Fairs & Festivals - Details
Dussehra
It is the nine days festival, which signifies the victory
of Good over Evil. As diverse as India is, it is but natural
that Good and Evil take various forms in different parts
of the country. Central and North India celebrate Lord Rama’s
victory over the ten-headed Ravana. In the East, in west
Bengal, this festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga
over the demon Mahishasura. In the state of Himachal, a
week long fair at Kullu is a part of the Dussehra celebrations.
From the little temples in the hills, deities are brought
in procession to the Kullu Fair ground with a lot of gaiety,
music and colour. Down South in the city of Mysore, the
exotic and colourful celebration of Dussehra leaves many
a visitor enthralled.
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Deepavali
Literally meaning an array of lamps, it is the Festival
of Lights and perhaps the only festival that is celebrated
along the length and breadth of the country without any
diversity as well as amongst Indians all over the world.
This is an occasion for the young and old, men and women,
rich and poor-for every one, irrespective of their religious
and economic backgrounds. This festival is celebrated throughout
the country to ward off the darkness and welcome the light
to their lives. This festival is celebrated to mark the
return of Lord Rama, his consort Sita and brother Lakshmana,
to their kingdom after 14 years of exile. To celebrate their
return, the people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit up
their houses and streets with lamps and the tradition is
followed till date. People also conduct Lakshmi Puja to
please the Goddess of Wealth.
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Holi
The festival of Holi symbolizes the victory of good over
evil. It also marks the advent of spring and people celebrate
it joyously with a splash of color. It is the most boisterous
of all Hindu festivals, observed all over India, especially
the North. It heralds the end of winter and the beginning
of spring. The night before the full moon, crowds of people
gather together and light huge bonfires to burn the residual
dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People throw colored
water with pichkaari (a traditional device to spray coloured
water), gubbare (balloons filled with coloured water) and
gulal (colour powder) at each other and make merry. Singing
and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion. In the northern,
western and eastern regions, Holi celebrates the joyful
Raasleela (dance) of Lord Krishna and the Gopis. Holi, also
known as phag, is a joyous celebration of the rejuvenation
of nature and renewed hope of happiness and peaceful coexistence.
Especially famous is the lathmaar Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon.
In Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, Sikhs celebrate a special festival
called Hola Mohalla on the day after Holi. It marks a display
of ancient martial arts and mock battles. Holi is also an
occasion for the celebration of the burning of Lord Kama,
the Hindu equivalent of Cupid, with the fire that emanated
from Lord Shiva's third eye and also symbolizes the burning
of demoness Holika. Till date people burn effigies of Holika.
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Maha Shivaratri
The festival of Maha Shivratri falls on the 13th (or 14th)
day of the month of Phalguna (February–March) of the Indian
calendar. The weather remains pleasant throughout India
during this time of the year. The word Shivratri literally
translates into "the night of Shiva.” This is because the
ceremonies take place chiefly at night. A daylong fast,
a nightlong vigil, and the reverberating rhythm of sacred
chants mark the day. This is a festival observed in honor
of Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva married Goddess
Parvati on this auspicious day. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped
throughout the night by washing it every three hours with
milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting
of the Mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” continues. Offerings of
bael leaves are made to the Shiva Linga. Bael leaves are
very sacred, for it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi resides
in them.
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Janmashtami
This festival associated with Lord Krishna’s birthday and
is a combination of religion and celebration together. This
festival is celebrated all over India especially among Hindus.
Mathura, the ancient north Indian town, is Krishna’s birthplace,
and it is one of the most sacred places in the entire country.
People celebrate this festival with fun, frolic, and merrymaking.
The raasleelas, bhajan, kirtan, and various local functions
are the special attractions of the place. The festival of
Janmashtami is celebrated during the month of August or
September depending on the Indian calendar. The celebration
of this festival is followed according to the Indian calendar
and hence the month in the English calendar varies every
year. This day also falls on the day of Shravan Poornima
when the monsoon season is at its high in most of the part
of India.
