Indian festival holiday calendar for October and November 2023 at a glanceIndia’s social, religious and cultural lives are vibrant with festivals and celebrations all year round. Few countries on the earth celebrate as many festivals as India does. Especially, October and November are months abound with a long list of most important Hindu festivals.The two major celebrations observed in India around this time are Dussehra and Diwali. These two festivals in fact bring in a cluster of events surrounding them. Dussehra stretches over ten days and Diwali is celebrated for around five days. Most interestingly, these two festival themes have a huge following across all states and religious-cultural groups.
Schools and colleges go on long holidays during these months to accommodate these celebrations. So, the cultural and religious lives of people get intensely busy over October and November. Here is the Indian festival holiday calendar for October and November 2023 for you to plan your activities and celebrations.
Indian festival holiday calendar for October and November 2023
The two national events in these months are Gandhi Jayanti and Children’s Day. These two days see an array of public events sponsored by the government and NGOs in the country. Gandhi Jayanti also coincides with the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Navratri culminating with Dussehra is observed for around ten days. Starting on the next day of Amavasya, Navratri is dedicated to the worship of goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Most temples organize special pujas over these days. Dussehra fasting is a famous religious observance. Navratri is also celebrated as the victory of the divine forces over evil. Many South Indian homes arrange Kolu (a colorful and artistic arrangement of dolls) and stage several religious and cultural events during Navratri.
Diwali attracts elders and children alike. Most people staying away from their families, choose to visit their kith and kin around this time to participate in Diwali celebrations. Diwali is one of the most representative elements of Indian culture in general and Hindu tradition in particular. It is also highly popular among the Jains and Sikhs. Counted among the most important festivals in India, Diwali is a colorful and delicious event.
DateDayFestival / Holiday2 October 2023MondayGandhi Jayanti and Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti15 October 2023SundayShard Navratri22 October 2023SundayDurga Puja Ashtami23 October 2023MondayMaha Navami / Saraswati Puja Ayudh Puja24 October 2023TuesdayVijay Dasami / Dussehra1 November 2023WednesdayKarwa Chauth5 November 2023SundayAhoi Ashtami10 November 2023FridayDhanteras12 November 2023SundayDiwali / Narak Chaturdashi14 November 2023TuesdayChildren’s Day, Bhai Dooj, Govardhan Puja19 November 2023SundayChhath Puja23 November 2023ThursdayDevuthhana Ekadashi24 November 2023FridayTulsi Vivah26 November 2023SundayDev Diwali
So, rejoice and gear up to celebrate all these festivals as per your family tradition. Festivals bring in abundant opportunities to socialize with family, friends and relatives. Festivals are the most effective stress busters that relax you and rejuvenate you. Make the most of October and November 2023 to get soaked in the most vibrant socio-cultural life of India.
