FESTIVALS IN INDIA (FEBRUARY, MARCH)
MAHASHIVRATRI : (ALL OVER INDIA)
ON THE 14TH NIGHT OF THE DARK HALF OF MAGH OCCURS THE FESTIVALS OF MAHASHIVRATRI, THE GREAT NIGHT OF LORD SHIVA. THE DEVOTEES STAY AWAKE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT OFFERING THEIR PRAYERS TO LORD SHIVA. THEY OFFER SPECIAL FOOD MADE FROM THE FRUITS OF THE SEASON, ROOT VEGETABLES AND COCONUTS TO LORD SHIVA. HAVING OBSERVED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ALL NIGHT FAST, DEVOTEES EAT THE PRASAD OFFERED TO SHIVA. SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS OF THE ALL NIGHT FAST, DEVOTEES EAT THE PRASAD OFFERED TO SHIVA. SPECIAL CELEBRATIOS ARE HELD IN SOME OF THE MAJOR SHAIVITE TEMPLES AT VARANASI, KALAHASTI (ANDHRA PRADESH) AND CHIDAMBARAM (TAMIL NADU)
DESERT FESTIVAL (JAISALMER) :
THE DESERT FESTIVAL IS A THREE DAY LONG EXTRAVAGANZA OF COLOUR, MUSIC AND FESTIVITY, HELD AT THE GOLDEN CITY OF JAISALMER. GAIR AND FIRE DANCES SWAYING TO TRADITIONAL TUNES, A TURBAN-TYING COMPETITION AND A MR.DERSERT CONTEST ARE PART OF THE FUN AND FROLIC. THE GRAND FINALE IS A TRIP TO THE SAND DUNES AT SAM WHERE ONE CAN ENJOY THE PEASURE OF A CAMEL RIDE AND EVEN VIEW THE FOLK DANCERS AND MUSICIANS PERFORM AT THE SAND DUNES.
INTERNATIONAL YOGA WEEK : (RISHIKESH)
YOGA SESSIONS ARE HELD ALONG THE BANKS OF THE GANGA AT RISHIKESH. ORGANISED BY U.P. TOURISM, LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS ARE HELD BY PROMINENT EXPONENTS OF YOGA THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
ELEPHANT FESTIVAL (ELEPHANT ISLAND) :
THIS FESTIVAL IS HELD ACROSS THE MUMBAI HARBOUR, ON THE ELEPHANT ISLAND, NEAR THE WORLD RENOWNED ELEPHANTA CAVES. THIS FEAST OF MUSIC AND DANCE, CELEBRATED UNDER THE STARS, TRANSFORMS THE ENTIRE ISLAND INTO A LARGE AUDITORIUM.
DECCAN FESTIVAL : (HYDERABAD)
EVERY YEAR GRACIOUS HYDERABAD COMES ALIVE DURING THE DECCAN FESTIVAL. CULTURAL PROGRAMMES WITH GHAZAL NIGHTS, QAWALIS AND MUSHAIRAS ARE HELD. A PEARL AND BANGLE FAIR DISPLAYS CREATIONS IN LUSTROUS PEARLS AND MULTI-HUED BANGLES THAT ARE LOCAL SPECIALITIES. A FOOD FESTIVAL SERVES THE BEST OF HYDERABAD 'S FAMED CUISINE TO THE VISITORS.
GOA CARNIVAL (GOA) :
FEBRUARY HERALDS THE CARNIVAL AT GOA. FOR THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS, THE LEGENDARY KING MOMO TAKES OVER THE STATE AND THE STREETS COME ALIVE WITH COLOUR. THE WEEK EVENT IS A TIME OF FESTIVITY.
NAGAUR FAIR (NAGAUR) :
NAGAUR BUSTLES WITH LIFE DURING ITS ANNUAL CATTLE FAIR WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY. THE NAGAUR BULLS ARE RENOWED FOR THEIR FLEETFOOTEDNESS AND ATTRACT FROM ALL OVER. THE DAY BEGINS WITH EARNEST BARGAINING BETWEEN THE BUYERS AND THE SELLERS. ONCE THE PRICE OF A HORSE, BULLOCK OR CAMEL HAS BEEN SETTLED, THE DAY DRAWS A CLOSE FOLLOWED BY EXCITING GAMES, TUG OF WATER, CAMEL RACES AND STRAINS OF BALLADS WHICH CREATE A JOYFUL ATMOSPHERE.
