In the month of Shravan , thousands of pilgrims make an arduous trek up to the Amarnath cave in the Kashmir Himalayas. They come to worship the sacred ice lingam - a symbol of Lord Shiva, which is a natural phenomenon.

Buddha Purnima, which falls on the full moon night in the month of Vaisakha (either in April or May), commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world. Notwithstanding the summer heat (temperatures routinely touch 45 degrees C), pilgrims come from all over the world to Bodh Gaya, the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment. The day is marked with prayer meets, sermons on the life of Buddha, religious discourses, recitation of Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, processions, worship of Buddha's statue and symposia. The Mahabodhi Temple wears a festive look and is decorated with colourful flags and flowers. Celebration of this festival has been recorded by the Chinese scholar, Fa-Hien.

Mahavir Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira (the founder of Jainism) is observed on the first day of the month of Bhadrapad in April. It is the main festival of the Jain community, and Jain temples dedicated to Lord Mahavira are decorated with flags for the occasion.
In the morning the idol of Lord Mahavira is given abhishek (a ceremonial bath). It is then placed in a cradle and taken in a procession around the neighborhood. Drummers, boys with silver staves and aarti lamps, bhajan singers, musicians, horses, elephants and tableaux depicting scenes from the life of Lord Mahavira form part of the pageant. The procession concludes with ceremonial prayers and meditation at a temple or huge ground reserved for the purpose.

This is the main festival of the Sindhi community, and celebrates the birth of their household deity. It is celebrated for forty days every year, generally from the 16th of July to the 24th of August. During these days, Sindhis perform the ritual of jyot jagana (lighting the lamp) on a big plate of bronze. There is a procession on the 40th day. Fairs are held and lots of people are invited for the celebrations.

The birth anniversary of Shiva, the Lord of Destruction in the Hindu pantheon, is celebrated in March. Shiva devotees fast through the day and stay awake through the night, praying. They offer up special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables and coconut. Special celebrations are held in the major Shiva temples at Varanasi, Kalahasti (Andhra Pradesh) and Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu).

Christmas, the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, is celebrated by Indian Christians on December 25^th,in much the same way as it is celebrated by Christians worldwide.
The day is ushered in with midnight mass, sounds of carols fill the air, Christmas trees are brought home and decorated, gifts are exchanged with friends and family, diets fight a losing battle when confronted with tables groaning under the weight of mouth-watering goodies. All the major Indian cities wear a festive look. Shops and bazaars are decorated for the occasion and offer attractive bargains.
Christmas sets off a week of festivities, culminating with New Year celebrations on Jan 1^st.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, perhaps the best-known Hindu festival, marks the end of the festival season that opens with Ganesh Chaturthi. Diwali is celebrated throughout India , as well as in the Indian Diaspora worldwide. It usually takes place eighteen days after Dussehra in October/November. Diwali is called the "festival of lights", and the name itself means an array of lamps. Illumination is characteristic of Diwali - even the humblest of households lights small oil lamps, diyas, and places them around the house. The diyas are symbolic of the welcome given to Lord Rama, Prince of Ayodhya, on his return after 14 years of exile. Homes are given a thorough cleaning and rangoli designs (intricate patterns made of coloured powders or flowers on the floor) adorn the entrance. Everyone feasts on mithai (traditional Indian sweets) and as night falls, children celebrate with fireworks. South Indians start their day with an oil bath.

Diwali is celebrated for five continuous days and each day has its significance.
The first day is Dhanteras. The word dhan means wealth, and as such, this day has special significance for the rich mercantile community (especially of Western India). Women purchase gold, silver or new utensils.
The second day is Narka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali . This commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna (divine) over the demon king Narakasur (evil). A traditional oil bath before sunrise is a must, especially in Maharashtra. The third day that of Lakshmi Puja or Chopda Puja, is regarded as the most auspicious. It is believed that on this day the Goddess Lakshmi, consort of Vishnu (the preserver in the pantheon of Hindu gods), roams around, showering her blessings on man, for plenty and prosperity. One of the most curious customs, especially in North India, is the practice of gambling on a large scale. It is believed that Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband, Lord Shiva, on this day and she decreed that whoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuring year.

The fourth day, Padwa or Varshapratipada , marks the coronation of King Vikramaditya. It is the first day of a new year according to Vikram Samvat, the Hindu calendar, which started from this day. This day is regarded as the most auspicious to start a new venture.

The fifth and final day is called Bhaiya Duj in the Hindi-speaking belt and Bhau Beej in the Marathi-speaking community. Like Raksha Bandhan, it is a day for brothers and sisters, and on this day, brothers go to their sisters' houses for a special meal.

In South India and in the business community, Diwali is associated mainly with the Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth. In rural areas, it is celebrated mainly as a harvest festival. Diwali has the same importance for Hindus as Christmas does for Christians.

On this day in August, snakes are worshipped in West Bengal and Maharashtra, as symbols of energy, prosperity and virility. Milk and cooked rice are offered to snakes carried by snake charmers. Clay snakes are brought home, worshipped and immersed in the sea or river in the evening.
In South India, particularly in Kerala, snake temples are crowded on this day and prayers are offered to the stone or metal icons of the eternal cosmic serpent Ananta or Shesha.

Dussehra, or Vijay Dashmi, is celebrated in September / October, to commemorate the victory of Lord Rama, virtuous Prince of Ayodhya, over ten-headed Ravana, the evil king of Sri Lanka who abducted Rama's wife, Sita, and was subsequently vanquished in battle. Dussehra thus celebrates the victory of Good over Evil.

The nine days preceding Dussehra are known as Navaratri. During this period, the Mother Goddess (“Devi Ma”) is worshipped in all her forms - as Saraswati (consort of Brahma, the creator, and goddess of knowledge), Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu, the preserver, and granter of wealth), and Parvati (consort of Shiva, the destroyer, and the most powerful and complex of all the goddesses). People also worship the tools of their trade.

During the ten days of celebrations, Ramlilas (dance dramas enacting the story of Lord Rama) take place all over North India. On the last (tenth) day, effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkaran, and his son, Meghnath, are packed with firecrackers and burnt at sunset.

In Mysore, Dussehra is a grand occasion. The Mysore palace is illuminated for a month. Caparisoned elephants lead a colourful procession through the streets of the city. A torch light parade and many musical / dance events round off celebrations.

In Gujarat Navaratri is a community affair. Young girls, resplendent in traditional finery, dance away the night doing the traditional Garbha dance or Dandiya Raas .
In Bengal, Dussehra is celebrated as Pujo. Each lcality erects a pandal with beautifully decorated idols of Goddess Durga.

In Himachal Pradesh, Dussehra is celebrated with a week-long fair in the hill town of Kullu . Deities are brought, in procession, from the little temples in the hills to Kullu, to pay homage to the reigning deity, Raghunathji.

