Stories 5
All kinds
Origin
Legend
Local story
Folk tale
From the epics
Festival story
Temple legend
In stone and bronze
How a tradition frames it
Everywhere
Pan-India 240
South India 81
West India 37
East India 37
North India 28
The Himalaya 17
Northeast India 8
Southeast Asia 6
Central India 5
Sri Lanka 1
✕ festival
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Tradition: All traditions · clear
Festival story · 2 tellings · contested
Brahmotsavam, the festival of Brahma
Brahma is believed to have worshipped Venkateswara at Tirumala and to have conducted the first festival for him.
Festival story · 4 tellings · contested
Indra's pole: the banner festival and Indra Jatra
Why a pole is raised for Indra: the Mahabharata's gift to King Vasu of Chedi, Kathmandu's legend of Indra the captive flower thief, and the Tamil Indra festival at Puhar.
Festival story · 1 telling · contested
Kartik Purnima at Pushkar
The fair opens with the month of Kartik and closes on its full moon.
Festival story · 3 tellings · contested
Vishvakarma Puja and the builders' communities
How and when Vishvakarma is worshipped: the solar date in Bengal and the east, the day after Diwali elsewhere, and the craft communities who trace themselves to his five sons.
Festival story · 4 tellings · contested
Yama dines at Yamuna's house
Yamuna's long-refused invitation is accepted on Karttika bright second; Yama frees the hells for the day and grants her wish for all brothers and sisters.