Holidays in Maharashtra for 2022

What is the first thing that strikes your mind with the onset of the new year? Checking out the holiday list, isn’t it? Being a part of a diverse nation like India brings along a plethora of advantages. And one of them is enjoying the diverse festivals of the nation. Be it Diwali Christmas, or Id, everyone wants to know about the holiday list so that they can plan their vacations accordingly.

Talking about Maharashtra, it is one of the most diverse states of the country where each festival is celebrated with full vigor and enthusiasm. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s check out the holiday list 2022 in Maharashtra:

About Maharashtra

The second-most populous state in India, Maharashtra is known for its amazing natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Mumbai is the capital city of Maharashtra. Maharashtra is surrounded by the states of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

Maharashtra is derived from Maha and Rashtra, Maha means ‘big’, and Rashtra means ‘nation’. Being the third-largest state in India, Maharashtra is indeed big in its size, population, and culture. It is known for its cultural diversity. This is the reason why people celebrate all major festivals irrespective of their religion.

List of Maharashtra Holidays

List of Maharashtra Holidays for 2022:

January 26, 2022 - Republic Day

Republic Day is one of the three national holidays in India that commemorates the enactment of the Constitution of India. On 26 January, 1950 the nation turned into a republic.

The main celebration of Republic Day takes place in Delhi, the national capital of India. Ceremonious parades take place in front of the President of India. These parades act as a tribute to India

March 1, 2022 - Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri is a famous festival that is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva and his wife Parvati. It is celebrated on the 13th night and 14th day of the month Phalguna according to the Hindu calendar. According to the Gregorian calendar, the day falls in February or March. This year, this festival will be celebrated on March 1, 2022. Maha Shivaratri means ‘great night’, it refers to the night when Lord Shiva performs the heavenly dance known as Tandava Nritya.

Maha Shivaratri is celebrated by remembering Lord Shiva by chanting prayers, and fasting. Devotees offer incense, fruits, flowers, and betel tree leaves to Lord Shiva. Some devotees even take holy-water baths in the Ganges and engage in meditation. The mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ is enchanted all-day long. Some devotees even organize special puja at their homes and temples.

March 18, 2022 - Holi

Also known as the Festival of Colours, Holi is one of the most popular Hindu festivals in India. It is celebrated in many cities and rural areas throughout the country.

The festival of Holi symbolizes the victory of good over evil as on this day demon Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, was killed in the fire. The festival is observed on the full moon day of the Phalguna, the Hindu calendar month. It falls around the middle of March according to the Gregorian calendar.

In Maharashtra, Holi is known as Shimga or Rang Panchami and is celebrated with great pomp and show. Holika Dahan takes place the night before Holi where bonfires are lit. On the next morning, people celebrate this festival by throwing coloured powder and water balloons at each other. The festivities even last for a week in Maharashtra.

April 02, 2022 - Gudi Padwa

Gudi Padwa is one of the most famous festivals of Maharashtra that commemorates the beginning of a new year based on the lunisolar method of the Hindu calendar. This day is observed as the first month of the Chaitra month. The festival signifies the arrival of spring and is celebrated on the same day as the new year celebrated in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. In these states, this festival is given a different name, known as Ugadi. Gudi Padwa is celebrated with great vigour and joy, and many traditional dishes are also prepared on this day. The highlight of this day is the Gudi arrangement, which is actually a bright-coloured scarf adorned with flowers, mango leaves, etc. tied at the top of long bamboo.

April 14, 2022 - Mahavir Jayanti

Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most prominent festivals in Jainism that is celebrated on the 13th day of the waxing (rising) half of the Hindu month of Chaitra and marks the birth of Mahavira, 24th and last Tirthankara (great sages) of Jainism.

Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated with great vigour and joy among the devotees. On this day, five auspicious events of Mahavira’s life are enacted and devotees in large numbers visit temples and enchant prayers. Some people also do charity by feeding the poor and offering donations to the organizations that work for the welfare of the people.

