| FESTIVAL |
DATE / MONTH |
STATE / REGION |
DESCRIPTION |
| Pongal |
14
January |
A.P.,
Tamil Nadu |
Harvest
Festival marking the change of season. |
| International
Kite Festival |
13-15
January |
Ahmedabad,
Gujarat |
Connoisseurs
of the sport gather and indulge in friendly competitions,
flying kites of varied colours, shapes & sizes. |
| Desert
Festival |
January
/ February |
Jaisalmer,
Rajasthan |
A
three-day show of dances, acrobatics, camel races
and camel dances - in Jaisalmer. |
| Cattle
fair |
January
/ February |
Nagaur,
Rajasthan |
Trading
of Camels, Bullocks, and Horses, with sports,
music and dance - in Nagaur. |
| Konark
Festival |
February
|
Konark,
Orissa |
A
festival of classical dances in Konark,
the site of The Sun Temple. |
| International
Yoga Festival |
February |
Rishikesh
Uttar
Pradesh |
Demonstration
and experience of yoga and meditation in Rishikesh. |
| Surajkund
Crafts Mela |
1-15
February |
Surajkund
Haryana |
Display
of arts and crafts from all over India
in Surajkund. |
| Taj
Mahotsav |
18-27
February |
Agra
Uttar
Pradesh |
Dance
and drama recreating the age of Shah Jahan,
combined with a food festival in Agra. |
| Khajuraho
Dance Festival |
March |
Khajuraho
Madhya
Pradesh |
Classical
dance performance extravaganza in Khajuraho. |
| Holi |
March |
North
India |
Festival
of colours in which people splash coloured
water on one another in a spirit of comradeship. |
| Ellora
Festival |
March |
Aurangabad
Maharashtra |
Festival
of Classical Dance and Music - in Ellora
Caves. |
| Gangaur |
March
/ April |
Udaipur
Rajasthan |
Dedicated
to Goddess Parvati upholding the power of nature. |
| Pooram |
April
/ May |
Trichur
Kerala |
A
Temple
Festival
with the famous Elephant March. |
| Carnival
|
April |
Goa |
Originally
celebrated the fruiting of cashew and mango. |
| International
Spice Festival |
April |
Cochin
Kerala |
Fair
displaying spices grown in the region - held in
Cochin. |
| Rath
Yatra |
June
/ July |
Puri,
Orissa |
A
huge procession carrying images of deities in
chariots - in Puri. |
| Hemis
Festival |
July |
Leh,
Ladakh |
Monastery
festival. Age old plays are performed by masked
dancers - in Leh in Ladakh. |
| International
Mango Festival |
July |
Saharanpur
Uttar
Pradesh |
A
large variety of the best Indian mangoes is exhibited
and sold in Saharanpur. |
| Onam |
August
/ September |
Kerala |
Famous
for the snake boat races held to celebrate the
event. |
| Ganesh
Chaturthi |
September |
Maharashtra,Tamilnadu |
Dedicated
to Lord Ganesh. His idol is carried in a procession before being
immersed in a river or sea. Held mainly in Pune. |
| Dussehra |
September
/ October |
Nationwide |
A
ten-day festival celebrating Lord Rama
killing demon king Ravana
symbolises the victory
of good over evil. |
| Diwali |
October
/ November |
Nationwide |
This
festival of lights celebrates the home coming
of Lord Rama after killing
Ravana. |
| Sonepur
Fair |
November |
Sonepur,
Bihar |
Cattle
fair where among other cattle elephants are bought
and sold - in Sonepur. |
| Pushkar
Fair |
November |
Pushkar,
Rajasthan |
Colourful
Cattle fair includes camel races and other events
in Pushkar. People also
come for a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake. |
| Shekhavati
Festival |
December |
Sgejgavati,
Rajasthan |
A
colourful festival held
in Shekhavati the home
of the world's most beautiful frescos. |
| Feast
of St. Francis Xavier |
3
December |
Goa |
The
well-preserved remains of St. Francis Xavier are
displayed in a beautiful silver casket. |
