Buddha Poornima, 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. Notwithstanding the summer heat (the temperature routinely touches 45 degrees C), pilgrims come from all over the world to Bodh Gaya to attend the Buddha Poornima celebrations. The day is marked with prayer meets, sermons on the life of Gautam Buddha, religious discourses, continuous recitation of Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, processions, worship of the statue of Buddha. The Mahabodhi Temple wears a festive look and is decorated with colourful flags and flowers  .. More Info

'Nav' means 'nine' and 'ratri' means 'night', thus, 'Navratri' means 'nine nights'. There are many legends attached to the conception of Navratri like all Indian festivals but all of them are related to Goddess Shakti (Hindu Mother Goddess) and her various forms. Though it is one of the most celebrated festivals of Hindu calendar, it holds special significance for Gujratis and Bengalis and one can see it in the zeal and fervor of the people with which they indulge in the festive activities of the season. The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Warrior Goddess) dressed in red and mounted on a lion, next three to Goddess Lakshmi  .. More Info

One of the big festivals celebrated in most parts of India is Dussehra. The festival is celebrated with zest and festivities as it also marks the beginning of the winter season after the long, unbearable, hot summer. Dussehra marks the victory of Ram over the demon king Ravana, and the rescue of his wife Sita. In north India, gigantic effigies of the ten-headed Ravana and his brothers are set aflame amidst bursting of crackers. Fairs are usually held on this occasion with lots to eat, buy and enjoy. Dussehra means the Tenth Day, being the 10th day of the bright half of Ashvin. This day is also known as Vijayadashmi, or the Victory Tenth  .. More Info

Holi, the 'Festival of Colors' is celebrated in India to welcome the season of spring and end of winters. It is a two-day long festival celebrated with lot of gaiety all over India but special mention should be made of Holi of Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. On the eve of Holi, people gather to light a huge bonfire of the dried leaves and twigs. On the morning of the festival, people meet each other to apply dry and wet colors each other, play with water and eat sweets together. According to Hindu mythology, the roots of the festival of Holi can be traced to the story of Hiranya Kashipu  .. More Info

A unique festival for women, Teej is primarily celebrated in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, parts of Uttar pradesh and Bihar. Teej festival is dedicated to the re-union of Goddess Parvati with Lord Shiva. Mostly celebrated among women, Teej festival is celebrated for longevity and well-being of husband and children. Long swings decorated with flowers, colorfully dressed young girls and women, glittering jewellery, delicious feasts, tough fasting, religious processions and songs & dance mark the gaiety of Teej festival. Teej festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm. Falling on the onset of monsoon after a long season of oppresive heat   .. More Info

Annually held in Jaipur, the Elephant Festival is a unique event, which is usually held in the month of March in Rajasthan. The elephants are groomed to perfection and they glitter in gold as they walk in rows before an excited audience. The elephants move gracefully in procession, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. During Holi, the Chaugan is brought alive with elephants, dancers, musicians, and onlookers from the entire globe. The festival starts with an impressive procession of the majestic animals lovingly painted and tastefully attired with glittering ornaments and embroidered velvets  .. More Info

Onam is one of the most significant harvest festivals of Kerala and is an attraction for thousands of people outside and within the state. All the activities during this season are centered on worshipping, music, dance, sports, boat races and good food. This festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month Chingam (ending of August and beginning of September). Onam is a harvest festival and celebrates the reward of nature after a year of hard work. The merry making of the festival includes an elaborate procession of Trichur and amusing boat races on River Pampa. Women dress up in heavy jewelry and new saris and make  .. More Info

Kumbh Mela is a mega event that is organized four times in every twelve years in India. The festivity has truly come into the limelight and acquired fame not just in India, but made its presence felt even abroad. The celebration of Kumbh Mela takes places at four different places, namely Prayag (Allahabad), Ujjain, Haridwar and Nasik. Maha Kumbh mela, also known as the great Kumbh mela, is held only once in twelve years in Allahabad. Millions of devotees come from all across the country to witness this distinguished festivity. The credit for initiating the Kumbha Mela festivity can be attributed to the King Harshvardhana of Ujjain  .. More Info

 
One of the biggest festivals of Hindus, Deepawali or Diwali in India is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm and happiness. This festival is celebrated for five continuous days, with the third day being celebrated as the main Diwali or as 'Festival of Lights'. Fireworks are always associated with this festival. The day is celebrated with people lighting diyas, candles all around their house. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening to seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. Diwali gifts are exchanged among all near and dear ones. The mythological story of Sagar Manthan or ‘churning the ocean’ may help us understand why Lakshmi  .. More Info

