20 Top Most Famous Indian Festivals Celebrated From October to March

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20 Most Famous Indian Festivals Celebrated From
October to March
A country defined by mixed ethnicities and
cultures, India is a colorful land famous for its
glittering festivals which add a whimsical charm
to its diverse cultural set up. If you wish to
grasp the essence of Indian culture, planning
your trip around the prominent festivals is the
best way to experience the richness of
festivities this country has to offer.  Indian
festival tour packages are a perfect way to
immerse you in the vibrant traditions of India.
With so many religions and ethnic groups thriving
in India, there are infinite numbers of festivals
happening all year round, but the most celebrated
festivals take place in the month of October and
last till the month of March. As we embark on the
season of festivities, here is a quick look at
the famous Indian festivals celebrated during
October- March.
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Durga Puja
Durga Puja is a renowned Hindu festival that
celebrates the divine female form. The festival
holds great significance in Hindu religion as the
victory of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasura.
Durga puja starts on the fifth day of the nine
day long Navratri festival with
special decorations of the temples and prayers.
Of all the important ceremonies conducted during
Durga Puja, Sindoor Khela is most joyously
celebrated by the women who smear each others
foreheads with sindoor, a red coloured powder.
Durga puja ends on the tenth day, the day of
Vijayadashami with people immersing the idols of
goddess Durga in the holy rivers. Kolkata is the
best place to see this festival in its full glory.
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Dussehra
Dussehra is celebrated all over India in the
month of October with great fervour to
commemorate killing of Ravana by Lord Rama.
Vijayadashami is preceded by a ten day Ram leela,
in which scenes from Ramayana are enacted. The
festival ends with the burning of
effigies of Ravana and his two brothers which
attracts many visitors. Processions are carried
out during the day. In some parts of India, the
day is welcomed by week long fairs in which
people participate with great zeal. In India, the
most elaborate and grand celebrations of Dussehra
take place in Kullu Dussehra in Himachal
Pradesh which draws millions of tourists every
year. 
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Deepawali
The festival of lights, Deepawali is the most
awaited festivals of Hindus. Deepawali is a five
day festival that celebrates the return of Lord
Rama with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, to
Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile in the
forests. The celebrations begin on
Dhanteras, which is celebrated by buying and
gifting metal wares to friends and family. The
main festival takes place on the third day, the
darkest day of the year. Houses are decorated
with diyas and rangolis on Diwali. Worshipping
Goddess Lakshmi on this day is believed to bring
prosperity into the house.
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Rajasthani International Folk Festival
The annual International Folk Festival of
Rajasthan held in the month of October is a
celebration of folk music and art belonging to
different regions in Rajasthan. The five day
festival begins on the night of Sharad Poornima
which is considered an auspicious time in the
lunar calendar.
Since, the festival is organized within the
premises or Mehrangarh fort in Jodhpur, attending
the festival also lets you explore the historic
monument. This event is organized solely for the
purpose of promoting artists and musicians. The
festival is a great opportunity for tourists to
come close to Rajasthani culture in the way of
its folk dances, music and art forms.
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Gurpurab
The most sacred festival of Sikhs, Gurpurab marks
the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the
first Sikh Guru. A special ceremony called Akhand
Path is observed two days before Gurpurab in
which the holy scripture of Sikhs, Guru Granth
Sahib is read without
break. Gurpurab is also known as Kartik Poornima,
according to the lunar calendar which celebrates
the victory of Lord Shiva over demon Tripurasura.
People of both religions take holy dips in river
Ganga on Kartik Poornima.
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Pushkar Camel Festival
Pushkar fair in Rajasthan is the most famous
festival in Rajasthan that draws millions of
tourists from across the globe. The festival is
revered as the largest livestock fair in
Indiashowcasing camels, horses, elephants and
goats. Pushkar fair begins a
week before Kartik Poornima in the month of
November. Hindu devotees take holy dips in the
sacred Pushkar River at sunrise on the morning of
Kartik poornima which is the last day of the
fair. The most interesting part of the festival
that attracts the visitors are the cultural
shows, craft exhibitions and competitions like
matka phod race, moustache competition and bridal
contests which add a colorful vibe to the
festival.
