‘’To celebrate a festival means to live out, for some special occasion and in an uncommon manner, the universal assent to the world as a whole’’
INDIAN FAIRS & FESTIVALS
BAISAKHI
DATES— 13 TH APRIL
VENUE: PUNJAB AND HARYANA
The Hindus and the Sikhs celebrate this festival since 17th century. It is celebrated to commemorated the Spring harvest festival as well the foundation day of the KHALSA(Shikh warriors) under the holy guidance of Guru Govind Singh in Punjab in 1699. Bhangra dances and the festive foods are the attractions.
BUDDHA PURNIMA
DATES— 7 TH OF MAY
Budh Purnima is celebrated in India, Nepal and East Asian countries. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Siddhartha Gautam at Lumbini in Nepal. He was later known as Mahatama Budh. It is celebrated on different days in different countries.
CAMEL FESTIVAL IN RAJASTHAN
DATES— JANUARY
VENUE— BIKANER
The Bikaner Camel Festival is solely dedicated to the Ship of the desert or the camel which was only a source of transport at a time and it is one of the most important sources of transport still. The people of this jarring desert can survive or the tourists can enjoy the beauty of this dessert for the Camel only to regard this ambrosial festival is celebrated in January.
The visitors can take part in this festival through the smooth and well-maintained ways and enjoy the galore of luscious colorful cultural programs, various games, completion of Camel dance, camel rate, Cultural dances, processions of the camels and other cultural activities. It starts with the unique pageant show of camels and ends with colorful fireworks embellishing the night sky. The tourists can be mesmerized with the acrobatic stunts and delightful participation in the graceful ghumar dance.
CHRISTMAS
DATES: 25 DECEMBER
VENUE: ALL OVER INDIA
This is the most important and grand festival of the Christian community. They celebrate this festival to commemorate the holy birth of God Jesus Christ on the 25th of December every year. They sing carols, offer prayers in the church, wear new clothes, exchange gifts, sweets, etc. Not only the Christians, other religions also celebrate this festival, sharing greeting cards, cake, etc., with great zeal and enthusiasm. The children get gifts from the parents, relatives, and the SANTA CLAUSE.
DESERT FESTIVAL
DATES—7 TH OF FEBRUARY TO 9 TH OF FEBRUARY
VENUE – JAISALMER
Since 12th century this vibrant coloured Desert festival attracts lots of tourists into the traditional, magnificent cultural city of Jaisalmer. This festival is the global attention as it reflects the glimpses of the miraculous traditional cultural performances like Fire dances, camel races, Jugglery playing, folk cultures, etc .
DIWALI (DEEPAVALI) :
VENUE : ENTIRE INDIA
DATES : OCTOBER / NOVEMBER
This is the biggest festival of India, is celebrated all over India with zeal and enthusiasm. Children enjoy the bursting of crackers. According to the legends Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of banishment on this auspicious day after gaining victory over Ravan (King of Devil).
People decorate their houses, cleaning starts at least one week in advance, streets and buildings are illuminated. On this day there is tradition of exchanging sweets with each and other and in the offices most of the corporate houses declares their bonuses for the employees. Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) is worshiped in every house. People buy new utensils, wear new clothes and light the lamps in the houses to welcome Lakshmi.
DURGA PUJA
DATES : OCTOBER / NOVEMBER
VENUE : WEST BENGAL
This is a grand festival of the Bengali Hindus. After nine days penance, Goddess Durga killed the king of the demons’ MAHISASUR ‘ and brought back the peace and happiness to the universe. According to the legends Lord Rama recalled Maa Durga on this day to get the boon for killing the King Ravana. So the Bengali Hindus celebrate this festival to recall those traditional incidents by decorating the tents, the idols of the Goddess Durga for five days in the month of October.
DUSSEHRA
DATES : 25TH OCTOBER 2020
On this day demon king Ravana was killed by Lord Rama. The Hindu community celebrate this festival with great zeal by burning the effigies of the devil Ravana, his son Meghnath and brother Kumbhakarna to depict the ‘’truth wins over the evil’’. Dussehra of Kullu district in Himachal and Mysore (Karnataka) are worth seeing.
EID—UL—FITR
DATES : MAY
VENUE : ALL OVER INDIA
‘’EID-MUBARAK’’ by this greeting, Muslims embrace each other on this auspicious day. This festival signifies UNITY between the Muslims and other religions. The Islam community celebrates it as their most important festival by assembling at a nearby mosque to offer prayer(namaz) after 40 days(an Islamic holy month) of fasting(Ramadan), sharing sweets, IDI, gifts or money(token of blessings to the younger).
