Indian Festivals
Being a highly spiritual country, festivals are at the heart of peopleโs lives in India. The numerous and varied festivals that are held throughout the year offer a unique way of seeing Indian culture at its best. Don't miss these following popular festivals in India.
2. DIWALI
๏ข Diwali is a five day festival that honors the victory of good
over evil and brightness over darkness. It celebrates Lord
Ram and his wife Sita returning to their kingdom of Ayodhya,
following Ram and monkey god Hanuman's defeat the
demon King Ravana and rescue of Sita from his evil
clutches. It's known as the "Festival of Lights" for all the
fireworks, small clay lamps, and candles that are lit. The
candlelight makes Diwali a very warm and atmospheric
festival, and it's observed with much joy and happiness.
3. GANESH CHATURTHI
๏ข The spectacular eleven day Ganesh Chaturthi festival
honors the birth of the beloved Hindu elephant-headed
god, Lord Ganesha. The start of the festival sees huge,
elaborately crafted statutes of Ganesha installed in
homes and podiums, which have been especially
constructed and beautifully decorated. At the end of the
festival, the statutes are paraded through the streets,
accompanied by much singing and dancing, and then
submerged in the ocean.
4. HOLI
๏ข Holi is a two day festival that also celebrates the victory
of good over evil, as well as the abundance of the spring
harvest season. It's commonly referred to as the
"Festival of Colors". People exuberantly throw colored
powder and water all over each other, have parties, and
dance under water sprinklers. Bhang (a paste made
from cannabis plants) is also traditionally consumed
during the celebrations.
5. NAVARATRI, DUSSEHRA, AND DURGA
PUJA
๏ข The first nine days of this festival are known
as Navaratri, and are filled with dance in honor of the
Mother Goddess. The tenth day, called Dussehra, is
devoted to celebrating the defeat of the demon king
Ravana by Lord Rama. It also coincides with the victory
of the revered warrior Goddess Durga over the evil
buffalo demon Mahishasura.
6. KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI/GOVINDA
๏ข Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Govinda,
commemorates the birthday of Lord Krishna. An
extremely fun part of the festival involves people climbing
on each other and forming a human pyramid to try and
reach and break open clay pots filled with curd, which
have been strung up high from buildings.
7. PUSHKAR CAMEL FAIR
๏ข An astonishing 50,000 camels converge on the tiny
desert town of Pushkar, in India's state of Rajasthan for
the Pushkar Camel Fair. For five days, the camels are
dressed up, paraded, shaved, entered into beauty
contests, raced, and of course traded. It's a great
opportunity to witness an old, traditional style Indian
festival.