Pujo, or Durga Puja, is celebrated in Bengal in September / October, at the same time as Navaratri in the rest of India . For 9 days, this splendid community festival pays homage to the Goddess Durga, consort of Lord Shiva, whose annual visit is thought to bring well-being and happiness. Almost every colony or locality erects pandals (tents) and holds pujas (prayers) to worship beautifully decorated images of Goddess Durga. Families visit relatives, everyone feasts and buys new clothes. Because of Durga Ma's auspicious presence, no meat, wine or alcohol is consumed during Pujo, and some people fast all through the festival. Many cultural events are organized. On the final day, Bijoya, the idols are taken in elaborate processions to be immersed in the river or the sea.

“Navaratri” means 9 nights, and Navaratri, celebrated in the month of Ashwin (September / October), is the longest Hindu festival. Different regions have different themes for celebrating Navaratri, but the underlying commonality is the victory of good over evil.

In North India , the 9 days are filled with continuous chanting from the great epic, “Ramayana”, which tells the story of Rama, Prince of Ayodhya. Here, Navaratri culminates in Dussehra or Vijayadashami, the day Rama kills Ravana, the evil king of Lanka who abducted Rama's wife, Sita. Evenings see the enactment of Ramlila, dance dramas on the life of Rama.

In Bengal , Navaratri is celebrated as Pujo, a celebration of Durga, goddess of power and vitality who is believed to take a new form on each of the nine days. Durga is believed to have slain the demon, Mahishasura, on Dussehra. Rama is also said to have worshipped the goddess, seeking her blessings in order overpower Ravana.

In Gujarat, Navaratri is a cultural festival. Every night men and women of all ages dress up in all their festive finery, and gather in courtyards to do the Garba and Dandiya Raas community dances. Many a romance has sparked off at Navaratri garbas .

The Sunday marking the resurrection of Christ is celebrated by Christians all across India . It is preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and prayer from February to March that begins with Ash Wednesday and culminates in Good Friday, the day of mourning when Jesus Christ was crucified. Easter eggs and hot cross buns are some of the goodies distributed on Easter.

Onam, Kerala's most important festival, heralds the harvest season. It is celebrated in the month of September and brings ten days of prayers, feasting, and song and dance to the state. One the second day of the festival, every home is decorated and brightly lit. Friends exchange greetings and present each other with lengths of auspicious saffron cloth.

According to legend, Onam is considered to be the day when King Mahabali comes from exile to visit his beloved people. At Trichur (Thrissur), caparisoned elephants take part in a spectacular procession. This is followed by a magnificent display of fireworks. Major attractions of Onam are the famed snake boat races along the backwaters at Champakulam, Aranmula and Kottayam. About a hundred oarsmen in each boat row huge and graceful odee (snake boats) to the rhythm of drums, cymbals and songs praising Mahabali's reign. In the evening, cultural festivities are held throughout the state with displays of the famed Kathakali, Kaikottikkali (the clapping dance), and Mohiniattam dances.

The birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad is celebrated all over India with the reading of the Quran and religious discourses in the mosques.

This 3–day festival, celebrated from January 13 to 16 (as the dates are calculated by the solar calendar, they never change), originally marked the harvest festivities of the farming community, to give thanks for bounteous crops. Today it has become one of South India’s most popular festivals, the equivalent of Makar Sankranti in the North, and is widely celebrated in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The word Pongal has two connotations. It is the name of the special dish - rice cooked in milk and jaggery - made on this day. It also means to boil over.

The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is dedicated to Indra, the Rain God. The day is spent with family; homes are thoroughly cleaned, a dish of rice and dal is ceremoniously prepared and served. Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to the Sun God. Elaborate kolam (rangolis) are prepared at the entrance of homes. New clothes are won, new utensils put into use, and new rice is made into pongal, cooked in pots till it overflows. Worship of the cow marks the third day, Mattu Pongal. Cattle are given a ceremonious bath, decorated with ornaments and fed sweetmeats. Cattle races enliven the village festivities. Community meals are held at many a place, using ingredients provided by the freshly gathered harvest.

In Madurai , Tiruchirapalli and Tanjore a kind of bull fight - Jellikuttu - is held. Bundles containing money are tied to the horns of the ferocious bulls, and unarmed men try to wrest the bundles from them.

This magnificent festival is celebrated in January, in Madurai , Tamil Nadu, on the night of the full moon. Ornamented icons of the Goddess Meenakshi and her consort, God Sundaresa, are taken out in a colourful procession from the Meenakshi Temple to the Huge Mariamman Teppakulam. The icons are floated in the tank on a raft decked with flowers and flickering lamps.

This 10-day long festival, honours Lord Ganesh (son of Lord Shiva), the elephant-headed god of auspiciousness who is worshipped as the remover of obstacles and the harbinger of successful new beginnings. It is celebrated all over India in the month of August or September.
Ganesh Chaturthi has special significance in Maharashtra , where the nationalist Bal Gangadhar (Lokamanya) Tilak revived it as a way of getting around the British restrictions on the assembly of people during the freedom struggle. On the first day of the festival an idol of Lord Ganesh is installed – big ones in a community centre, smaller ones in people's homes. The idol is not dressed in clothes - clothes and jewelry are painted on the idol. Puja (prayers) is performed. Small Ganpati idols, kept in homes, are normally immersed after a day. The annual celebration comes to an end on Anand Chaudhas , the tenth day after the installation. On this day all the idols are taken for visarjan (immersion) in the sea or river, in a procession. People sing and dance all the way and chant Ganpati Bappa Maurya Pudcha Varshi Laukrya (My dear God Ganesha come back soon next year).

In Pune, a special three-day long cultural festival is organized, with classical dance and music performances, poetry recitations, folk dances, theatre and a film festival.

Also known as Id-ul-Fitr, this is celebrated by Muslims immediately after the holy month of Ramadan, in October-November. Some Muslims believe that the day marks the revelation of the Quran, their holy book.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast during the day, not even drinking water. The fast is broken only after sundown. On Id, everyone bathes in the morning, wears new clothes, applies perfume, and eats dates or some other sweet before going to the mosque for Id prayers. Men wear white clothes symbolising purity and austerity. Women prepare sweets like Sevian (vermicelli cooked in sweetened milk) and Shir Khurma (a special dish with milk and dates). Family elders give Idi, presents of money, to youngsters. Everyone is greeted with Id Mubarak (Happy Id). People go for Idmilans (meeting friends and relatives).

