Indian Fairs and Festivals

January

Makar Sankranti - It is a celebration of spring on the occasion of the 'ascent' of the sun to the north (Uttarayana). Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious days for the Hindus, and is celebrated in almost all parts of the country in myriad cultural forms. In Maharashtra, Karnataka as well as part of Andhra, Makar Sankranti is a day of goodwill and friendship. Sweets are distributed as a symbol of the need to be generous and kind to everyone. Women wear new clothes, new glass bangles and hold get-togethers to share sweets and gifts.

Thousands of people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar & Prayag and pray to Lord Sun. It is celebrated with pomp in southern parts of the country as Pongal, and in Punjab is celebrated as Lohri & Maghi. In Gujarat thousands of colorful kites are flown to pay homage to the Sun God.

Lohri, Pongal: Harvest Festival of India, celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka - usually on 15th Jan every year.

Thai Pusam: This festival is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and is a special day for worship of Lord Muruga (also known as Subrahmanya or Thendayuthapani). It is celebrated in a very grand manner at all Murugan temples, especially at the 'Aaru Padai Veedu' of Murugan (These are six temples in India especially dedicated to Lord Muruga). This festival honours Muruga or Subramanya, the son of Shiva.

Float Festival: elaborately illuminated barge carrying decorated temple deities at Madurai and few other temple towns of South India on the Full moon of Jan/Feb

National Kite Festival ( Ahmedabad in Gujarat)

Bikaner Festival ( Rajasthan)

Pattadakal Dance Festival:

Pattadakal, in Karnataka, is the ancient capital of the Chalukyan rulers. It is a World Heritage Centre which has 10 major temples representing early Chalukyan architecture.

Pattadakal celebrates an annual classical dance festival (Nrityotsava) against the backdrop of the temples.

Id-ul-Fitr:

Id-ul-Fitr is the celebration of god's magnanimity in providing nature to man. Celebrated on the first day of the new moon in Shawwal, it marks the end of Ramadan.

Vasant Panchami: the advent of Spring celebrated mainly in Eastern India

February

Mahashivratri: worship of Lord Shiva, Special celebrations at Chidambaram, Kalahasti - in South India, Khajuraho,Varanasi and Mumbai), new moon of February / March of every year.

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Goa Carnival:

The carnival is held in February for three days and nights, when the legendary king Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with music and color. Then begins the weeklong event, which is a time of unbridled festivity and merry-making, which has been celebrated since the 18th Century.

Desert Festival: (Jaisalmer, Rajasthan), full moon of January/February every year.

Nagaur Fair:

This is basically a cattlefair in Nagaur, Rajasthan, but tourists come to this fair to enjoy the four-day festivities. Besides the prime purpose of the fair, which is the trading of cattle – the cows, bullocks, oxen and camels, there are other activities like the cock- fights and the bull- fights.

Elephant Festival: This is a unique festival held in Jaipur.

Staged at Jaipur Chaugan Stadium elephants put up a variety programme and the arena is brought alive with musician and dancer.

The elephants move with poise in pageant, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi.

Deccan Festival:

Deccan Festival is celebrated in Hyderabad.

This five-day festival reflects the culture of the Deccan and highlights Hyderabad's arts, crafts, culture and the famous Nawabi cuisine.

Taj Mahotsav: Agra - Uttar Pradesh:

The Taj Mahotsav is a non-stop 10 day carnival held annually at Shilpgram, near Tajmahal.

Surajkund Crafts Mela : Craft Fair (Surajkund near Delhi), from 1st to 14th February of every year, exhibition of handicrafts from all over India, accompanied by traditional dance, musice and other performing arts.

Chapchar Kut: It is an agricultural festival celebrated in Mizoram with dance, music and feasts.

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

International Yoga Week: Lectures, demonstrations and yoga sessions are held by prominent exponents of yoga at Rishikesh, along the banks of the Ganges.

Monthwise List of Indian Fairs and Festivals

Given below is a month-wise list of fairs and festivals of India. However, since festivals in India are determined by the Solar & Lunar positions, they may fall in a different month from the ones specified here.