Hinduism is often described as a religion of fasts, feasts and festivals.

Here's a date wise list of Hindu festivals, including cultural and religious occasions for 2011 (Saka Era: 1932-33 / Vikram Era: 2067-68).

January

Lohri: Thursday, 13-01-2011
Makarsankranti / Pongal: Friday / Saturday, 14/15-01-2011
Uttarayan & Kite Festival: Friday, 14-01-2011
Thiruvalluvar Day: Sunday, 16-01-2011
Thaipusam: Thursday, 20-01-2011

February

Vasant Panchami / Saraswati Puja: Tuesday, 08-02-2011
Ratha Saptami: Thursday, 10-02-2011

March

Maha Shivaratri: Wednesday, 02-03-2011
Holi: Sunday, 20-03-2011

April

Telugu New Year/ Ugadi / Gudi Padwa/ Cheti Chand: Monday, 04-04-2011
Hindi New Year (Saka Era 1933): Monday, 04-04-2011
Ramayana Week: Monday, 04-04-2011 to Tuesday, 12-04-2011
Ramanavami: Tuesday, 12-04-2011
Tamil New Year: Thursday, 14-04-2011
Baisakhi / Vishu: Thursday, 14-04-2011
Bengali New Year / Bohag Bihu: Friday, 15-04-2011
Hanuman Jayanti: Sunday/Monday, 17/18-04-2011

May

Akshaya Tritiya / Akhateej: Friday, 06-05-2011
Buddha Purnima / Vaisakhi Purnima: Tuesday, 17-05-2011

June

Ganga Dashami / Ganga Dussehra: Saturday, 11-06-2011
Vat Purnima: Wednesday, 15-06-2011

July

Rath Yatra: Sunday, 03-07-2011
Guru Purnima / Asadha Purnima: Friday, 15-07-2011

August

Nag Panchami: Saturday, 04-08-2011
India's Independence Day: Monday, 15-08-2011
Raksha-Bandhan: Saturday, 13-08-2011
Krishna Janmashtami: Monday, 22-08-2011

September

Ganesh/Vinayak Chaturthi: Thursday, 01-09-2011
Shikshak Divas / Teacher's Day: Monday, 05-09-2011
Onam: Thursday/Friday, 08/09-09-2011
Vishwakarma Puja: Saturday, 17-09-2011
Pitri-Paksha: Tuesday, 13-09-2011 to Tuesday, 27-09-2011
Mahalaya: Tuesday, 27-09-2011
Navaratri begins: Wednesday, 28-09-2011

October

Gandhi Jayanti: Sunday, 02-10-2011
Durga Puja begins (Maha Saptami): Monday, 03-10-2011
Durga Puja (Maha Ashtami): Tuesday, 04-10-2011
Durga Puja (Maha Navami): Wednesday, 05-10-2011
Navaratri ends: Wednesday, 05-10-2011
Vijaya Dashami/Dusshera: Thursday, 06-10-2011
Lakshmi Puja / Kojagari Purnima / Sharad Purnima: Tuesday, 11-10-2011
Valmiki Jayanti: Tuesday, 11-10-2011
Karwa Chauth: Saturday, 15-10-2011
Dhanteras / Dhantrayodashi: Monday, 24-10-2011
Chhoti Diwali: Tuesday, 25-10-2011
Diwali / Deepavali: Wednesday, 26-10-2011
Vikram New Year 2068 / Gujarati New Year: Thursday, 27-10-2011
Skanda Sashti: Thursday, 27-10-2011 to Tuesday, 01-11-2011
Bhai Dooj / Bhai Phota / Bhav-Bij: Friday, 28-10-2011

November

Chhat Puja: Tuesday/Wednesday, 01/02-11-2011
Tulsi Vivah: Sunday, 06-11-2011
Guru Nanak Jayanti: Monday, 21-11-2011

December

Gita Jayanti: Tuesday, 06-12-2011

Please note: For most of the festivals, the dates will change every year depending on the Hindu Calender.

There are many Hindu festivals, some of which are celebrated nationally and some are celebrated regionally. The following are some of the most important festivals followed by Hindus in India.

Navratri: It is believed that the world consists of nine elements - 'Panchamahabhurt' (the basic elements from which matter is made.) and four 'Antahkaran' (consciousness). According to the Hindus, these nine elements are the nine forms of goddess Durga. She is elieved to be the "Shakti". The same Shakti is known by different names or forms like 'Mahakali' (goddess with physical, strength & power), 'Mahalaxmi' (goddess of wealth and prosperity), and 'Saraswati' (goddess of knowledge). These nine days are divided and devoted to these different forms of Goddess durga. Three days are dedicated for Durga. Three other days for Lakshmi. And three days for Sarswati.On the fifth day (Lalita Panchami), it is traditional, to gather all books, light a lamp and invoke Sarswati. On the eighth and ninth day, it is traditional to perform Yagna (sacrifice offered to the fire) to honor the Divine Mother. This is the reason behind the importance of the number nine of the famous Navarathri.'