The Ganga, largest of India ’s rivers and the most sacred to Hindus, holds a unique place in Indian consciousness. Regarded as a celestial river originating in the heavens, she is worshipped as the mother who washes away all the sins of mankind. Ganga Dussehra, held over the first 10 days of the month of Jyeshtha (in June), celebrates Gangavataran - the descent of the Ganga to earth. During the festival, devotees flock to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Garh-Mukteshwar, Prayag, and Varanasi to meditate and take a holy dip. They take the river clay home to worship. In Haridwar, Uttar Pradesh, aartis (prayer songs) are performed at twilight each evening.

Lord Rama, Prince of Ayodhya, hero of the famous epic, Ramayana, is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver in the Hindu pantheon. His birth anniversary is observed on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Chaitra (April). Ayodhya is, naturally, the focus of great celebrations. The devout throng the temples here.
Celebrations begin with a prayer to the Sun early in the morning. At midday, when Lord Rama is supposed to have been born, a special prayer is performed. Devotional songs are sung in praise of Rama. Rathyatras (chariot processions) of Rama, Sita (his wife), Lakshman (his brother) and Hanuman (his devotee) are held from many temples. Devotees gather in thousands on the banks of the sacred river Sarayu for a dip. Some observe a strict fast on this day.

Gudi Padva, the Maharashtrian New Year, celebrated in April, is considered one of the four most auspicious days in the year when people start new ventures. It is believed that Lord Brahma, created the world on this day and so he is worshipped at this time. Lord Vishnu is said to have incarnated as Matsya, the fish, on this day. Prayers are offered to a gudi – an arrangement made of a stick with an upturned pot (originally silver, now any metal) on top around which a new cloth has been wrapped. The gudi is garlanded with flower-shaped sugar lumps and is symbolic of the banner that heralded valiant Marathas returning home, successful, after war. New clothes are worn, and sweets made for the occasion include shrikhand , basundi , and jalebis .

St Francis Xavier was a Spanish Catholic missionary who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Asia. His body lies in a silver casket in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa. Ceremonies to honor his death are performed on December 3, the day of his burial. Earlier, every ten years, his body used to be kept in a glass case, with the feet exposed, for all to see and worship. In 1994, since the condition of the body had deteriorated visibly, the Church decided to stop the exposition.

This festival takes place in the state of Tamil Nadu, in January, in the temples dedicated to Kartikeya or Mariamman. Trenches of burning coal are laid out for devotees to walk over. It has been seen that those who undertake this with faith, come away unscathed. The festival is followed by singing and feasting which continues late into the night.

Jagannath is another name for Lord Krishna, and the Jagannath Rath Yatra observed in the month of Ashadha (June-July) celebrates Krishna's annual visit from Gokul, to his birthplace, Mathura . The Jagannath Temple at Puri, Orissa, is the main venue for celebrations, and millions of devotees converge here every year in a spirit of almost hysterical devotion. Images of Lord Krishna, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra, are taken in giant wooden chariots to Gundicha Ghar, a temple about 3 km away. The chariots are pulled by thousands of devotees. Many more accompany, in a procession. The chariots are made anew each year, and their construction starts as early as April. Jagannath's chariot, Nandighosa, is yellow in colour, 14 meters high, 10 meters square, and has 16 wheels. Balabhadra's chariot, Taladhwaja, is blue, and has 14 wheels. Subhadra's chariot, Deviratha or Darpadalana, has 12 wheels.
When two months of Ashadha fall in one year (this happens every 8 or 9 years), Rath Yatra is observed as the festival of 'Nabakalebar'. The old deities are buried within the temple premises and replaced by new deities, carved out of Margosa (Neem) trees.

A similar, but smaller, celebration is held at Mahesh, Bengal

History has it that when the British first observed the Rathyatra in the 18th century, they were so amazed that they sent home descriptions which gave rise to the term 'juggernaut'.

This festival, held in April, marks the beginning of the New Year in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It is believed that Lord Brahma, the creator in the Hindu pantheon, started his work of creation on this day. The calculations of the great Indian mathematician, Bhaskaracharya, proclaim Ugadi as the beginning of the New Year.
Ugadi marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar. On this day, people wake up and take a head bath, after which they Preparations for Ugadi start a week in advance, with the purchase of new clothes and a thorough cleaning of homes. On the day itself, people rise early (before the break of dawn). After a head bath, they decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves, pray for health, wealth, and success in business in the New Year. Ugadi is considered the most auspicious time to start new ventures.

Ugadi is strongly associated with the jasmine flower. Its scent perfumes the air; it is woven into garlands and offered to the gods, and braided into the long tresses of young girls. The Flame of the Forest (a tree with scarlet flowers) is in full bloom during the season, signifying a time of affluence and beauty.

In Maharashtra, Ugadi is celebrated as Gudi Padva .

Over 3000 years ago, Shah Jamshed of the Peshadian dynasty ascended the throne on the Spring Equinox. His descendants, the Parsi community, celebrate it as the New Year, the dawn of a new day (Navroz literally means “new day”). It is celebrated, even today, with prayers and feasting.
In homes, a special spread, Haft-Sinn - the seven S's - is prepared. Seven is considered to be a lucky number and the spread contains seven items that begin with “s” in Farsi: sabzeh (home grown sprouts), samanou (wheat germ), sib (apples), sonbol (hyacinth), senjed (sorb tree berry), seer (garlic), somagh (sumac). The table also holds seven foods beginning with ' sh ' in Persian, sharab (wine), shakka r (sugar), shir (milk), shirinberej (sweet meat), shirin (sweet), shira (syrup) and shahad (honey); a copy of the Gathas (scriptures); a lit lamp; a mirror; a bowl of water with live fish; a shallow earthenware plate with sprouted wheat or beans (for prosperity); flowers (for colour); a gold or silver coin (for wealth); painted eggs (for productivity); and sweets and rosewater in bowls (for sweetness and happiness). These are meant to symbolize creation and to welcome spring.

Visitors to the house are first led to this table. They are asked to smile into the mirror, so that they may smile throughout the year. They are asked to look at the coin, so that they may have wealth the whole year round. They are sprinkled with rosewater so that they stay fragrant and healthy. After that, they are led to another table for a meal.

Janma means 'birth' and ashtami means 'eighth day'. Janamashtami, celebrated in August / September, commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu (preserver in the Hindu pantheon), born to annihilate Kansa, the evil king of Mathura.
This festival is very popular in North India, especially in Vrindavan and Mathura (the places where Lord Krishna spent his childhood). People observe a daylong fast, which is broken only at midnight, the time when Lord Krishna is believed to have been born. Temples and homes are lit and beautifully decorated. Religious hymns and prayers are offered all night long. Mathura , Lord Krishna's birthplace, has 400 temples dedicated to him, and the celebrations at the Dwarkadhish, Banke Bihari, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balram and Gopinath temples are especially noteworthy. Raslilas (dance dramas) are performed to recreate incidents from the life of Lord Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha.