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Losar Festival, Ladakh
Losar festival is a cultural treat for
those traveling to Ladakh in the month of
December. The festival marks the beginning
of Tibetan New year and is hailed as the most
popular festival of Tibetan Buddhists in Ladakh.
The two day festival held in February displays a
fine cultural extravaganza in the form
of folk music and dance performed by local
artists which lends a beguiling appeal to the
event. Attending the festival amidst the serenity
of mountains with recitation of chants and
prayers conducted in the monasteries is an
experience of a lifetime.
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Konark Dance and Music Festival
This five day long dance and music festival
organized in the month of February against the
backdrop of Konark Sun temple in Odisha is a
feast for the lovers of Indian classical dances
including kuchipudi, bharatnatyam, Odissi and
Kathak. Besides this, Konark Dance and Music
festival also lets you explore the crafts
and cuisine Odisha in its food and craft fairs
which are sure to win the heart of every foodie
and art lover. This event also gives you a chance
to interact with many famous classical dancers
and musicians who come to participate in this
festival. To make the best of this event,
special Konark Dance festival tour packages are
offered by many Indian tour operators to let the
tourists enjoy the event without any hassles.
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Khajuraho Dance Festival
Khajuraho Dance festival held in the month of
February around the famous Khajuraho temples is a
celebration of various Indian classical dance
forms. The event showcases the rich history of
Indian classical dance through stage performances
of Kuchipudi, Kathak, Manipuri and Bharatnatyam
given by
trained dancers on the tunes of tanpura, tabla,
flute and mridangam. The festival also pays
tribute to the artisans who carved beautiful
images of dancers on the walls of Khajuraho
temples. The dance festival is one event that
will bring out the true charm of Khajuraho
temples in your trip to this famous tourist town.
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Jaisalmer Desert Festival
For an unspoilt vacation in the sand dunes of
Thar Desert, Jaisalmer Desert festival organized
in February is an event one cannot afford to miss
on your tour to Rajasthan. The deserts of
Jaisalmer transform into a vibrant city that
emits energy and enthusiasm from every corner
during the three
day event. Various gymnasts belonging to tribal
regions in Rajasthan display their skills in the
festival. Fire dance performed by the local
dancers is another interesting activity that will
keep you entertained and enthralled. The festival
is particularly famous for camel polo and other
similar competitions which attract a large number
of people to witness the event.
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Kartik Cultural Festival, Haryana
Kartik Cultural Festival held every year in
November in Ballabhgarh in Haryana, is the most
fascinating way to spend your time adoring the
nearly extinct cultural practices in India. The
event starts two days before Kartik Poornima and
gives an insight into the ancient
performing arts of India which can hardly be seen
anywhere else in the country in the current age.
The venue of the festival is another reason to
enjoy this festival as one gets to witness the
spellbinding architecture of Nahar Singh Mahal.
The art and craft stalls exhibited in the
festival gives a glimpse of many ancient art
forms of India.
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Hornbill Festival, Nagaland
Nagaland, the richest state in terms of its
tribal population, takes pride in its
annual Hornbill festival organized on Nagalands
statehood day in the month of December. Named
after a bird Hornbill in Nagaland, the festival
brings out the essence of the rich tribal life of
the
Nagas. The medley of cultural performances
accompanied with the tribal food fair is a
delightful experience for the travelers. One can
also view the preparation of tribal dishes being
cooked by the tribesmen in separate huts.
Watching the tribal folk perform their daily
tasks will be a memory to cherish all your life.
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Christmas
The most celebrated occasions in the world,
Christmas is celebrated on 25th December in India
by the Christian community with great gusto. The
day marks the birth of Lord Jesus. Being the only
great festival of Christians, preparations begin
months before the actual day. Churches are
decorated
and plays are organized to celebrate the
occasion. People decorate their houses with
ornate Christmas trees and exchange gifts with
their family and friends. Some people dress up
like Santa Claus and offer gifts and sweets to
children. The eve of Christmas is celebrated by
holding candle light service in churches followed
by refreshments of coffee and Christmas cake.
