Top Festivals Of India
We share with you the top festivals of India in this special article.India is a potpourri of distinct cultures and traditions, intermingling together to make it the most vibrant land of rambunctious, sensory-busting, colorful festivals
Top Festivals Of India That Allure Foreign Tourists
- Kumbh Mela
One of the largest human congregations in the world, Kumbh Mela is one festival that you should definitely be a part of at least once in a lifetime. The festival of the Pot of Nectar of Immortality is held every 3 years in four sacred pilgrim centers in India – Prayag in Uttar Pradesh, Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and Nasik in Maharashtra. Pilgrims from around the world gather together on one of these pilgrim centers on certain auspicious days of the year and bathe in the sacred river to gain immortality and wisdom. Get up, close and personal with radiant saints and yogis of Himalayas, and watch them a parade and bathe.
- Holi
Holi is inarguably one of the most amazing festivals of India that every traveler must be a part of to discover the country’s religious significance and cultural traditions. The Festival of Colours marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated in the month of March. People commemorate the festival by smearing colors or gulal on each other’s face and sprinkling colored water with a sprinkler. Thandai or Bhaang, a semi-liquid delicacy made from the certain portion of cannabis and other edible ingredients, add to the spirit of the festival. Some places in India where Holi is celebrated with immense zeal and fervors are Mathura & Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, Shantiniketan in West Bengal and Jaipur in Rajasthan. So, be ready to be smeared with the colors of India.
In fact, if you are a photography lover, there is hardly any place to be on Holi in India other than Nandgaon and Barsana where lathmar Holi is celebrated where the women folk of village Barsana (mythologically the village of Radha Rani, the consort of Lord Krishna who was incarnation of Lord Vishnu as per the Hindu beliefs ) beat the menfolk of Nandgaon with sticks. The whole atmosphere is charged with festivities and color.
- Temple Festivals of Kerala
Treat your senses to the extravagance and ecstasy of Kerala’s temple festivals, beginning in the month of February and continuing till April. The key highlight of the festival is an elaborate and majestic procession of elephants that marks the beginning of any ritual. Among the temple festivals of Kerala, Thrissur Pooram is one of the most popular, held during April/May. Witness scores of elephants, beautifully adorned, standing still in a procession as drummers create a blissful orchestra of sound and music. Arattupuzha Pooram is another major festival and the most emphatic of all in India.
- Janmashtami
Janmashtami commemorates the birthday of Lord Krishna who is believed to be the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu according to Hindu mythology. It is celebrated for two days in the month of August or September and signifies India’s divine spirituality. Mumbai in Maharashtra and Mathura & Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh are the best places to be a part of Janmashtami celebration in India. There are numerous temples in Mathura-Vrindavan that are beautifully decorated during this time and also hold the massive display of important scenes from Lord Krishna’s life. However, Mumbai adds a distinct flair to the festival with its Dahi Handi ceremony, where clay pots containing items like curd, butter or money are hung high. Participants of the ceremony have to form a human pyramid and one of them has to reach the clay pot and break it. Others try to break the pyramid by splashing colors on the Govindas.
- Durga Puja
Durga Pooja or Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the Bengalis (a term loosely used to refer to both people who live in West Bengal state as well as to those who live elsewhere but speak the Bengali language ) and perhaps the finest mix of traditions, colors, vibrancy and spirituality. It is believed that no other festival in India exudes such high spirit, diversity, and extravagance as Durga Puja. Kolkata in West Bengal is the ultimate place to be a part of this grand festival that commemorates the power of Goddess Durga, representing divine energy. It is a conglomeration of culture and arts that come alive in its pandals, idols of Goddess Durga and much more. Pandal hopping, food, new dresses, adda are the best ways to celebrate Durga Pooja. You may experience Durga Pooja festivities if you are in Delhi at Chittaranjan Park area of South Delhi. - Diwali
Durga Pooja or Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the Bengalis (a term loosely used to refer to both people who live in West Bengal state as well as to those who live elsewhere but speak the Bengali language ) and perhaps the finest mix of traditions, colors, vibrancy and spirituality. It is believed that no other festival in India exudes such high spirit, diversity, and extravagance as Durga Puja. Kolkata in West Bengal is the ultimate place to be a part of this grand festival that commemorates the power of Goddess Durga, representing divine energy. It is a conglomeration of culture and arts that come alive in its pandals, idols of Goddess Durga and much more. Pandal hopping, food, new dresses, adda are the best ways to celebrate Durga Pooja. You may experience Durga Pooja festivities if you are in Delhi at Chittaranjan Park area of South Delhi.
