India, a country famous for its diverse cultures and traditions, has a rich variety of festivals and fairs to offer. They aim at uniting people and the historical past and cultural similarities of the country and its populace.
Durga Puja (West Bengal)
A festival of Bengal particularly in West Bengal and even more especially Kolkata, Durga Puja is a celebration of art, devotion, and sheer joy. This festival is dedicated to the Goddess Durga and celebrates her success over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
The city wears a festive look with beautifully sculpted gods and goddesses, dens or tents, and cultural programs.
Shigmo (Goa)
Shigmo is another interesting festival held in Goa, which is associated with the coming of the spring season. This has entertaining contingents, demonstration of folk dances, lovely outfits, and artistically illuminated floats.
Shigmo enables the people to portray their identity and backgrounds of the region through marvelous performances. It is one of the great combinations of joy and devotion that draws the crowd in large numbers from different parts of the world.
Rath Yatra (Odisha)
The chariot festival or Ratha Yatra is a massive annual celebration that takes place in the city of Puri in the state of Odisha sometime in June or July.
Thousands of worshippers assemble to drag with force huge vehicles of deities Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. But the best to watch at least once is the moment when thousands of Hindus are pulling the chariots with the background chorus of Vedic hymns. This festival largely comprises concentration and togetherness from the people all over the society.
Nag Panchami (Maharastra)
Nag Panchami is an especially old festival that is still celebrated in honor of the serpent deities. This is another Indian festival mainly celebrated in Maharashtra but observed all over India and typically held in July and August.
Today, various devotees bring milk and ask from idols for serpents’ health and well-being, as well as for prosperity. The overall impression of the festival is based on the perspective of the traditional worldview and the interdependence between people and the living environment.
Pongal (Tamil Nadu)
Tamil Nadu harvest festival called Pongal is a festival observed to mark the commencement of the annual journey of the Sun to the Northern path. This is a festival that people take four days to celebrate to express their gratitude to the sun god for a good harvest.
Preparation of a meal traditionally known as Pongal, which is prepared from the newly harvested rice is part of the festival.
Baisakhi (Punjab)
Baisakhi is a colorful festival that is widely celebrated in Punjab, and that symbolizes the cutting of the rabi crops.
The citizens wear ethnic clothing, dance to the tune of Bhangra and Gidda, and pay respect to Gurudwaras. It is an embodiment of the vibrant culture of Punjab and all the pompous celebrations depict it thoroughly.
Onam (Kerala)
The harvest festival of Kerala, Onam, is well known referring to the tormentor King Mahabali returning home. As for entertainment, people arrange culturally rich meals, traditional dance drama like Kathakali, painting the faces with an induced color called Pulikaali, boat race, and floral decoration popular called Pookala.
Onam Sadhya is the meal on this occasion and it is tastefully presented on banana leaves where several dishes are set overwhelmingly.
Pushkar Camel Fair (Rajasthan)
It is called the Pushkar Camel Fair which is held in Rajasthan and during this Fair thousands of camels, horses, and cattle are sold.
Other activities associated with the fair are also held, such as camel race, beauty contest, and dance and music festivals.
Bihu (Assam)
The biggest festival in Assam is Bihu, which involves dancing, singing, and of course, eating. It signifies the onset of the productive activity of the farm and also the time when the people can get together.
Special dances and songs of the ancient Bihu give a colorful shade to the region and present the special cultural flavor of the area.