 
Gangaur is one of the most important and widely celebrated traditional festivals of Rajasthan. The word Gangaur is derived from two words 'Gan' a synonym of Siva and 'Gauri' of his consort Parvathi. The festival commences on the day following Holi and continues for about 2 weeks. The festival is held in the honor of Gauri who is regarded as the symbol of virtue and fidelity and a mythological role model of married women. While married women worship Gauri for the welfare of their husband, the young unmarried girls worship her for being blessed with a spouse of their choice. The festival commences with the ritual of collecting ashes .. More Info

 
Makar Sankranti is celebrated with fervour all over India though in different names and forms. It is considered as the most auspicious day by the Hindus. The Makar Sankranti festival marks the day when the sun begins its northward journey and enters the sign of Makar (the Capricorn) from the Tropic of Cancer. In other words, the sun moves from Dakshinayana (south) to Uttarayana (north). The day falls on the 14th of January every year according to the Solar Calendar. On this day people take a holy dip at Prayag and Ganga Sagar and worship Sun. The tradition of kite flying adds zeal to the festival.  .. More Info

 Also known as Pushkar ka Mela, Pushkar Fair, is the world's largest camel fair held in the holy town of Pushkar in Rajasthan. Pushkar Fair is undoubtedly the world's largest camel fair and it also makes it world's largest cattle fair in general. Competitions such as the "Matka Phod", "moustache", and "bridal competition" are the main attractions of this fair which attracts thousands of tourists. A spotlight of one's holiday in India, the festival hosts around 50,000 camels which are sold, decorated, shaved and raced. From a mere 14,000 to a massive 200,000! This is how the population of Pushkar swells during the Pushkar Fair.   .. More Info

The nearest airport is at Jodhpur at a distance of 138 kilometers. Nagaur has its own railway station and trains from all major cities like Jaipur and Kolkata stop over here. Nagaur is also connected to all nearby places by a wide network of roads. One of the largest cattle fair of India, the Nagaur Fair of Rajasthan is a major event in Rajasthan. The Nagaur Cattle fair of Rajasthan is held once in a year between January and February. The small town of Nagaur comes alive with bustling activities and people who come here in massive numbers to take part in trading of livestock. The livestock includes not just cows but also, camels  .. More Info

Mount.Abu in Rajasthan is touched by a festive mood on the eve of the Summer Festival that is held every year in the month of June. Mount Abu is bestowed with steep rocks, tranquil lakes, picturesque backdrop and the favorable climate which make it a perfect spot for the festival. Summer festival in Mount Abu, a three-day festival is basically a feast of folk and classical music and it gives a vivid knowledge about the tribal life and culture of Rajasthan. The summer festival,Mt.Abu is held every year during Buddha Poornima. The festival celebrates the warmth and cheerfulness of the people of hill station, their colorful life and vivacious nature  .. More Info

Once a year during winters, the sands around Jaisalmer come alive with the brilliant colors, music and laughter of the Desert Festival. Dressed in brilliantly hued costumes, the people of the desert dance and sing haunting ballads of valor, romance and tragedy. The fair has snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels, of course, play a stellar role in this festival, where the rich and colorful folk culture of Rajasthan is on show. The festival closes with an enchanting sound and light show amidst the sand dunes on a moonlit night. The Jaisalmer fort provides an ethereal backdrop to the annual desert festival  .. More Info

 
International Kite Festival is held at Ahmedabad on January 14 every year, to coincide with the festival of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti. Makar Sankranti is a festival that heralds a change of season marking the movement of the sun into the northern hemisphere - a celebration to mark the end of winter. The skies are blue and clear, a cool breeze blows and a feeling of anticipation, joy and jubilation grips all who celebrate the occasion. In Gujarat, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as the kite-flying day. Kite-flying day in Gujarat is an extraordinary day, unlike at other places. Ahmedabad, Gujarat's premier city, leads the way in the  .. More Info

 
Pongal is a four-days-long harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India. For as long as people have been planting and gathering food, there has been some form of harvest festival. Pongal, one of the most important popular Hindu festivals of the year. This four-day festival of thanksgiving to nature takes its name from the Tamil word meaning "to boil" and is held in the month of Thai (January-February) during the season when rice and other cereals, sugar-cane, and turmeric (an essential ingredient in Tamil cooking) are harvested  .. More Info

 
Originating in the pre-Aryan days around 3500 b.c., the festival of Bihu used to last for a whole month, though nowadays work pressure has reduced it to a week. A no holds barred dancing session is the most intriguing part of the festival and symbolises the fertility rites of the original inhabitants of the hilly regions of the northeast in India. The farmers fancied that the erotic content of the songs would sexually arouse the earth’s body, leading to an abundant harvest. Bihag Bihu or Rangoli Bihu, the first of the three Bihus, is celebrated in the month of April on the dates coinciding with the sankranti, chait or baisak (13, 14 and 15 April)  .. More Info

