INDIAN FESTIVALS IN: Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

Colorful and lively, THE FAIRS AND FESTIVALS OF INDIA are major attractions of the country. Indian festivals speak of India's rich cultural and traditional background.

1. Suraj kund Crafts Mela - Suraj kund, Haryana: The Suraj kund Crafts Mela is organized annually by the Haryana Tourism Department in the month of February. This delightful handloom and handicrafts fair is planned every year to promote the traditional Indian Handicrafts in rural ambience at Suraj kund in the vicinity of New Delhi. The fair was first time organized in 1981 and since then the fair continues to be a strong platform for Indian artists and craftsmen to display their skilled crafts and art work.

The fair is not only limited to exhibitions of artwork but also presents the visual delight to its visitors in the form of special Natyashala folk dances and musical evenings at the open-air theatre. These programs are also accompanied by lip smacking and delicious rural cuisine, adding colors to this popular crafts fair.


2. Goa Carnival: February heralds the carnival at Goa. For three days and nights the streets come alive with colour. Held in mid February the weeklong event is a time for lively processions, floats, the strumming of guitars, graceful dances and of non-stop festivity. One of the more famous of the Indian Carnivals the Goa Festival is a complete sell out in terms of tourism capacities.

The carnival is meant to be a feasting-drinking-merrymaking orgy just before the austere 40 days of Lent. Huge parades are organized throughout the state with bands, dances and floats out all night on the streets, and grand balls held in the evenings. The carnival concludes with the famous red-and-black dance held by the Club National in Panajim on the final day.


3. Valentines Day – Goa: Valentines Day is celebrated throughout the world as a day of love and bonding. What originated in the west has taken the youth of perhaps from all nooks of the world in its arena. St. Valentine stands as a mascot of unified love for the people who believe in celebrating this day. India being a country of different religions and castes, has also accepted this day as one of its own. A country that celebrates almost all the festivals of the world is not alien to this day of love. As the world remembers St. Valentines, India has its reasons to remember the Hindu lord of love, Kamdev. Lord Kamdev is a part of the Hindu myths and possesses a flowery bow. A belief in India says that the arrow that leaves his bow often strikes the lovers. The importance of Valentines Day in India grows every year. India being the land where the treatise of love took birth is now a part, as the world celebrates Valentines.


4. Mahashivratri - All over India especially North and West India: The festival of Mahashivratri (literally means the 'Grand Night dedicated for the worship of Lord Shiva'). is looked upon with greatest reverence & respect by the devotees of Lord Shiva. This festival is celebrated every year on the 13/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon fortnight, just before the new moon) of the month of Phalgun. As per the English calendar this is somewhere around Feb or March.

This day and more so the night is dedicated by the devotees of Lord Shiva for his worship, practice of various austerities & meditation. All the Shiva Temples are fully decorated and there are hordes of devotees queuing up to get Darshan of Lord & offer their obeisance's at the feet of Lord Shiva on this special day.


5. Taj Mahotsav – Agra: The Taj Mahotsav is a non-stop 10 day carnival held annually at Shilpgram, near Taj Mahal. The impressive festival commences with a spectacular procession inspired by Mughal splendor. Bedecked elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen together recreate the glorious past of the Mughals.

The Taj Mahal Mahotsav area becomes a live culture, crafts and traditions. It is a great opportunity for legendary artisans to display their exquisite works of art. Marble of course rules the festivities each year for obvious reasons.





6. Konark Festival - Konark Temple, Orissa State:Konark Dance Festival takes place in an open-air auditorium against the backdrop of the floodlit temples that reverberates with the beats of 'Raga' and 'Tala' to fill the air with the sounds of classical music. The classical extravaganza is a journey through eternal ecstasy.

The festival provides a platform for both to the performing artiste and the dance connoisseurs in appreciating the essence of various classical dance forms of the country and also to the new artists who are yet to make their mark on the international scale.





7. Deccan Festival - Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh State: Every year gracious Hyderabad comes alive during the Deccan Festival. There are cultural programmes with ghazal nights, qawalis and mushairas, typical of the city. A pearl and bangle fair displays creations in lustrous pearls and multi-hued bangles that are local specialties. A food fest serves the best of Hyderabad's famed cuisine to visitors.







8. Nagaur Cattle Fair - Nagaur, Rajasthan: Nagaur Cattle Fairor pashu mela at Nagaur is very popular fair in all over the Rajasthan. It is the 2nd largest animal fair of India. Nagaur Cattle Fair held in the month of January-February. It is the traditional and cultural fair of Nagpur, Rajasthan.

Thousands of animals are gathered at the cattle fair for trading. Traders come to buy and sell cows, bullocks, oxen and camels. Various games are organized by organization during this four day festival as night function, many artist programme and folk dance music. People decoratedtheir animal with beautiful designs and Royal clothes. This festival is most interesting fact is animal race, camel races, cock fights etc.



9. Guruvayur Festival - Guruvayur, Kerala State: Guruvayur Festival is celebrated with much pomp and zeal in Guruvayur temple in Kerala. It is a festival celebrated by the Hindus. Some of the festivals celebrated at Guruvayur temple are Vishu, Ashtami Rohini, Mandalam, Ekadasi, Ashtami Rohini, Kuchela's Day, Chembai music festival and Narayaneeyam day. Ulsavam is the main festival of Guruvayur temple. Ulsavam takes place in the month of February and March and is a 10 day long festival. The festival begins with the hoisting of the flag on Dwajastambham and an elephant race. Pilgrims can witness the procession of the elephants throughout six continuous days. Various cultural programs are also held during this time. Oblations are offered on the 8th day to the Lord’s lieutenants during Utsavabali. It symbolizes the destruction of desire and anger from our lives. Many devotees take a dip in the temple pond to wash off their sins. The Lord after 11 days returns to his holy place and the flag is also lowered at the end of the festival.


10. Desert Festival – Jaisalmer: The Desert Festival exudes the delightful spirit of this desert land. Fort three days, the otherwise barren land of Jaisalmer comes to life and is clustered with hordes of colorfully dressed people. Some cherished moments of the glorious and illustrious past and a rich culture are on display. The traditional dancers and the audience seem to be on a euphoric trip. The Turban Tying competition and Mr. Desert contest add a touch of excitement to the celebration. The traditional Gair dancers leave the crowds enchanted by their thrilling performance. 

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