GURUPURAV OR GURUNANAK JAYANTI
DATES : NOVEMBER 30
On the full moon day of the month Kartik(according to the Hindu calendar)The Sikhs celebrate the birth anniversary of their 10th great guru GURU NANAK DEVJI. On the eve of this festival the procession takes place led by the Panj Pyare (five beloveds). The artists show martial art, showcases swordsmanship etc. Peaceful chanting of hymns from Granth Sahib (Holy Book) and langar (Mass Feast) take place in each and every Gurudwaras of the country and overseas.
HEMIS FESTIVAL
DATES : JUNE
VENUE : LEH & LADAKH
DATES— 13 TH APRIL
Hemis Festival is celebrated every year on the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhav in the Hemis Monastery 45 Kms from Leh. The main attraction is the masked dances through which they show the supremacy of Good God over bad characters. Lamas also perform their events and plays.
HOLI
DATE— MARCH
VENUE-ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
The festival of colors, HOLI is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of PHAGUN (HINDI –15TH of FEB.to 15th of MARCH) around the world. The previous night of Holi is celebrated as Holika Dahan. Lord Vishnu saved his devotee Parahlad from Holika, who was burned in the fire. Next day, people sprinkle watercolors or dry colours on each other. Over the years way of playing Holi has changed.
HORNBIL FESTIVAL
DATE— 1st WEEK OF DECEMBER
Every year in Nagaland , the people celebrate this festival which lasts for 7 to 10 days. It is celebrated at Kisama (Naga Heritage Village) which is 12 Kms near Kohima. All the local tribes of Nagaland participate in this festival to please their deities so that crop should be good. It is an entertaining festival as it involves a lot of indigenous games, music events, craft bazaar, floral galleria etc.
INTERNATIONAL KITE FLYING FESTIVAL
DATE—JANUARY
VENUE- GUJRAT
This festival is one of the most popular amidst the list of more than 200 important festivals of Gujrat. This festival is celebrated on the Makarsankranti (eve of uttarayan marks the day when winter starts to turn into summer and harvesting season) day every year. This festival takes place in Ahmedabad(also known as kite capital of Gujarat) on the bank of the River Sabarmati(capacity to accommodate over 5 lakh visitors ).
A bunch of tourists come from various states in India and across the globe to compete and enjoy the kite flying festival, enjoy the unique cultural programs, art and handicraft of India.
JANMASTAMI
DATE—AUGUST
VENUE- NORTH INDIA
Lord Krishna, 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu (one of the three supreme Gods of Hindu Mythology) was born on this day in Mathura (close to Agra) in a prison. This festival is very popular in Uttar Pradesh (UP). People put small cradles in their houses and put in idol of Lord Krishna as new born baby (Ladoo Gopal). People have the tradition of fasting in the day and at 12 mid night they worship and then eat to mark the birth of Kanhiya (Krishna).
KHAJURAHO DANCE FESTIVAL
DATE— MARCH
VENUE—KHAJURAHO TEMPLE
Khajuraho temple, an aesthetic temple of 10th century AD to 11th century AD, hosts this festival every year to welcome the Spring season. Different renowned dance groups and eminent classical dancers assemble there to perform various classical forms of dances. Millions of spectators from across the world come and enjoy.
KUMBH MELA
VENUE- PRAYAG, HARIDWAR, UJJAIN, NASIK
It is celebrated in a cycle of 12 years(last held in 2012) at the four river banks, Prayag (the meeting point of three rivers, Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati), Haridwar(Ganga River, every 6th years), Nasik(Godavari River, every twelve years)and Ujjain(Shipra River, every three years). Every 12th years the largest Kumbh Mela takes place in Prayag. Three months-long festival attracts approximately 30 million people approximately daily, especially on specific days.
Besides sacred ritual dip into the holy river, the devotees enjoy the numerous fairs, educational, religious and philosophical discourses by the saints from all over the world. Varieties of classical as well as folk cultural programs are organised to enthrall the pilgrimages from around the world. It has been inscribed on the UNESCO’S representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
MADURAI FLOAT FESTIVAL
DATE—8th OF FEBRUARY
Madurai is an ancient capital of cultural abode, Tamilnadu in India. Float festival is one of the most grandeur festival of Madurai. This float festival is celebrated mostly in the mid of January to the mid of February . One of the pious personality, the king Thirumalai Nayak, could get this holy land when he was building his castle. According to the legend this land was found when it was excavated to make bricks. And this 16 acres vacant area was converted into tank which is connected to Vaigai river.
