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January |
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Makar
Sankaranti (Gujarat,Maharashtra, Karnataka
and Andhra Pradesh) |
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It
is a celebration of spring on tshe
occasion of the 'ascent' of the sun
to the north (Uttarayana). It is a
day of goodwill and friendship. People
exchange gifts and sweets. Also it
is a festival of kite flying. |
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Lohri
(Punjab) |
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In
the North Makar Sankaranti is called
Lohri. It is the only Hindu festival
which falls regularly on 14th of January
every year. It is celebrated by making
bonfire and performing group dances. |
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Pongal
(Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh) |
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In
the South Sankaranti becomes Pongal.
It is a celebration of the harvest
which is observed for three days in
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. |
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Thai
Pusam (Tamil Nadu) |
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This
festival usually takes place in the
temples dedicated to Kartikeya and
Mariamman where trenches od burning
coal are laid out for dedicated devotees
to walk over. |
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Float
Festival (Tamil Nadu) |
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The
magnificent festival is celebrated
in Madurai on the full moon. The icons
of two deities, the god Sunderesa
and Goddess meenakshi, with pearl
crowns on their head and riding on
a golden bull are taken out in splendid
procession. |
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Kerala
Village Fair (Kerala) |
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Mid-January
is the time for cultural events in
the lush villages around kovalam.
Traditional thatch houses are decorated
during this 10 days long festival. |
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Bikaner
Festival (Rajasthan) |
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The
festival starts off with a magnificent
procession of bedecked camels. Camels
are beautifully decorated and is a
fascination for onlookers. |
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Pattadakal
Dance Festival |
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It
is a festival of dance held at Pattadakal
(Karnataka), the ancient capital of
the Chalukyan kings. |
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Id-ul-Fittr
(All over India) |
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Celebrated
at the end of Ramzan, the Muslim month
of fasting. The faithful gather at
the Mosque to pray. Friends and relatives
meet to exchange gifts. |
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Vasant
Panchami (North India and West Bengal) |
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It
is a ceremonial welcome to spring
on the fifth day of the waxing moon
of Magh, when Saraswati, Shiva-Durga
and Vishnu-Lakshmi are worshipped.
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Mahashivratri
(All over India) |
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On
the 14th night of the dark half of
magh occurs the festival of Mahashivratri,
the great night of Lord Shiva. Devotees
offer dishes made of fruits to lord
Shiva. |
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Desert
Festival (Jaisalmer) |
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The
Desert Festival is a three day long
extravaganza of colour, music and
festivity, held at the golden city
of Jaisalmer. |
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Goa
Carnival (Goa) |
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For
three days and nights, the legendary
king Momo takes over the state and
the streets come alive with colour.
The week long event is a time of festivity. |
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Nagaur
fair (Nagaur) |
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Nagaur
bustles with life during its annual
cattle fair which is one of the largest
in the country. Nagaur bulls are renowned
for their fleetfotedness and attract
buyers. |
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Elephanta
Festival (Elephanta Island) |
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The
festival is held across the Mumbai
Harbour near Elephanta Caves. This
feast of music and dance is celebrated
under stars. |
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Deccan
Festival (Hyderabad) |
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Every
year gracious Hyderabad comes alive
during the Deccan Festival. Cultural
programmes with ghazal nights, qawalis
and mushairas are held. |
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Taj
Mahotsav (Agra) |
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A
ten day event, the Taj Mahotsav at
Agra is a culturally vibrant platform
that brings together the finest Indian
crafts and cultural nuances. |
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Surajkund
Crafts Mela (Surajkund-Haryana) |
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A
delightful handloom and handicraft
fair is very famous among tourist. |
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Chapchar
Kut (Mizoram) |
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A
lively festival in mizoram which celebrates
the arrival of spring. |
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Island
Tourism Festival (Port Blair, Andaman
& Nicobar Islands) |
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In
a ten day long festival of dance,
drama and music. Exhibitions displaying
arts and crafts, flora and fauna and
marine life, are part of the event. |
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Holi
(All over North India) |
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It
is the most boisterous of all Hindu
festivals, observed all over the North.
It heralds the end of winter and the
beginning of Spring. People throw
coloured water and powders at each
other and make merry. Singing and
dancing adds gaiety. |
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Gangaur
(Rajasthan) |
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Is
dedicated to Gauri (Goddess Parvati)
and lasts 18 days. The festival is
celebrated by girls and married women
throughout Rajasthan. |
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Jamshed-e-Navroz |
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The
Parsis don their new clothes and decorate
their homes with rangoli patterns
drawn with metal moulds and flowers. |
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Ramnavami
(All over India) |
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The
birthday of Lord Rama is celebrated
on the ninth day of the waxing moon
in the month of Chaitra |
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Id-ul-Zuha
(All over India) |
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Muslim
celebrated celebrated all over India
with prayer offered in Mosques. Family
and friends meet and delicacies are
served. |
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Mahavir
Jayanti (All over India) |
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The
birth anniversary of the 24th tirthakarna
of the Jains, Mahavir, the founder
of Jainism, is celebrated by the Jain
community. |
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Khajuraho
Dance Festival (Khajuraho, Madhya
Pradesh) |
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Is
a week long festival of classical
dances held at the Khajuraho Temples,
built by the Chandella Kings. |
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Elephant
Festival (Jaipur, Rajasthan) |
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A
festival where elephants are the centre
of attraction. They stride majestically
parading their decorated trunks and
tusks. |
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Hoysala
Mahotsava (Karnataka) |
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Is
a dance festival held at the Hosyala
temples of Belur and Halebid in Karnataka. |
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Ellora
Festival (Ellora caves, Maharashtra) |
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Is
a festival of dance and music organised
in the spendid surroundings of the
magnificent Ellora Caves. |
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Good
Friday (All over India) |
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Is
observed all over India by the Christians.