Mamallapuram dance festival is celebrated every year during the period between December and January in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. This festive occasion is organized under the patronage of Department of Tourism, Govt. of Tamilnadu. Mamallapuram is of great historical importance, as once upon a time, it used to be the ancient port of the Pallavas. During the Mamallapuram dance festival, the exponents of the varied dance forms then be it Kuchipudi, Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali or Kathak ....More Info

The Durga puja, a national festival of the Hindus takes place in the month of Aswin or Kartik i.e. months of September and October according to the English calendar year. The spirit of excited festivity is omnipresent throughout Durga Puja throughout India, specifically west Bengal. The image of the ten headed, a beautiful but fierce goddess on her lion charger is worshipped with great gusto ...More Info

Modhera dance festival is one of the major festivals organized in the state of Gujarat. It is primarily a dance festival and showcases the various traditional dance forms of the region. It is one of the main attractions for the art lovers. Traditional Gujarati dance and music performances presented here are nowhere else to be seen in India. Modhera is located in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. The Sun Temple here serves as the venue for this extravaganza, held every year in the month of January ...More Info

India no wonder is incredible. I am just back from Bikaner and what a splendid place it is. I was there to see the not-much talked about Camel Festival. And the moment I landed in Bikaner I realized why it is not much talked about festival. Apart from a few banners, there was hardly anything that will tell you that Bikaner is hosting a festival ...More Info

The name Baneshwar is derived from the revered Shiva Linga which is kept in the Mahadev temple in Dungarpur. "Baneshwar" means the 'master of the delta' in the local Vagdi language and this name was given to Shiva Linga.The Baneshwar fair is held at a small delta formed by the river Som and Mahi, from Magh Shukla Ekadashi to Magh Shukla Poornima during Shivratri. (Jan-Feb) ...More Info

Festivals of India are known for its colourfully jovial spirit and India tour during festival time adds to your vacations in India. And what would be more exciting and scintillating then planning your Taj Mahal tour in Agra during the mesmerizing Taj Festival. A ten-day event, the Taj festival - called Taj Mahotsav - at Agra is a cultural introduction of India. With the wondrous Taj Mahal serving as the backdrop for the annual festival, the Taj Mahotsav is usually held in the month of February ...More Info

Konark Festival of classical dances, also known as Konark Dance Festival, is co-organized by Orissa Tourism and Odissi Research Center to provide a platform for the classical dancers in India as well as to act as a showcase for India's cultural depth where dance forms are concerned.Konark Festival is held over a period of five days, usually from the first to the fifth of February, in the still standing Natya Mandir (dance hall) within the Sun ...More Info

Khajuraho has made a distinctive place for itself amongst the major tourist destinations of Madhya Pradesh primarily for two reasons. The captivating temples of Khajuraho reflective of remarkable architectural and sculptural dexterity are its greatest draw followed closely by the Khajuraho Dance Festival. The Dance Festival at Khajuraho is attended by dance lovers not only from different corners of the country but also from parts of the world ...More Info

Khatu Shyamji Temple is an important pilgrimage site in Rajasthan. However it is more popular for the annual fair that takes in the month of either February or March. The shrine is located at a distance of 48 kilometers from district of Sikar. From Jaipur this site is easily accessible. The mela or fair takes place on the occasion of Phalgun Sudi Dashmi and lasts till Dwadashi. It lasts for three days and a large number of devotees flock the fair ...More Info

Beautiful agricultural state of Assam celebrates major agricultural events as the festival of Bihu. Notably there are three Bihu festivals in year namely - Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu, Bhugali (Magh Bihu) and Kangali (Kati Bihu) marking the distinctive phase in the farming calendar.Assam is a land of myths and mystery for those who are not familiar with it. The land of the Red River and Blue Hills, as it is described, has an enchanting beauty. It has a unique landscape with sprawling tea gardens ...More Info

Champakkulam boat race is the first in the list of all boat races that are held in Kerala. The Champakkulam boat race of Kerala is held according to the Malayalam calendar. Usually, it is held on Moolam Vallamkali. Moolam signifies a Malayalam star or Nakshathram of the month Mithunam. In Kerala, Champakkulam boat race is held on the river Pampa. It is regarded as the oldest in all boat races. Since it is the most popular of all boat races, the turn over of people who come to witness the event is huge ...More Info

