August 2025 is set to be an incredibly vibrant and spiritually rich month in the Indian calendar. As the monsoon unfolds its beauty, this period is filled with a multitude of festivals and significant observances. It is a time deeply imbued with devotion and national pride, marked by sacred fasts (vrats), traditional pujas, and grand celebrations.
Whether you’re planning your long weekends, looking forward to cultural celebrations, or simply want to stay updated on the important dates for the month, our comprehensive guide to August 2025 festivals and holidays has you covered.
Key highlights include the beloved Raksha Bandhan, the patriotic observance of Independence Day, the joyful celebration of Krishna Janmashtami, and the magnificent arrival of Ganesh Chaturthi and many more significant occasions!. Most of these events fall within the auspicious Hindu months of Shravana and Bhadrapada. These August celebrations are embraced with enthusiasm as devotees engage in cherished rituals, seek divine blessings, and immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of India’s cultural traditions.
August 2025: Key Festival & Holiday Dates at a Glance
August 2025 is full of lucky days and national celebrations. Take a brief peek at the key highlights:
- Raksha Bandhan: A lovely festival of brother-sister love.
- Independence Day: India’s glorious national festival.
- Janmashtami: Lord Krishna’s birth anniversary.
- Ganesh Chaturthi: The grand coming of Lord Ganesha.
Apart from these, several other regional and religious festivals occupy the month, presenting a variety of cultural experiences.
Celebrate August 2025: Major Festivals & Holidays Explained
Let us get into the details of some of India’s most eagerly awaited August observances
1. Raksha Bandhan (Saturday, August 9, 2025)
Among the most touching Hindu celebrations is Raksha Bandhan (or Rakhi), which honors the special and strong relationship between brothers and sisters.
- What It’s About: “Raksha” is protection and “Bandhan” is bond. On this day, a sister puts a holy thread, or rakhi, on her brother’s wrist and prays for his welfare. As a return favor, the brother gives her gifts and vows to always protect and support her. The festival has aesthetically transformed to be celebrated between two individuals who have a similar bond of love and concern.
- How It’s Celebrated: Relatives come together for this festive celebration. Sisters do an aarti for the brothers before they tie the rakhi. There is a celebration of sweets, presents, and nostalgia over past childhood days. The shubh muhurat, or the auspicious time, according to the Purnima Tithi (full moon period), is believed to be significant for the ritual.
2. Independence Day (Friday, August 15, 2025)
The biggest national holiday of August, Independence Day, celebrates India’s independence from Britain in 1947. It’s a day of great pride, patriotism, and togetherness.
- What it’s About: A day of great pride and patriotism for all Indians. Independence Day is celebrated to remember India’s independence from British colonial rule in 1947. It is marked with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades, cultural events, and a strong sense of national unity throughout India. This date is a national holiday in India.
- How It’s Celebrated: The Prime Minister starts the day by hoisting the flag at Delhi’s Red Fort, and then addresses the nation on TV. Throughout the country, flag-hoisting ceremonies are held at schools, offices, and housing societies. People tend to fly kites, sing patriotic music, and wear clothes in tricolor hues of saffron, white, and green. It is a public and bank holiday, so everyone gets to enjoy the festivities.
3. Krishna Janmashtami (Saturday, August 16, 2025)
Krishna Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is a grand festival marking the birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu. It’s a fast, feast, and worship day.
- What It’s About: The festival celebrates the earthly arrival of one of Hinduism’s most popular gods. Lord Krishna is revered for his divine wisdom in the Bhagavad Gita and his playful, mischievous nature as a child.
- How It’s Celebrated: The devotees keep fast up to midnight, the hour when Krishna was born. The temples are exquisitely decorated, and bhajans (devotional songs) resound everywhere. Most individuals place a miniature idol of “Laddoo Gopal” (baby Krishna) in a cradle and rock it at midnight. In Maharashtra and some other states, the festival is well known for Dahi Handi festivities, where groups of young men climb human pyramids to smash a curd placed high above, symbolizing Krishna’s fondness for butter.
4. Ganesh Chaturthi (Wednesday, August 27, 2025)
The celebratory mood of August reaches its crescendo with the dazzling onset of Ganesh Chaturthi. The festival celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, wealth, and prosperity.
