Top 10+ Most Popular Festivals in August of India

Most important Indian festivals in August. Photo: TravelTriangle

As the monsoon eases off, the famous festival season gets underway in August in India. Here's the pick of popular and traditional festivals in India to enjoy this month.
1. Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race

Photo: YouTube

In India, one of the most well-known and enduring festivals in August is the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race. This exciting boat race is held at Punnamda Lake in Alleppey, where thousands of male competitors row snake boats. The beginning of Kerala's 10-day Onam festival is signaled by this festival, one of the enthusiastic August celebrations in India, which demonstrates a strong sense of unity, coordination, and teamwork. Aranmula Snake Boat Race is a well-known similar event. This exhilarating boat race concludes the Onam festival and is held on the Pampa River in Alleppey.

Where: Punnamda Lake, Alleppey in Kerala

What’s special: Many boatmen rowing snake boats, singing folk songs and indulging in healthy competition is a great sight. Moreover, the spectators enjoy this buzzing event from the banks of the lake or can stay in houseboats and experience the same.

Date for Nehru Trophy snake boat race: 23th to 26th Feb

2. Athachamayam Festival

Athachamayam, which is observed alongside the Onam festival in August in India, is one of the most famous cultural celebrations and honors the valiant victory of the Kochi king. In August, Kerala, an Indian state, hosts one of the most vibrant festivals, during which locals dress traditionally and take part in folk music and dance. The festival also features elephant parades and vibrant tableaus showcasing regional customs, arts, and culture.

Where: Tripunithura, Ernakulam, Kochi

What’s special: Local people dress up like tigers and participate in rallies.

Dates for Athachamayam festival1: 12th August to 23rd August

3. Nag Panchami

Nag Panchami is one of the traditional Indian festivals that occurs in August and has special significance. In India, where snakes are revered, this is one of the most unusual and daring festivals that takes place in August. Nag Panchami is celebrated in all its splendor and pomp in rural areas of India and Nepal on an auspicious day during the lunar month of Shraavana. The tribal festival Jhapan Mela, where Goddess Manasa is worshipped, comes after this one. Jhapan Mela is a rural fair that takes place in the interior of West Bengal's Vishnupur and Bankura districts and features demonstrations of various snake tricks.

Where: Rural parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

What’s special: Snakes are carried in procession to the temple and devotees dance to the music of been or snake charmer’s flute.

4. Eid-Al-Adha

Photo: Sada El balad Sada El balad

One of the most important festivals celebrated by the Muslim community in India during the month of August is Eid-al-Adha. This festival, also known as Bakri Id, is observed by offering sheep and goats as sacrifices, cooking the meat, and sharing it with friends and family. People dress up beautifully, attend community prayers, visit friends and family, and exchange gifts and sweets on auspicious days. Elders give gifts or idi to children.

Where: Celebrated by Islamic community, all over India.

What’s special: Delicious meat preparations are cooked at every household and mosques, Islamic monuments and markets are decorated with lights and flowers.

Dates for Eid-al-Adha: 19th July

5. Raksha Bandhan

In India, the magnificent festival of Raksha Bandhan is observed on each full moon day of the month of Shraavana, which corresponds to August. Without mentioning Raksha Bandhan, this list of Indian holidays in August would undoubtedly be incomplete. The love and connection between a brother and a sister are celebrated. The brother swears to protect the sister for the rest of his life as the sister ties the rakhi, a sacred thread, around his wrist and offers prayers for his long life and well-being.

Where: Pan India, particularly in north, west and central part of the country

What’s special: The sister performs aarti and applies tilak before tying the thread, while the brother gives gifts and sweets in return.

Date for Raksha Bandhan: 22nd August

6. Teej

Without Teej, where the same-named Goddess is fervently worshipped by Rajasthani women, August festivals in India are incomplete. One of India's music festivals in August is this one. Teej, which is celebrated throughout the pink city with traditional songs, dance, music, carnivals, and local cuisine, is celebrated with absolute grandeur and glory. Native women dress up in green traditional attire, apply mehndi and bangles, and parade around the city with a golden palanquin filled with Goddess Teej. Elephants, camels, and horses, all decorated, are present at the rally. The most amazing Indian festivals, including this one, must be celebrated with the locals.

Where: Jaipur

What’s special: Teej special sweet dishes like ghewar and malpoa are prepared in every household.

