Forthcoming Festivals and Celebrations in India – March 2025

March 2025 in India is going to be a colorful month, full of cultural events and festivals that capture the country’s rich heritage and diversity. Some of the significant celebrations to watch out for are given below:

1. Holi (March 14, 2025):
Referred to as the “Festival of Colors,” Holi honors the onset of spring and good triumphing over evil. Citizens throughout India participate in vibrant celebrations, tossing colored powders, dancing, and exchanging sweets. Large events take place throughout the country, with significant festivities in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Udaipur.

**2. International Yoga Festival (March 9–15, 2025):
Conducted every year in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, this seven-day festival sees participants from all over the world. The different sessions of yoga, workshops, and seminars are conducted by leading instructors, who practice the overall discipline based on Indian tradition.

3. Chapchar Kut Festival (March 7, 2025):
Observed in Mizoram, Chapchar Kut is the festival of spring and the end of jungle clearing for cultivation. The festival is accompanied by traditional dances, music, and feasts, which symbolize the rich cultural heritage of the Mizo people.

4. Shigmotsav (March 15–29, 2025):
Goa’s Holi is known as Shigmotsav, a colourful festival that runs for more than a fortnight. It has parades of colours, folk dances, music, and cultural dramas, celebrating the state’s distinctive mix of Hindu and Portuguese culture.

5. Jaipur Elephant Festival (March 14, 2025):
Organized every year in Jaipur, Rajasthan, this festival sees elaborately attired elephants taking a procession around the city. The festival encompasses elephant polo, tug-of-war, and folk performances, and provides a peek into the royal culture of Rajasthan.

6. Lathmar Holi (March 8–9, 2025):
Exclusive to Uttar Pradesh’s Barsana and Nandgaon towns, Lathmar Holi sees women lightly hitting men with sticks as part of a mythological story about Lord Krishna and Radha. The celebrations are characterized by folk songs, dances, and a kaleidoscope of colors.

7. Parippally Gajamela (March 4, 2025):
This Kerala festival is famous for its elephant procession, with elegantly decorated elephants walking in a grand procession. Followed by traditional music and cultural shows, Parippally Gajamela is an important event in the state’s cultural calendar.

8. Chettikulangara Bharani (March 4, 2025):
Observed in the Chettikulangara Devi Temple in Kerala, this festival is famous for its grand processions and the Kettukazhcha exhibition, with giant structures covered in colorful decorations. The devotees flock to get blessings and be a part of the cultural spectacle.

9. Thirunakkara Arattu (March 24, 2025):
Organized at the Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam, Kerala, this ten-day festival concludes with the Arattu procession. The festival features traditional art, music, and dance, depicting the cultural splendor of the region.

10. Myoko Festival (March 21–27, 2025):
Organized by the Apatani community of Arunachal Pradesh, the Myoko Festival is an occasion of rituals for happiness and prosperity. The festival also involves folk arts, social meets, and indigenous ceremonies, showcasing the native culture of the land.