Diwali (Deepavali): Dipavali has a special place among all festivals in India. It is one of the most ancient festivals. Preparations for Dipavali start weeks ahead. Hindu's clean their households. On the last day of the month of Kartik many lamps (diyas) are lit. During this festival goddess Laxmi is worshipped. According to the legend, Bali - (king of demon) controlled the whole world. He put goddess Laxmi, in the prison. So all the deities requested lord Vishnu so he incarnated as Vaman, and freed Laxmi from Bali's captivity. So, people on this day express their happiness by lighting their houses with burning lamps.

Vijay Dashami (October): Vijayadashami is considered to be an auspicious day for the Indian householder, on which he worships, protects and preserves 'Shakti' (power). By worshipping the 'Shakti' according tot the methods as written in the scriptures, on these nine-days (Navratra) the householders attains the threefold powers i.e. physical, mental and spiritual, which helps him to progress in life without any difficulty. Some nine lakh years ago Sri Ram had proceeded on his mission of killing Ravan, after attaining powers by the worship of goddess Shakti for nine days. The world knows that Sri Ram became victorious in this battle and Ravan was killed along with his whole clan. The victory of Sri Ram over Ravan symbolises the victory of virtuosity and morality over unrighteousness and immorality the victory of justice over injustice. Hindus remember the great deeds of Sri Ram even today in the form of Ramleela and by burning the effigies of Ravan. By burning the effigies of Ravan the Hindus show to the world that no matter how powerful an immortal person is, it gets destroyed ultimately.

Ganesh Chathurthi (September): Ganesh Chaturthi Early in the morning after offering prayers, make a platform and place the idol of Ganesh on it. The worship of the idol happens in sixteen ceremonial methods. One should offers favorite food of ganesha like Laddoos. After the worship (pooja) one offers ladoos and other gifts to Brahmins. At night after moon rise one should worship the moon god and then offer water (Arghya). The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with pomp. The idol of Ganesh is kept for either 1Â½, 3, 5, 7 or 9 days and is worshipped. Then the idol goes on a long procession and then is discharged into water (visarjan). This day of discharge is called Anant Chaturdashi.

Raksha Bandhan (August): Among the Indian festivals, Raksha Bandhan is an important and historical festival. According to the legend, Sachi, the wife of Indra tied a protective thread on the wrist of Indra. This protection thread had protected Indra from his enemies and he defeated his enemies. Ever since, this festival is being celebrated every year, on the full moon day, in the month of Shravan. This tradition now has changed to become a symbol of love bond between the brother and a sister. The sister ties this protective thread around his wrist and in turn, the brother takes the responsibility of the protection of the sister.

Sri Ram Navami (April): Ram Navami is celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra and on the ninth day of the bright lunar phase, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sri Ram. The incarnation of Sri Rama is for showing humans he path of virtuosity and truth. Rama is considered as an ideal in all types of relationships like, teacher-student, mother-father, Brother-sister in law, Husband-wife, friend-enemy. Incidents that happened with Rama may seem larger than life, but many believe that they are undoubtedly true.

Holi: Holi, which falls on the full moon day, in the Hindu month of 'Falgun', is the last major festival of the year. People celebrate this festival with enthusiasm and without making any discrimination between rich and poor, high and low. In Sanskrit language, fried cereals are called 'Holka'. Holikotsav is named after it. Holi is celebrated in the memory of Prahlad's victory over his father's sister named 'Holika'. Prahalad's father asked his sister Holika(she had a boon that fire couldn't burn her) to sit in the burning fire with Prahlad in her lap. But the opposite happened, Prahlad survived the fire but Holika was charred to death. Thus 'holi' is celebrated to mark the victory of virtue over evil.

Makar Sankranthi: Makar Sankranti usually is on the 14th of January every year. On this day the sun comes across the north of equator. Lord Surya it is believed begins His journey northward into the Makara Rasi in his dazzling chariot that has thousands of spokes and magnificent wheels, and is driven by seven horses. When he gets Makara Rasi it is beleievd that our lives are filled with light and there is no darkness. Even according to astrology, this period is supposed to be auspicious for activities like construction of the houses. This period so auspicious, that if a person happens to die during this period is supposed to attain moksha.

Ganesh Chathurti: Ganesh is worshipped on the 4th day of every month of the Hindu calendar. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as his birthday. Ladoos are an important ingredient during the festival. They are distributed to relatives and friends by tradition. ladoos are also placed in corners of the house and eaten just before the meal. Milk also is offered to the idols of lord Ganesh at home and even sometimes at temples. Ganesh puja is also performed at all temples.

Important aspects of Ganesh Chaturthi rituals in India include feasting and distribution of sweets offered to Lord Ganesh. Hindus position the idol of Lord Ganesha temporarily in their houses. They are made in different shapes and sizes. These idols are made especially for the occasion by cottage industries and small street side artisans. After all the nine days of prayers and those that do not wish to keep the idol any longer, immerse them in the nearest water body (like rivers, lakes or the sea).

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