, the families relish the ‘Kalandha Sadham’ (A variety of rice dishes) on the bank of the river.
Date: Aadi Perukku typically falls on the 2nd of August 2025.
Location: Tamil Nadu
Why It is Celebrated: To give thanks for the blessings of water and to welcome the start of the monsoon season.
14. Saputara Monsoon Festival:
There are lots of festivals that are celebrated in Gujarat. Hosted and organized every year by the Gujarat Tourism Department, the Saputara monsoon festival is a month-long celebration of the rains. Several sporting events, cultural programs, and activities are organized during the event and are a great opportunity to witness spectacular shows by Adivasis (tribal) from this part of the country.
The Saputara is easily the gateway to enjoying the monsoons, clouds, and pleasant weather along with a rich blend of mythology, history, and culture. If you are a nature lover, this is something that you shouldn’t miss.
Date: During the month of July and August
Location: Gujarat
Why It is Celebrated: It celebrates the monsoon season and shows the beauty of nature and the rich culture of the region.
Over to you:
Start planning for your next monsoon trip now and be a part of these popular monsoon festivals of India. If you know about any of such least explore monsoon festivals worth sharing, write them here by comment and we will cover them for TheIndia.
FAQs:
India is mostly an agriculture-based country and monsoons bring water that supports farming. That’s why people celebrate rains as a blessing with joy, rituals, music, and traditional gatherings.
Some of the top monsoon festivals include Ganesh Chaturthi (Maharashtra), Onam (Kerala), Janmashtami (Pan India), Teej (North India), and Rath Yatra (Odisha). Each festival is unique and full of colorful traditions.
Most monsoon festivals are a blend of both. They often include religious prayers to Gods or Goddesses and also have local cultural traditions like songs, dances, fairs, and community meals.
Most monsoon festivals happen between June and September, during the Hindu months of Ashadha, Saavan, Bhadrapada, and Aadi. Exact dates vary every year based on the lunar calendar.
Payal Khatri
September 16, 2017 at 4:09 pm
India is a land of festivals. Every month brings atleast two festivals with it. You can see a variety of festivals celebrated in the different parts of India. rajasthan’s Teej, Bihar’s chhath, Punjabi’s Lohari, Kolkata’s durga pooja, South Indin’s Onam and many other. everyday there is a reason f celebration somewhere in some part of India. no one can ever sum up all these celebrations into a single post. But definitely you did a good job here.
TheIndia
September 20, 2017 at 5:41 pm
Thank you Payal for sharing your views and amazing festivals of India. Which one is your favorite?