List of different harvest festivals or agricultural festivals in India.
Harvest Festival | States Celebrated In | Significance |
---|---|---|
Makar Sankranti | Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Himachal, West Bengal, Punjab | Celebrates the sun’s transition into Capricorn (Makara); marks the end of winter and harvest of rabi crops. |
Baisakhi / Vaisakhi | Punjab, Haryana | Marks the Sikh New Year and the harvest of wheat; also commemorates the formation of Khalsa in 1699. |
Ladakh Harvest Festival | Ladakh, Zanskar, Kargil | Week-long celebration of Ladakhi culture post-harvest; includes dances, rituals, and sports. |
Lohri | Punjab | Marks the end of winter and the harvest of sugarcane; celebrated with bonfires and folk dances. |
Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu) | Assam | Assamese New Year and celebration of spring harvest; a 7-day festival with dances and songs. |
Wangala | Meghalaya, Assam | Garo tribe’s festival thanking the Sun God for a good harvest, known as the “100 Drums Festival.” |
Ka Pomblang Nongkrem | Meghalaya | Khasi tribe festival is held to seek blessings for a bumper harvest and communal prosperity. |
Nuakhai | Odisha (especially Western Odisha) | Celebration of the first harvested rice of the season; offerings made to deities. |
Nabanna | West Bengal | Mark’s new rice harvest; people offer rice to Goddess Lakshmi and prepare traditional dishes. |
Onam | Kerala | Welcomes legendary King Mahabali; celebrates the rice harvest with boat races, dances, and feasts. |
Pongal | Tamil Nadu | 4-day festival thanking the Sun God, cattle, and nature for the harvest of rice, sugarcane, and turmeric. |
Vishu | Kerala, Karnataka | Malayalam New Year marks spring and harvest season; people view Vishukkani for good fortune. |
Gudi Padwa | Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh | Celebrated as the Marathi New Year, the beginning of the harvest season, and symbolic of victory. |