In Maharashtra, Janmashtami is the time for the exuberant enactment of Lord Krishna's childhood endeavors to steal butter and curd from earthen pots placed beyond his reach by his mother. A matka (earthen pot) containing these (and a monetary prize) is suspended high above the ground and groups of young men and children form human pyramids to try and reach the pot and eventually break it.

In South India , Janmashtami is celebrated with prayers, devotional renditions and offering of fruits and special prasadams to Lord Krishna. In some houses, a typical tableau of 'Gokulam' is laid out, with mud images of Devaki and Vasudeva (Krishna's parents), little Krishna in a basket, a cow, and other things related to Krishna 's legends.

Celebrated in April, usually on the 14^th, Vishau is the New Year as per the traditional Malayalam calendar. It is one of the most important festivals in the state of Kerala. Traditional rituals usher in what is hoped will be another year of prosperity.

The Indian subcontinent hosts more religious festivals than anywhere else in the world, but the Kumbh Mela is the biggest and most mind-boggling of them all. It is, in fact, the largest single gathering of humanity on the planet.

Historians claim the great mela was founded by the eighth-century philosopher, Shankaracharya, who masterminded the triumph of Hinduism in the subcontinent and called for a celebratory gathering of all ascetics, sadhus, temple priests and monastic orders. Ancient Sanskrit scriptures, however, tell a different story.

All of India's saints, sages, mendicants and fakirs come to the Kumbh city (this year, Nasik and the nearby Trimbakeshwar ), as do lakhs of pilgrims. To watch the Kumbh Mela processions is to witness the march of the ages. As the holy men pass by on their many myriad conveyances - elephants, horses, palanquins, chariots, cars, and camels - they transmit waves of powerful shakti (energy) to the watchers. The palpable spiritual vibrations that pervade the entire atmosphere are overwhelming.

The ambience is an unforgettable blend of religion and culture. The sights include ash-smeared sadhus and infirm pilgrims sustained only by faith. Sounds resound, like the chanting of hymns, neighing of horses, trumpeting of elephants, grunting of camels, bellowing of bulls, beating of gongs and drums, blaring of trumpets, blowing of conch shells and chiming of bells. Heady smells of incense and flowers fill the air.

The main rite performed at the Kumbh Mela is the ritual bath. It is believed that bathing in the Godavari, also known as the Deccan Ganga, on the auspicious days, during Kumbh, cures the bather of all sins and evils, and grants salvation.

According to the Garuda Puran, once upon a time, Sage Durvasa visited Lord Indra in Heaven and affectionately offered him a garland. Lord Indra passed on the garland to Airawat, the elephant, who crushed it under his feet. The furious sage cursed Lord Indra, taking away all his riches, virtues and power. On learning this, the demon king Bali attacked Lord Indra, snatching away all his possessions. In the struggle between the Gods and Demons, the demons were gaining. Seeing this, Lord Vishnu (the preserver of the universe) advised Lord Indra to regain his lost powers by acquiring amrit (the divine nectar of immortality) by churning the great sea, Ksheer Sagar. Mighty mountain Mandarachal was used as a churn staff. The formidable serpent king Vasuki became the rope to move the churn. Lord Vishnu, in the guise of a tortoise, gave support from the bottom of the ocean and Lord Brahma guided the churning from top. As the nectar pitcher (kumbh) emerged, Lord Vishnu handed it to his winged mount, Garuda, to take to Heaven. As the demons scrambled for the elixir, some of it spilled on earth at 4 places thereby sanctifying them forever. These places were Nasik (in the western state of Maharashtra, where the Godavari or Deccan Ganga flows), Ujjain ( a sacred city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh) , Haridwar ( in Uttaranchal, where the Ganges flows into the plains) and Allahabad ( in Uttar Pradesh, where the Ganges, Jamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers meet). Garuda's flight took 12 days - 12 years in human time. That is why the Kumbh is celebrated every 12 years, in rotation, at the above 4 locations.

In some versions of the story, it is Jayanta, the son of Indra, who takes away the pot of nectar instead of Garuda.

Ananya means peerless. This week-long festival held in August, true to its name, showcases the unparallel cultural heritage of India . Renowned artistes are invited to perform, in a celebration of India's music and dance history, against the backdrop of Delhi 's Purina Qila.

A rural festival celebrated in Punjab on 13^th April, Baisakhi signifies the beginning of a New Year for the Punjabi community. It was on this day in 1699 that the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa Panth (the Sikh brotherhood) and gave the “5 Ks” (emblems of purity and courage) to his followers: kesh (unshorn hair), kangha (wooden comb), karra , (iron / steel bangle), kirpan (sword) and kachha (underwear). Sikhs therefore, celebrate this festival as a collective birthday with all-night revelries, Baisakhi Di Raat (night of feasting) or fairs, Baisakhi Da Mela. Prayer meetings and kirtans (singing of devotional songs) are organized in gurdwaras (Sikh temples) across the country. After the prayer, karah prasad is served to the congregation. The function ends with langar , the community lunch made and served by volunteers. The holy book of the Sikhs, 'Granth Sahib' is taken in a procession, led by the 'Panj Pyaras' (five senior Sikhs) who are symbolic of the original leaders. The main celebration takes place in the gurdwara at Anandpur Sahib, where the order was formed. Other major celebrations take place at Talwandi Sabo (where Guru Gobind Singh stayed for nine months and completed the recompilation of the Guru Granth Sahib) and at the Golden Temple in Amritsar (where water drawn from all the sacred rivers of India is poured into the huge tank surrounding the temple).

In the rural areas, Baisakhi signifies the harvest of the (main) wheat crop. Farmers give thanks for Mother Nature's bounty and pray for a better crop next year.

Actually a collection of 3 festivals, Bihu marks distinctive stages in the cultivation of paddy, the principal crop of the state of Assam .

Festival Name	Season	Held in
Magh Bihu	Winter	Mid January
Bohag Bihu	Spring	Mid April
Kati Bihu	Autumn	Mid October

Bohag Bihu is also called Rongaali Bihu, the Festival of Merriment. True to its name, it ushers in a period of enjoyment. The festival lasts for several days. The first day, Goru Bihu, is reserved for cattle – cows' feet are washed, their horns and hooves are rubbed with oil, and they are garlanded. The next day, Manuh Bihu, sees homage paid to elders, relatives and friends, with a special meal of chira, curds and sweets. The third day, Gosain Bihu, is dedicated to religious services. Games, sports, special Bihu songs, dances, “ Bihu Kunwori” contests (dancing competitions) and fairs are all part of Bihu celebrations.

This festival, held in January, in Bikaner , Rajasthan, is dedicated to the ship of the desert - the camel. The festival starts with a magnificent procession of beautifully decorated camels. There's plenty of Rajasthani culture on show too, to enchant those present: music, dance and competitions.

