Indian festivals can be a lot of fun but they can also be difficult to understand. What is everyone doing and why? These Indian festival guides will help demystify festivals in India. Also find out the best places to celebrate!
Baisakhi is a harvest festival, a Punjabi new year festival, and commemoration of the founding of the Khalsa (Sikh religion brotherhood) all rolled into one occasion.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is India's biggest and most significant festival. It sees the whole country glowing under the light of lamps, candles, and fireworks.
The tenth day of the Navaratri festival is known as Dussehra in India. Dussehra is devoted to celebrating the defeat of the demon king Ravana by Lord Rama.
Durga Puja is a celebration of the Mother Goddess, and the victory of the revered warrior Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. It's the most important occasion of the year in West Bengal.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a celebration dedicated to Lord Ganesha -- India's very popular elephant headed god.
Gangaur, an important festival of Rajasthan, is all about honoring the goddess Gauri. A manifestation of Parvati (Lord Shiva's wife), she represents purity and austerity.
Holi, Festival of Colors, is a fun festival where people cover each other in colored powder and water.
The Indian state of Kerala is filled with temples that are renowned for their elaborate and exotic festivals. The main attraction at these Kerala temple festivals is the elephants.
Snake boat races take place from July to September each year in and around Alleppey, in India's southern state of Kerala. These races, in long canoe style boats, often coincide with other festivals. Here's what you need to know about Kerala's snake boat races.
The festival of Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Govinda, is a celebration of Lord Krishna's birthday. Lord Krisha is revered for his wisdom about how to live life on Earth.
The Kumbh Mela in India is as mesmerizing as it is spiritual. This ancient northern Indian festival is a meeting of mystical minds. The Kumbh Mela brings Hindu holy men together to discuss their faith and disseminate information about their religion.
The next Kumbh Mela will be the 2010 Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. Find out auspicious Kumbh Mela bathing dates here.
Here are some travel tips to keep in mind when planning your trip to attend the 2010 Kumbh Mela in Haridwar.
Navaratri is a vibrant festival that honors the Mother Goddess. It's filled with spectacular dancing during each of the nine nights.
Onam is a traditional ten day harvest festival in Kerala that marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali. It’s a festival rich in culture and heritage, and is the biggest celebration of the year there.
Pongal is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. It's a festival of thanksgiving, and is celebrated with much enthusiasm across the state.
An astonishing 50,000 camels converge on the tiny desert town of Pushkar, in India's state of Rajasthan, for the Pushkar Camel Fair. It's a fascinating and peculiar sight, and a great opportunity to witness an old traditional style Indian festival.
The Rath Yatra festival is based around the worship of Lord Jagannath (a reincarnation of Lord Krishna). It commemorates his annual visit to his aunt's home. The gods are transported through Puri on towering chariots.
The Teej festival is an important festival for married women, and much anticipated monsoon festival. It commemorates the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The festivities are most spectacular in Jaipur.
