Important Festival Celebrations in India

Janmashtami
Srikrishna Jayanti or sometimes simply as Janmashtami, is an annual celebration of the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated as an event which involves making a human pyramid and breaking an earthen pot filled with buttermilk (dahi), which is tied at a convenient height. The topmost person tries to break the earthen pot by hitting it with a blunt object. When the handi breaks, the buttermilk is spilled over the entire group. This event is based on the legend of the child-god Krishna stealing butter.
Krishna was the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Based on scriptural details and astrological calculations, the date of Krishna's birth, known as Janmashtami is 19 July 3228 BCE and he lived until 3102 BCE. Krishna grew up in Gokul with his brother Balram, later he returned to Mathura.

Holi
Holi or Phagwah is a popular spring festival, the festival of colours. Holi commemorates the slaying of the demoness Holika by Lord Vishnu's devotee Prahlad. Thus, the festival's name is derived from the Sanskrit words "Holika Dahanam", which literally mean "Holika's slaying". It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, and other regions of the world with significant populations of Hindus or people of Indian origin. The festival has, in recent times, spread to parts of Europe and North America as a spring celebration of love, frolic, and colours.

Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael or golden apple or Bilva/Vilvam leaves to Lord Shiva, all-day fasting and an all-night. All through the day, devotees chant "Om Namah Shivaya", a sacred Panchakshara mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva. In Nepal, millions of Hindus attend Shivaratri together from different part of the world at the famous Pashupatinath Temple.

Pongal
Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festivals of southern India, mainly Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. This day coincides with Makara Sankranti celebrations in Sabarimala Temple, Kerala . Pongal happens in the middle of January every year and marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayan (sun's journey northwards). The Pongal festival lasts for four days. Celebrations include a drawing of Kolam, swinging & the cooking of delicious

Ram Nawami
Rama Nawami also known as Sri Rama Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of the god Ram in Ayodhya. Ram, the 7th avatar of Vishnu, is the oldest known god having human form. At some places the festival lasts the whole nine days of the Navaratri, It is marked by continuous recitals, Akhand Paath, mostly of the Ramacharitamanas, distribution of prasad after the puja and aarti.
The important celebrations on this day take place at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Sita Samahit Sthal in Bihar, Bhadrachalam in Telangana and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, participated by thousands of devotees. Rathayatras, the chariot processions also takes place.

Onam
Onam is also known as Vamana Jayanthi, is a Hindu festival and the state festival of Kerala celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It falls during the month of Chingam (August–September) and lasts for ten days. The festival is marked by various festivities, including intricate flower carpets, elaborate banquet lunches, snake boat races, Onappottan, Kaazhchakkula in Guruvayoor, Puli Kali, Kaikottikkali etc. These festivities make Onam a unique festival on the earth which is embellished by most number of cultural elements and it can be undoubtedly said that these elements constitute the colorfulness, diversity and richness that no other festival can claim.On Onam day people conduct special prayers in Hindu temples.

Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is an ancient festival, and has many myths and historic legends linked to it. For example, the Rajput queens practised the custom of sending rakhi threads to neighbouring rulers as token of brotherhood.[8][9] On Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother's wrist. This symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her.

Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesha Chaturthi is the festival celebrated in honour of the god Ganesha, the elephant- headed, remover of obstacles and the god of beginnings and wisdom. The festival, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi. The festival involves installing clay images of Ganesha in public pandals (temporary shrines), which are worshipped for ten days with different variety of herbal leaves, plants and immersed at the end of the festival in a water(lake) along with the Idol. After adding herbal and medicated plants and leaves(patri) in lakes, the water in the lake becomes purified.

Diwali
Diwali also known as Deepavali and the "festival of lights", is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. On Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up lampsinside and outside their home, participate in family puja to Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and prosperity. After prayers, fireworks follows. Then a family feast including mithai (sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends are also important in this celebration.

Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage of faith in which Hindus gather to bathe in a sacred river. It is considered to be the largest peaceful gathering in the world where around 100 million people were expected to participate. It is held every third year at one of the four places by rotation: Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayaga), Nashik and Ujjain. Thus the Kumbh Mela is held at each of these four places every twelfth year. Ardha ("Half") Kumbh Mela is held at only two places, Haridwar and Allahabad, every sixth year. The rivers at these five places are: the Ganges (Ganga) at Haridwar, the confluence (Sangam) of the Ganges and the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad, the Godawari at Nashik, the Shipra at Ujjain and the Kausiki at Chataradham.
Mauni Amavasya traditionally attracted the largest crowds at the mela, held here every 12 years, over 30 million devotees and ascetics took holy dip on this occasion.