"Kut" means festival in Mizo parlance, and the state of Mizoram celebrates 3 of them: Chapchar Kut, Mim Kut and Pawl Kut. All are connected with agricultural activities, and all are celebrated with feasts and dances.

Chapchar Kut celebrates the arrival of spring. The festival begins with Kut Puipate , the inauguration ceremony, followed by the Then Katna , arranging of the dance groups in the stadium. Once the Then Hnihna begins, elders, dressed in traditional costumes to represent the various tribes of the region, take part in a fantastic procession called Kut rore. This is followed by various tribal dances, the most important being the Cheraw (bamboo dance). The function ends with the Then Thumna, an event where local singers present traditional popular songs, with the cheering crowd joining in.

Started back in 1927 to commemorate the anniversary of the Madras Music Academy, this month-long festival is held from mid December to mid January in the city of Chennai to celebrate (classical) Carnatic music and the dance traditions of South India.

For lovers of Carnatic music, this is a treat. Held at a number of venues around the city by various sabhas (organizations), this cultural extravaganza sees more than 2,000 people take part. There are vocal and instrumental music concerts, and solo and group dances, with upcoming artistes getting a rare opportunity to perform along with well-established artistes.

See the gracious city of Hyderabad , in Andhra Pradesh, come alive with ghazal nights, qawalis, mushairas, a pearl and bangle fair, and a food festival serving the best of the city's famed cuisine.

This three-day extravaganza of colour, music and festivity is held on the stretches of sand around the desert citadel of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in February each year. The fun and frolic includes fire dancers swaying to traditional tunes, a turban-tying competition and a Mr. Desert contest. The grand finale is a trip to the sand dunes to watch folk dancers and musicians perform under the stars. A camel ride is a must!

Kolkata's largest Indian classical musical event, the Dover Lane Music Conference is held in January every year at Nazrul Mancha. It has been taking place for the last 25 years.

Elephants are the centre of attraction at this festival held every Holi, in Jaipur, Rajasthan. They stride majestically, parading their decorated trunks and tusks. The festival begins with a procession of elephants, camels and horses, painted and gaily decorated with glittering ornaments and embroidered velvets. The elephants greet visitors, offer garlands to guests and walk past a jury of experts and tourists, vying for the "Best Decorated Elephant" shield. The animals are followed by lively folk dancers. Elephant races and elephant polo matches are special attractions. The highlight of the festivals is a hilarious tug of war between elephants and men. The Gaj Shringar exhibition displays everything connected with the elephant - ornaments, textiles (jhoo), howdahs and carriages, paintings, medicines and food. Tourists are encouraged to join in the dances, mount the elephants and play Holi.

Nine nautical miles from the megapolis of Mumbai, just across the harbour, is the Elephanta Island, home to the Elephanta Caves, that date back to the 2nd and 6th century and are a UNESCO World Heritage site. This turns into a huge open-air auditorium during the Elephanta Festival held every year. The feast of dance and music, celebrated under the stars is surely not to be missed.

This festival of dance and music is organised in the splendid surroundings of the magnificent Ellora caves in Maharashtra, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

If you love flowers, you should at this spectacular flower show, held in the capital city, Delhi , each year. A humongous variety of flowers and exotic plants are on display.

February heralds the carnival at Goa. For three days and nights, the legendary king Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with colour. The Carnival is a truly Goan celebration. That means it has a Portuguese flavour with continuous singing, dancing, lively music, lots to eat, floats and processions. The week long festivity marks the period February-March before the beginning of the austerities of Lent.

India pays homage to all teachers ( gurus ) on the full moon ( purnima ) day of the month of Ashadh (July) . Students visit their elders, teachers and guides, and show their appreciation and respect with gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets.

Guru Purnima dates back to the time of gurukuls - places in ancient India , similar to boarding schools, where students stayed with their gurus and their families, getting an education that included not just the 3Rs but also spiritual training. Guru Purnima is also known as Vyas Purnima in memory of Ved Vyasa, the sage and guru who wrote the great epic, 'Mahabharatha', the 18 'Puranas' and classified the 'Vedas' of the Hindu Dharma. Religious discourses and public readings of the Bhagwad Gita (the Holy Book of the Hindus) are held.

The ruins of the magnificent city of Hampi (353 kilometers from Bangalore), Karnataka, once the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire (one of the greatest empires India has known) and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, come alive during this extravaganza, held in the first week of November. Dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows and spectacular processions . all combine to recreate the grandeur of a bygone era. The ruins of stone temples, elephant stables, barracks and palaces offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the people who once resided there.

The courtyard of Hemis Gompa (monastery), the biggest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh, in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, is the stage for this festival, which celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, revered as a reincarnation of Buddha. The colourful two-day pageant falls on the 10th day (Tse-Chu) of the Tibetan lunar month.

raised dais with a richly cushioned seat is erected in the courtyard, and a small, finely painted Tibetan table is placed here. Ceremonial items - cups full of holy water, uncooked rice, tormas made of dough and butter, incense sticks - are placed on the table. Traditional music is played, with four pairs of cymbals, pan drums, small trumpets and large wind instruments.

Locals dress up in their finest traditional garb for the occasion. Lamas (monks) perform splendid masked dances and sacred plays to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums and long horns. The head lama presides over the function.

Every 12 years, in the Tibetan Year of the Monkey, the two-storey high Thanka depicting Padmasambhava, richly embroidered with pearls and semi-precious stones, is displayed. The last display was in 2004. A colourful fair, displaying some beautiful handicrafts, is the special highlight of the festival.

The most lively of all Hindu festivals is observed on the day after full moon in the month of Phagun (sometime in March) according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. It heralds the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring. North India, in particular, goes wild, goes wild, with people smearing brightly hued powders on each other and squirting each other with coloured water from pichkaris.

Holi is also a harvest festival, marking harvesting of the winter crop (rabi). Farmers celebrate Holi by offering their first crop to Agni, the Fire God.

The night before full moon, huge ceremonial bonfires are lit in a re-enactment of the legend of Holika and Prahlad. Holika was the sister of Hirankashyap, the demon king of the Asuras. He fancied himself to be the Supreme Being and ordered his people to worship him. However, his son, Prahlad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, refused to do so. Holika had been granted a boon that provided her protection against fire, so Hirankashyap asked her to sit on a burning pyre with Prahlad in her lap. She did just that, but it was Prahlad who walked out of the pyre unharmed, while Holika was burnt.