In the center of the tank a mandapam was built and Lord Ganesh is installed on a top of the platform. Since 1646 on a full moon day the birth anniversary of the King Thirumalai Nayak is celebrated. The effigies of the lord Sundareshwarar and Godess Meenakhshi are taken out in a colourfull procession. The idols are escorted by the Elephants. The idols are carried out to the bank of the lake by the golden panlanquin at dawn and are stationed in a mandapam beside the lake or Theppakulam. At dusk again the effigies are taken back to the temple on the Island, carrying out on a boat decorated with vibrant colourfull lights and the flowers. This boat is tied with two ropes .The devotees (on the bank of the lake) pulls one rope and another is pulled from the temple (center of the Island). Island also illuminated with the lights.
MAHASHIVARATRI
DATE—21th FEBRUARY
Venue : All over India.
To overcome the darkness, ignorance and the devotees worship the lord Shiva by fasting, wearing new cloth on this auspicious day I;e the Shivaratri. To attain the enlightenment, the saints, devotees penance for whole night on this day.
NAVROZ
DATE : AUGUST
The Parsi new year. It is celebrated in India in the month of August by the Parsis by wearing new clothes, enjoying special palatable dishes, donating to the poor and enjoying the fun, music etc. According to the history it was celebrated on the Equinox day or the end of the winter and to welcome the spring. Parsi calendar was introduced first by Jamshedji Navroj.
ONAM
DATE – AUGUST 22-SEPTEMBER 2
VENUE : KERALA
It is a harvest festival of Kerala. The Malayali communities around the World celebrate this festival to commemorate the Vishnu Avtar and welcoming of the King Mahabali with zeal and pomp. The people enjoy traditional dances, foods, dresses.
PONGAL
DATE – 15TH JANUARY
It is a popular harvest festival of south India. People of Tamil Nadu celebrate this festival to cherish in traditional costumes, through dances, bonfires, songs and decoration of the homes with the beautiful rangolis (made by coloured rice powder, petals of the flowers). This festival is for giving thanks to the God of cereals.
PURIM
DATE – MARCH
Purim is a Jewish festival which is celebrated to commemorate the Jewish people from Haman. This festival will be celebrated by the Jews by exchanging gifts, wearing new outfits, donate to the poor, reading the Esther specially, by women and enjoying the special foods.
PUSHKAR CATTLE FAIR
DATE – OCTOBER – NOVEMBER
VENUE : PUSHKAR
On the pious day of Kartik purnima or full moon day in the month of kartik (September to October) the devotees, tourists come to take holy dip in pushkar lake, Kapil Kund. This fair lasts for one week and it attracts tourists from all over the world who come to see the cattle fair. They enjoy the performances by various artists in the small town Pushkar in Rajasthan. Comfortable to Ultra Luxury tents/Swiss cottages are laid out in the grounds of Pushkar to accommodate the tourists.
RATH YATRA
DATE—JUNE
VENUE—PURI IN ORISSA
This grand fabulous festival is one of the biggest festivals in India. It marks the journey of Lord Jagannath along with his siblings Lord Balarama and sister Subhadra from Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple. This journey covers a distance of around 17km in Odisha’s puri. After nine days of stay at their aunt’s place, the deities are taken back to the Jagannath temple.
The millions of devotees wait to touch the string of the chariot as well as to have a glance of the deities. A grand fair takes place on the seashores comprising the delicious dishes, Handcrafts, clothes, jewelers from all over the world.
REPUBLIC DAY
DATE—26TH JANUARY
VENUE—RAJPATH(NEW DELHI)
The most coveted of Indian festivals is Republic day. The whole of the Nation celebrates it as a national festival with pride. On this auspicious day of 26th January in 1950 the greatest democracy was enforced by introducing the constitution of Republic of India.
The honorable President and the international delegates with a lots of spectators are enthralled by the different forms of dances, parade presents the ‘’UNITY IN DIVERSITY’’. Each state display their culture through the tableau and India shows its might by flying past the jet planes.
SNAKE BOAT RACES
DATE— JULY – SEPTEMBER
VENUE—KERALA
This is an immaculate, unique sports event of Kerala. This event takes place for four times in a year.
