The festivals of West Bengal would not only enliven your spirits but also would be a warm welcome from the monotonous schedule of your regular life. The festivals of the state of West Bengal are in fact characterized by joyous ceremonies, enthusiasm paralleled with ample fun and celebration. Not only that during the festive celebrations the rich and the poor alike assemble together to enhance the spirit of their festive moods. The festivals of West Bengal embody the robust and composite cultural heritage of our nation. Various communities of the Indian subcontinent celebrate as many as forty festivals with complete communal concordance. The most important festival of the Bengalis of West Bengal are:

Durga Puja
Durga Puja is the most important festival of West Bengal. The familiar sounds of drums or `Dhak`, the `Dhunuchi nach`, the mild fragrance of the Shiuli blossoms gives a tug at every Bengali heart. This festival is observed in the months of September/October and in not only limited to Bengal only. A spirit of euphoria sets in during the four-day festive celebrations. The whole state is found to explode into a riot of colors during the Durga Puja celebrations. For the Bengali community the advent of Goddess Durga along with her children from her icy abode in Kailash to her maternal house is believed to bring prosperity among the rich and poor alike. The religious rites and rituals are celebrated by all with much veneration. Prasads are distributed everyday after the daily rituals get over.

Naba Barsho
This much-awaited festival of West Bengal is the New Year celebration of the Bengali community and is celebrated in the month of Baisakh or in the month of April. It is an extreme joyous occasion for the Bengalis and the businessmen in particular. It is a great time for visiting the temples and relatives, making offerings, buying new clothes, greeting people and much more.

Diwali
The worship of Goddess Kali makes the festival of Diwali in the state of West Bengal very unique. The houses and temples all over the state are vivaciously decorated and lit with oil lamps, candles or `diyas`. All the family members gather around in the evening for the worship of Goddess Lakshmi. In this state the Diwali festival stretches over a period of three days. The first two days mainly comprises of feasting, gambling, drinking, family foregatherings, lighting of fire crackers and other such activities. The celebrations and lights are much less on the final day of Amavasya. Exchange of gifts and greetings also form a vital part of the festivities.

Holi
The festive celebration of Holi in the state of West Bengal is almost similar to that of Orissa except for some minor aspects. The other names by which the festival of Holi is popular in this state are `Dol Purnima`, `Vasant Utsav`. This festival was started in this state by the far-famed pet laureate Rabindranath Tagore at the university of Shantiniketan of which he was the pioneer. The youth of the state not only welcomes the season of spring with colors and sweets but also by chanting of hymns and other devotional songs. Holika is burnt in the evening as the symbol of the victory of good over evil.

Rath Yatra
The Rath Yatra festival celebrated in the region of Mahesh few miles away from Calcutta in the state of West Bengal attracts lakhs of tourists from all over the state as well as the country. This day is considered as very auspicious and marks the start of the sowing season for the monsoon crop throughout Eastern India. Grand fairs are held throughout the state.

Saraswati Puja
This is one of the most devotional festivals of West Bengal and the worship of Goddess Saraswati is held at a time when the winter comes to an end and the spring begins. Amidst the pleasant weather the worship of Goddess Saraswati starts early in the morning with `aarti`. The chanting of various `mantras` marks the beginning of the `arti` and `boi puja` also forms an important aspect. This festival is celebrated in all schools and colleges and the youth can be seen participating in the puja with much enthusiasm. It is also marked as the day of eating plums.

Rakhi/Rakshabandhan
This is one of the popular festivals of West Bengal and marks the love and affection between brothers and sisters. On this special day the sisters tie a colorful band on the wrists of their brothers with the belief that this will bring peace, success and good health to their brothers` life throughout the year. The brothers also take a vow on their part to protect their sister against all perils. They also present their sisters with some gifts as a token of love.

Janmashtami
This festival is celebrated in West Bengal with much exuberance and ebullience to mark the birth of the Lord of Love, Krishna. It falls on the day of Ashtami in the Sharavan month according to the Hindu calendar. In the Krishna temples Rasila is performed to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha.

Jagaddhatri Puja
This festival is celebrated with much fun and frolic in the Bengali month of Kartick or in the English month of November. In the region of Chandannagar, near Kolkata huge pandals are built and decorated with lights. The illumination part makes the festive celebrations of Chandannagar rightly take pride in its highly rich heritage and tradition of art and culture. This festival bridges the past and the present.

Bhratri Dwitiya
This festival is celebrated in the state of West Bengal with as much exuberance as in the other states. It is a festival purely dedicated to the love and affection between brothers and sisters. Brothers bless their sisters and also promises to protect them from all hardships. The celebration of Bhratri Dwitiya or Bhaiya Dooj in this state can be redefined as a bond that speaks of sensitivity and timeless relationship.

Muslim Festivals
The Muslim festivals are celebrated in the state of West Bengal with much fun and vigor. The principal Islam festivals of West Bengal are Muharrum, Iduzzoha, Id-Ul-Fitr and the birthday of the prophet.

Muharrum
This is one of the special Muslim festivals of West Bengal and commemorates the martyrdom of the prophet`s grandsons, Hasan and Hussain in the battle of Karbala in Arabia. The Sunni sect of Muslims carries on a warlike procession enacting mock fights and exhibitions of prowess. The Shia sect of Muslims also takes out processions of mourning with men and women all dressed in black and singing especially composed elegies.

Id-Ul-Fitr
This is one of the most important Muslim festivals of West Bengal and is celebrated in the state with as much fervor and enthusiasm as it is celebrated all over the country. This propitious festival marks the end of the month of Ramzan. After a full month of fasting the Muslims of West Bengal look forward to the festive celebration with a heart full of cheerful ideas. They prepare elaborate feasts and organize fairs for rejoicing and enjoyment. The Muslims also assemble for religious discourses, which are regarded as a main part of the observances.

Iduzzoha
This festival is also known as Id-Ul-Korbab or Bakri-Id and is one of the compulsory Muslim festivals of West Bengal. Animal sacrifice is one of the chief features of this festival. The mythological basis of the observance is related to Prophet Abraham of the Old Testament.
Christmas

This is the most splendid Christian festival of West Bengal. In the `City of Joy` the Christmas festivities continues till the New Year. From the month of November itself, part of the Maidan in central Kolkata is converted in to fairgrounds. Brightly decorated Christmas trees can be observed in the houses of many and also the churches. The city is resonant with an assortment of fairs and cultural performances. The spirit of Christmas comes alive in Christmas carols that rend the air.