Explore the November Festival List 2024 featuring 13 major festivals in India with day and date. Discover the vibrant cultural celebrations that mark this festive month!
November is a month filled with vibrant festivals across India, offering a unique glimpse into the rich cultural, spiritual, and historical heritage of the country. As the weather turns cooler and more comfortable, people from all walks of life come together to celebrate through rituals, fairs, processions, and feasts. From religious observances to harvest celebrations, the festivals in November offer an opportunity to explore India’s diverse customs and practices.
This November Festival List 2024 highlights 13 major festivals, their significance, and dates, helping you plan your travel or participation in these joyous occasions. Let’s dive into the colorful world of Indian festivals happening this November!
Table of Contents
November Festival List 2024: Quick Overview
| Festival Name | Date | Location | Description |
| Chhath Puja | 1st November 2024 | Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh | A festival to honor the Sun God with fasting and riverbank rituals. |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | 15th November 2024 | Nationwide, especially in Punjab | Celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism, with prayers and processions. |
| Wangala Festival | 16th November 2024 | Meghalaya | A harvest festival celebrated with drumming and dances in honor of the Sun God. |
| Dev Diwali | 16th November 2024 | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | Thousands of lamps light up the Ganges on this unique festival on Kartik Purnima. |
| Bundi Utsav | 20th-22nd November 2024 | Bundi, Rajasthan | A cultural festival showcasing traditional Rajasthani music, dance, and arts. |
| Kartika Purnima & Bali Yatra | 23rd November 2024 | Odisha, Bihar | Celebrated with fairs and cultural events in honor of maritime history. |
| Tulsi Vivah | 24th November 2024 | Nationwide | Symbolizes the wedding of the Tulsi plant with Lord Vishnu, marking the start of the Hindu wedding season. |
| Lhabab Duchen | 24th November 2024 | Ladakh, Sikkim | Celebrates Buddha’s descent from heaven, with prayers in monasteries. |
| Prakash Parv of Guru Tegh Bahadur | 28th November 2024 | Punjab, Haryana, Delhi | Commemorates the teachings and sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur. |
| Sonepur Mela | Begins 28th November 2024 | Sonepur, Bihar | Asia’s largest cattle fair, featuring livestock, handicrafts, and folk performances. |
| Ganga Mahotsav | 19th-21st November 2024 | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | A celebration of the Ganges with music, dance, and crafts along its banks. |
| Chandrabhaga Mela | 29th November 2024 | Odisha | Devotees gather at Chandrabhaga Beach for rituals and to visit the Sun Temple. |
| Naga Panchami | 29th November 2024 | Maharashtra, South India | A unique festival devoted to the worship of snakes and serpent deities. |
Detailed Guide to Festivals in November 2024
1. Chhath Puja
- Date: 1st November 2024
- Location: Primarily Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal
- About: Chhath Puja is a sacred festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya. This festival involves fasting, prayers, and rituals performed by devotees, especially on the banks of rivers. The main offerings include the arghya offered to the setting and rising Sun, signifying gratitude for life and health.
2. Guru Nanak Jayanti
- Date: 15th November 2024
- Location: Nationwide, especially in Punjab
- About: Guru Nanak Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. The day is marked by Kirtans (devotional hymns) in Gurdwaras, the lighting of lamps, and processions through streets. Sikhs observe this day with prayers, langars (community meals), and special ceremonies in remembrance of the guru’s teachings.
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
3. Wangala Festival
- Date: 16th November 2024
- Location: Meghalaya (Garo Hills)
- About: Wangala, also known as the “Festival of a Hundred Drums,” is a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo tribe in Meghalaya. The festival involves lively dances, drumbeats, and traditional performances that honor the Sun God, Misi Saljong, and the culmination of the harvest season.
4. Dev Diwali
- Date: 19th November 2024
- Location: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- About: Dev Diwali, known as the “Festival of Lights of the Gods,” is a spectacular event that takes place in Varanasi. Celebrated on Kartik Purnima, this festival sees the ghats of the Ganges filled with thousands of diyas (oil lamps). Devotees participate in grand aartis, offering prayers and lighting lamps to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
5. Bundi Utsav
- Date: 20th-22nd November 2024
- Location: Bundi, Rajasthan
- About: Bundi Utsav is a cultural celebration held in the scenic town of Bundi in Rajasthan. The festival showcases folk dance performances, traditional music, and local handicrafts. The event includes a series of cultural programs, camel rides, and an exhibition of Rajasthani art and crafts.
6. Kartika Purnima & Bali Yatra
- Date: 23rd November 2024
- Location: Odisha, Bihar
- About: Kartika Purnima marks the full moon night in the Hindu calendar and is associated with the Bali Yatra festival in Odisha. This is a major cultural and religious event, where fairs are held, and the people offer prayers at riverbanks. Bali Yatra commemorates the maritime history of Odisha’s ancient sea trade with Southeast Asia.
7. Tulsi Vivah
- Date: 24th November 2024
- Location: Nationwide
- About: Tulsi Vivah is a religious ceremony symbolizing the marriage of the Tulsi plant with Lord Vishnu, marking the official beginning of the Hindu wedding season. The festival is celebrated with prayers, rituals, and decorating the Tulsi plant in homes and temples.
8. Lhabab Duchen
- Date: 24th November 2024
- Location: Ladakh, Sikkim
- About: Lhabab Duchen is an important Buddhist festival celebrating the descent of Buddha from heaven. It is marked by large gatherings at monasteries where monks and devotees pray together. Special ceremonies are held, and Buddhists across Ladakh and Sikkim observe this day with reverence.
9. Prakash Parv of Guru Tegh Bahadur
- Date: 28th November 2024
- Location: Punjab, Haryana, Delhi
- About: Prakash Parv marks the birth of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru who sacrificed his life for religious freedom. On this day, people participate in prayers, Kirtan (singing of hymns), and processions, especially in Delhi and Punjab, where Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings are honored.
10. Sonepur Mela
- Date: Begins 28th November 2024
- Location: Sonepur, Bihar
- About: Sonepur Mela, one of Asia’s largest cattle fairs, is held annually at Sonepur in Bihar. It is famous for its animal auctions, folk performances, and handicrafts. The fair also features religious and cultural activities, making it a blend of commerce and tradition.
11. Ganga Mahotsav
- Date: 19th-21st November 2024
- Location: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- About: Ganga Mahotsav is a cultural and spiritual celebration held along the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi. The festival celebrates the river Ganges, with performances of classical music, dance, and rituals. Pilgrims and tourists come together to honor the river that holds spiritual significance.
12. Chandrabhaga Mela
- Date: 29th November 2024
- Location: Odisha
- About: Held on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River near the Sun Temple at Konark, this festival is dedicated to the Sun God. Devotees bathe in the river and offer prayers for health and prosperity.
13. Naga Panchami
- Date: 29th November 2024
- Location: Maharashtra, South India
- About: Naga Panchami is a festival dedicated to the worship of serpents, particularly in Maharashtra and South India. On this day, devotees offer prayers and milk to snakes, especially in temples or at homes where serpent idols are worshipped.
November is a month packed with cultural and spiritual significance. Each festival brings out the essence of India’s diverse traditions and practices. Whether you are interested in vibrant processions, unique rituals, or family gatherings, these 13 festivals offer the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the spirit of Indian culture. Celebrate these moments with joy, reflection, and togetherness!
