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The most colorful and vibrant festivals to experience in India

India is a land of diverse cultures and traditions, and festivals play a significant role in its social fabric. Every state in India has its unique way of celebrating festivals, with vibrant colors, music, dance, and food. If you are a traveler looking to experience the true essence of India’s culture, then here are some of the most colorful and vibrant festivals to experience in India.

Holi

Holi is one of the most vibrant and colorful festivals of India, celebrated on the full moon day of Phalgun month, which falls in February or March. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring. People smear each other with colored powders, dance to the beat of drums, and relish traditional sweets and snacks. The best places to celebrate Holi are Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana in Uttar Pradesh.

Diwali

Diwali or the festival of lights is celebrated in October or November and marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. The festival signifies the victory of light over darkness and is celebrated by lighting diyas, decorating homes, and exchanging sweets and gifts. The best places to celebrate Diwali are Jaipur, Varanasi, and Amritsar.

Durga Puja

Durga Puja is a 10-day long festival celebrated in September or October and is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The festival is celebrated with great fervor in West Bengal, with elaborate pandals, colorful decorations, and cultural programs. The best places to celebrate Durga Puja are Kolkata, Siliguri, and Asansol.

Onam

Onam is a harvest festival celebrated in Kerala in August or September and is believed to be the homecoming of King Mahabali. The festival is celebrated with floral decorations, traditional dances, and a grand feast called Onam Sadhya. The best places to celebrate Onam are Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kottayam.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day long festival celebrated in August or September and is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and show in Maharashtra, with colorful decorations, processions, and community feasts. The best places to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi are Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik.

Pushkar Camel Fair

The Pushkar Camel Fair is a five-day long festival celebrated in November in the city of Pushkar, Rajasthan. The festival is famous for its cattle fair, where thousands of camels, horses, and cattle are bought and sold. The festival is also known for its cultural programs, competitions, and traditional food.

Hemis Festival

The Hemis Festival is a two-day long festival celebrated in June or July in the Hemis Monastery, Ladakh. The festival is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava and is celebrated with traditional dances, music, and colorful masks. The best time to visit Ladakh is from June to September, and the Hemis Festival is a must-see event for anyone visiting the region.

In conclusion, India’s diverse culture and traditions are reflected in its festivals, which are celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm. The above-mentioned festivals are just a few examples of the many colorful and vibrant festivals that one can experience in India. So, if you are planning a trip to India, try to plan your visit around these festivals to truly immerse yourself in India’s rich cultural heritage.

So, why not take the first step towards your next great adventure? Visit our website at www.wanderingjane.com or give us a call at +91 998 656 5263 (Jane) to start planning your journey today. We can’t wait to help you discover the world and all its wonders.

A traveller’s guide to make the best of the Dussehra Week!

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is a major Hindu festival that marks the end of Navratri.This festive week is celebrated in various forms, with varied names, across the country! Each celebration has its own unique beautiful aspect and is sure to make every curious traveller fall in love with the glorious cultures of India! Here are a few remarkable ways for every traveller to explore the Dussehra week, this year!

Mysore Dasara festival:

In Karnataka, Dasara is observed as the State festival – Nadahabba, because the celebration of the festival is steered by the Royal Family of Mysore. During Dasara, the entire City is gaily decorated and illuminated. The Palace and other important buildings are illuminated. Cultural programmes by famous artists are arranged in the Palace along with Sports, Wrestling, Poet’s meet, Food Festival, Film Festival witnessed by a large number of people. The Jambu Savari or the Elephant procession is one of the most prominent events of this festival. During this procession, 12 trained elephants adorned with colourful attire are taken around the streets. Performances like traditional dances, musicals, and displays of swordsmanship can be witnessed throughout the procession – indeed a sight to behold. As it travels through the city streets, it spreads zeal and joy throughout the city.

2. Durga puja in Kolkata:

Durga Puja in Kolkata is the grandest of all festivals celebrated in the capital city in honour of Goddess Durga during the period of Navaratri. While the festival of Durga Pujo is without a doubt celebrated across the world, in Kolkata, the vigour with which it is celebrated is second to none.This grand social event of Durga Puja showcases the beautiful culture of the Bengalis in India. It is celebrated for 10 days, starting from the sixth day until the ninth day, the Pandals with grand idols of Goddess Durga are open for visitors. The tenth day, also known as Dashami marks the Visarjan (immersion in water) of the idol with grand celebrations and processions. Women, especially married women initiate the procession by first applying red sindoor or vermillion powder on the Goddess and then to each other. Food is a major feature of the Kolkata Durga Puja festival and Kolkata is reputed to be a foodie’s paradise. Kolkata Durga Puja special themed Bhog meals that have a little of everything.

3. Kulasekarapattinam dasara in Tamil nadu:

Thisis a different way of celebrating Dussehra in Tamil Nadu state of India. The festival is celebrated for 10 days around the Mutharamman Temple, which is a hotspot of music, dance and drama and showcases an amazing range of vibrant costumes. An exclusive aspect of this festival is a trance dance in which people swing in unique costumes on the lively beats of thara thappattam.

This gives travellers a different outlook of the festival and is a one of a kind experience.

4. Ravan dahan in North India (mainly Uttar Pradesh):

There are many places in Uttar Pradesh state of India where Dussehra is celebrated by setting the statue of Ravana on fire by Lord Rama. It depicts the victory of good over evil. At cities like Varanasi, Lucknow and Kanpur, Ram Leela is performed on a grand level at prime locations of the city. Actors in the attire of Lord Ram, Lakshman and Hanuman perform the epic saga using audio visual devices and the audience is thrilled to see them while assassinating the idols of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath.

This is a very interesting sight for tourists and gives goosebumps, taking every traveller down to its Indian mythological roots.

5. Kullu dussehra:

This is one of the much-awaited festivals not only for Indians but for people outside the country too.

The centre of this festival is the Dhalpur Maidan. The festival starts with the pooja of Lord Raghunath. Then all the deities across the town are carried on a rath by the Worshipper’s to the Maidan. On the 5th or 6th day of Dussehra celebration, a gathering of all the village devtas takes place. On the last day, a huge bonfire is lit in which a lamb, a rooster, a fish, a crab and a buffalo are sacrificed.

The Kullu Dussehra celebration is different from Dussehra celebrations anywhere else and thus is to be a must witnessed event by every avid traveller!

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