January/ February

Makar Sankranti (Maharastra, Karanataka , Andhra pradesh)

A celebration of spring on the occasion of the ‘ascent’ of the Sun to the north. This is the day of Goodwill and friendship.

Lohri (Punjab)

In the North Makar Sankranti is called Lohri. It is the only Hindu festival, which falls regularly on the 13^th of January. Lohri is the time after which the biting cold of winter begins to taper off.  

Pongal (Tamil Nadu, Andhra pradesh)

In the South Sankranti begins “Pongal”. It is a celebration of the harvest, which is observed for three days in Tamil Nadu as well as Andhra Pradesh.

Thai Pusam (Thai Pusam)

Festival dedicated to Kartikya or Marimman where trenches of burning coal are laid out for the devotees to walk over. It has been seen that people who volunteer to undertake this experience with faith, come away unharmed and unscathed.  

Float Festival(Tamil Nadu)

This magnificent festival is celebrated in Madurai on the night of the full moon. The ornamented icons of the two deities, the God Sundresa (incarnation of Shiva) and the God Meenakshi (incarnation of Parvati) with pearl crowns on their heads and riding on a golden bull are taken out in a splendid procession from the Meenakshi Temple. 

National Kite Festival (Gujrat)

In Gujrat and other western states the change in the direction of winds on Makar Sankranti is marked by thousands of colourful kites of all patterns and Dimensions which dot the blue sky. The Kites are hand made and the thread is given a coating of glass powder mixed in either resin or a paste made of refined wheat flour. Special kites with paper lamps fill the night sky with myriad flickering lights.  

Kerala Village Fair (Kerala)

This festival is celebrated in the lush villages around Kovalum, every year. Traditional thatch houses are decorated during this ten-day long festival and are the venue for folk dances, music and festivities.  

Bikaner Festival (Bikaner)

Pattadakal Dance Festival (Pattadakal)

This is a festival of dance, which is held at Pattadakal (Karnataka), the ancient capital of the Chalukyan Kings.  

Id-ul-Fittr (All Over India)

This celebrates the end of Ramzan (the muslim month of fasting) The faithful gather in mosques to pray, friends and relatives meet to exchange greetings. The family elders, conveying their blessings give Idi or presents of money to the youngsters.  

Vasant Panchami (North India & West Bengal)

This is a festival in which their is ceremonial welcome to spring on the fifth day of the waxing moon of Magh, when Saraswati, Shiva- Durga and Vishnu – Lakshmi are worshiped. In west Bengal, Saraswati (the goddess of learning) is worshipped.  

Mahashivratri (All over India)

On the 14^th night of the dark half of Magh occurs the festival of Mahashivratri, the great night of Lord Shiva. The devotees stay awake throughout the night offering their prayers to Lord Shiva. They offer special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables and coconuts to Lord Shiva.  

Desert Festival (Jaisalmer) 

The Desert festival is a three day long extravaganza of colour, music and festivity, held at the golden city of Jaisalmer. Gair and fire dancers swaying to traditional tunes, a turban – tying competition and a Mr. Desert contest are part of the fun and frolic. The grand finale is a trip to the sand dunes at Sam where one can enjoy the pleasure of a camel ride and even view the folk dancers and musicians perform at the sand dunes.  

Goa Carnival (Goa)

At this time of the year, the Goa carnival is celebrated at Goa. For three days and nights, the legendary King Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with colour. The weeklong event is a time of festivity.  

Nagaur Festival (Nagaur)

Nagaur Fair is famous for the annual cattle fair which is one of the largest in the country. The Nagaur bulls are renowned for their fleet – footedness and attract buyers from all over. The day begins with earnest bargaining between the buyers and sellers. Once the price of a horse or camel has been settled, the days draws to a close followed by exciting games, tug of war, camel races and strains of ballads which create a joyful atmosphere.  

International Yoga Week (Rishikesh)

Yoga sessions are held along the banks of the River Ganges at Rishikesh. U.P. Tourism organizes this festival, lectures and demonstrations are held by prominent exponents of yoga throughout the week.  

Elephanta Festival (Elephanta Island)

This festival is held across the Mumbai harbor, on the Elephanta Island, near the world-renowned Elephanta Caves. This feast of music and dance celebrated under the stars transforms the entire island into a large auditorium.  

Deccan Festival (Hyderabad)

This festival is being celebrated in the city of Hyderabad. Cultural programmes with Ghazal nights, Qawalis and Mushairas are held. A pearl and bangle fair display creations in lustrous pearls and multi-hued bangles that are local specialties. A food festival serves the best of Hyderabad’s famed cuisine to the visitors.  