At Mathura and Vrindavan, the places where Lord Krishna spent most of his childhood, Holi is celebrated with great gusto - The Rang Gulal Festival is celebrated for over a week with exuberant processions, songs, music and dance. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, a grand procession of men soaked with coloured water walks through the streets shouting Govinda Aala Re (here comes Govinda). In Manipur, Holi is a six-day festival. In Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, Sikhs celebrate a special festival, Hola Mohalla, on the day after Holi. Mock battles and the display of the skills of the Nihang Sikhs (traditional members of the Sikh army founded by Guru Gobind Singh) are a key attraction of this unique festival.

This Sikh festival begins the day after Holi, in March, and lasts for 3 days. It is celebrated at the sleepy town of Anandpur Sahib (close to Chandigarh) in Punjab. Sikhs from all over the state (and outside) congregate at the Gurdwara Keshgarh Sahib, the place where the Khalsa (Sikh brotherhood) was founded. Early morning prayers herald the event. A large number of community kitchens offer langar (free food) to those present.

ressed in traditional costumes, the Nihang Sikhs (traditional members of the Sikh army founded by Guru Gobind Singh) delight those present with a display of their skills in archery, fencing, tent pegging, bareback horse riding (standing erect on 2 speeding horses) and shooting. Mock battles are enacted with enthusiasm and the area resounds to the sounds of the firing of ancient cannons. Of course, this IS Holi, so there's a lot of spraying each other with colour. A fair comes up around the Gurudwara. Evenings are for cultural events, including music and poetry competitions. The highlight of the last day is a long procession led by the Panj Piaras which makes a round of all the gurudwaras in the area.

Held in Nagaland in December, this festival pays tribute to the Hornbill - the most revered bird of the Naga tribes. The festival showcases Nagaland's heritage in all its diversity and grandeur.

The splendidly sculpted Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebid in Karnataka, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are the venue for this dance festival.

Held every summer during the peak flowering season, this festival showcases the exotic flora of the tiny North Eastern state of Sikkim . On display are flowers, orchids, gladioli, roses, magnolia, cacti, alpine plants, creepers, climbers, ferns, and herbs. There are seminars and lectures by experts. And, of course, momos and other delectable Sikkimese delicacies. If you like what you see, why not plan a trip to Sikkim ? The best time to go is from March to May, when the plants (including 600 species of orchids, 240 species of trees and ferns, 150 varieties of gladioli, 46 types of rhododendrons) are in full bloom. Bonus attractions are river rafting and the yak safari.

Mango lovers, like wine lovers, are passionate about their favorites, and at this festival, you can savor the many myriad varieties of the king of fruits and find out why. Cultural programmes liven up the event still further.

India 's battle for freedom from British Rule was long and arduous, and every year the country celebrates Independence Day (15th August) with an outpouring of patriotism. The Prime Minister gives a speech from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi, flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes are held in all the state capitals, restaurants serve special menus done in the colors of the flag (saffron, white, green and blue) and little children sell flags to raise funds for charity. Join in the fun and share our joy.

The 'yoga capital of the world', Rishikesh, situated on the banks of the holy Ganges river in the foothills of the Himalayas, is the appropriate setting for this annual festival. Yoga masters come from all over the world, every February, to gives lectures, demonstrate and explore the major traditions of Yoga (Hatha, Raja, Karma, Bhakti, Jnana).

The town has several Yoga schools and ashrams, and most of these offer packages for 7 / 10/ 14 days, covering meditation, pranayamas (breathing techniques), aasana (postures) practice, and Hindu philosophy.

This ten-day long festival of dance, drama and music showcases the arts and crafts, flora and fauna and marine life of Port Blair, capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Aqua sports, tele-games and parasailing are added attractions.

Only Sufi music is played at this music festival associated with Hazrat Amir Khusrau, one of the great followers of Hazrat Nizamuddin. Performers from all over the world perform. The festival takes place in Delhi in the last week of February.

The Pink City of Jaipur, in Rajasthan, always fascinating, becomes even more so during this festival, spread over fourteen days in January and in locations difficult to find anywhere else in the world. Events include exhibitions, seminars, sports, children’s programmes and of course craft bazaars.

Also called Shad Nongkrem, this colourful 5-day long event is the most important and elaborates festival of the Khasi tribe. Held annually in November at Smit near Shillong, Meghalaya, it gives thanks to the Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich harvest.

An important part of this festival is the Pomblang Ceremony, at which goats are sacrificed and offerings are made to the ancestor and ancestress of the ruling clan and U-Lei Shillong (the deity of Shillong peak). Sanctification of the tangmuri (pipes) as queen of musical instruments, forms part of the ritual. After the religious rituals, on the fourth day, Khasi men and women, dressed in traditional splendour, perform the famous Nongkrem dance, with young women dancing within a protective ring formed by young lads. The festival ends on the fifth day with a prayer for prosperity.

The spotlight of this festival, held in the megapolis of Mumbai in January, is on fine, folk and performing arts and ethnic cuisines. Events include movies, concerts, competitions, exhibitions, food courts, street performances, workshops.

Nagpur, in Maharashtra, is the venue for this festival, dedicated to the great Sanskrit Poet Kalidas. Celebrated every November since 1995, it is a feast of Indian classical dance and music. Upcoming artistes perform alongside experienced performers to make the festival a memorable experience.

There's more to Khajuraho than erotic carvings on temple walls, and this week-long festival of classical dances, held in February/March each year proves it. All the classical dance traditions - Kathak, Bharathanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri and Kathakali - are on show, against the spectacular backdrop of the magnificently lit temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Modern Indian dance has also been added recently. The dances are performed by some of the best exponents in the field, in an open-air auditorium, usually in front of the Chitragupta Temple dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) and the Vishwanatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, belonging to the western group. They bring alive the former religious capital of Chandela dynasty, one of the powerful Rajput dynasties of Central India.

Along with the renowned performers, a number of craftsmen display their wares at an open market.

This takes place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Makara Sankranti (14th January), the day when t he Sun enters the Makar Rashi (the zodiac sign of Capricorn, the goat), starting its northward journey. Makar Sankranti is the day of the equinox, when day and night are equally long. Hindus believe that those who die on this day attain moksha , escaping from the cycle of birth and re-birth. T thousands of colourful kites dot the skies as people vie with each other to win community kite-flying competitions. Special kites have little paper lamps attached and these fill the night sky with flickering lights. Special Gujarati cuisine, exhibitions of handicrafts, and folk art enhance the festive spirit.

The floodlit Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of India 's greatest architectural sights often described as a poem in stone, is the backdrop for this festival of classical dance held every December. Eminent dancers present their interpretations of various classical dance forms - Odissi, Bharat Natyam, Manipuri, Kathak and Chhau - as t he sound of ghungroo bells, flute and pakhawaj fill the air. A marvellous crafts mela and delectable cuisine add to the festive mood.

