Fairs and Festivals in India

The beauty of India rests in its vibrant culture, enthralling history, and diverse traditions, all of which have resulted in various festivities. Every event in India is commemorated, from the harvest to the lunar cycle. The best time to visit is during a festival if you want to see the land's multicoloured splendour. The majority of traditional Indian festivals have a socio-religious theme. Almost every one of them is accompanied by religious ceremonies of some sort. There are two parts to any traditional festivity. One is worship, which is carried out in accordance with religious guidelines. Second, the majority of our festivals are open to people from all walks of life. The celebrations associated with a festival are attended by members of all communities. Here are some of India's most well-known fairs and festivals for you to visit on your next trip.

1. Holi- One of India's most well-known holidays is Holi, often known as the "Festival of Colors." The event is centred on Bhakt Prahlad's complete devotion to Lord Vishnu, which allows the demon Holika to be burned and annihilated. The most enjoyable part, though, is when individuals spray each other with water guns and apply coloured powder 'gulal' on each other. Bhang (a paste derived from cannabis plants) is also widely consumed during the festivities. If you don't mind getting soaked and dirty, Holi is a carefree event that can be a lot of fun. Holi is a Hindu celebration celebrated on the full moon day of the Phalgun month. It is also known as the Spring Festival because it occurs at the commencement of the spring season.
2. Lohri- Lohri, one of India's most famous Punjabi festivals, is celebrated by starting a big bonfire in the yard after the rabi crops are harvested. Lohri signifies the start of the harvest season and the conclusion of the winter season in Punjab. Lohri is observed on the last day of the month of Paush, also known as Makar Sankranti, in most parts of India. Sesame seeds, jaggery, and rewaries are offered to the fire by people dressed in traditional garb. People often pray to the deity of fire for good fortune and happiness in their lives. They sing and dance around the fire till it extinguishes. They also greet their friends and relatives with greetings and gifts. Lohri, one of India's most well-known festivals, is held in the first month of the year.
3. Makar Sankranti- Makar Sankranti marks the winter solstice and the arrival of longer days by the sun's transit into the Capricorn constellation. The event is known and celebrated across India under a variety of titles. It is known as Maghi in North India, Magh Bihu in Assam, Pedda Panduga in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Thai Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and Sukarat in Central India. It's one among the few celebrations in India that adheres to the solar calendar. To honour the day, people participate in numerous rites and customs, such as taking a dip in the Ganges, presenting water to the Sun God, and flying kites. West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Tripura, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh all celebrate Makar Sankranti. According to the Hindu calendar, it is normally observed on the 14th or 15th of January.
4. Maha Shivratri- Maha Shivratri, which means "Great Night of Shiva," is a Hindu festival celebrated all across the world. As the festival's name suggests, Maha Shivratri honours the Hindu divinity Lord Shiva. In reality, this annual celebration depicts the triumph of light over darkness. Devotees who are dedicated to the ritual stay up all night performing pujas. Unlike most other Hindu festivals, Maha Shivratri is devoid of cultural events. Instead, it involves fasting, meditation, prayer singing, and Shiva Linga worship. Maha Shivaratri is observed on the Chaturdashi of the Krishna Paksha of the Phalgun month, according to the Panchang (Hindu calendar). In addition to commemorating Shiva and Shakti's union, unmarried women pray and fast on this day in the hopes of meeting a spouse as loving as Shiva.
5. Eid-ul-Fitr- Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr after the Ramadan fasting month. Ramadan, the Muslim holy month during which Muslims fast, has come to a conclusion. Eid-ul-Fitr is a major Muslim celebration celebrated around the world, and it is unquestionably one of India's most important festivals. The event celebrates the end of a holy month of festivities. Friends and family are invited to group prayer sessions, a sacrificial ceremony, a great feast, and other celebrations. The appearance of the new moon near the conclusion of Ramdan determines the day of celebration.
6. Basant Panchami- Basant Pamchami or Saraswati Puja is widely observed in Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam. On this day, people consume yellow food and wear yellow clothing, which is why it is also known as the Yellow Festival, with Sabat translating to 'yellow' in Hindi. In Rajasthan, people wear jasmine garlands, while in Uttarakhand, people revere Lord Shiva and Parvati as the earth's mother. Every year in January or February, the Hindu Spring Festival takes place. During the event, Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess, is honoured. Sikhs hold a Langar to honour the yellow festival. People pray for knowledge and a lovely style of speaking with a pure heart on this day.
