Thanksgiving 2025: History, significance and 5 ways to celebrate it in India

Thanksgiving 2025 falls on November 27, but its essence—gratitude, love and togetherness—belongs everywhere. Discover the festival’s history, why it matters, and 5 meaningful ways to celebrate (Image: Canva)

Thanksgiving might feel like an American tradition, but its essence, being thankful, sharing love, and spreading kindness, resonates everywhere. In India, it can be as simple as cooking a shared meal, going on a family picnic, helping someone in need, making a video call to faraway family, or blending traditions to create a unique celebration. It’s a reminder that wherever we are, gratitude is always in season.

Date and history

This year, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, 27 November. While many associate it with turkey, parades, and pumpkin pie, it’s really about pausing to reflect on life’s blessings. It’s about family, friends, and the little moments that make life beautiful. The first Thanksgiving was in November 1621. Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts, had survived a harsh winter and came together with the Wampanoag people for a three-day harvest feast. It was a celebration of survival, cooperation, and simple gratitude.

Over the years, Thanksgiving spread across the colonies and was celebrated for different reasons, harvests, victories, or moments of thanks. But it wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday, urging Americans to pause and be thankful even in tough times.

Also Read: Thanksgiving 2025 Date: When and why Thanksgiving is celebrated

Significance of this day

The main idea behind Thanksgiving is to offer gratitude. In our busy, always-online lives, it encourages us to slow down and appreciate people, experiences, and opportunities. It’s also about community and generosity, and many use this day to reach out to those in need, bridging gaps and spreading warmth.

Here are 5 way to celebrate Thanksgiving in India

Host a gratitude feast: Here’s your excuse to party. Invite family and friends over. Mix Indian dishes with Thanksgiving classics, say, masala roasted vegetables alongside cranberry chutney. Eating together strengthens bonds and reminds everyone of what truly matters.

Volunteer locally: Give back to your community, help at a shelter, a food bank, or a local charity. Small acts of kindness capture the true spirit of Thanksgiving.

Connect virtually: For loved ones far away, a video call can do wonders. Share a meal, exchange stories, or simply talk about what you’re thankful for. Technology makes distance feel smaller.

Also Read: 10 best Thanksgiving travel destinations for 2025

Reflect mindfully: Take a quiet moment for journaling or meditation. Think about your growth over the year, the people who matter, and moments that brought joy. Gratitude becomes richer when we pause to notice it.

Celebrate cultural fusion: Host a poetry slam, a story telling session, or a small event. Add music, stories, or crafts to your day. Blend Indian traditions with Thanksgiving customs, maybe lights, lamps and candles with a small harvest ritual. This makes the celebration unique, fun, and memorable.