Kurukshetra, Haryana, is the battlefield of the epic Mahabharata, on which Lord Krishna gave Arjuna, the Pandava prince, the advice enshrined in the Bhagwad Gita, the Holy Book of the Hindus. It is believed that Lord Brahma created the universe from Kurukshetra after performing a great yajna (sacrifice) here. Manu is said to have written his Manusmriti here, and it the Rig and Sama Vedas (Hindu holy scriptures) are also believed to have been compiled here. Lord Buddha and the Sikh gurus came visiting. All-in-all, it is an ancient holy land associated with the origins of Hinduism.

The Kurukshetra Festival coincides with Gita Jayanti, which celebrates the birth of the Gita. It is expectedly an exhilarating and spiritual experience. Pilgrims gather to take a dip in the sacred tanks of Brahma Sarovar and Sannehit Sarovar. Religious festivities include week-long Bhagwad Katha (Story-telling sessions of the Gita), recital of shlokas (sacred verses), dance dramas and deep daan at Brahma Sarovar. Free medical camps, book exhibitions and recitals of bhajans (religious songs) in the classical tradition are also organized.

A colourful kaleidoscope of cultures - Central Asian, Tibetan, and North Indian - come alive in this festival held in September in Ladakh, nestled in the Western Himalayas. On display are traditional sports (polo and archery), folk dances and songs, age-old social and cultural ceremonies, art and handicrafts.

Celebrated in Punjab on 13th January, Lohri celebrates the successful harvest of the Rabi crops - an extremely important event in a predominantly agricultural community. It is a community festival, and celebrated as one. Children go from door to door to collect funds for community bonfires that are lit up in the evening. The villagers gather around the bonfires and offer sweets, puffed rice, til (sesame) and popcorn to the flames. The evening is spent singing, dancing, and exchanging greetings with family and friends.

After Lohri, the biting cold of North Indian winters begins to taper off.

Held in November-December, in Lucknow , the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh, this festival perfectly captures the undying elegance and splendours of the ancient city formerly known as Awadh. The arts, crafts, and above all, heavenly cuisine, are yours to savour for 10 memorable days, bringing alive Lucknow 's Nawabi past. Colourful processions, traditional dramas, Kathak dances in the Lucknow gharana style, music concerts (sarangi / sitar recitals, ghazals, qawalis, thumri), traditional village games ( ekka races, kite flying competitions, cock fights) . just choose what you want to be entertained by and surrender.

Rajgir, the ancient capital of the Magadhan empire in Bihar, is held sacred by both Buddhists and Jains for its association with the Buddha and Lord Mahavira. Every October, a colourful festival of dance and music, is held here. Instrumental music, devotional songs, opera, folk dance, ballet, the many myriad schools of classical dance and music . all are on display.>Raksha Bandhan
"Rakhi", as it is popularly called, is celebrated in the month of Shravan (August) on the day of the full moon. Literally meaning "ties of protection", it commemorates the bond between brothers and sisters. On the morning of the festival, women of all ages put a tikka of vermilion on their brother's foreheads, tie a ceremonial rakhi (this may be a colorful thread, a simple bracelet, a decorative string or something really fancy, made of silver and crystals) on their brothers' wrist(s), and offer them mithai (sweets) after an aarti (prayer). The brothers, in return, promise to love and protect their sisters, and gift them some money as a token of their affection. The practice often extends more generally to people of the opposite sex who are not biologically related. It has also been interpreted as a pledge by the strong to protect the weak.

All of India celebrates 26th of January, the day the constitution of India came into force. The evening before, the President addresses the nation. Medals are conferred to recognise feats of exceptional bravery, on the part of members of the armed forces in the field, as well as civilians, in everyday life. Then comes the grand parade, from Rajghat to Vijaypath, with regiments from the armed services marching in all their finery, followed by folk dancers, school children who have won awards for bravery and floats with tableux from different states. A foreign Head of State is invited to be the Chief Guest at this impressive display of India 's finest. The parade ends with a fabulous fly-past. The "Beating the Retreat" ceremony held at sunset the next day, at Vijay Chowk, marks the end of celebrations.

A huge variety of roses are on show at this 2 day event, the biggest flower show in the country, held at the famous Rose Garden at Chandigarh .

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-flavored sweet milk, shared in the cool moonlight. The newly harvested rice is offered to the gods and lamps are lit before the full moon.

The Sindhu Darshan Festival is organised annually at Leh, the capital of Ladakh, in June. As the name suggests, it is a celebration of the river Sindhu (also known as the Indus), which originates from Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet . As part of the celebrations, water is brought from other mighty rivers in the country, and merged with the Sindhu river, thereby establishing the Sindhu river as a symbol of multi-dimensional cultural identity, communal harmony and peaceful co-existence. The festival is the perfect time to visit the beautiful regions of Leh and Ladakh.

This ten day event, held at Agra , Uttar Pradesh, the city of the Taj, in February, is a celebration of the arts, crafts, culture and traditions of Uttar Pradesh. Folk music, shayari (poetry), classical dance performances, elephant and camel rides, games and a food festival are the highlights of the festivities.

 

 

 

The great classical vocalist, Mian Tansen, was one of the "nine jewels", in Emperor Akbar's court. His memorial in Gwalior is the venue for the annual festival of Indian classical music held in November. Renowned singers regale audiences with mesmerizing sessions of much-loved classical raagas . Before performing the singers chew the leaves of a tamarind tree by the tomb - this is believed to improve the voice.

This festival, held in Nov / Dec, commences in Darjeeling and Sikkim, and ends in Dooars, the gateway to the neighboring kingdom of Bhutan. It includes a number of cultural programmes that take place in the lush greenery of historic plains, tea gardens, rolling hills and dense forests.

The ceremonial welcome of spring, this festival is celebrated in North India and West Bengal (especially in the University town of Shanti Niketan ), in the month of Magh (February). The mustard flowers are in bloom, and people dress in yellows, sing, dance, make merry and worship Saraswati, the Goddess of learning.

Every year, during the Varshitap, Jains in India fast for one year. They fast alternate days and only eat twice the second day. The Varshitap ends on the third day of the Hindu month Vaishakh.

This is celebrated in the month of Magh , on 14th January, when the sun enters Makar Rashi ( the zodiac sign of Capricorn, the goat ), starting its northward journey. Makar Sankranti is the day of the equinox, when day and night are equally long. Hindus believe that those who die on this day attain moksha , escaping from the cycle of birth and re-birth.

In Maharashtra, people eat til-gul , sweets made of til (sesame) and jaggery. In Gujarat, thousands of colourful kites dot the skies as people vie with each other to win community kite-flying competitions. In Punjab, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Lohri, and in South India as Pongal. In West Bengal, the devout converge at the Ganga Sagar Island in the Ganges delta, to take a holy dip at the confluence of the sea and the river Ganga. A large fair is held for three days during this period.

