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India
is a land of festivals and fairs. Every day of the year there
is a festival celebrated in some part of the country. Some
festivals welcome the seasons of the year, the harvest, the
rains, or the full moon. Others celebrate religious occasions,
the birthdays of divine beings, saints, and gurus (revered
teachers), or the advent of the new year. A number of these
festivals are common to most parts of India. However, they
may be called by different names in various parts of the country
or may be celebrated in a different fashion.
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Festival Name |
Description |
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Republic Day Festival: |
Celebrates in January, Delhi.
Must see : procession with plenty of elephants, plenty
of military might and Indian princely splendour.
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Holi: |
Held in February.
One of the most exuberant Hindu festivals in the north
of India.
Marks the end of winter and basically involves throwing
coloured water and red powder over as many people as
you can in one day. |
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Muharram: |
Takes place in Apri/May for the next couple of years.
10 day festival commemorates the martyrdom of Mohammed's
grandson.
Marked by a grand parade and dedicated penitents scourge
themselves with whips in religious fervour.
Best seen in Lucknow, the principal Indian Shi'ite city.
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Kumbh Mela: |
Commemorates an ancient battle between gods and demons
for a pitcher (kumbh).
The mela is held every three years rotating through
these four cities namely, Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik
and Ujjain. |
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Rath Yatra: |
Held in June/July, Puri.
Involves the gigantic temple car of Lord Jagannath making
its annual journey, pulled by thousands of eager devotees.
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Nehru Cup Snake Boat Races: |
Takes place on the second Saturday of August, on the
backwaters at Alappuzha Alleppey). |
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Ganesh Chaturthi: |
Held in August/September.
Dedicated to the popular elephant-headed god Ganesh.
Celebrated widely, but with particular enthusiasm in
Maharashtra.
Shrines are erected, firecrackers let off, clay idols
are immersed in rivers or the sea, and everyone tries
to avoid looking at the moon. |
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Festival of the God: |
Celebrates in September/October, Kullu.
Part of the Dussehra Festival, which is at its most
spectacular in Mysore and Ahmedabad. |
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Camel Festival: |
Held in November, Pushkar in Rajasthan. |
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Diwali (or Deepavali): |
Clebrated over 5 days in November.
The happiest festival of the Hindu calendar .
Sweets, oil lamps and firecrackers are used in honour
of a number of gods. |
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Christmas: |
Must visit : beach party at Goa. |
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