Taj Mahotsav (Agra)

This ten day long event celebrated at Agra is a cultural vibrant platform that brings together the finest Indian crafts and cultural nuances. Folk music, Shayari (Poetry) and classical dance performances as well as the elephant and camel rides, games and food festival – all form pert of the festivities.  

Surajkund Crafts Mela (New Delhi)

In order promote the traditional Indian handicrafts, a delightful handloom and handicrafts fair is held annually at Surajkund. Skilled artisans and craftsmen display their skilled and crafts in a rural setting. Cultural programmes and rural cuisine are also a part of this colourful fair.  

Chapchar Kut (Mizoram)

A lively festival in Mizoram which celebrates the arrival of spring. It is an occasion for dance, music and feasting.  

Island Tourism Festival (Portblair , Andaman & Nicobar)

This festival is celebrated in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and is a ten-day long festival of dance, drama and music. Exhibitions displaying arts and crafts, flora and fauna and marine life, are parts of the event. Aqua sports, Tele-games and parasailing are added attractions.  

This is organised by Orissa Dance Academy & Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Calcutta at the Natya Mandap, Konark. Everyday in the evening thAquaere is live show of different folk and classical dance.

March/ April

Holi (North India)

Is the most boisterous of all Hindu Festivals, observed all over the North. It heralds the end of winter and the beginning of the Spring. The night before the full moon, crowds of people gather and light huge bonfires to burn the residual dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People throw coloured water and powders (Gulal and Kumkum) at each other and make merry. Holi celebrates the joyful raasleela of Krishna and the gopis. They play Phag, which is a game of many colourful hues. It is a joyous celebration of the rejuvenation of nature, and renewed hope of happiness and peaceful coexistence. In Anandpur Sahib, Sikhs celebrate a special festival Holi Mohalla on the day after Holi. It marks a display of ancient martial arts and mock battles.  

Gangaur (Rajasthan)

This festival is celebrated by girls and married woman throughout Rajasthan. This festival is dedicated to Gauri, a manifestation of Goddess Parvati and lasts for 18 days. This is also an auspicious day for young people to select their life partners. Colourful processions with the town band playing, horses and elaborate palanquins make it a fascinating spectacle.  

Jamshed-e-Navroz (All over India)

The Parsis don their new clothes and decorate their homes with Rangoli patterns drawn with metal moulds and flowers. Sweets are exchanged and later Parsis visit the fire temple where thanksgiving is performed.  

Ramnavami (All over India)

The birthday of Lord Rama is enthusiastically celebrated on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of  Chaitra. Temples are decorated, religious discourses are held and the Ramayana is recited for ten days. People sing devotional songs in praise of Rama and rock images of him in cradles to celebrate his birth.  

Id-ul-Zuha (All over India)

Is a muslim festival celebrated all over India. Prayers are offered in the mosques and special delicacies are prepared and served among the family and friends on the occasion

Mahavir Jayanti (All over India)

The birth anniversary of the Jains, Mahavir , the founder of Jainism , is celebrated by the Jain Community. People meditate and offer prayers all over India.  

Khajuraho Dance Festival (Khajuraho)

Is a week long festival of classical dances held at Khajuraho Temples, built by the Chandela Kings.  

Elephant Festival (Jaipur)

This festival is held in Jaipur where Elephants are the centre of attraction. They stride majestically parading their decorated trunks and tusks. The festival begins with a procession of elephants, camels and horses, followed by lively folk dancers at their entertaining best. The most hilarious highlight of the festival is a tug of war between elephants and men.  

Hoysala Mahotsava (Karnataka)

Is a dance festival held at Hoysala Temples (Karnataka) of Belur and Halebid of Karnataka.  

Ellora Festival (Ellora Caves)

Is a festival of dance and music organized in the splendid surroundings of the magnificent Ellora caves.

Kumbh Mela:

The oldest and most important of the Hindu festivals. It takes place every three years, at one of the four great holy cities; Nasik in Maharashtra, Ujjain (MP), Prayag (Allahabad) and Hardwar (both in UP). It is attended by millions of pilgrims who take a holy dip in the sacred Ganges River.

April / May

Urs (Ajmer)

The festival of Urs are held every year at the dargah of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, commemorating his symbolic union with God. Pilgrims from all over the world gather here to pay their homage. Qawalis ( Poems) are sung in the Saint’s honour.  