This is the day when Lord Christ was
crucified. The Christians offer special
prayers in the Church. |
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Easter
(All over India) |
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Is
a festival of rejuvenation of life
and living. On this day, Lord Christ
rose again after his death. |
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Baisakhi
(Punjab) |
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It
is celebrated in Punjab with great
fervour. It was on this day that Guru
Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa (Sikh
brotherhood) |
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Gudi
Padva or Ugadi (Maharashtra, Andhra
Pradesh and Karnataka) |
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Marks
the beginning of a new year in Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. |
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Pooram
(Trichur, Kerala) |
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Each
temple in Kerala sends procession
of decorated elephants to Trichur
on the Pooram festival. |
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Muharram
(All over India) |
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Commemorates
the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the
grandson of holy Prophet Mohammed;
and is observed by Shi' ite muslims
who take out processions of colourful
Tazias. |
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Buddha
Purnima (North India) |
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This
festival which falls on the full moon
day commemorates the birth of Lord
Buddha. |
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Mewar
Festival (Rajasthan) |
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Is
celebrated in Udaipur to welcome spring.
The colourful attired women carry
images of Goddess Gauri to Lake Pichola. |
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Urs
(Ajmer, Rajasthan) |
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The
Urs are held every year at the dargah
of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Mohinuddin
Chisti. Pilgrims from all over the
world gather here to pay their homage.
Qawaalis (poems) are sung in the Saint's
honour. |
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Ganga
Dussehra (Uttar Pradesh) |
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In
this festival ten days are devoted
to the worship of River Ganga. Devotees
bathe in river and take the river
clay home to venerate. |
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Hemis
Festival (Jammu & Kashmir) |
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Is
celebrated at Hemis, the biggest buddhist
monastry in Ladakh. Splendid masked
dances are performed to the accompaniment
of cymbals, drums and long hours. |
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Rathyatra
(Gujarat,Orissa) |
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This
spectacular chariot festival is held
at the famous Jagannath Temple at
Puri. Images of Lord Jagannath, his
sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra
are taken out in procession in three
huge chariots and pulled by millions
of devotees. |
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Guru
Purnima (All over India) |
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A
special worship is performed on this
day to all teachers and is called
Guru Purnima. |
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Janmashtmi
(All Over India) |
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The
birth anniversary of Lord Krishna
is celebrated as Janmashtmi. It is
celebrated with great fervour at Mathura
and Brindavan. |
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Oman
(Kerala) |
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Oman
is Kerala's most popular festival,
celebrated with great enthusiasm.
It is primarily a harvest festival
and is celebrated with fireworks,boat
races and dances. |
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Nag
Panchami (West bengal, Maharashtra
and South India) |
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Nag
Panchami is the festival when snakes,
the symbols of energy and prosperity
are worshipped. |
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Rakshabandhan
(North India) |
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This
is a Hindu sister's day when brothers
and sisters reaffirm their bonds of
affections. Sisters tie colourful
threads or rakhis on their brother's
wrist. Brothers in turn promise to
protect their sisters and give them
gifts. |
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Ganesh
Chaturthi (Maharshtra, Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka) |
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Ganesha
Chaturthi is an important festival
in India, especially in Maharashtra
dedicated to Lord Ganesha. |
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Tarnetar
Mela (Saurashtra, Gujarat) |
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Is
an exciting and a 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 Draupadi. |
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Navratri
(All over India) |
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Navratri
is the longest Hindu festival that
continues for nine consecutive nights
in praise of Lord Rama. |
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Durga
Puja (Bengal) |
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Is
performed during the nine days of
Navratri. Community pujas in Bengal
are organised in every locality. |
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Dussehra
(All over India) |
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Is
celebrated to mark the homecoming
of the Lord Rama. The Ramlila-an enactment
of the life of Lord Rama, is held
nine days before Dussehra. |
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Sharad
Purnima (All over India) |
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Is
a harvest festival when Laxmi, the
Goddess of prosperity, visits all
homes to bring fortune and good luck.
The newly harvested rice is offered
to the gods and lamps are lit before
the full moon. |
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Diwali
(All over India) |
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The
festival of lights is one of the most
beautiful Indian festivals. It comes
21 days after Dussehra. Worship of
Goddess Laxmi is carried out. Fireworks
and festivities are essential part
of the festival. |
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Guru
Purab (North India) |
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The
birth anniversary of Guru Nanak-the
first guru of the sikhs who founded
the Sikh faith. |
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Ka
Pomblang Nogrem (Meghalaya) |
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Is
the most important festival of the
khasis in Meghalaya. The five day
festival, held annually near Shillong,
is an occasion for thanks giving for
a good harvest. |
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Pushkar
Fair (Pushkar, Rajasthan) |
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Is
held every year at Pushkar, near Ajmer.
Thousands of pilgrims come to bathe
in the holy water of Pushkar Lake.
Learn more about Pushkar Fair |
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Christmas
(All over India) |
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Is
celebrated by the Christians and non-Christians
alike with special enthusiasm. All
the major Indian cities wear a festive
look. |
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Konark
Dance Festival (Konark, Orissa) |
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Konark
festival in the Sun Temple, Konark,
offers an unforgettable experience
every December 5th. A host of celebrated
dancers from all over the country
perform on the temple platform or
beach. |
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