TAJ MAHOTSAV : (AGRA)
A TEN DAY EVENT, THE TAJ MAHOTSAV AT AGRA IS A CULTURALLY VIBRANT PLATFORM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER THE FINEST INDIAN CRAFTS AND CULTURAL NUANCES. IT IS A FESTIVE INTRODUCTION TO INDIA AND UTTAR PRADESH. FOLK MUSIC, SHAYARI (POETRY), AND CLASSICAL DANCE PERFORMANCES AS WELL AS ELEPHANT AND CAMEL RIDES, GAMES AND FOOD FESTIVAL - ALL FORM PART OF THE FESTIVITIES.
SURAJKUND CRAFTS MELA : (NEW DELHI)
IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE TRADITIONAL INDIAN HANDICRAFTS, A DELIGHTFUL HANDLOOM AND HANDICRAFTS FAIR IS HELD ANNUALLY AT SURAJKUND. SKILLED ARTISANS AND CRAFTSMEN DISPLAY THEIR SKILLS AND CRAFTS IN A RURAL SETTING. CULTURAL PROGRAMMES AND RURAL CUISINE ARE ALSO A PART OF THIS COLOURFUL FAIR.
CHAPCHAR KUT : (MIZORAM)
A LIVELY FESTIVAL MIZORAM WHICH CELEBRATES THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING. IT IS AN OCCASION FOR DANCE, MUSIC AND FEASTING.
ISLAND TOURISM FESTIVAL : (PORT BLAIR,
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLAND)
IS A TEN DAY LONG FESTIVAL OF DANCE, DRAMA AND MUSIC. EXHIBITIOS DISPLAYING ARTS AND CRAFTS, FLORA AND FAUNA AND MARINE LIFE, ARE PART OF THE EVENT. AQUA SPORTS, TELEGAMES AND PARASAILING ARE ADDED ATTRACTIONS.
FESTIVAL IN MARCH
HOLI (ALL OVER NORTH INDIA )
IN THE MOST BOISTEROUS OF ALL HINDU FESTIVALS, OBSERVED ALL OVER THE NORTH. IT HERALDS THE END OF WINTER AND THE BEGGINING OF THE 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 COLOURED WATER AND POWDERS (GULAL AND KUMKUM) AT EACH OTHER AND MAKE MERRY. SINGING AND DANCING ADD TO THE GAIETY OF THE OCCASION.
IN THE NORTHERN, AS WELL AS EASTERN REGIONS, HOLI CELEBRATES THE JOYFUL RAASLEELA OF KRISHNA AND THE GOPIS. THEY PLAY PHAG WHICH IS A GAME OF MANY COLOURFUL HUES. IT IS A JOYOUS CELEBRATION OF THE REJUVANATION OF NATURE, AND RENEWED HOPE OF HAPPINESS AND PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE. ESPECIALLY FAMOUS IS THE LATHMAAR HOLI OF BARSANA AND NANDGAON. IN ANANDPUR SAHIB, SIKHS CELEBRATES A SPECIAL FESTIVAL HOLA MOHALLA ON THE DAY AFTER HOLI. IT MARKS A DISPLAY OF ANCIENT MARTIAL ARTS AND MOCK BATTLES.
GANGAUR (RAJASTHAN)
IS DEDECATED TO GAURI, A MANIFESTATION OF GODDESS PARVATI AND LASTS FOR 18 DAYS. THE FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED BY GIRLS AND MARRIED WOMEN THROUGHOUT RAJASTHAN. THE IMAGES OF GAURI ARE ORNAMENTED AND OFFERINGS ARE MADE. THIS IS ALSO AN AUSPICIOUS DAY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SELECT THEIR LIFE PARTNERS. COLOURFUL PROCESSIONS WITH THE TOWN BAND PLAYING, HORSES AND ELABORATE PALANQUINS MAKE IT A FASCINATING SPECTACLE.