June / July

Ganga Dusehra (Uttar pradesh)

In this festival ten days are devoted to the worship of the River Ganga. According to the legends, Gangavataran or the descent of the Ganga, happened at this time. Devotees touch the River water, bathe in it, and take the river clay home to venerate. In Haridwar, aratis are performed at twilight and a large number of devotees meditate on her serene banks.  

Hemis Festival (Jammu & Kashmir)

This festival is celebrated at Hemis, the biggest Buddhist Monastery in ladakh to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhave. Splendid masked dances are performed to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums and long horns, A colourful fair, displaying some beautiful handicrafts, is the special highlight of the festival.  

Rath Yatra (Orissa)

This is a festival celebrated at the famous Jagannath Temple at Puri. Images of Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are taken out in a procession in three chariots to their summer temple for a week. The main chariot is 14 meters high and 10 meters square with 16 wheels. The ropes of the huge chariots are pulled by millions of devotees who also believe that this act bestows salvation upon them.  

Guru Purnima (All over India)

A special worship is performed on this day to all teachers and is called Guru Purnima. Worship of the great Vyasa, the author of the great epic, Mahabharata, is part of the celebration. On this day students visit their elders, teachers and guides in order to show respect to them with gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets. These gifts are called Gurudakshina. Discourses are held in community gatherings to hear the readings of the holybook, Bhagwad Gita.  

July / August

Janmashtami (All over India)

The birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu is observed all over India. It is celebrated with great fervour at Mathura and Brindavan where Lord Krishna spent his childhood. Nightlong prayers are offered and religious hymns are sung in temples. In Maharashtra, earthen pots of curd and butter are hung high up over the streets. Young men enacting an episode from Krishna’s childhood form human pyramids by climbing on each other’s shoulders and try to break thee pots.  

Onam (Kerala)

Onam is Kerala’s most popular festival, celebrated with great enthusiasm. It is primarily a harvest festival celebrated to welcome the spirit of the pious King Mahabali from eternal exile and to assure him that his people are happy and wish him well. At Trichur, caparisoned elephants take part in a spectacular procession. There is also a magnificent display of fireworks. The Vallumkali (boat race) is one of the main attractions of Onam, and is best seen at Aranmulai and Kottayam.  

Nag Panchami (West Bengal, Maharashtra and South India)

Nag Panchami is the festival when snakes, the symbols of energy and prosperity are worshipped. In Maharashtra snake charmers go from house to house with dormant cobras ensconced in cane baskets, asking for alms and clothing. Women offer milk and cooked rice to the snakes and gather around to see the snakes spread their hoods to the tune of the Pungi. In Kerala, snake temples are crowded in this day and worship is offered to stone or metal icons of the cosmic serpent Ananta or Shesha.  

Raksha Bandhan (North India)

This is a Hindu sister’s day when brothers and sisters reaffirm their bonds of affections. Sisters tie colourful threads or rakhis on their brothers wrists. The brothers in turn promise to protect their sisters and give them gifts.  

GaneshChaturthi(Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu,Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka)

Ganesh Chaturthi is an important festival in India, especially in Maharashtra dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the elephant headed God of all good beginnings and success. It is believed that Lord Ganesha was born on this day and every chaturthi is considered auspicious. Thousands of the clay idols of Lord Ganesha are made in every size, pose, form and colour and worshipped at community or family festivals which last between one to ten days. These images are then taken in large processions, amidst the rhythm of bells and drums and immersed in flowing water
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September / October

Tarnetar Mela (Saurashtra, Gujrat )

This is an exciting and unique fair held annually at Tarnetar in Saurashtra. The fair coincides with the festival at the Trineteshwar Temple, celebrating the wedding of the legendary Mahabharat hero, Arjuna with Draupada. The fair is a kind of a marriage market for the local tribals- the Kolis, Bharwads and Rabaris. The traditional costumes, exquisite jewelry and wonderful Tarnetar “Chhatris” (Umbrellas) with intricate embroidery and mirror work are sold. AN added attraction is the lively folk dance performances such as – garba, ras, and haro.  

Navratri (All over India)

Navratri is the longest Hindu festival that continues for nine consecutive nights in praise of Lord Rama. Continuous chanting from the great epic Ramayana, along with evening performances from the episodes of his life, is held for nine days. It is a combination of many concepts. It is believed that Durga. The Goddess of power and vitality, has nine forms called Navadurga and on each day of the nine days, she takes a new dorm, with an arsenal of weapons, to ride a lion and fight the demon Mahishasura. Lord Rama is said to have worshipped the Goddess, seeking her blessing in order to overpower the evil- force of Ravana, the abductor of his beloved Sita.The most joyous celebration of Navratri is seen in Gujrat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Bengal. Every night people gather in courtyards to dance the dandiya raas and garba, a community dance in which men and women dressed in festive clothes, dance in pairs with painted wooden sticks.  