Dancers and musicians from across the country participate in this festival held at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, in December-January, with Arjuna's Penance as its backdrop.

Originally known as Maand Festival, this is held in Jodhpur , Rajasthan, and is devoted to the music and dance of the Marwar region. Folk artists bring the myths, legend and folklore of the area to life. The festival is held for 2 days on Sharad Purnima , the full moon, in October.

The city of lakes, Udaipur , in Rajasthan, is the venue for this festival, celebrated in April during the Gangaur Festival. An exhilarating welcome to spring, it is an audio-visual feast with Rajasthani songs, dances, processions, devotional music and firework displays. A procession of colorfully attired women carrying images of the goddess Gauri make their way to Lake Pichola . A procession of boats on the lake offers a fitting finale to the splendid celebrations.

The Sun Temple at Modhera in Mehsana district, Gujarat, dedicated to Lord Surya, the sun god, acts as the backdrop for this festival of Indian classical dances, held every year in January for three days. The festival seeks to present classical dance forms in a milieu that is as close as possible to that in which they were originally performed.

Nagaur Fair is one of the largest cattle fair in the country, held annually between late January and early February. Situated half way between Bikaner and Jodhpur , Nagaur awakens with the thronging of cattle, horses and camels accompanied by their colorfully  turbaned owners. There are about 25,000 camels on display as well as a large number of horses and cattle.

The fair is renowned for trading in cows, bullocks, camels and horses. People come from hundreds of miles away to buy and sell. There is earnest bargaining between owners and buyers, and plenty of fun and festivity. The camels are very highly prized and their owners take meticulous care of them. The bullocks of Nagaur are renowned for their fitness and attract a large number of buyers. There are horse and camel races as well as dancing and singing.

Mirchi Bazaar (Red Chilly Market) is the main attraction and wooden items, iron crafts and leather accessories as well as local handicrafts, cloth and jewellary are available for sale during the fair.  Various games organised during this four-day festival like tug-of-war, camel races, horse races, cock fights, bull- fights etc. provide entertainment to the tourists and visitors. In the evening, there are performances by folk musicians and dancers. The RTDC puts up a Tourist Village to provide accommodation for the tourists visiting Nagaur during the fair.

Held in Kolkata in December, this is one of the largest theatre festivals in India . Drama troupes come from all over the country, and neighboring countries too, to participate.

This 5 day festival which takes place in the premises of the ancient Nataraja temple of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, pays special tribute to Lord Nataraja, the dancing Shiva. It is held in Feb / March and begins on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. Leading dancers from all parts of India congregate and dance in the temple as an offering to Nataraja, while the carved pillars depicting Lord Nataraja in 108 poses of Bharatanatyam look silently on. The festival promote the message of "Unity in Diversity", conveyed in the universal language of music and dance.

Kerala's backwaters at Aranmula and Kottayam, are the picturesque setting for the annual snake-boat races held on the second Saturday of August every year. T ranquil lake fronts are transformed into a sea of humanity, as over 100 oarsmen in each huge ( over 100 feet long) snake boat vie for the prestigious Nehru Trophy, named after independent India 's first Prime Minister. An estimated 2 lakh people watch, while the beating of drums and cymbals, and songs add to the festive mood. Preparations for the event begin several weeks in advance, and celebrations continue long after, for the winning teams.

The Nishagandhi open-air theatre in the palace compound at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is the venue for this classical dance festival held every April. Renowned dancers perform Bharathanatyam, Mohiniattam, Kathak, Odissi, modern ballet and other folk forms. Artist and connoisseurs of dance come from all over India to enjoy this cultural treat.

The delicately carved temples at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pattadakkal (the ancient capital of the Chalukyan kings) in the state of Karnataka form the backdrop for this festival of dance, held to celebrate this marvellous heritage.

This cultural pageant, held from 15th to 17th August, in Pondicherry, coincides with Pondicherry 's Liberation Day. The Park monument is brilliantly lit.

This fair is held at Pushkar town, 11 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan  for twelve days annually during October- 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 bulls, cows, sheep, goats, horses and camels in richly decorated saddles. Perhaps the largest cattle fair in the world, it attracts more than one lakh people, from all over Rajasthan as well as tourists from different parts of India and abroad.

Trading of cattle, camel races and dazzling displays of bangles, brassware, clothes, camel saddles and halters make the fair colourful. 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.

This livestock fair coincides with the climaxing of a religious celebration. Pushkar is among the five main places of pilgrimage mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. 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 on the day of the Kartik Purnima (full moon night of the Kartika month) and worship at the Brahma temple (Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir). It is believed that Lord Brahma, the creator, wished to perform a 'yagna' following his long years of penance. During his sojourn  in search of a place for yagna, Brahma dropped a lotus from heaven which created the lake Pushkar . It was on the Karthika night that a drop of nectar fell in this lake, thereby making it sacred. Pilgrims flock from all over India to be in Pushkar at this  auspicious time. They also believe that all the 330 million Gods and Goddesses are present at Pushkar Lake during the occasion.

The trading which involves a great deal of bargaining between the cattle traders and the buyers add to the spirit of the fair. Apart from the religious rituals and trading, people participate in a number of cultural and sporting events. The variety of folk dances, dramas and songs lend colour and melody to the atmosphere that is already charged with excitement of the camel races and the cattle fair. The sweeping expanse of the desert becomes dotted with thousands of camels, stalls and camping families. The Rajasthan tourism Development Corporation has taken adequate measures to facilitate convenient access of the fair site and to accommodate the fairgoers.  

"Pooram", the two-century-old festival held at the Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur, Kerala, in Apr / May, is the most colourful of all the temple festivals held in the state. All the temples in the state send their best elephants to participate. Bedecked with golden headpieces coming down over the trunk, the elephants go round the temple in a splendid procession t o the accompaniment of drums, pipes and trumpets. Carrying ceremonial umbrellas and fanned by white whisks, 30 of these gentle giants amble out majestically through the temple gate, to line up in 2 rows, facing each other, in the open ground. An elephant in the center carries the image of Lord Shiva. Each "team of elephants" has its own Panchavadyam (literally "five instruments", i.e., conch, cymbals, trumpet and two kinds of drums) orchestra. The umbrellas are unfurled to the beating of the drums and cheering of the assembled crowds. Specially appointed judges award a prize for the most spectacular display. The festival ends with a magnificent display of fireworks that continues till dawn. Truly, you can call it a mammoth spectacle!

Veterans of Indian classical music and folk dance hold audiences enthralled at this festival held in Nov / Dec each year, in Delhi , against the historic ruins of the Qutab Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Ghazals, Qawalis, Sarangi, Sitar . choose your event and look forward to a memorable evening. Spice it up further with regional cuisines available at the food stalls at the complex.