4 Festivals Most Indians Have Forgotten Existed

India's festival calendar is packed, but a handful of genuinely significant days have slipped out of common memory because they never got the scale of celebration that festivals like Diwali or Navratri did. Here are four worth knowing.

1. Ratha Saptami: The Sun God's Birthday

Ratha Saptami falls on the seventh day (Saptami) of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Magha, usually in January or February. It marks the birth of Surya, the Sun God, and symbolizes his chariot drawn by seven horses representing the seven colors of light — turning toward the northern hemisphere as the season shifts.

The traditional ritual involves bathing before sunrise while holding bilva leaves on the head and chanting Surya mantras, followed by offering water to the sun facing east. In parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, especially at temples like Arasavalli's Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple, this is still a major event; the Andhra Pradesh government officially declared it a state festival in December 2024. Outside temple towns, though, most urban households have stopped observing it altogether.

2. Akshaya Navami: Worshipping the Amla Tree

Also called Amla Navami or Aonla Navami, this falls on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha in Kartik month, usually in October or November. The ritual centers on worshipping the Amla (Indian gooseberry) tree, believed to be a dwelling place for multiple deities, and eating Amla on this day is considered spiritually significant.

Akshaya Navami also marks the belief that any charity or good deed performed on this day yields "akshaya" inexhaustible merit. It's still observed on some scale in Varanasi, and parts of West Bengal (where Goddess Jagaddhatri is worshipped), and Mathura sees a large Parikrama on this day. Elsewhere, it's largely disappeared from household calendars.

3. Ganga Dussehra: The Day the Ganga Descended

Ganga Dussehra commemorates the descent of the river Ganga from the heavens to earth, traditionally linked to the story of King Bhagiratha's penance. It falls on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Jyeshtha, typically in May or June.

The day is marked by holy dips in the Ganga, especially at Haridwar and Varanasi, along with charitable donations. For communities living along the river, this remains a significant observance. For much of the rest of the country, it's a day that passes without notice — despite the river itself holding a central place in Hindu tradition.

4. Bhishma Ashtami: Remembering an Ancestor's Vow

Bhishma Ashtami falls on the eighth day of Shukla Paksha in Magha month and marks the day Bhishma Pitamah, the Mahabharata's revered patriarch, chose to leave his body after lying on a bed of arrows for 58 days, waiting for an auspicious time to die.

This day is observed with Tarpan, a ritual offering of water to ancestors, and is considered especially significant for those wanting to honor a lineage or seek relief from Pitru-related concerns. It shares thematic ground with Pitru Paksha but happens at a different time of year and gets a fraction of the attention.

Why These Days Faded From Common Practice

None of these festivals lost their religious significance; what changed is scale and visibility. Festivals tied to a specific temple tradition, a specific river, or a specific mythological figure tend to stay strong in the regions and communities closely connected to them, while fading elsewhere as urban families lose touch with regional customs passed down through earlier generations.

Observing These Days at Home

If any of these resonate with your family's tradition, a simple home puja is enough to observe them meaningfully; you don't need a temple visit or elaborate arrangements. For Ganga-related worship, Bhishma Ashtami's Tarpan ritual, or a Surya Puja for Ratha Saptami, a pandit-guided ceremony ensures the ritual is performed correctly.

BookMyPooja connects you with experienced pandits for Surya Puja, Tarpan, and other lesser-known but meaningful rituals.

Visit www.BookMyPoojaOnline.com or call 9869 92 92 92

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ratha Saptami the same as Rath Yatra? No. Ratha Saptami is a Sun-worship festival in Magha month. Rath Yatra is the Jagannath chariot festival in Puri, held at a different time of year.

Why is Akshaya Navami also called Amla Navami? Because the day's central ritual is worshipping the Amla tree, believed to be a dwelling place for multiple deities.

Is Ganga Dussehra only relevant to people living near the Ganga? It's most widely observed near the river, particularly in Haridwar and Varanasi, but the day holds significance for anyone who reveres the Ganga as sacred, regardless of location.

What is Tarpan, performed on Bhishma Ashtami? Tarpan is a ritual offering of water and sesame seeds to ancestors, performed to honor them and seek their blessings.