April 15, 2022 - Good Friday

Good Friday is one of the most popular festivals among Christians. It usually falls in the month of April according to the Gregorian calendar. On this day, Jesus Christ was crucified at the Roman Calvary. People celebrate this day by fasting and participating in church services. This day is actually considered as a mourning day after the death of Jesus Christ.

May 03, 2022 - Id-Ul-Fitr

Id-Ul-Fitr is a prominent festival among Muslims which marks the end of the month-long fasting of Ramadan. It is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal, the tenth month according to the Islamic calendar. Id-Ul-Fitr is also known as the ‘festival of breaking the fast’ and is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and vigour. According to a belief, Id-Ul-Fitr was started by Islamic prophet Muhammad in the city of Medina.

On this day, people express their gratitude towards God for giving them the strength to carry out a month-long fast and abstain from bad habits. People celebrate this day by greeting each other ‘Eid Mubarak’ and preparing sweet dishes and delicious food which they relish during the celebration. They even decorate their homes and put on new clothes to enhance the spirit of the festival.

May 16, 2022 - Budha Purnima

Buddha Purnima is a popular festival among the Buddhas and is celebrated mostly in East Asia and South Asia. It commemorates the birth of Lord Gautama Buddha. The date of this precious day is calculated according to the Asian lunar-solar calendar.

On this day, devotees offer prayers, meditate, keep fasts and discuss the teachings of the Buddha. Many people even take dips in the holy river Ganga as it is believed this practice washes away the sins. Buddhist temples are adorned with beautiful decorations and candles on this day.

July 10, 2022 - Bakrid/Eid-Al-Adha

Bakrid, also known as Eid-Al-Adha is a popular Muslim festival that is celebrated with great pomp and show. The date of this festival is calculated according to the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival not only marks the devotion of Ibrahim towards Allah but also commemorates the survival of his son Ishmael. To celebrate this day, people sacrifice a goat or a lamb and share it with their friends, family, relatives, and the poor.

On this day, people wear new clothes, visit mosques and offer prayers to Allah. The prayers are performed any time after the sun completely rises up and until its Zuhr time on the 10th day of Dhu Al-Hijjah. Once the prayer is over, Muslims greet each other with Eid Mubarak. Special dishes are also prepared on this day. People even exchange gifts with each other to celebrate this day.

August 09, 2022-Muharram

Muharram is considered the second holiest month after Ramadan and is the first month of the Islamic calendar. The 10th day of this month which is called Ashura, is the day of mourning during which Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali and his family. On this day, Muslims abstain from participating in any joyous activity and eat very little. Sunni Muslims keep complete fasting on the day of Ashura. The date of Muharram is calculated according to the Islamic calendar.

August 15, 2022 - Independence Day

Independence Day is celebrated on 15th August every year and is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout the country. This day is a national holiday that is observed throughout the nation. On this day, India got freedom from British colonial rule in 1947. Besides commemorating the independence, this day also marks the sacrifices of martyrs who laid their lives to get this nation freedom.

On this day, the Prime Minister hoists the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi and the President of India delivers the ‘Address to the Nation’. In honour of this occasion, twenty-one gunshots are fired. The Prime Minister even gives a speech which is followed by the march past by the Armed Forces and paramilitary forces of the country. Indian national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ is also sung on this day.

August 16, 2022 - Parsi New Year

Navroz, also known as Nowroz, marks the beginning of the Parsi New Year. This day is celebrated on the first day of the Farvardin, the first month of the Zoroastrian calendar. On this day, the Parsi community takes part in various cultural events and cook delicious dishes. They believe in buying something new on this auspicious day and wearing new clothes. Presents are exchanged with each other and homes are adorned. Traditional dishes are also prepared on this day to celebrate the festival.

