| Festival | Time | Significance | Key Activities | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Oct–Nov | Victory of light over darkness (Hindu) | Oil lamps, fireworks, sweets, family gifts | | Holi | March | Spring, love, triumph of good over evil | Colored powders, water, festive gatherings | | Eid-ul-Fitr | Variable | End of Ramadan (Muslim) | Prayers, charity, feasts (sweet vermicelli) | | Durga Puja / Navratri | Sept–Oct | Worship of divine feminine (Goddess Durga) | Elaborate pandals, dance (Garba/Dandiya) | | Vaisakhi | April | Harvest & Sikh New Year | Processions, kirtan, community meals | | Christmas | Dec 25 | Christian & secular celebration | Cakes, carols, decorated trees (in cities) | | Pongal / Makar Sankranti | Jan | Harvest (Tamil Nadu & pan-India) | Cooking rice pot, kite flying, bonfires |