Fair & Festivals of India

Tour overview

India is the land of various culture, customs and geographical diversities, several fair and festivals comes in a year and people celebrate them with full of joy. These fair and festivals of India adds the extra joy to the all tourists who visits India during the fair and festivals. Come and experience the India during the vibrant and most beautiful fair and festivals of India to add the joy in your holidays. Below is the list of major and famous fair and festival of India.

Makar Sankranti / Lohri / Pongal (Festival held in January):

Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal are the harvest festivals and are celebrated in India by the different names in different states of India. It is observed each year in the mid of January according to the Hindu calendar. Indian people celebrate their harvest at this day with full of joy and happiness. It is also consider the end the winters and start of new harvest season in India.

Makar Sankranti Dates:

• 15^th January in 2020
• 14^th January in 2021
• 14^th January in 2022

Lohri Dates:

• 13^th January in 2020
• 13^th January in 2021
• 13^th January in 2022

Pongal Dates:

• 15^th to 18^th January in 2020
• 13^th to 16^th January in 2021
• 13^th to 16^th January in 2022

Bikaner Camel Festival (Festival held in January):

 

 

Camel festival in Bikaner is celebrated annually in Bikaner (City in Rajasthan) and it is organised by the Department of Tourism, Art and Culture of Rajasthan. Bikaner celebrates it in the honour ship of the desert. Camel Races, Camel Milking, fur cutting designs, camel acrobatics, Decoration competitions, Rajasthani Cultural program, Dances and Music, Villagers Wrestling and Water Pot race are the main attraction of this event. Bikaner camel festival organised every year between 11^th to 14^th (Dates may very every year).

 

Bikaner Camel Festival Dates:

• 11^th to 12^th January in 2020
• 12^th to 13^th January in 2021
• 11^th to 12^th January in 2022

Nagaur Cattle Fair (Fair held in January or February):

 

 

Nagaur fair also called the Nagaur Cattle fair and Raodev Cattle fair is an annual fair celebrated in Nagaur (City in Rajasthan located between Bikaner and Jodhpur). This fair is celebrated with full of joy and zeal in Rajasthan and more than 70000 bullocks, camels and horses are traded every year. To sell those animals their owners decorate them in colourful dresses and even the owners also bear the colourful turban on their heads which is the tradition in Rajasthan. Nagaur fair held in January or February. (Dates vary every year).

 

Nagaur Cattle Fair Dates:

30^th January to 02^nd February in 2020

Surajkund Crafts Fair (Fair held in February):

 

 

Surajkund Craft Mela or Surajkund Craft fair (Surajkund International Craft Fair) is one of the International Craft fair starts every year from 01^st to 15^th February in Surajkund area near to New Delhi. It is organized by Haryana state tourism every year on fixed dates. Surajkund means “Lake of the Sun” is the ancient reservoir build by the King Suraj Pal of the Tomar dynasty in the 10^th Artists from over 20 countries from South Asia and Africa are participating in this fair every year and showing their talent on this huge platform. Millions of tourist and visitors visit this fair every year and making it a huge success. Puppet Show, Art and Craft shop, food stalls from different states, traditional folk dances and Musical programmes are the main attractions of Surajkund mela.

 

Surajkund Fair Dates:

It is held every year from 01^st to 16^th February

Taj Mahotsav (Festival held in February):

 

 

Taj Mahotsav is the festival of Art, Cultural heritage, Craft, Music and Food held every year from 18^th Feb to 27^th Feb at Shilpram in Agra, near to eastern gate of Taj Mahal. This ten days festival is a great success and first was held in 1992 in Agra. Taj Mahotsav invokes the memories of Mughal era. Over 400 artists from different parts of India participate in this festival and show their works of art. This festival starts with big joy with a road procession with decorates camels, elephants just like it used to be happened in Mughals era. Many artist, drum beaters, folk dancers, craftsman and trumpet players join this procession.

 

Taj Mahotsav Dates:

18^th to 27^th February every year

Sula Fest, Nashik (Vineyards, Wines & Food festival held in February):

 

 

Sula festival is the India’s largest Vineyards festival and it is organized every year in the early of February in the Nashik surrounded by the hills and the magnificent Gangapur lake. It is a great fest for the food, wine and music lovers at the planet. Make your weekend memorable by the verities of wines, rocking music, ambience and mouth-watering dishes. Also get the chance to spend the nights at the camps under the sky, wake up from the chirping of birds and lovely sunrise.

