The history behind festivals like Diwali and Baisakhi

Science, Nature & Culture · 5 min read

Indian festivals are layered things. Behind the lights, dances and sweets there are harvest cycles, old legends, historic events and local variations that differ from one state to the next. Here is a look at where some of the best-known festivals come from, and why the same day can mean different things in different places.

Festivals follow the calendar and the land

Many Indian festivals follow the lunar or lunisolar calendar, which is why their dates shift each year on the Gregorian calendar. Others, such as Baisakhi and Makar Sankranti, follow the solar calendar and fall on nearly the same date every year. Most also mark seasonal turning points: sowing, harvest, the monsoon, or the start of a new year. In an agricultural society, celebrating these moments was a natural way to give thanks and gather the community.

Diwali: the festival of lights

Diwali falls on the new-moon night (Amavasya) of the Hindu month of Kartik, usually in October or November. Its stories vary by region and community:

• North India: It marks Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over Ravana, when the city lit rows of lamps to welcome him.
• Western and Southern traditions: It is linked with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and in many homes Lakshmi puja is the main ritual. Businesses open new account books on this day.
• South India: It is often tied to Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura, celebrated on Naraka Chaturdashi with an early-morning oil bath.
• Bengal: Kali Puja is observed on the same night.
• Jains: It marks the nirvana of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara.
• Sikhs: Bandi Chhor Divas celebrates the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from Gwalior Fort, with the Golden Temple lit up.

The common thread across traditions is the victory of light over darkness. The festival lasts several days, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj.

Baisakhi: harvest and a turning point in Sikh history

Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, is celebrated around 13 or 14 April and marks the solar new year and the ripening of the rabi (winter) wheat crop, especially in Punjab. Farmers give thanks for the harvest with bhangra and gidda, fairs and community meals.

For Sikhs, it also holds deep historical meaning. On Baisakhi in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa, a community committed to equality and courage, by initiating the first five members, known as the Panj Pyare. Gurdwaras hold special prayers and processions, and the date is also associated with the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The same solar date is celebrated elsewhere under other names: Pohela Boishakh in Bengal and Bangladesh, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Vishu in Kerala, Bihu in Assam and Maha Vishuva Sankranti in Odisha.

Holi: spring, colour and legend

Holi welcomes spring and the end of winter around the full moon of Phalguna (February or March). Holika Dahan, the bonfire the night before, recalls the story of Prahlad, a devotee of Vishnu, who survived the fire that consumed his aunt Holika. The playful throwing of colours is associated with the stories of Krishna and Radha, especially in Mathura and Vrindavan.

Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri and Bihu

In January, the Sun's apparent move into Capricorn (Makar) marks the start of longer days. It is celebrated as Makar Sankranti in much of India, with kite-flying in Gujarat, Lohri bonfires in Punjab the evening before, Pongal in Tamil Nadu with freshly harvested rice boiled until it overflows, and Magh Bihu in Assam with community feasts. The pattern is the same: thanking the Sun and the soil.

Other festivals with deep roots

Festival	Roughly when	Key idea
Navratri and Dussehra	Sept to Oct	Goddess Durga's victory; Rama's victory over Ravana
Onam	Aug to Sept	Kerala's harvest festival and homecoming of King Mahabali
Eid al-Fitr	Lunar Islamic calendar	End of Ramadan fasting, charity and community
Christmas	25 December	Birth of Jesus, with joyful regional variations
Guru Nanak Jayanti	Kartik Purnima	Birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru

How traditions changed over time

Festival customs evolve. The firecrackers of modern Diwali are a relatively recent addition to a festival that was originally about oil lamps, and today many people choose quieter, greener celebrations because of air pollution and safety. Community fairs have moved online in part, sweets now arrive via delivery apps, and yet the heart of the day remains family, food and gratitude. The shared celebration of festivals across communities, such as friends joining each other's Eid, Diwali or Christmas celebrations, is part of what makes them special.

Tip: Ask older family members how they celebrated a festival when they were children. Their answers are living history, and you may learn recipes and songs that are rarely written down.

Final thoughts

Legends, history and agriculture blend together in every festival, and different communities keep different stories alive. Dates and customs vary by region and tradition, so treat the details here as an overview rather than a single, official account. Next time you light a diya or watch the bhangra, you are taking part in a tradition that has been reshaped for centuries and still brings people together.