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Makar Sakranti
Also known as the Kite flying festival, Makar
Sakranti is a Hindu festival celebrated in
January all over India to mark the entry of Sun
in Capricorn. The festival holds different
connotations in different places. In the northern
part of India, the day is celebrated as Til
Sakranti, in which people make and distribute Til
laddoos to celebrate the end of winter months. In
Punjab, Makar Sakranti is preceded by Lohri
festival in which a huge bonfire is lit up to
celebrate winter solstice. In some parts, Makar
Sakranti is known as khichdi which is celebrated
by cooking a special dish made from rice and
lentils. 
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 International Kite Flying 
Fairs and kite flying events are held during the
day which lends a youthful spirit to the
festival. The day is celebrated most joyously in
Gujarat and Jaipur by organizing International
Kite Flying festival which pulls a variety of
tourists from all parts of the world.The day is
also
considered the most auspicious time to take the
holy bath in sacred rivers which is believed to
rid a person from all the sins committed in past
lives.
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Bihu Festival
Bihu is a famous festival of Assam, the tea
capital of India, which is celebrated in all over
the state to seek the blessings of Gods to get a
bountiful harvest from the crops. The festival is
solemnized in three stages, first in April when
the crop seeds are sown, the second in the month
of October, when the saplings
are transplanted and the last one in the month of
January which us the harvesting season of the
crops This tri-annual festival is a feast for the
travelers amid the lush greenery of Assam. Being
the national festival of the state, many
competitions like buffalo fights and rooster
fights are organized on the occasion.
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Kumbh Festival
The most famous spiritual festival of Hindus,
Kumbh Mela is a world renowned event that takes
place on the banks of Godavari, Ganga, Shipra and
Triveni Sangam once in every twelve years. The
festival is regarded as Intangible Cultural
Heritage by UNESCO and is the most peaceful
ghuman gatherings in the world.
Kumbh Mela is the most awaited religious
gatherings of Hindu saints and sages who attend
the fair to take holy dips in the sacred rivers
which is said to cleanse alo the sins in the past
lives. The Maha Kumbh Mela held after every 144
years is hailed as the biggest kumbh festival,
but very few people get to witness the Maha kumbh
during their lifetime.
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Basant Panchami
Basant panchmi is a harvest festival that
celebrates the arrival of spring season. The
festival is also said to be the celebration of
birth of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of
knowledge. Many other folk tales are associated
with this festival which is observed in all
parts of India in the month of January or
February. In Punjab, people wear yellow colored
clothes and make a dish of yellow colored rice to
celebrate the vibrancy of spring season. Kite
flying competitions are observed during the day
in many parts of the country. Offering prayers to
Goddess Saraswati on this day brings abundance
and good fortune in ones life.
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Goa Carnival
Goa hosts the famous Goa carnival in the month of
February or March. Being largely dominated by
Christian population, the festival is essentially
celebrated by the Catholics and begins a few days
before the Lent, the fasting period observed by
the Christians. The carnival is the most exciting
celebration of dance, music and food in which
people of all religions and faith take part with
the same enthusiasm. The Goa food and cultural
festivalorganized during the carnival is a
delight for the foodies. The lively atmosphere
this festival brings in Goa attracts hoards of
tourists from different regions to the coastal
city.
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Holi
The most colourful festival of Himdus is Holi
festival celebrated with great fervour and
enthusiasm in all parts of India. The festival
celebrates the triumph of good over evil as the
day marks the destruction of Holika, who had evil
intentions and wanted to kill Prahalad, son of
Hirinyakashyap. The day is celebrated by throwing
colors on each other which symbolizes the arrival
of spring season. The day bears special relevance
in strengthening relations, as the day celebrates
unity and togetherness forgetting about any
personal differences between family members.
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