Aug/Sep

Independence Day : Celebrates on 15 Aug, marks the anniversary of India's Independence in 1947. Main venue is Red fort, New Delhi.

Ganesh Chaturthi : This joyful festival celebrates the birth of the popular elephant-headed god, Ganesh, and has particular verve in Mumbai. On the last day of the festival clay idols of Ganesh, the god of good fortune, are paraded through the streets before being ceremoniously immersed in a river, sea or water tank.

Janmastami : Celebrates the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. Devotees fast all day until midnight and in Mathura (birthplace of Krishna in Uttar Pradesh) the festivities last longer.

Shravan Purnima : On this day of fasting, brahmins replace the sacred thread looped over the left shoulder.

Sep/Oct

Navratri : This Hindu festival leading up to Dussehra is dedicated to the goddess Durga who beheaded a demon. Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati, of wealth and learning respectively, also gets special praise. Hindus takes part in rituals, fasting and prayer; then after sundown there is folk dancing with sticks, dandiya raas. Some regions also have nightly garbas (folk dancers without the sticks). You can enjoy the celebrations in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Dussehra (Durga Puja) : This festival celebrates Durga's victory over the buffalo-headed demon Mahishasura and often ends with the burning of the images of the demon king Ravana and his accomplices, symbolic of the triumph of good over evil. It's also known as Ram Lila (life story of Rama), with fireworks and re-enactment of the Ramayana. It is mainly celebrated in West Bengal with mass submersions of Durga idols.

Gandhi Jayanti : It is the birth anniversary (2 nd Oct) of the Father of the Nation - Mohandas Gandhi - with prayer meetings at Raj Ghat, Delhi.

Onam : State festival of Kerala celebrated with folk dance and sadhya (lunch with variety of curries).