God has no specific name. All names are attributed by man to God. Each name, like Padmanabha, Hiranyagarbha, and Hiranmaya, has a profound inner meaning. Spirituality is meant to explain the principle of Divinity and the inner meaning of the names attributed to Him. One who follows the spiritual path should make efforts to understand and experience the principle of Divinity and propagate the same. But, man today has not really understood what spirituality means ...More Info

Jammu to Pahalgam is about 315 Km that can be covered by the conveyance of Taxi and Buses. The Government of Jammu & Kashmir has provided the facility of running Taxi and Buses from Raghunath Bazaar early in the morning but the visitors can also come to Jammu by air and then move Pahalgam. So, the holy Yatra of Amarnath starts from the first route of Pahalgam located at a distance of 96 Kms from Srinagar situated on the banks of Lidder River surrounded by the natural beauty of valleys and mountains. The important destinations covered under this route are Chandanwari 16 Kms away from Pahalgam ...More Info  

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesh (Ganesha), the god of wisdom and prosperity on the fourth day of the moons bright fortnight, or period from new moon in the lunar month of Bhadrapada. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi continue for five, seven, or ten days. Some even stretch it to twenty one days, but ten the most popularly celebrated. In the tradition of the right hand path the first day is the most important. In the left hand path tradition the final day is most important ...More Info  

August 15, 1947, the most important day in the history of India, the day when the long suppressed nation found utterance, it was the day when India got independence from the British rule. The stroke of the midnight brought with it a ray of new hope for India, as our first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru said, the world was asleep but India awoke to life and freedom. A new nation was born! Since then August 15 is celebrated as the independence day in India every year ...More Info  

India is a country of varied religions and occasions. Raksha bandhan is one such festival which is most awaited. It is entirely dedicated to the love and affection shared between a brother and a sister. Sisters tie a delicate cord of 'Rakhi' on this day pulsates with this sublime sentiment and pray for their long life. Brothers, in turn, give them enticing rakhi gifts and vows to protect and care for them life long. Thus all celebrate Raksha Bandhan with great enthusiasm. This Indian Festival Rakhi is celebrated since time Immortal and will be celebrated by siblings for the time to come ...More Info  

Shravan vad 8 celebrates the birth of Lord Shri Krishna, one of the most venerated incarnations in the Hindu Dharma. Five thousand years ago, he incarnated, at the end of the third cosmic phase, 'Dwapar Yuga' and the beginning of the present, 'Kali Yuga'.Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna, the re-incarnation of Lord Vishnu who gave us the vital message of the Bhagwat Gita - the guiding principles for every Hindu.Janmashtami is celebrated with full vigor all over the country ...More Info  

Every year, the famous Snake Boats of Kerala compete in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Held at Lake Punnamda in Alappuzha (also called the Venice of the East), the Race is organised on the second Saturday of August. Each village in the Kuttanad region enters a boat in the competition and the Boat Race is the occasion for a grand festival along the lake shore.The first boat race was held in 1952. It was an impromptu affair, held in honour of the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to the region ...More Info   

Ganga Mahotsav is a cultural festival that is specific to Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). The festival celebrates the various facets of this holy river. The Ganges is a symbol of religious purity and is one of the five important rivers of India. Ganga Mahotsav is celebrated over a 5 day period on the banks of the river Ganga and also promotes the city of Varanasi as the cultural capital of India.
The festival is a platform to promote the culture ...More Info    

The Chandrabhaga Fair is held every year at Jhalrapatan in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan state in India, in the month of kartik, i.e Oct-Nov. On the full moon night of 'kartik purnima', thousands of pilgrims take a holy dip in the Chadrabhaga River, which is considered as a holy river by the people residing here. The fair, held on the last day of kartik, attracts devotees who bathe in the holy waters at this spot, which is known as Chandravati ...More Info    

Christmas is a time for Families, Fun, and Festivities! A time of family gatherings and holiday meals. A time for Santa, stars, and singing carolers. A time for ornaments, gifts, and twinkling lights. Of sleigh rides, hot cocoa, and gingerbread cookiesSo here for your entertainment are some fun Holiday things for you and your family. We've got stories of Christmas and the Christ Child, holiday music for singing along, tasty holiday recipes, and holiday pictures for the kids to print and color ....More Info   

Chennai Music and Dance Festival is organized every year during mid December to mid January. The capital city of Chennai serves as the venue of the festival, which lasts for a period of approximately one month. Throughout the month, renowned artists render dance and music performances all over the city. Organized by various 'sabhas' (organizations) in the city, the Dance and Music Festival of Chennai is intended to promote the classical music as well as the classical dances of the state ...More Info