 

Sula Fest Dates:

• 01^st to 02^nd February in 2020
• 06^th to 07^th February in 2021

Holi (Festival of Colors held in March):

 

 

The festival of Joy, Colors and Happiness, Holi is the one of the top festival of India celebrated every year in the month of March. Locals can be seen the playing the holy (throwing the colors on the each other) in the almost every streets in the India. The Holi festival is celebrated as the victory of good on the evils, Demoness Holika was burnt on this day by the help of Hindu God Vishnu. People enjoy the festival by putting the colours, throwing the colors by water guns and throwing the water balloons on their friends, family and relatives. Holi is the very popular amongst the foreigners also and they love to participate with locals.

 

 

Holi festival Dates:

• 10^th March in 2020
• 28^th March in 2021
• 18^th March in 2022

Goa Carnival (Festival held February or March):

 

 

Goa Carnival Fest is the most popular and fun filled festival of Goa which is the beautiful state of India having the several magnificent beaches. It was brought to Goa In 18^th century from Portugal by Portuguese who ruled here for more than 500 years. Goa Carnival is organised every year by the Government of Goa to promote the culture. This festival is fun filled festival famous for the food, music and drinks and it is celebrated mostly by the Christians for three days. People takes part in the Carnival’s Parade with bands, floats and dances and it is meant to feast, drink and make merry. Singing, Dancing and Drinks are the charm of the carnival. Foreign tourist will love to enjoy their holiday in Goa during the carnival.

 

Goa Carnival Dates:

• 22^nd to 25^th February in 2020
• 13^th to 16^th February in 2021
• 26^th February to 01^st March in 2022

Gangaur Festival (Festival held in March):

 

 

Gangaur is the quiet famous festival celebrated in the Indian state of Rajasthan and some parts of Gujarat. It is the colourful festival which is also called the festival of love and marriage and dedicated to Hindu Goddess Gauri. Unmarried women worships the Goddess Gauri to find the good match (husband) in the future and the married women worships the Goddess for the well being of their husbands. It is said that Goddess Gauri (Parvati) attracted Lord Shiva by dedicated meditation and devotion and thereafter Lord Shiva was impressed by her and married her later. It is celebrated a week after Holi festival and it is celebrated by singing the traditional songs in praise of Goddess Gauri. Women wear the traditional costumes and take part in this festival with full of joy.

 

Gangaur Festival Dates:

10^th to 27^th March in 2020

Elephant Festival in Jaipur (Festival held in March):

 

 

Elephant festival is the festival held in Pink City of India- Jaipur (The Capital city of Rajasthan). It is held every year on the day of Holi festival which comes usually in the month of March. The owners of Elephants decorates their Elephants with colourful paintings, clothes and the heavy ornaments to give them attractive look. . All the decorated elephants gather in a huge ground with the sound of musical instruments like Nagada and Bankiya etc. later on Elephant polo, Elephant race, and tug war between the Elephants are main attraction of this event. This festival is organised by the Rajasthan state tourism at the Jaipur Polo Ground. Travelling to Jaipur during this festival can add more spice into your holidays.

 

Elephant Festival in Jaipur Dates:

10^th March in 2020

Bihu festival (Festival held in April, October & January):

 

Bihu is the most famous cultural and harvest festival in Assam (A North Eastern state of India). Bihu is the set of three festivals called Rongali or Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu and Bhogali or Magh Bihu.

Rongali or Bohag Bihu (Held in April): 

 

It is celebrated for the change in season and start of Assamese New Year. New leaves appear on the trees and dry weather of February and March ends here and the famers prepare the fields for the cultivation. People celebrate it with traditional dance and using the Dhol (A musical instrument).

Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu (Held in mid-October):

 

Kati Bihu is the festival of agriculture and is celebrated on the first day of Kati (Kartik) month in Assamese calendar. Kati bihu is normally celebrated in the evening by lighting the lamps and candles and people pray to Goddess Lakshmi.  It is also called Kongali bihu (means Poor) as there is not much remains to eat in this month.

Bhogali or Magh Bihu (Held in mid-January):

 

Bhogali bihu also called Magh Bihu as it is celebrated in Magh month as per Assamese calendar. It is also a harvest festival and considered the end of harvesting season.

 

Bhogali comes from the word Bhog which means Feast as people are involved in eating, feasting and enjoyment in this month. Locals celebrate this festivals from evening by community feasting, singing Bihu songs, beating the Dhol and using the firecrackers.

Buddha Purnima (Festival held in May):

 

Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is the most sacred festival for those who are the followers of Buddha as it was the day when Buddha was born as The Prince Siddhartha Gautama and later he became the founder of Buddhism. This festival is held on the day of Purnima (Full Moon Day) in the fourth month of Lunar Calendar. Buddha purnima is not only celebrated in India but it is also celebrated in Nepal, Bhutan, Srilanka and all the south asian countries. In India it is majorly celebrated in Buddhist regions such as Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and North Bengal areas. It is also celebrated in Delhi in Buddha Jayanti Park. Activities like Prayers meets, recitation of Buddhist Scriptures, Group meditation and worship of the statue of Lord Buddha are done on this day.