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Ganesh Chathurthi
Lord Ganesha, affectionately called Ganapati, is commonly
depicted in homes and offices throughout India as a chubby,
smiling and a little mischievous God. His devotees scribe
to Ganesha the ability to bestow wisdom and wealth upon
us humans, thus making him probably the most popular deity
in the Hindu pantheon. To repay Ganesha’s bounty, in India,
especially in Maharashtra and nearby areas, the entire population
celebrates the ten-day festival of Lord Ganesha’s birthday.
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over
India with great festivities and zest. It is celebrated
as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, the God of wisdom
and prosperity. The festival honors Ganesha, the elephant-headed
God of the Hindu pantheon. During the ten days of Ganesh
Chaturthi, the image of the God is worshipped and feted
in most homes, temples and halls, and on the last day the
images are taken in a procession and immersed in water.
Fasting, feasting and distribution of sweets are important
aspects of Ganesh Chaturthi rituals in India. Hindus pray
to images of Lord Ganesha, large and small, many of them
made specially for the occasion by cottage industries and
street-side artisans. Even those that do not wish to keep
the idols alive by daily prayers, offerings, and lighting
oil lamps, immerse them in the nearest water body (rivers,
lakes and the sea that are sacred to the Hindus). Ganesh
Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of Bhadrapada (August/September)
month of Indian calendar. The celebration of this festival
is followed according to the Indian calendar and hence the
month in the English calendar varies every year. The festival
is celebrated for as many as ten days in areas like Maharashtra,
Pune, and nearby areas.
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Rakshabandhan
Rakshabandhan is an unspoken pledge exchanged between a
brother and sister cementing their fraternal relationship.
This also reinforces their protective bond against all ills
and odds. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the day of Shravan
Poornima that falls in the month of August every year. On
this very day, the sisters tie a delicate, sometimes decorated,
thread on the wrist of their brothers as a symbol of love
and affection. This makes the brothers bound to protect
their sisters from any trouble or wound. The chanting of
a holy mantra by the sisters while tying the thread says,
“I am tying a Raksha to you, similar to the one tied to
Bali, the powerful king of the demons. Oh Raksha, be firm,
do not waver”. The mantra recalls how the demon king Bali
had become very powerful with the Rakhi on. The power of
the mantra is supposed to protect the wearer from evil influences.
This shows how dependent and secure a sister feels when
she has a brother. Tying this Rakhi or Raksha signifies
the re-strengthening of the bond between the siblings of
opposite sexes. Raksha Bandhan is the most awaited festival
of the year for every girl. It is celebrated in the month
of August on the full-moon day known as the Shravan Poornima
in India. The celebration of this festival is followed according
to the Indian calendar, and hence the month in the English
calendar varies every year.
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Baisakhi
Several Indian festivals coincide with the harvest time
and Baisakhi is one of them. Baisakhi is celebrated by the
people of Punjab with vigor and joy. It is celebrated by
different names and with different rituals almost all over
India, when the Rabi crop is ready for harvesting. Baisakhi
is also the day when the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind
Singh, founded the Khalsa Panth over three hundred years
ago. The Vaishakha period of April and May is filled with
festivals of fun, frolic and merry-making and Baisakhi,
derived from the word Vaishakh, falls in this auspicious
period. Based on the Indian solar calendar, this festival
falls on April 13 every year and on April 14 once every
36 years. Other festivals celebrating the harvest are Bihu
in Assam, Pongal in South India.
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Pushkar Fair
Held every year in the month of November, Pushkar fair
is the ideal occasion to witness the charisma of Rajasthan
in full bloom. Every ingredient that makes Rajasthan a distinct
place can be spotted in the fair including men dressed in
colorful traditional clothes, women in mirrored skirts and
vivid shawls, embroidered clothes, exquisitely designed
jewelry, pots and ornaments. This four-day long fair full
of fun and frolic falls on the full moon of Kartik Purnima
and offers an unique opportunity for a shopping spree while
giving an edge to the consumer product marketing in rural
Rajasthan. Improved accommodation facilities have made it
an International event A large camel fair in which traders
from all over Rajasthan participate to parade, race and
trade their camels, horses and cattle give it a fascinating
touch. The acrobats, jugglers, snake charmers and fire-eaters
will leave you mesmerized with their skilled performances.
