Like others countries India has its own festivals. The Indian calendar boasts an incredible amount of festivals. Some of the festivals are based on religion, some on social customs and traditions, and some others on important events that took place in the past. So, in India festivals are put under three categories: Religious festivals, Social festivals and National festivals. All of these festivals are colorful and fun for the onlooker and provide a good source of interest and entertainment to locals and travelers alike. With over a billion people in India and many different social orders, religions and historical events, it’s impossible to list all of the festivals in India. If you are lucky enough to coordinate your trip with a local festival, it could be the highlight of your journey. Dates of the festivals follow the lunar calendar so they vary from year to year.
Some of the Major festival of India includes:
Holi: This festival is held during the full moon which is celebrated in the beginning of spring and most popular in the north. You should expect to be bombarded with water, paint, colored powder and other colorful mixtures. It is one of the most colorful and fun festivals enjoyed by young and old alike. The whole city is decorated with different kinds of color.
Pongal: celebrated in January/feburary is a Tamil harvest festival. During this time you can see painted and decorated cows, and eat Pongal, a sweet porridge made with the freshly harvested rice.
Vasbant Panchami: celebrated in February is a one day festival for flying kites and wearing yellow saris. This festival is to honor the god of learning and is a time for blessing School children.
Republic day: (26th Jan) major cities celebrate this day with military parades and music.
Goa Carnival: celebrated in January this is Goa’s own mardi gras.
Ganesh Chaturthi: This festival is dedicated to Ganesh and is especially celebrated in Maharastha. In Mumbai, a huge procession carries images of god to immerse in the sea.
Diwali: It is the festival of lights and India’s biggest to celebrate Rama and Sita’s homecoming in the Ramayana. Festival includes the lighting of the oil lamps and firecrackers and the giving and receiving of sweets and gifts. Diwali coincides with Kali puja, celebrated in temples dedicated to the wrathful goddess, especially in Bengal.
Kumbha Mela: Major three yearly festivals held at one of the four holy cities: Nasik, Ujjain, Haridwar, or Prayagas well as at Allahabad. The Maha Kumbha Mela is the largest religious fair in India is held every twelve years in Allahabad.
Puska camel fair- held in December this festival is a time for buying selling camels. Thousands of traders and camels converge on the city to provide a colorful and noisy spectacle not to be missed.
In India there are also a variety of festivals which are celebrated by different religious group. The spectacular include Puri’s Rath Yatra festival in June or July, the Hemis festival in Ladakh, Kullu’s Dussehara, Christmas, Ramadan, Easter and so on.
