Fairs and Festivals of India

By w311y: 30/01/11

India is especially land of fairs and festivals. The word “Fest” literally signifies joy and celebration. India is a mix of diverse culture and religions and this is probably the reason India has much more festivals than any other nation. These festivals are primarily religious in nature, national in character or seasonal in occurrence. These festivals take place according to the calendars followed by distinct religions. Even so, the national festivals do happen on fixed calendar dates. 

In India mostly two calendars are followed to decide the festivals- the Hindu calendar or the Islamic calendar. Each these calendars are based on lunar months which correspond to the phases of moon. The lunar and solar positions mainly establish the festivals. 

The month of January marks celebrations of harvest festivals all through the nation. Makar Sankranti which marks the celebration of spring time. Ladies distribute sweets and hold get-togethers. Close to the exact same time in Gujarat and other western states National Kite Festival is celebrated. Lohri in the north of India is also a seasonal harvest festival. In the evenings households gather about bonfires, distribute sweets among pals and household. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Pongal is celebrated. The harvest celebrations last for three days in honor of Lord Indra. In Rajasthan the colorful festival in Bikaner is celebrated, beautifully decorated camels, music and numerous competitions are the highlights of the Bikaner Festival. In the course of the exact same time all over the country Id-ul- Fitr is celebrated which marks the finish of Ramzan. Prayers are supplied in mosques and Idgahs and elaborate festivities are held. On the 26th of January each and every year the nation celebrates its Republic Day grand military parade and dance processions are held in the capital. 

The month of February primarily marks the celebration of fairs and carnivals. In Rajasthan Desert Festival of Jaisalmer is celebrated, this is three day lengthy extravaganza of music, color and festivity. The highlight of the festival is the turban tying competition. In Haryana Surajkund Crafts Mela held for 15 days. This is an annual occasion which highlights some of the countries best handloom and handicrafts. The Nagaur Fair is 1 of the largest cattle fairs in the nation. The day begins with earnest bargaining’s among purchasers and sellers, the day draws to an finish with exciting games and camel races. In Rishikesh about the identical time International Yoga Week is organized, demonstrations are held on the banks of river Ganga, various lectures and sessions on yoga are also organized. In Agra a 10 day carnival is held at Shilpgram near TajMahal identified as the Taj Mahotsav. This festival commences with a magnificent procession, bedecked elephants and camels, folk artists and master craftsmen with each other recreate the glorious past of the Mughals. About the same time Mardi Gras or Goa Carnival is celebrated. The processions last for three days and nights the streets come alive with colorful revelry.

The month of March 1 the most significant Hindu festival is celebrated- Holi. This is also recognized as the festival of colours. Folks throw colored water and powder on each other and make merry. An additional attraction of the month is the Khajuraho Dance Festival. This is a week long celebration wherein classical dance performances are held at the Khajuraho temples. About the identical time an additional music and dance festival is organized in Maharastra acknowledged as the Ellora Festival, organized in the splendid surroundings of the Ellora Caves. In the south Hoysala Festival is celebrated this is also a dance festival held at the temples of Hoysala and Halebid. However one more colorful festival is the Elephant Festival of Rajasthan. The highlights of the festival are the procession of elephants, camels and horses, followed by lively folk dancers. The most hilarious highlight of the festival is a tug of war in between elephants and guys.

The Hindu Solar New Year begins in the month of April. It is celebrated in the type various festivals all through the country however convey the very same message of merry generating. In the northern portion of the country it’s celebrated as Baisakhi in Kerala the festival is known as Vishu and is Assam it is acknowledged as Rangali Bihu.

Mainly two festivals are celebrated in the month of June. Firstly, Ganga Dussehra, this festival is celebrated for ten days devoted to the worship of Holy River Ganga. Areas such as Rishikesh, Haridwar and Varanasi where Ganga flows hold specific significance on this day. Secondly, the Hemis Festival the courtyard of Hemis Gompa-the most significant Buddhist monastery in Ladakh is the stage for the popular ‘Hemis’ festival. Lamas referred to as ‘chhams’ perform splendid masked dances and sacred plays to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums and long horns. of Ladakh.

Onam is the most crucial harvest festival of Kerala, celebrated in the month of August and is an attraction for thousands of men and women within and outside the state. Ranging from four days to ten days, all the actions during this season are cantered close to worshipping, music, dances, sports, boat races and great food. 15th August the red letter day in the Indian calendar is celebrated as the Independence Day of India. On this day India finally accomplished freedom from British rule. 

In the month of October, the festival of Dussehra is celebrated in a lot of parts of the country. It is celebrated with excellent fanfare in most parts of North India and in the type of Durga Puja in West Bengal. Dussehra is a quite well-known Hindu festival, which marks the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama. Another critical festival around this time is Diwali, the Festival of Lights, celebrated with fervor and gaiety amongst all races and religions. It symbolizes the victory of light more than darkness darkness refers to ignorance and light refers to information. During the exact same time in Rajasthan, Marwar Festival is celebrated. The festival has on display the music and dance of the Marwar region. The spirited folk dancers assembled here, perform with gusto and entertain the audience with Rajasthani folklore. in Jodhpur. 

In the month of November primarily fairs are celebrated all through the nation. Pushkar Fair of Ajmer, Rajasthan is maybe the largest cattle fair in the planet, it attracts a lot more than one lakh individuals, from all over Rajasthan as well as tourists from different parts of India and abroad. Yet another fair celebrated close to the exact same time is the Hampi Festival of Karnataka. The festival contains dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows, magnificent processions all combine to recreate the grandeur of the bygone era. 

The month of December marks the celebration of mostly two festivals. Firstly, this is a Muslim festival of sacrifice. On this day Muslims sacrifice a goat to commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of God. This festival coincides with the Haj pilgrimage in Mecca. Secondly, Christmas birth anniversary of Jesus Christ. Christmas celebrations vary in diverse parts of India. In some components, little clay oil-burning lamps, mango leaves etc are utilised as Christmas decorations and mango and banana trees are decorated.

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