South Indian FestivalsSouth India is a land of festivals, with varied cultures and traditions. Some of the Major Festivals of South IndiaOnam Festival
Onam, the most important and widely celebrated festival of Kerala State, is the harvest festival lasting for 10 days. Onam festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam, which usually falls in the month of August/September. This grand festival is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the State by people of all communities, irrespective of their religion and status. The main features of this festival are Pookkalam, Kaikkottikkali, Onasadhya, Snake Boat Race etc. Click here for more information about Onam.
Vishu Festival
Pongal Festival
Karthigai Deepam Festival The Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated in the Tamil Month of Karthigai which falls in November/December. This is a nine days festival starting from Uthradam day, and considered as the oldest festival of Tamils. Karthigai deepam is celebrated lighting rows of agal vilakkus in front of every house. The lighted lamps are considered as auspicious symbol. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy.
Deepavali Festival Deepavali is a festival of lights, celebrating the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It is a national festival and celebrated all over the country in October/November. In South India, it is called as Deepavali and celebrated on the victory of Lord Krishna, the Hindu deity, killing the demon king and freed the people from suffering, whereas in North India it is called as Diwali. Click here for more information about Deepavali.
Ugadi Festival Ugadi is the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar with a change in the moon's orbit. It falls on "Chaitra Masa", the Spring month. This festival usually falls at the end of March or early April. Ugadi is the Festival of Karnataka and also the Festival of Andhra Pradesh in South India, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The main feature of this festival is Bevu Bella in Karnataka and Ugadi Pachadi in Andhra Pradesh.
Makara Sankranthi Festival Makara Sankranthi is the harvest festival of the people of Andhra Pradesh. It is celebrated for three days with all grandeur and usually falls in the middle of January. The first day is Bhogi, the second day is Sankranti and the third day is Kanuma.
Dusserah (Dasara) Festival This festival is also called as Vijaya Dashami. Click here for more information about Festival of Dasara/Vijayadashami.
Vinayaka Chaturthi Festival
Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated as the Birthday of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi, which falls in August-September. This festival is also known as Vinayaka Chavithi and Ganesh Chaturthi. It is celebrated all over India, but more elaborately in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa. Read this Article to know more about Vinayaka Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi).
Mahashivaratri Festival Mahashivaratri festival is a national festival and celebrated on the fourteenth night of the full moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. It falls on a moonless night of February-March, when Hindus offer special prayers to Lord Shiva. Shivaratri is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya. The festival is observed for one day and one night only. The day is spent on fasting and chanting "Om Namah Shivaya" and the night is kept awake.
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami)
You can find more Festivals of Kerala here You can find more Festivals of Karnataka here You can find more Festivals of Tamil Nadu here
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Vishu is the New Year festival of Kerala, which is celebrated on the first day of Malayalam month of Medam, usually falls in April. This day is the astronomical New Year Day when the sun crosses the equator. The main features of this festival are Vishukkani (the first sight of articles one should see on this auspicious day), Vishukkainettam (the cash given by elders to the youngsters and dependants and blessing them).
Dusserah Festival is celebrated all over India, but in Karnataka it is celebrated as Mysore Dusserah in the honour of Goddess Chamundesseri who killed the great demon, Mahishasura. It is a 10-day festival. On the day of Dussehra, a procession of caparisoned elephants carrying the idol of goddess Chamundi is taken through the city. The city of Mysore is synonymous with its annual Dusshera procession.
Sri Krishna Jayanthi Festival is the celebration of the birth day of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of
Lord Vishnu, on earth. He was born to free Mother Earth from the wickedness of demons and is celebrated all over the country.
It is also known as Krishnaashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Krishna Jayanthi etc. This festival occurs on the eight day of the dark half of the month Shravan of the Indian calendar.
This occurs between August and September. 