Durga Puja (West Bengal)

This festival is performed during the nine days of Navratri. Community pujas in Bengal are organised in every locality. Families visit each other to share feasts. On Bijoya day, the idols are taken in elaborate processions for immersion in the river or the sea.  

Dussehra (All over India)

This festival is celebrated to mark the homecoming of Lord Rama. The Ramlila – an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, is held nine days before Dussehra. On the tenth day, larger than life effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnath filled with fire crackers are set alight to celebrate the victory of good over evil.In Himachal Pradesh, a weel long fair at Kullu is a part of Dussehra celebrations. From the little temples in the hills, deties are brought in processin to the Kullu Maidan with lot of gaity, music and colour. The presiding deity is Lord Raghunathji.  

Marwar Festival (Jodhpur)

This is a festival devoted mainly to the music and dance of the Marwar region. The festival was originally known as the ‘Maand Festival’. Held for two days on full moon- shared purnima, folk artists bring to liofe the myth, legend and folklore of the area.  

Durga Puja  (Cuttack & Bhubaneshwar October 8-10)

Sharad Purnima (All over India)

This is a harvest festival when Laxmi, the Goddess of Prosperity, visits all homes to bring fortune and good luck to all. Kojagiri, the special night, is celebrated with ice-cold, saffron-flavoured sweet milk, shared in the cool midnight. The full moon night is called Navanna Purnima or the moonlit night of new food. The newly harvested rice is offered to the gods and lamps are lit before the full moon.  

November

Diwali (All over India)

The festival of lights is one of the most beautiful of Indian festivals. It comes 21 days after Dussehra and celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after his 14 year exile. Homes are decorated, sweets are distributed by everyone and thousands of lamps lit in houses all over the country making it a night of enchantment. Doorways are hung with Torans (a decorative garland for the door) of mango leaves and marigolds. Rangolis (designs on floor) are dawn with different coloured powders to welcome guests. Worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and fireworks and festivities are an essential part of the occasion.  

Kali Puja / Dipbali-   (Calcutta - November 14)

Guru Purab (North India)

The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak- the first guru of the Sikhs who founded the Sikh faith, is celebrated with great fervour. The ‘Akhand Path’ – recitation of the Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, is held in gurudwaras all over the country. Taking the holy book out in procession, is also an integral part of the celebrations. Langars (community feast) are organised where people of all castes sit together to eat and sing hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib. The celebrations at Amritsar are especially impressive.  

Ka Pomblang Nongrem (Meghalaya)

This is the most important festival of the Khasis in Mrghalaya. The five day long festival, held annually near Shillong, is an occasion for thanksgiving for a good harvest and the time to pray for peace and prosperity. Khasi men and women, dressed in traditional splendour, perform the famous Nongkrem dance.  

Sonepur Fair (Sonepur, Bihar)

This is Asia’s biggest cattle fair held in Sonepur, Bihar on the banks of river Ganges. During this month long fair, cattle, decorated for the occasion, swarm the venue.  

Pushkar Fair (Pushkar)

This fair is held every year at Puskar, near Ajmer. Thousands of pilgrims come to bathe in the holy waters of the Pushkar Lake. Trading of cattle, camel races and dazzliing displays of bangles, brassware, clothes, camel saddles and halters are the major attractions of this colourful event which lasts for twelve days.  

Puri Beach Festival - (Orissa   November 23-27)

Hampi Festival (Hampi)

The magnificent ruined city of Hampi, once the capital of the Vijaynagar Empire, comes alive once again during this lively festival of dance and music, held in the first week of November.

December

Christmas (All over India)

This festival is celebrated by the Christians and non- Christians alike with special enthusiasm. All the major Indian cities wear a festive look. Shops and bazaars are decorated for the occasion and offer attractive bargains. Carol singing, get- togethers and the exchanging of gifts enhance the Christmas spirit. Chrismas parties launch off celebrations for the New Year, thus retaining the festive mood for at least a week.  

Konark Dance Festival (Konark , Orrisa)

Konark festival in the Sun Temple, Konark, offers an unforgettable experience every December 05^th. A host of celebrated dancers from all over the country perform on the temple platform or beach. The sound of ghungroo bells flute and pakhauj fill the air and a marvelous crafts mela, with a variety of handicrafts and delectable cuisine, adds to the festive mood.