Buddha Purnima Dates:

• 07^th May in 2020
• 26^th May in 2021
• 16^th May in 2022

Jagannath Rath Yatra (Festival held in June or July month):

 

Jagannath Rath Yatra (Janannath Chariot festival) is the most important Hindu festival of India and celebrated in Puri (a city in eastern Indian state Odisha). It is celebrated every year in June or July month (Date vary every year). This yatra starts from Jagannath Puri temple which is the temple and Lords Jagannath where idols of Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna) His sister Goddess Subhadra and His elder brother Balabhadra are kept and this journey ends at Gudicha temple in Puri which is considered their aunt’s place. It is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, the idols of all three deities placed on a well decorated chariot and the journey starts by chants and by singing religious songs. Upon reaching Gundicha temple which is considered their aunt’s place, all the three deities are taken inside the Gundicha temple for 09 days and later they are taken back to their home (Jagannath temple) and this return journey is called “Bahuda Yatra”.

 

Jagannath Rath Yatra Dates:

• 23^rd June in 2020
• 11^th July in 2021
• 30^th June in 2022

Hemis Festival, Ladakh (Festival held in June or July):

 

Hemis is a cultural and very popular festival of Leh Ladakh which held every head in the month of June or July, it is celebrated the very famous and old Hemis monastery in Ladakh which is just 45kms away from Leh. As the long winters ends here, the Ladakh valley keep itself ready to celebrate the summers with full zeal and joy. The Mask dance also known as “Chham Dance” shows the victory of good over the bad are the main attraction of this festival, every mask holds a special significance in itself, and this festival attracts everyone with its rich, colourful and vibrant ambience. In the end the sculpture made up of dough and representing the evil powers are destroyed by the head of black head dancers.

 

Hemis Festival Dates:

30^th June to 01^st July in 2020

Janmashtami (Festival held in August):

 

One of the most lovable and famous festival celebrated in India is Janmashtami which is the birthday of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna was born this day to Devki (Mother) and Vasudev (Father) in the prison in Mathura (A city near to Agra in Indian state Uttar Pradesh).

 

Lords Krishna was born on eighth day of Bhadrapad month according to Hindu calendar which comes in August month. All the temple decorated by flowers and lighting to celebrate the Lord’s birthday, many people keeps the fast on this day for Lord Krishna. People wait for midnight to break the fast and to start the worship and celebrations. Travelling during the Janmashtmi in India is a charm in itself which will add more spice to your holidays.

 

Janmashtami Dates:

• 11^th August in 2020
• 29^th August in 2021`
• 18^th August in 2022

Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Kerala (Boat race competition held in August):

 

Nehru Trophy Boat Race is an annual event conducted on the Punnamada Lake, near Alappuzha also called Alleppey, Kerala. It is named of India’s first Prime Minister Jawahar lal Nehru and it is conducted on second Saturday in the month of August every year. Lakhs of people gathers to watch this Snake Boat race (using 100ft long boats) competition including tourist and locals. Boat race crews start doing practice a month before the competition and all the crews live together, eat together and toil together so that they can have the understanding in each other, co-ordinate to each other and can perform well at the day of competition. Visiting Kerala during the Nehru trophy boat race or (Snake Boat race) will be definitely a lifetime memory.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race Dates:

08^th August in 2020

Ganesh Chaturthi (Festival held in August or September):

 

Ganesh Chaturthi also called Vinayak Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in month of August or September according to Hindu calender. People celebrate the arrival of Lord Ganesha to the earth from the Kailash Parvat (Kailash Mountain) with his mother Goddess Parvati or Gauri. People install the Lord Ganesha’s clay idols in their homes, publicly or in the Pandals (temporary stages) and they do worship of Lord Ganesha by chanting the mantras, Vedic hymns, Hindu texts and prayers, after prayer they offer the Prasad (Modak is his favourite) to him every day and later they distribute the Prasad to their family member, relatives and to the society members. This festival ends on the 10^th day of the arrival of Lord Ganesha by carrying those idols in a public possession and music and dancing and then Lord Ganesha’s idol immersed in a water body such a river, lake, canal or sea. Hence the Lord Ganesh returns to Kailash Mountain and people pray him to come on next year. Lords Ganesha is known as “Vignharta” means one who removes obstacles and also known as “Buddhi Pradayaka” means one who grants intelligence. This festival is celebrated throughout the India and Nepal.