7. Losar- Losar, the Tibetan New Year, is celebrated in Ladakh primarily in late January or early February. The celebration includes ancient traditions, theatre, and dances. The "Metho" Ceremony is the principal Ladakhi ceremonial, in which people move from street to street holding flaming torches and chanting prayers to ward off evil spirits.
8. Pongal- Makar Sankranti is the name given to this celebration in India. Pongal falls on the same day every year, at the start of the Tamil month of Thai or Tai. The three days of the Pongal festival are Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, and Mattu Pongal. Pongal is a well-known harvest celebration in Tamil Nadu devoted to Surya, the Sun God. It always begins on January 13th or 14th. From January 13 to 16, Pongal, one of India's most celebrated festivities, takes place. On January 14th, the major events will take place.
9. Onam- Onam is the most important celebration of the year in Kerala, a South Indian state. The mythical King Mahabali's homecoming to his country is commemorated and the state's history and legacy are celebrated throughout this multi-day harvest celebration. People lay flowers in exquisite patterns on the ground in front of their homes to welcome the king. The events include traditional costumes, feasts served on banana leaves, folk dancing, games, and snake boat racing. In and of themselves, the snake boat races are a popular tourist attraction.
10. Easter- Easter is a worldwide religious event commemorated by churches. The festival is a Christian rebirth that remembers Jesus' resurrection. Special prayers in churches in honour of Jesus Christ are typically chanted throughout the event, which is followed by an elaborate Sunday service with cheerful hymns. Another major component of Easter is the egg. The egg is a symbol of rebirth in the Christian religion. People decorate eggs and go egg hunting on this day. It is observed on the Sunday following Good Friday.
11. Durga Puja- It is one among the most widely celebrated festivals in India, especially in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, Jharkhand, and Bihar. During Durga Puja, large clay idols of the ten-armed Goddess Durga and her four children are worshipped in specially constructed mandaps. People dress up and take their families and friends pandal hopping. Durga Puja, a symbol of Bengali cultural identity, is commemorated with grandeur and mirth for four days. The goddess's idol is immersed in water at the end of the event. If you happen to be in India at this time, the celebrations in West Bengal are worth seeing.
12. Rath Yatra- The Rath Yatra is Puri's most important celebration. Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, the temple deities of Puri's main Jagannath shrine, are lifted with the celestial wheel and conveyed to their respective chariots. The chariots are then taken to the magnificent road of the Gundicha Temple. Thousands of devotees flock to this Yatra. Several media outlets also broadcast live telecasts.
13. Hemis Festival- The birth anniversary of spiritual guru Padmasambhava is celebrated on the 10th day of the Tibetan lunar month, which corresponds to June or July in the Gregorian calendar. Hemis, a two-day religious celebration in Ladakh, is one of the most well-known in India. A big number of people visit this location during the Festival. It's one of India's most fascinating events, with priests in complex brocade robes and masks performing Cham dances to the traditional music of drums, cymbals, and trumpets played by monks.
14. Raksha Bandhan- Raksha Bandhan is a prominent Indian event that honours and promotes brother-sister relationships. The event represents a brother's responsibility to watch after his sister in both happy and terrible times. The rakhi is a symbol of a brother's promise to his sister. It's a lovely occasion that comes with goodies!
15. Janmashtami- Janmashtami is celebrated as Lord Krishna's birthday in the Mathura prison. As a result, it is enthusiastically received! Lord Krishna's birth in the Mathura jail is commemorated on Janmashtami, one of India's most prominent holidays. Throughout the country, there are several legendary festivals, particularly in Mathura and Vrindavan. Prayers, dances, bhajans, and other hymns are sung throughout the night and day to commemorate Lord Krishna's birth. In some parts of India, such as Maharashtra and Goa, the game of 'Dahi Handi' is played, in which young people create a human pyramid to smash an earthen pot filled with curd that is hung at a great height. This represents Krishna's fondness for dairy products and cows.
16. Dussehra- Vijaya Dashami is a Hindu festival celebrated on the tenth day of the Kartik month. This event marks the end of the nine-day Navratri holiday. The celebration commemorates Lord Rama's victory over Ravana, and so signifies the triumph of good over evil. Dussehra is celebrated in India in a variety of ways. Symbolic statues of Ravana, his brothers Meghnath and Kumbhkaran, and their brothers Meghnath and Kumbhkaran, are raised and mounted along numerous avenues as part of the event, where they will be torched by a flaming arrow.
17. Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti- Guru Nanak Jayanti, the most important of all the Gurupurabs or anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus, commemorates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh faith who ushered in a new wave of religion. Guru Nanak was born in Talwandi, near Lahore, in 1469, and was the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. The well-travelled leader's unwillingness to accept the practise of multiple religions in society, each professing a different deity, motivated him to break free from the shackles of religious plurality and form a religion based on a single God who is the everlasting reality. The Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations include the three-day Akhand Path, during which the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism's holy book, is read. On the day of the main celebration, the Granth Sahib is decked with flowers and carried on a float in a ceremonial procession through a hamlet or city.
18. Muharram- This Muslim holiday takes place in the first month of the Islamic calendar. According to the Gregorian calendar, the festival's dates change every year. Shia Muslims remember Hussein ibn Ali, a martyred Shia Muslim. It is a month of mourning for them, while it is a month of peace for Sunni Muslims. The grieving phase lasts for two months and eight days, starting on the first day of the month. On the tenth day, Shia Muslims organise processions in the streets with banners. It is, on the other side, a month of fasting and legendary feats for Sunni Muslims. It is entirely up to the individual whether or not to fast.
19. Christmas- Christmas is a major event in India, not only because of Western cultural influence through programmes and movies, but also because the country was colonised by a monarchy that sent out a lot of missionaries. Cities like Goa, Pondicherry, Kerala, Kolkata, and others light up like any other western metropolis during the Christmas celebration. Christmas trees stand on corners, youngsters sing carols outside churches, and there's a festive vibe all around. As Mumbai joins in the festivities, Bandra becomes the epicentre of all Christmas activities, from shopping to night mass to revelry. Christmas, which is celebrated every year on December 25th, is one of India's most popular celebrations, attributable to the cultural diversity of the country.
20. Ganesh Chaturthi- The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which lasts 11 days, honours Lord Ganesha's birth as a Hindu elephant-headed god. The event kicks out with the placement of gigantic, artistically carved Ganesh sculptures in houses and public podiums that have been lavishly decorated. Every day throughout the festival, the sculptures are adored. On the last day before being plunged in the ocean, they are paraded around the streets with much singing and dancing. The ideal city to visit to get a sense of it is Mumbai.
21. Diwali- Diwali is a festival that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. It marks the return of Lord Ram and his wife Sita to their kingdom of Ayodhya following Ravan's defeat and Sita's rescue on Dussehra. The "Festival of Lights" refers to the fireworks, little clay torches, and candles that are lit to guide them. For Hindu families in India, Diwali is the most anticipated celebration.
22. Chhath Puja- According to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, Chhath Puja is held on the sixth day of Kartika, which corresponds to October or November on the Gregorian calendar. This festival is dedicated to the deity of light. One of India's most well-known celebrations, it is a four-day festival honouring the sun. Many people fast and bathe in the sacred Ganges during the Pooja. Devotees thank God for their lives and pray for a better future.
23. Id-ul-Zuha- Id-ul-Zuha (Bakr-Id) is a Muslim celebration of tremendous joy marked by special prayers and greetings and gifts exchanged. Id-ul-zuha, or the festival of sacrifice, is celebrated with traditional fervour and delight throughout India and around the world. It is known as Bakr-Id in the Indian subcontinent and Eid-ul-Adha in Arabic because of the practise of slaughtering a goat, or 'bakr' in Urdu. The words 'id' and 'zuha' are derived from the Arabic words 'iwd,' which means 'festival,' and 'uzhaiyya,' which means'sacrifice.' On one of the festival's three days, any Muslim who possesses property worth at least 400 grammes of gold must sacrifice a donkey, sheep, or other four-legged animal. This symbolises Allah's wishes and devotion to him. The sacrificial meat is distributed and eaten after the Id prayers. The celebration also honours Haj's completion (pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia).
24. Baisakhi- Baisakhi is a harvest festival celebrated in Punjab and across the northern Indian subcontinent. On this day, the Sikh New Year and the creation of the Khalsa Panth are also commemorated. Baisakhi celebrations have been going on since 1699. The then-Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, spoke to the historic Baisakhi Day Sikh assembly at Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur. The Guru's five men, known as Panj Piara or 'Beloved Five,' are also honoured on this day.
25. Bohag Bihu- One of Assam's most prominent celebrations is Bihu. This seven-day celebration kicks off on April 14th and runs through April 28th. The festivities linger for a month, despite the fact that the festival only lasts a week. There are numerous rituals associated with this holiday, each of which is distinct for each day of celebration. Bihu dance, which is performed throughout the state, is the festival's specialty.