August 31, 2022-Ganesh Chaturthi

Also known as Vinayak Chaturthi, Ganesh Chaturthi is a famous festival among the Hindus, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This festival is celebrated with great pomp and show in many states of India especially the western states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Goa. Even in Southern states and Eastern states, this festival is celebrated.

The celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi are carried out for 10 days. According to beliefs, Lord Ganesha arrives on the earth along with Goddess Parvati during this time. People place idols of Lord Ganesha in their homes, temples, and pandals for 10 days and worship them. On the 10th day, these idols are immersed in the water (Visarjana) which commemorates the end of this festival. People offer flowers, durva, modaks, coconut, jaggery, etc. to the Lord. They recite mantras and hymns related to Lord Ganesha to seek his blessings.

October 2, 2022 - Gandhi Jayanti

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated every year on October 2 to mark the birthday of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. This day is also celebrated as the ‘International Day of Non-violence’ by the United Nations as Gandhiji was a preacher of non-violence or ahimsa. Gandhi Jayanti is also considered the national holiday of India.

October 5, 2022 - Dussehra

Vijayadashmi or Dussehra is a prominent festival among the Hindus that marks the victory of good over evil, the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. It also signifies the victory of Maa Durga over the demon Mahishasura. Dussehra is celebrated on the 10th day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin. It is called by different names such as Dasara, Dashain, etc. in different states.

The festival is celebrated with full vigour and enthusiasm. On this day, clay idols of Maa Durga and other Gods are carried out before immersing them in water. This marks the return of the Goddess after spending ten days on earth with their devotees. Various drams and plays are also organized depicting the scenes of Ramayana for 10 days. Even fairs are organized and effigies of Ravana, Meghanada, and Kumbkarana are burnt to commemorate this day.

October 24, 2022 - Diwali

Also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’, Diwali is one of the most important festivals among the Hindus that symbolizes good over evil. On this day, people worship Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. This day is celebrated on the Amavasya of the Kartik month according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar and usually falls in the month of October or November according to the Gregorian calendar.

The festival falls on twenty days after Dussehra and the celebrations last for five days. The first day of the festival is Dhanteras when people buy new utensils and worship Lord Dhanvantri. The second day of the festival is known as Naraka Chaturdashi when people take bath in til oil and perform special puja.

The third day is the main festival of Diwali when people burn crackers, light ‘Diyas’ and candles and adorn their homes with beautiful lighting. The fourth day is the Govardhan puja when people worship Govardhan Hill. The fifth day is the Bhai Dooj which commemorates the bond between brother and sister.

On the main eve of Diwali, people adorn their homes with beautiful flowers and make colourful rangoli. In the evening, people wear new clothes and perform Lakshmi puja. Once this is done, candles and diyas are lit and crackers are burnt. People even greet each other and exchange gifts.

November 8, 2022 - Guru Nanak Jayanti

One of the most popular festivals among the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated with full vigour throughout the country. This day commemorates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Sikh Guru and founder of Sikhism.

Two days before Guru Nanak Jayanti, Akhand Path is organized in the Gurudwaras. Then, on the next day, Nagar Kirtan is carried out by the Panj Pyaras. On the eve of Guru Nanak Jayanti, an early morning procession known as ‘Prabhat Pheri’ is carried out. Hymns and prayers are enchanted throughout the day by the devotees. ‘Rehrasi’, a special prayer is recited at sunset. Worshippers even sing 'Gurbani' in the praise of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The festival comes to an end at around 2:00 am.

December 25, 2022 - Christmas

Christmas is the most important festival among Christians which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Not only Christians, but people from all religions and communities celebrate this day with great vigour and joy. People decorate their homes and offices with Christmas trees with lights, and figurines of Santa Claus.

They visit the church on this day, offer prayers, and sing Christmas carols in remembrance of Jesus Christ. Christmas parties are organized, special meals are prepared, and gifts are exchanged to amp up the spirit of this lively festival.

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