FESTIVALS OF INDIA

Festivals of India

Whilst Northern India eagerly anticipates the arrival of Holi in March, we look into some of the other festivals that take place in one of the most colourful countries in the world. Observed with enthusiasm and gaiety, festivals are like gems ornamenting the crown of Indian Culture. They are round the year vibrant interludes in the repetitive routine of life – some Indians may disagree that their life is a repetitive routine!. Packed with fun and excitement, festivals serve as an occasion to spring clean and decorate houses, to get together with friends and relatives and to exchange gifts. New attire, dance, music and rituals- all add to their joyful rhythm.

Holi festival is the most lively of all Hindu festivals is observed all over North India, which falls on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun (March) according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. It heralds the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring and marks the rekindling of the spirit of life. The night before full moon, crowds of people gather together and light huge bonfires to burn the residual dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People throw coloured powders at each other and make merry. People, young and old are drenched with colours being poured from atop the houses, bursting balloons, or long pistons. Singing and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion.

Pushkar Fair
This fair is held at Pushkar town, 11 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan for twelve days annually in November. This cultural and trade cum religious fair is an attractive and lively spectacle with Rajasthani men and women in their colourful traditional attire, saffron-robed and ash smeared Sadhus (holy men) and thousands of camels in richly decorated saddles. Perhaps the largest cattle fair in the world, it attracts many people from all over Rajasthan. Trading of cattle, camel races and dazzling displays of bangles, brassware, clothes, camel saddles and halters make the fair colourful and vibrant. Necklaces of glass beads from Naguar, pottery, printed textiles from Jodhpur and Ajmer are all on sale here. Farmers, cattle traders and breeders buy and sell their animals, leather whips, saddles etc. There are facilities for camel rides also. It has a large number of temples including one of the only two temples dedicated to Lord Brahma in India. Hundreds of thousands of devotees take a ritual dip in the holy Pushkar lake and worship at the Brahma temple. Apart from the religious rituals and trading, people participate in a number of cultural and sporting events. The sweeping expanse of the desert becomes dotted with thousands of camels, stalls and camping families.   This festival can offer you amazing insights to historic traditions of Pushkar with so much going on it is a fun-filled day fro everyone.

Mewar Festival

An exhilarating welcome to spring, this festival is a visual feast with Rajasthani songs, dances, processions, devotional music and firework displays. It is celebrated in the romantic city of Udaipur during the Gangaur Festival. A procession of colourfully attired women carrying the images of the goddess Gauri, make their way to the Lake Pichola. An unusual procession of boats on the lake offers a fitting finale to this splendid celebration.

Our experienced staff will be pleased to help plan your journey to India around one of many of India’s exciting and unmissable festivals. Contact us today for more information.