When it is about the best festivals in India, Diwali – The Festival of Lights – needs special mention. It is one of the most popular festivals that are blissfully intertwined with ancient mythology and spirituality. It is celebrated in the month of October or November, depending on the phases of the moon. The festival is characterized by Pooja of Goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesha (and Goddess Kali in some regions), bursting firecrackers and lighting earthen lamps known as diyas. Homes are beautifully decorated with colorful lights and diyas, and rangolis made of flower petals and gulal, which is a sight to behold. Diwali is a festival of happiness, fun, and spirituality, emphasizing true beauty of India.
- Onam
Onam is a festival typically celebrated in Kerala over a span of ten days, and is considered one of the richest festivals in India in terms of heritage and cultural exuberance. It is celebrated on the first months in the Malayalam calendar. One of the key attractions of the festival is Pookalam, a beautiful rangoli made from flower petals that adorn the front doors of homes. Pookalam competitions are also held during this time and is a must see to witness the most beautiful and finest expositions of floral designs that are compared to none in the world.
- Ganesh Chaturthi
If you happen to be in Maharashtra during late August or September, you simply cannot miss being a part of Ganesh Chaturthi, the biggest and most popular festival in the state. It is celebrated with immense pomp and grandeur for 11 days when stunning idols of Lord Ganesha are made and worshipped majestically. On the 11th day, the idols are taken on a lavish procession, accompanied by vivacious singing and dancing, and immersed in the sea. The procession to the sea, or Visarjan, is a spectacle to behold.
- Pushkar Camel Fair
The famous fair held in the beautiful state of Rajasthan truly takes the form of a grand festival, celebrated in the month of November every year. Just like Kumbh Mela, it is one of the biggest congregations of camels and cattle, dressed beautifully and accompanied by thousands of traders and pilgrims from around the world. However, the festival is not just about the Ship of the Desert; it comes to life with masses of mystics, musicians, folk dances and acrobats that enhances the spirit of the festival.
9.Konark Festival
The annual Konark Dance Festival in Odisha is a “global exposure of Indian dance and culture” that attracts visitors from around the world. Many Eminent dance artists of international repute participate in this festival and perform Kathak, Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Kuchipudi and other classical, tribal and folk dances and music of India. The stage is set at the astounding ‘Salamander’ or the dancing hall of the Sun Temple, an architectural wonder. Besides amazing dance performances, Sand Art exhibition and display of Odisha’s temple sculptures are other attractions for tourists here.
10.Rath Yatra in Puri
Rath Yatra, or the Chariot Festival, is one of the most remarkable festivals of India that showcase exceptional fanfare and grandeur. The festival is celebrated every year in Puri, Odisha, during the months of June or July. The world-famous religious festival attracts over one million pilgrims from around the world. The Jagannath Temple in Puri is one of the most sacred temples in India. During this festival, the beautifully decked idols of the three deities of the temple – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra – are taken to the streets in a grand procession. Chariot pulling is the most exciting part of the occasion and is also considered most sacred.
11.International Kite Festival, Gujarat
The International Kite Festival, or Uttarayan, is one of the biggest festivals of India and is celebrated in Gujarat with great pomp and fervor. The event attracts visitors from different parts of the world who come to witness the breathtaking sight of kites of all sizes and shapes adorning the sky most extravagantly.The festival is rejoiced to welcome the summer or the harvest season. One can see infinite varieties of kites during this festival, which has been influenced by international participants in the recent times. The event emphasizes a true part of the culture in India.
12.International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh
The International Yoga Festival in organized annually by Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh and attracts visitors from different parts of the world. The root of the festival lies in Yoga, wherein you can be a part of over 60 hours of Yoga classes from masters of national and international repute. From traditional Yoga practices to contemporary styles from premier international Yoga schools, the experience is unforgettable. Every year, thousands of international tourists visit Rishikesh to be a part of this grand Yoga festival.
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