Cruise on a camel safari and get the real flavor of the
fair.
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Desert Festival
The otherwise sleepy town of Jaisalmer reverberates with
enthusiasm and zeal during the Desert Festival that provides
it with an occasion to parade its exuberant charm to the
world. This colorful spectacle of dance and music showcases
the rhythmic dances like Ghoomar, Gangaur, Gair, Dhap, Moria,
Chari and Terahtal. The fire dancers are the special highlights
of the festival. Held in the month of January-February the
major attractions include turban-tying competition, Gair
dancers and fire-dancers presenting enchanting displays
of folk dance and music The various interesting contests
including turban tying and Mr. Desert contest, the Camel
races, acrobatics, dances and camel polo are sure to leave
you spellbound. An awe-inspiring fusion of traditional dances
backed by the folk music of the desert is sure to give you
a time of your life. The major attraction of the festival
remains the music and dance performance on the sand dunes.
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Nagaur Fair
Nagaur awakes to the thronging of cattles, horses and camels
during the time of cattle fair, which is reputed as one
of the biggest in the country. The Nagaur bulls are renowned
for their fleet-footedness and attract buyers from all over
the world. Their owners with large moustaches and colorful
costumes add a unique charm to the fair. Renowned for trading
in cows, bullocks, camels and horses Held every year during
the month of Magh (Jan-Feb) Provides an opportunity for
a shopping spree to the locals The fair comes to an end
with a series of exciting games including tug of war, camel
races and strains of ballads that create a joyful atmosphere.
Mirchi Bazaar (Red Chilly Market) is the main attraction
and wooden items, iron crafts and leather accessories are
also available in abundance during the fair.
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Camel Fair, Bikaner
A unique blend of color, rhythm and melody. The Camel Festival
begins with a colourful procession of bedecked camels, Ships-Of-The-Desert,
in the red sandstone backdrop of the Junagarh Fort. The
festivity advances to the open sandspreads of the Polo Grounds,
followed by camel races, camel milking, fur cutting design,
the best breed competition, camel acrobatics, camel bands
and watching all this, are the gaping spectators. The camel
display amazing foot-work, dancing gracefully to the slightest
direction of their riders. Colourful bridles, bejewelled
necks, jingling anklets and long, lanky camel shadows on
dusky sands, cast a magic spell. The jubilant, skirt-swirling
Gair dancers, the awe inspiring Fire dance, and dazzling
fire-works light up the fortified desert city of Bikaner.
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Gangaur Festival
The most important local festival in Rajasthan, Gangaur
is held about a fortnight after Holi and the celebrations
go on for eighteen days. The festival is held in honor of
Gauri, a manifestation of goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord
Shiva. The festival is celebrated by girls and married women
throughout Rajasthan. Images of Gauri are ornamented and
offerings are made. This is also an auspicious time for
young people to select their life partners. Colorful processions
with the town band, horses, and elaborate palanquins make
it a fascinating spectacle. The Gangaur festival is celebrated
throughout Rajasthan with great enthusiasm but the celebrations
in Jaipur and Udaipur have their own special charm. The
festival is also celebrated with great pomp and show in
Bikaner, Jodhpur, Marathwara and Jaisalmer. Girls worship
the goddess throughout the fortnight. Colorful images of
Gauri, beautifully dressed and bejeweled, are taken out
in a procession accompanied by the town band. A boat procession
is taken out on the Pichola Lake in Udaipur. Women balancing
several brass pitchers on their heads add to the gaiety
of the Udaipur celebrations. Thousands of people from the
countryside come to take part in the procession of Gangaur,
which goes around from village to village. Tribal men and
women get the opportunity to meet and interact freely and
during this time, they select partners and elope to marry.
An unusual, romantic custom sanctioned by the community,
it helps many young people find their life partner.
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Hemis Festival, Ladakh
The courtyard of Hemis- the biggest Buddhist monastery
in Ladakh, is the stage of the famous Hemis Festival, that
celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava.
Splendid masked dances are performed to the accompaniment
of cymbals, drums and long horns. A colourful fair, displaying
some beautiful handicrafts, is the special highlight of
the festival.
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