The Most Popular Holidays & Festivals in India for June

Mixi March 28, 2021 | 09:08

India is a land of unity in diversity, rich in culture and traditions. Festivals, events play an important role as they not only create awareness but also the ways people unite together and celebrate it with full enthusiasm.

Holidays in India. Photo: India Briefing

Important Holidays in June in India can be listed as:

1 June: World Milk Day

World Milk Day is observed globally on 1st June every year to celebrate the important contributions of the dairy sector to sustainability, economic development, livelihoods and nutrition.

1 June: Global Parents Day

Global Parents Day is celebrated on 1st June every year. ‘Global Day of Parents’ is celebrated in order to aptly recognize and honor parents across the globe for their selfless love and lifelong support towards their children.

2 June - International Sex Workers Day

This day is celebrated on 2nd June not only in Europe but around the world. International Sex Workers Day is observed on 2nd June because on 2 June, 1975 approximately 100 sex workers occupied at Sant-Nizier Church in Lyon, France, to express anger about their exploitative living conditions and work culture. The Church was brutally raided by the police forces on 10 June. This action becomes a national movement and so, now celebrated in Europe and worldwide.

2 June: Telangana Formation Day

The ‘Telangana Formation Day’ is celebrated on June 2nd to commemorate the day when the then 29th State in India was added in the country in 2014. The capital of Telangana is Hyderabad.

3 June - World Bicycle Day

The United Nations General Assembly declared 3rd June as international World Bicycle Day to recognise the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which are affordable, environmentally friendly fit sustainable means of transportation.

4 June – International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

Every year on 4 June, The United Nation's (UN) International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed to raise awareness about the children who have suffered a lot throughout the world and are victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. On this day UN affirms the commitment to protect the rights of children.

5 June: World Environment Day

Out of all important days in June, this day is the one that is of utmost importance to nature. World Environment Day is also known as: Eco Day or Environment Day. This day is celebrated throughout the world to create awareness regarding the protection of the environment around us.

7 June: World Food Safety Day

The World Food Safety Day was started in 2019. The 2nd World Food Safety Day (WFSD) to draw the attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development.

WHO, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is pleased to facilitate Member States’ efforts to celebrate the World Food Safety Day.

8 June: World Brain Tumour Day

‘The World Brain Tumour Day’ is observed on June 8 each year in order to draw people’s attention globally towards the disease of Brain Tumor. This day was first observed by the German Brain Tumour Association (Deutsche Hirntumorhilfe e.V.). It is a non-profit organisation which raises public awareness and educates people about the brain tumour.

The Government of India has introduced National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases & Stroke with the objectives of prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment including palliative care in end-stage for the major non-communicable diseases.

8 June: World Oceans Day

Each year on 8th June World Oceans Day is celebrated to draw the attention of the people towards the oceans and aquatic life. It is a day to spread awareness towards the conservation of oceans and preventing it from water pollution.

The concept was originally proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

14 June - World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day is observed on 14 June every year to raise awareness about the urgency of blood donations all over the world and to acknowledge and appreciate blood donors for their support, according to jagranjosh.

15 June - World Wind Day

Every year World Wind day is observed on 15 June globally to promote clean energy. It is a day to discover wind energy, its power and the possibilities it holds to reshape our energy systems, decarbonise our economies and increase jobs and growth.

15 June - World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

This day is celebrated every year on 15 June to raise voice for caring elders. Elder abuse is a global social issue which affects the Health and Human Rights of millions of older persons around the world. This day was officially recognised by the United Nations General Assembly and request with the world to prevent elder abuse.

3rd Sunday: World Fathers’ Day

World Fathers’ Day is celebrated every year on the third Sunday in June. For 2020, the 3rd Sunday falls on June 21. Father’s Day is a day of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. The day is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm internationally.

23 June: International Olympic Day

‘International Olympic Day’ is observed on June 23 to draw people’s focus on the significance of sports in regular life. The aim of International Olympic Day is to promote mass participation in sports. Based on the three pillars “move”, “learn” and “discover”, National Olympic Committees are deploying sports, cultural and educational activities that address everybody – regardless of age, gender, social background, or sporting ability.

23 June: International Widows’ Day

On June 23 each year International Widows’ Day is observed in order to spread awareness about human rights for widows who unfortunately suffer a lot of backlash post the demise of their respective spouses.

26 June: International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade. It is observed annually on 26 June, since 1989.

Drug abuse is one of the most serious health problems. Besides causing serious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis, it has several side effects that include economic loss, antisocial behaviour such as stealing, violence, crime, and other activities, as reported by adda247.

30 June: World Asteroid Day

‘The Asteroid Day’ is celebrated on June 30 every year. It is held on the anniversary of the Siberian Tunguska event that took place on June 30, 1908, the most harmful known asteroid-related event on Earth in recent history.

The United Nations has proclaimed it be observed globally on June 30 every year in its resolution.

Photo: travelogyindia.

Major festivals in June in India can be listed as:

Shimla Summer Festival

Famous as one of the most mainstream occasions in June, Shimla Summer Festival is a 5-day spectacle commended each year in the long stretch of May/June. Held in the month of June this year, it is a festival of the year, and respect the appearance of the mid-year. The festival offers melodic exhibitions by popular specialists, social attractions, society exhibitions, just as with peculiar exercises like design appears, slows down that sell distinctive product and present nearby cooking.