Ganesh Chaturthi Dates:

• 22^nd August in 2020
• 10^th September in 2021
• 31^st August in 2022

Pushkar Fair (Fair held in October or November):

 

One of the India’s largest Camel, horse and cattle fair- Pushkar fair also called Pushkar Mela is the annual event held in the desert town of Pushkar in Rajasthan, India. Thousands of camels and cattle are traded in this fair (in Pushkar stadium) which makes this fair a grand success. All the camels, horses and other cattle are decorated, dressed up, paraded, shaved and entered into the Beauty contest, Dancing and trading. Pushkar fair is a 100yrs old fair and its quiet popular amongst the foreign and Indian tourists. Staying in Air Conditioned luxury tents, Campsite Dinner with folk dances and Cultural programs and visiting the Pushkar stadium are the main attractions of Pushkar fair for every tourist who visit Puhskar during the Pushkar fair.

Pushkar Fair Dates:

• 22^nd to 30^th November 2020
• 11^th to 19^th November in 2021
• 31^st October to 08^th November in 2022

Dussehra (Festival held in October or November):

 

Dussehra also known as Vijayadashmi is the one of the major Hindu festival and it is celebrated every year in India and its sub-continent in the month of October or November. It is celebrated for the victory of good over the evils. Lord Rama killed the Ravana (mythical king of Sri Lanka) this day so people celebrate the Dussehra by making the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna (His younger brother) and Meghnath (His son) and burn these effigies on Dussehra day. Huge public gather into the park and stadium to witness this day, fair also organised on this day to sell several sweets, snacks, toys and costumes.

Dussehra Festival Dates:

• 25^th October in 2020
• 14^th October in 2021
• 04^th October in 2022

Deepawali (Festival held in October or November):

 

Deepawali or Diwali also known as the festival of lights is the biggest Hindu festival celebrated in Indian subcontinent and it is celebrated every year on 20^th day after the Dussehra as it is believed that Lord Rama, Goddess Sita (Wife of Rama) and Laxman (his younger brother) reached Ayodhya (Their home & Kingdom) on this day after the 14yrs of exile and wining the Lanka (These days Sri Lanka).

People of Ayodhya did the grand welcome on their return to their home by lighting the Diyas and celebrating the sweets to each other. People celebrate the Diwali by cleaning and renovation their home, doing Pooja, lighting the candles, diyas and lights and distributing the sweets to their families, friends and relatives. Crackers also being used to add the more fun and joy in Diwali. Diwali is five days long festival and school, colleges, offices remains closed these days.

Diwali Festival Dates:

• 14^th November in 2020
• 04^th November in 2021
• 24^th October in 2022

Sonepur Cattle Fair (Cattle Fair held in November or December):

 

Sonepur Cattle fair generally known as Sonepur Mela is the centuries old and the largest cattle fair of the Asia held every in November or December in Sonepur town just 30kms from Patna, Bihar, India. The site of this festival is the confluence of Ganga, Son, Ghagra and Gandak rivers which is the holy spot in itself. Many animals and birds used to buy and sell here for centuries but now it is limited to some animals due to protect the wildlife. Cows, Buffaloes, Elephants, Cats, Pigs, and Goats are the common animals which can be bought here. It is spread across an area of 500 acres, Traders and tourists from all over the India and sub-continent visit the Sonepur Cattle fair which makes it the huge event and fair in the Asia. All the tourists are advised to plan well and in advance to visit Sonepur Cattle fair.

Sonepur Cattle Fair Dates:

• 20^th November to 05^th December in 2020
• 11^th to 19^th November in 2021
• 31^st October to 08^th November in 2022

Mamallapuram Dance Festival, Tamilnadu (Festival held between December & January):

 

 

Mamallapuram Dance festival is the annual event held in December-January and organised by the tourism department of Tamilnadu in beach city Mamallapuram which is just 57kms away from Chennai. Earlier the Mamallapuram was known as Mahabalipuram. The motive of this 20 days long Mamallapuram dance festival is to promote the art and culture of the South India. The dances forms which are performed here are Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Odissi, Mohini Attam and Kathakali. Mammallapuram (Mahabalipuram) is very famous tourist destination in Tamilnadu and it is quiet famous amongst the foreign tourists. It has magnificent beaches and UNESCO world heritage group of monuments. This Dance festival adds the charm in the beauty of this city. Travelling during the Mahalbalipuram dance festival will add the spice in your holidays to South India.

Mamallapuram Dance Festival Dates:

Mamallapuram Dance festival starts every year on 25^th December and Ends on 15^th