Festivals & Celebrations
|
FESTIVAL |
MONTH |
STATE/REGION |
DESCRIPTION |
|
Elephant March |
January |
Kerala |
Procession of
decorated elephants.
|
|
Pongal / Makar Sankranti |
14 January |
Nationwide |
Harvest festival
marking the change of seasons and beginning of the auspicious period of
the new year. |
|
International Kite Festival |
13-15 January |
Gujarat |
Connoisseurs of the
sport gather and indulge in friendly competitions, flying kites of
varied colours, shapes and sizes. |
|
Jaipur Literature festival |
17-21 January |
Jaipur, Rajasthan |
As the largest FREE literary festival on earth, the
Jaipur Literature Festival brings together some of the greatest thinkers
and writers from across South Asia and the world. |
|
Republic Day |
26 January |
India |
National Holiday. |
|
Desert Festivals |
January/February |
Jaisalmer,Rajasthan |
A three day show of
dances, acrobatics, camel races and camel dances. |
|
Cattle fair |
January/February |
Nagpur,Rajasthan |
Trading of camels,
bullocks, and horses, with sports, music and dance. |
|
Konark Festival |
February |
Konark,Orissa |
A festival of
classical dances of the site of The Sun Temple.
|
|
International Yoga Festival |
February |
Rishikesh,Uttar Pradesh |
Demonstration and
experience of yoga and meditation.
|
|
Surajkund Crafts Mela |
1-15 February |
Haryana |
Display of arts and
crafts from all over India.
|
|
Taj Mahotsav |
18-27 February |
Agra, Uttar Pradesh |
Dance and drama recreating the age of Shah Jahan, combined with a food
festival. |
|
Khajuraho Dance Festival |
March |
Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh |
Classical dance
performance extravaganza.
|
|
Punakha Tsechu |
March |
Punakha, Bhutan |
The Punakha Tshechu, as all Tshechu festivals, honors Padmasambhawa,
also known as Guru Rimpoche, the precious yogi and saint who is credited
with having introduced Tantric Buddhism throughout the Himalayas. The
festivals masked dances are performed by monks clad in colorful brocade
attire and permeated by chants and reading of Buddhist scripts.
|
|
Holi |
March
|
North India |
Festival of colours in
which people splash coloured water on one another in a spirit of
comradeship.
|
|
Ellora Festival |
March |
Ellora Caves, Maharashtra |
Festival of Classical
Dance and Music.
|
|
Gangaur |
March/April |
Rajasthan |
Dedicated to Goddess Parvati upholding the power of nature.
|
|
Paro Tsechu |
April 11-14 |
Paro, Bhutan |
The focal point of the tsechus are the sacred Cham
Dances where costumed, masked dances typically are moral
vignettes, or based on incidents from the life of the 9th
century Nyingmapa teacher Padmasambhava and
other saints. |
|
Pooram |
April/May |
Kerala |
Temple festival with
the famous Elephant March.
|
|
Carnival |
April |
Goa |
Originally celebrated the fruiting of cashew and mango. |
|
International Spice |
April |
Cochin, Kerala |
Fair displaying spices
grown in the region. |
|
Rath Yatra |
June/July |
Puri, Orissa |
A huge procession
carrying images of deities in chariots.
|
|
Hemis Festival |
July |
Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir |
Monastery festival.
Age old plays are performed by masked dancers.
|
|
International Mango Festival |
July |
Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh |
An exhibition and sale
of the best Indian mangoes.
|
|
Id - ul - Fitr
|
July
|
All over India |
Muslims all over India
celebrate the Id after fasting through the sacred month of Ramzan by
eating Kheer and seviyan, both tasty sweets. |
|
Raksha Bandhan |
August |
All over India |
All sisters tie the
sacred Rakhi, a colorful thread on their brothers wrists, and the
brothers in return vow to look after their sisters welfare all their
lives |
|
Independence day |
August 15 |
All over India |
A national holiday |
|
Onam |
August/Sept |
Kerala |
Famous for the snake
boat races held to celebrate the event. |
|
Ganesh Chaturthi |
September |
Maharashtra |
Dedicated to Lord
Ganesh, who is serenaded for 10 days. His idol is carried in a
procession before being immersed in a river or sea at the end of that
period. |
|
Dussehra |
October 03 |
Nationwide |
A ten day festival
celebrating Lord Rama killing demon king Ravana symbolisms the victory
of good over evil. |
|
Thimphu Tsechu |
October 03 to 05 |
Thimphu, Bhutan |
Most tsechus also feature the unfurling of a Thanaka
- a large tapestry typically depicting a seated Guru
Rimpoche surrounded by holy beings, the mere viewing of which is
said to cleanse the viewer of sin. The Thanaka is raised before dawn and
rolled down by morning. |
|
RIFF |
October |
Jodhpur, Rajasthan |
Rajasthan International Folk Festival in Jodhpur is a music
festival showcasing local and international music and is widely
attended. |
|
Diwali |
October
|
Nationwide |
A festival of lights
celebrating the home coming of Lord Rama after killing Ravana.
|
|
Pushkar Fair |
November |
Pushkar, Rajasthan |
Rajasthan Colourful
Cattle fair includes camel races, etc. . People also come for a dip in
the holy Pushkar Lake. |
|
Shekhavati Festival |
December |
Shekhavati, Rajasthan |
A colourful festival
held in the home of the world's most beautiful frescos. |
|
Pushkar Fair |
November |
Pushkar, Rajasthan |
Rajasthan Colourful
Cattle fair includes camel races, etc. . People also come for a dip in
the holy Pushkar Lake. |
|
Feast of St. Francis Xavier |
December |
Goa |
The well-preserved
remains of St. Francis Xavier are displayed in a beautiful silver
casket. |