- What it’s About: People welcome Lord Ganesha into their homes and society, hoping that he will bring them good fortune and erase their obstacles. The festival lasts for more than 10 days and ends with the immersion of the idol, called Ganesh Visarjan.
- How It’s Celebrated: The festivities start with the placing (sthapana) of intricately sculpted Ganesha idols in households and large public pandals. Daily prayers are said, and a special dessert known as modak, which is thought to be Ganesha’s favorite, is cooked and handed out as prasad. The air is filled with the ringing of “Ganpati Bappa Morya!” Of late, there has been a great move towards the use of eco-friendly Ganesha idols for the sake of the environment.
Must Read: Top Stays In & Near Delhi for Weekend Getaway
Complete List of Festivals & Holidays in August 2025 in India
Review the complete list of August 2025 festivals & Holidays in India, including dates for Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Independence Day, Ganesh Chaturthi, and more:
- August 2, 2025 (Saturday): Masik Durgashtami
- August 3, 2025 (Sunday): Aadi Perukku
- August 3, 2025 (Sunday): Friendship Day
- August 4, 2025 (Monday): Fourth Shravan Somwar Vrat
- August 5, 2025 (Tuesday): Fourth Mangala Gauri Vrat
- August 5, 2025 (Tuesday): Damodara Dwadashi
- August 6, 2025 (Wednesday): Budha Pradosh Vrat
- August 8, 2025 (Friday): Varalakshmi Vrat
- August 9, 2025 (Saturday): Hayagriva Jayanti
- August 9, 2025 (Saturday): Gayatri Jayanti
- August 9, 2025 (Saturday): Sanskrit Diwas
- August 9, 2025 (Saturday): Shravana Purnima
- August 10, 2025 (Sunday): Bhadrapada Begins (North India)
- August 12, 2025 (Tuesday): Kajari Teej
- August 12, 2025 (Tuesday): Bahula Chaturthi
- August 12, 2025 (Tuesday): Heramba Sankashti
- August 13, 2025 (Wednesday): Nag Pancham (Gujarat)
- August 14, 2025 (Thursday): Balarama Jayanti
- August 15, 2025 (Friday): Independence Day
- August 16, 2025 (Saturday): Krishna Janmashtami
- August 16, 2025 (Saturday): Kali Jayanti
- August 17, 2025 (Sunday): Dahi Handi
- August 17, 2025 (Sunday): Malayalam New Year (Chingam 1)
- August 17, 2025 (Sunday): Rohini Vrat
- August 19, 2025 (Tuesday): Aja Ekadashi
- August 20, 2025 (Wednesday): Budha Pradosh Vrat
- August 21, 2025 (Thursday): Paryushana Parvarambha
- August 22, 2025 (Friday): Pithori Amavasya
- August 22, 2025 (Friday): Daiva Savarni Manvadi
- August 23, 2025 (Saturday): Bhadrapada Amavasya
- August 24, 2025 (Sunday): Chandra Darshana
- August 26, 2025 (Tuesday): Hartalika Teej
- August 26, 2025 (Tuesday): Samaveda Upakarma
- August 27, 2025 (Wednesday): Ganesh Chaturthi
- August 27, 2025 (Wednesday): Kerala Vinayaka Chaturthi
- August 28, 2025 (Thursday): Rishi Panchami
- August 28, 2025 (Thursday): Samvatsari Parva
- August 29, 2025 (Friday): Skanda Sashti
- August 30, 2025 (Saturday): Lalita Saptami
- August 31, 2025 (Sunday): Radha Ashtami
- August 31, 2025 (Sunday): Mahalakshmi Vrat Begins
- August 31, 2025 (Sunday): Durva Ashtami
- August 31, 2025 (Sunday): Masik Durgashtami
Note: A few festival dates can be a day different based on local calendars and certain astronomical computations. Always refer to local calendars for exact timings.
Plan Your August 2025 Celebrations!
August is actually a fantastic month in India, full of different religious festivals and important national observances. It presents special possibilities for spirituality, family time, and patriotic pride.
Whether you’re planning with family members, following traditional fasts, or just enjoying the celebratory vibe, commemorating these special days will enable you to get the most out of August 2025.
What are you most looking forward to celebrating this August?