Location : Shimla

Date : First week of June, every year

Ganga Dussehra

This festival is dedicated to River Ganges. This day marks the event when Goddess Ganges descended to earth to flourish it. Taking bath in River Ganges is considered very sacred during this festival. It is said that a holy dip on this day will purify one’s soul of any earthly sin. The best place to perform the holy dip or watch rituals is the Dashashwamedh Ghat of Varanasi.

Location : Varanasi, Haridwar, Allahabad, Rishikesh, and Garhmukteshwar

Date : 20th June 2021

Kottiyoor Utsavam

he annual 28 day Kottiyoor festival takes place at two temples -- Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor -- on opposite sides of the Bavali River and surrounded by dense forest. The Akkare Kottiyoor temple is only open during the festival. There's no formal structure. Rather the idol of the deity, a swayambhoo lingam (self-created idol of Lord Shiva), is seated on the ground and formed by a small heap of stones called manithara. The Neyyattam ritual on the first day and the Thirukalasattu ritual on the last day attract the most spectators and devotees.

When: May 25 to June 20, 2021.

Where: Kottiyoor, Kannur district, Kerala.

Yuru Kabgyat

Visit Ladakh before the peak season starts to catch the Yuru Kabgyat festival at Lamayuru Monastery, the oldest monastery in the region. Two days of sacred masked dances and other rituals take place against a spectacular setting atop a steep hill. Music is a big part of the festival with monks playing cymbals, drums, and wind instruments.

When: June 7-8, 2021.

Where: Lamayuru Monastery, Ladakh. It's about two and a half hours from Leh, on the Srinagar-Leh Road, and can be visited on a day trip by cab.

Ochira Kali

This unusual festival is a mock fight that commemorates the historic battle between the Kayamkulam and Ambalapuzha kingdoms in medieval times. Men dressed as warriors enter a waterlogged wetland and engage in combat, ceremoniously to the beat of drums, using sticks.

When: June 15-16, 2021.

Where: Wetland near Ochira Parabrahma temple, Ochira, Kollam district, Kerala.

Sital Sasthi

The occasion of Sital Sasthi, which celebrates the marriage of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, provides a remarkable opportunity to see thousands of folk artists performing dying art forms in Odisha. The performances are part of a carnival-like marriage procession, which also features the deities. The festival was started about 400 years ago and is held to encourage an abundant monsoon (Shiva is believed to represent the scorching summer heat and Parvati the first rain).

When: June 16, 2021.

Where: Sambalpur, western Odisha.

Ambubachi Mela

An usual Tantric fertility festival, the Ambubachi Mela marks the menstruation period of the Goddess Kamakhya. The temple is closed for three days while the Goddess menstruates and reopens on the fourth day, with a rush of devotees who come to receive bits of cloth that are supposedly soaked with her menstrual fluid. It's considered to be extremely auspicious and powerful. The festival attracts numerous Tantric sadhus (holy men) from India and abroad. Some of them only appear in public during the four days of the festival. They perform unique rituals and exercises that are widely photographed. The festival is also popular for its rural crafts fair.

When: June 22-26, 2021.

Where: Kamakhya temple, Guwahati, Assam.

Sao Joao Feast

Sao Joao is one of the most noticeable festivals of the Goan Catholic people group which is seen toward the start of the storm season. Hung on 24th June consistently, this dining experience praises St. John the Baptist, the torch prophet who purified through water Jesus in River Jordan. This festival of Goa is delighted in by old and youngsters the same, who sing and dance to the tunes of different instruments while becoming completely inebriated and hopping into wells and streams to recover the endowments tossed by the locals.

When: June 24, annually.

Where: North Goa, particularly Siolim.

Adventure Dawa Festival

Adventure Dawa or the Triple Blessed Festival is one of the most significant festivals for the individuals of Sikkim celebrated with a lot of eagerness in the capital city Gangtok. It is held each year on the full moon day of the fourth month of the Buddhist lunar schedule, which as a rule falls in May/June. It is the most huge and hallowed festival for the adherents of Tibetan and Mahayana Buddhism as it honors the birth, edification, and nirvana of Gautama Buddha.

Location: Gangtok

Date: Almost Comes in June First week

Hemis Gompa Festival

Also called the Hemis Tsechu, this is one of the famous festivals of Ladakh. The monk dance of the monastery is the emblematic celebration of this festival. Apart from this, the festival is celebrated with other dance forms, processions, rituals and displays of heritage items of the monastery to the public. This festival is celebrated to mark the birth of the religious head, Guru Padmasambhava.

When: June 20-21, 2021.

Where: Hemis Monastery, near Leh, Ladakh, in the far northern part of India.

Ochira Kali

This is a mock fight festival, which recreates the historic war that took place between the Ambalapuzha and Kayamkulam regions, during the medieval times. The festival takes place in a waterlogged region where they take part in mock combat using sticks and other medieval weapon replica. You can also hear ceremonial war music in the air, throughout the festival. You can find many interesting rituals in the Ochira Temple, during this festival.

Location: Kollam district of Kerala

Date: 15^th – 16^th June 2021

Sindhu Darshan Festival

This festival is celebrated on the banks of Sindhu River. The natives believe that the river is the main reason for harmony among different people in the region. This is a three-day festival during which, you can find many folk cultural performances, Buddhist rituals, and others. During this festival, the soldiers of the land are honored and prayed for.

Location: Ladakh

Date: 12^th – 14^th June 2021

Above is a list of important holidays and festivals that are taken place in May in India. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to add them to the comment section below, and don't forget to follow KnowInsiders for more interesting news. Thanks for tuning in!