Top Holidays in India to Look Forward to in 2024

To usher in 2024, it's the perfect time to embrace the promise of the year ahead! With a 2024 holiday calendar adorned with a total of 76 restricted holidays, gazetted India holidays, and observances, India is the perfect destination this 2024! 

Whether you're an avid traveler planning to utilize every single one of those long weekends with friends and family, or you're seeking out solo dreamy getaways that set your heart ablaze, the choice is yours! Here’s a tell-all list of India holidays in 2024 that you need to know.

New Year's Day (1 Jan) - New Year's Day is a restricted holiday in India. People dress colorfully and enjoy late-night celebrations making it common for individuals to report late to work on this day.

Lohri (13 Jan) - Lohri marks the start of the winter crop harvest, especially in Punjab. It involves bonfires, music, and prayers to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest.

Makar Sankranti (14 Jan) - Makar Sankranti celebrates the winter solstice and the beginning of the harvest season. People offer 'khichdi' to charity and take ceremonial dips in rivers.

Pongal (15 Jan) - Pongal is a South Indian harvest festival expressing thanks to the Sun, nature, and farm animals. It also ushers in the auspicious Tamil month of Thai.

Republic Day (26 Jan) - A pivotal moment in India's history, Republic Day marks the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950, replacing colonial governance and establishing India as a sovereign republic.

Vasant Panchami (14 Feb) - This day is dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. It signifies the end of winter and the arrival of spring. The youth wear bright yellow attire to celebrate the brilliance of nature and the vibrancy of life.

Guru Ravidas Jayanti (24 Feb) - Celebrated on Magh Purnima, the Indian holiday honors the poet-saint Guru Ravidas. It is observed with special significance in India, where devotees partake in rituals and take a holy dip in rivers.

Maha Shivaratri/Shivaratri (8 Mar) - This Indian holiday is dedicated to Lord Shiva and celebrates his marriage to Goddess Parvati. It holds spiritual and mythological significance in Hindu culture.

Start of Ramadan (12 Mar) - Muslims begin the holy month of Ramadan on this date, during which they fast from dawn to sunset, refraining from food and drink. Fasting is a form of worship where they form a closer connection to Allah and promote empathy for the less fortunate.

Holi (25 Mar) - This prime public holiday in India celebrates the festival of colors. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and a bountiful harvest

Good Friday (29 Mar) - A Gazetted Holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar (11 Apr) - This signifies the conclusion of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, for Muslims. It's a time of festive celebrations, prayers, and communal gatherings.

Vaisakhi (13 Apr) - Observed by Sikhs, Vaisakhi holds paramount importance in the Sikh calendar as it marks the Punjabi New Year and the birth of Sikhism in 1699.

Ambedkar Jayanti (14 Apr) - An observance dedicated to the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a key figure in India's social and political history. 

Rama Navami (17 Apr) - This day commemorates the birth of Lord Rama, considered the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. This day is one of the five most important Hindu festivals.

Buddha Purnima/Vesak (23 May) - This Indian holiday pays tribute to the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha, and honors the life and teachings of Prince Siddharta Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha.

Bakrid/Eid ul-Adha (17 Jun) - Celebrated by Muslims, this holiday marks the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage, featuring the sacrifice of animals as a symbol of devotion.

Rath Yatra (7 Jul) - Rath Yatra is a grand chariot procession in Puri, Odisha, celebrating Lord Jagannath's journey to his aunt's temple, attracting thousands of devotees.

Muharram/Ashura (17 Jul) - This holiday observes the day of Ashura in the Islamic lunar calendar, commemorating significant events in Islamic history, particularly for Shia Muslims.

Independence Day (15 Aug) - This is a momentous occasion in India, celebrating the nation's liberation from British colonial rule on 15 August 1947. It marks the enactment of the Indian Independence Act.

Janmashtami (26 Aug) - This day celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Devotees fast until midnight, visit temples, and enjoy colorful reenactments of Krishna's childhood.

Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayaka Chaturthi (7 Sep) - A holiday dedicated to honoring the birth of Lord Ganesha, the God of New Beginnings, Wisdom, and Remover of Obstacles. 

Onam (15 Sep) - Observed in Kerala, Onam rejoices in the homecoming of Asura King Mahabali from the Patal Lok. Sumptuous feasts, traditional rituals, and festivities mark this ten-day festival.

Milad un-Nabi/Id-e-Milad (16 Sep) - This day commemorates the birth of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad in the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal.

Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (2 Oct) - This holiday pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, a prominent figure in India's history as the "Father of The Nation." 

Dussehra (12 Oct) - This holiday celebrates the victory of good over evil, particularly the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana. 

Diwali (31 Oct) - The Festival of Lights symbolizes the victory of good over evil and the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya as narrated in the Hindu epic Ramayana.

Govardhan Puja (2 Nov) - Govardhan Puja is a celebration that remembers the story from the Bhagavata Purana where Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to protect the villagers of Vrindavan from a deluge.

Chhat Puja (Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi) (7 Nov) - Chhat Puja is a revered Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God.

Guru Nanak Jayanti (15 Nov) — This marks the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Sikhs begin the day with prayers at Gurudwaras, serve free meals to the community, processions, and hymn singing.

Guru Tegh Bahadur's Martyrdom Day (24 Nov) - This observance pays tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru in the Sikh lineage, known as the "Shield of India." 

Christmas (25 Dec) - This gazetted 2024 holiday in India that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, marked by various religious and cultural celebrations.

New Year's Eve (31 Dec) - An observance where people bid farewell to the old year and joyously welcome the new year, often marked by gatherings, fireworks, and festive revelry.