JAMSHED-E-NAVROZ THE PARSIS
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DONE THEIR NEW CLOTHES AND DECORATE THEIR HOMES WITH RANGOLI PATTERNS DRAWN WITH METAL MOULDS AND FLOWERS. SWEETS ARE EXCHANGED AND LATER PARSI VISIT THE FIRE TEMPLE WHERE THANKSGIVING IS PERFORMED.
RAMNAVAMI (ALL OVER INDIA )
THE BIRTHDAY OF LORD RAMA, THE CELEBRATED HERO OF THE FAMOUS EPIC, THE RAMAYANA, IS ENTHUSIASTICALLY CELEBRATEDON THE NINTH DAY OF THE WAXING MOON IN THE MONTH OF CHAITRA. TEMPLES ARE DECORATED, RELIGIOUS DISCOURSES ARE HELD AND THE RAMAYANA IS RECITED FOR TEN DAYS. PEOPLE SING DEVOTIONAL SONGS IN PRAISE OF RAMA AND ROCK IMAGES OF HIM IN CRADLES TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH. RATHYATRAS OR CHARIOT PROCESSIONS OF RAMA, HIS WIFE SITA, BROTHER LAKSHMANA AND DEVOTEE HANUMAN, ARE TAKEN OUT FROM MANY TEMPLES.
ID-UL-ZURA (ALL OVER INDIA) IS A MUSLIM FESTIVAL CELEBRATED ALL OVER INDIA. PRAYERS ARE OFFERED IN THE MOSQUES AND SPECIAL DELECACIES ARE PREPARED AND SERVED AMONG FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON THE OCCASION.
MAHAVIR JAYANTI (ALL OVER INDIA)
THE BIRTH ANNIVERSAY OF THE 24TH TIRTHANKARA OF THE JAINS, MAHAVIR, THE FOUNDER OF JAINISM, IS CELEBRATED BY THE JAIN COMMUNITY. LECTURES ARE HELD TO PREACH THE PATH OF VIRTUE. PEOPLE MEDITATE AND OFFER PRAYERS. DONATIONS ARE COLLECTED TO SAVE THE COWS FROM SLAUGHER. PILGRIMS FROM ALL PARTS OF TEH COUNTRY VISIT THE ANCIENT JAIN SHRINES AT GIMAR AND PALITANA IN GUJARAT, ON THIS DAY.
KHAJURAHO DANCE FESTIVAL (KHAJURAHO, MADHYA PRADESH)
IS A WEEKLONG FESTIVAL OF CLASSICAL DANCES HELD AT THE KHAJURAHO TEMPLES, BUILD BY THE CHANDELLA KINGS.
ELEPHANT FESTIVAL (JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN)
A FESTIVAL WHERE ELEPHANTS ARE THE CENTER OF ATTRACTION. THEY STRIDE MAJESTICALLY PARADING THEIR DECORATED TRUNKS AND TUSKS. THE FESTIVAL BEGINS WITH A PROCESSION OF ELEPHANTS, CAMELS AND HORSES, FOLLOWED BY LIVELY FOLD DANCERS AT THEIR ENTERTAINING BEST. ELEPHANT RACES AND ELEPHANT-POLO MATCHES ARE SPECIAL FEATURES. THE MOST HILARIOUS HIGHLIGH OF THE FESTIVAL IS A TUG OF WAR BETWEEN ELEPHANTS AND MEN.
HOYSALA MAHOTSAVA (KARNATAKA)
IS A DANCE FESTIVAL HELD AT THE HOLYSALA TEMPLES OF BELUR AND HALEBID IN KARNATAKA.
ELLORA FESTIVAL (ELLORA CAVES, MAHARASHTRA)
IS A FESTIVAL OF DANCE AND MUSIC ORGANISED IN THE SPLENDID SURROUNDINGS OF THE MAGNIFICENT ELLORA CAVES.
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