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. Sonepur Mela - Sonepur, Bihar: The famed cattle fair is held at Sonepur, in Northern Bihar on the banks of the River Ganga. It is one Of the Asia's largest cattle fair. The full moon day of the month of Kartik (November) is regarded as one of the most auspicious days for the Hindus.

The sprawling mela ground here with the pulsating market has the widest possible range of cattle and commodities. The array of shops sells all sorts of merchandise. Sonepur Fair is the only one of its kind where a large number of elephants are sold.

These are purchased mainly by forest departments and people involved with logging operations. Apart from elephants, a large number of cattle and horses are also brought to the fair for sale. Various folk shows, games and jugglers can be seen in the fair.

2. Diwali - Festival of Lights, All over India: One of the biggest festivals of Hindus, Deepawali or Diwali in India is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm and happiness. This festival is celebrated for five continuous days, with the third day being celebrated as the main Diwali or as 'Festival of Lights'. Fireworks are always associated with this festival. The day is celebrated with people lighting diyas, candles all around their house. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening to seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. Diwali gifts are exchanged among all near and dear ones.






3. Ganga Mahotsav, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh State: The Ganga Mahotsav is a classical music and dance fest organized in the enchanting backdrop of the religious town of Varanasi and river Ganges. This five-day festival coincides with the sublimely fantastic Dev Deepavali (festival of lights) celebrated with aplomb at Varanasi. The festival has been named Ganga Mahotsav out of respect and devotion for the River Ganges (Ganga) which has been for centuries the lifeline of the people and civilization living on its banks. The festival provides music and dance lovers with an opportunity to enjoy spirited performances from celebrated artistes.

The Ghats of Varanasi and banks of Ganges come alive and a bright on the occasion of the Kartik Purnima with thousands of diyas (earthen lamps) lit together. This spectacular event is celebrated as a tribute to the great river Ganges and is called the Dev Deepavali. A festival with great fanfare and feasts, Dev Depavali is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Karthik (also known as Kartik Purnima). It is believed that gods descend on earth on Kartik Purnima. During the festival pilgrims throng the banks of Ganges and local people decorate the entire riverbank with tiny earthern lamps to welcome the gods. The shimmer and flicker of the tiny lamps are elegant and eye candy. The reverent multitude also chants the hymns while the priests hold forth huge and bright lamps. 

4. Pushkar Cattle Fair - Pushkar, Rajasthan: Pushkar, the holy town in Rajasthan is known for it's sacred lake and the only Brahma Temple in the world. Legend has it that this lake was formed where Lord Brahma - the lord of creation - dropped a lotus on the day of the full moon. Every November, the famous Pushkar Fair is held for 7 days, starts on Noami, and finish on Kartik Poornima (Full Moon). The Fair is predominantly a gathering with thousands of camels, cattle and horses for trade, with added attractions of games, races, local folk dances, song and entertainment. 

The tourist village is self sufficient and is specially designed to complement the natural beauty of the site. The village is arranged in blocks of tents, each with its own identity, being named after the famous dances of Rajasthan.


5. Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti, First Sikh Guru Birthday, All over India: Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh faith was born in 1469 A.D. in the village of Talwandi in Lahore, Pakistan. Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh religion. Sikhs do not worship idols and believe that God is formless. They celebrate the birth anniversaries of 10 Sikh gurus as Gurupurabs with devotion and dedication.








6. Lucknow Festival, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh State:The Lucknow Mahotsav or Lucknow festival celebrates the Lucknow's living culture, which provides an insight into the old, cultured, atmosphere of the city. Colorful processions, traditional dramas, Kathak dances in the style of the famous Lucknow Gharana, Sarangi and sitar recitals along with ghazals, qawalis and thumri create a festive atmosphere. Exciting events like ekka races, kite flying, cock fighting and other traditional village games recreate an atmosphere of bygone Nawabi days. There is display of crafts and one can also have a taste of the famous mouth watering Nawabi cuisine.

The 15-day festival, organized jointly by UP Tourism and Lucknow District Administration have stalls by the craftsmen of other states presenting a composite culture of the entire country and provides a platform for the local talents of UP.

The Lucknow Festival captures the undying elegance and splendor of Awadh, now Lucknow. A brilliant showcase of the arts, crafts, and above all the exotic cuisine of this land, the festival is an once-in-a-lifetime experience. One can taste the traditional delicacies of Lakhnawi cuisine, ranging from mouth-watering vegetarian cuisine to the lip-smacking non-vegetarian spread for which Lucknow is famous.

7. Ellora Festival - Ellora, Aurangabad: Ellora caves are one of the most famous tourist attractions of Maharashtra. They are a representative of different faiths that have been experimented over here. Right from the Buddhists and the Hindus to the Jains, these caves tell a fascinating story about the evolution of each culture. As a token of respect for the rich legacy that thrives in these caves, the Ellora Festival is celebrated here, every year in March. This festival is dedicated to the growth of fine arts in India. 

It is organized every year by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). Ellora festival showcases a plethora of talents in music and dance. Renowned artists, who have brought laurels to their fields, perform here during the festival. With the mystical caves forming the backdrop of this cultural bonanza, it makes the entire event all the more enjoyable and enchanting. One can enjoy the melodious music and savor the beautiful dances that portray different cultures of the country that regales in fine arts. 

You will be amazed to see the various people who come here to portray their talents. Right from small children to trained singers, all of them put up brilliant performances that never fail to arouse loud and thunderous applauses from the audience. The dances and the music will give you a glance of how rich the different regions of India are in fine arts. Each region boasts of a unique dance or form of music, which is exclusive to that particular region and cannot possibly be found anywhere else. The one place where they all come and unite on a common platform and enthrall onlookers is during the Ellora Festival.

8. Hampi Festival - Vijayanagara Empire, Karnataka:Hampi exists as one of the International tourist spots in world Heritage. The hampi Utsav or Hampi Festival or Vijaya Utsav is a cultural extravaganza that has been celebrated since he times of the Vijayanagar reign. Hampi, Karnataka once the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire (One of the greatest empires in the history of India), comes alive during the lively festival of dance and music, held in the first week of November.

Hampi Festival is a three day event which generally commemorated from 3rd to 5th November. Hampi has always bestowed many surprises and eye catching events for all its tourists from time immemorial.

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