Dates for Teej: 11th August

7. Madras Week

Photo: Jodi 365

The city of Madras, which is now Chennai, was founded on August 22. The entire week in the city has been filled with majesty and pomp to honor and celebrate the same. The entire city is decorated with lights and flowers, and both tourists and residents can enjoy a variety of tours, fairs, performances, and recreational activities. One of the best Indian festivals in August is this one, so check it out!

Where: Chennai, Tamil Nadu

What’s special: Heritage walks, food walks, bike tours and photo exhibitions.

Dates for Madras Week: 20th August- 27th August

8. Tarnetar Fair

The Gujarati Tarnetar fair, which takes place close to the Triniteshwar Mahadev temple, is another magnificent August festival. The fair was initially planned as a place where tribal communities could look for a spouse. This is a typical rural fair where visitors can enjoy camel rides, magic shows, tribal dance and music, tattoo stalls, merry-go-rounds, as well as local cuisine and craft vendors. Do not worry if you want to see this lively and fascinating tribal feast. Gujarat Tourism provides everyone with cozy tent accommodations as well as other amenities.

Where: Tarnetar Village, Surendranagar, Gujarat

What’s special: Performances of jodia pava (double flutes), rahado folk dance.

Dates for Tarnetar Fair: 8th September – 10th September

9. Covelong Point Surf, Music And Yoga Festival

Covelong Point Surf, Music and Yoga Festival is one of the most unique and spectacular cultural events held in August in India, drawing tens of thousands of music and fitness fans each year. This cultural festival includes a variety of performances by Indian and foreign musicians, screenings of international films, a national-level surfing competition, and workshops in meditation. Participants in this festival will undoubtedly have a wide variety of activities to choose from. There is something for everyone at the beach, from relaxing to checking out the organic food vendors to competing in kayak races and beach volleyball games.

Where: Covelong Point Social Surf School, Kovalam Village, Chennai

What’s special: Yoga on the beach, water gun fights and healing music therapies.

Dates for Covelong Point Surf, Music and Yoga Festival: NA

10. Krishna Janmashtami and Dahi Handi

Photo: Times of India

In India and other parts of the world, this festival is widely observed to honor Lord Krishna's birth. In some places, the day is also known as Gokulashtami, and in Maharashtra, it is known as Govinda. Children dress up as Krishna to tell the tale of his life on this joyful occasion, which is celebrated with great vigor.

Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra

What’s Special: The Dahi Handi where the clay pot is filled with curd and hung over with a thread. Young boys make a human pyramid and hit the pot with a stick.

Date Of The Festival: August 30

11. Bonderam Festival

This is a yearly celebration that takes place on the fourth Saturday in August. It is a customary flag festival that got its start as a result of property disputes in different areas of the village. Flags were used to denote boundaries until they were destroyed by the opposing groups. They recreate that incident in the present by holding mock fights and street parades.

Where: Divar Island, Off the coast near Panjim, Goa

What’s Special: The vibrant parades hosted by the locals to enjoy a great time making a parody of the incident which happened years ago.

Date Of The Festival: NA

12. Ganesh Chaturthi

This is a well-known Indian festival that is enthusiastically observed for about 11 days. This celebration honors Lord Ganesha's birth. This festival begins on a grand scale with the decoration and worship of enormous statues. Even Lord Ganesha statues are brought home for ten days, after which they are submerged in water.

Where: Mostly in states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

What’s Special: Celebrated at a grand scale and brings positivity

Date Of The Festival: September 10

13. Chakradhar Samaroh

Photo: A Soul Window

Every year, during the Ganesh festival, there is a 10-day classical music festival. This tranquil celebration is held to honor Chakradhar Singh, king and musician of Raigarh, known as the cultural center of Chattisgarh. He is renowned for his many books on dance and music as well as for having developed a new style of Kathak.

Where: Raigarh, Chattisgarh

What’s Special: The light and sound show

Date Of The Festival: NA

14. Onam

Kerala celebrates this harvest festival for ten days with great fervor. The mythical King Mahabali's return home is celebrated during the festival. Locals decorate the front of their homes with beautifully arranged flowers during this festival. In addition, it is observed with other celebrations like shopping for new clothing and a variety of meals served on banana leaves.

Where: Kerala

What’s Special: Snake boat race, dancing

Date Of The Festival: August 12th to 23rd

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