4 festivals · Monsoon peak
श्रावण / भाद्रपद
Raksha Bandhan sibling vow; Janmashtami birth of Krishna at midnight.
Saturday · Sarpa (serpent deities)
Worship of snake deities (Nag devta). Offer milk and turmeric at snake holes/idols. Believed to ward off snake-bite fears and dispel Kaal Sarp dosh from birth chart.
Key rituals
Saturday · Goddess Parvati
Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya nirjala vrat observed by married women and unmarried girls of north India, Nepal, Rajasthan, and Bihar for marital longevity and the boon of a Shiva-like husband. Named "Hartalika" because Parvati's sakhis (her female friends) abducted her to the forest to prevent her father's plan to marry her to Vishnu, allowing her to continue penance for Shiva.
Key rituals
Wednesday · None (sibling bond)
Sister ties rakhi (sacred thread) on brother's wrist; brother vows lifelong protection. Diaspora celebration is massive — rakhis posted/couriered globally weeks in advance.
Key rituals
Wednesday · King Mahabali / Vamana
Kerala's 10-day harvest festival celebrating return of beloved king Mahabali. Floral rangoli (pookalam), 26-dish vegetarian feast (sadhya), snake-boat races, Thiruvonam climax.
Key rituals