Festivals & Events in India in June 2013

The Sindhu Darshan festival is a celebration of River Sindhu or Indus. It's one of the world's longest rivers, and gave India its name. The festival aims to project the Sindhu as a symbol of multi-dimensional cultural identity, communal harmony, and peaceful co-existence in India. It promises a kaleidoscope of Indian culture and an exciting array of performing arts.

• When: June 1-3 each year.
• Where: Leh, Ladakh.

Leh Ladakh Travel Guide

Beat the rain by heading north to the mountains in Shimla, to experience the five day summer festival. This renowned event has been held regularly in Shimla since the 1960s. It features musical performances, some from famous singers, food and fashion. Plenty of local handicrafts are on sale too.

• When: 1-9 June, 2013.
• Where: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

Travel on a Toy Train to Shimla

The exuberant 10 day Rath Yatra festival sees Lord Jagannath (a reincarnation of Lords Vishnu and Krishna), along with and his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, venture out of their abode in Puri's Jagannath Temple. The gods are transported on towering chariots. The main celebration happens on the first day.

• When: June 10, 2013.
• Where: Jagannath Temple, Puri, Orissa.

The Ganga Dussehra festival is celebrated to mark the time that the holy Ganges River descended to earth. A large number of pilgrims throng the holy river, to bathe in it and worship.

• When: June 18, 2013.
• Where: Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and other holy cities along the Ganges such as Haridwar and Rishikesh.

• Varanasi Travel Guide
  
• Haridwar Travel Guide
  
• Guide to the Ganga Aarti in India
  

The two day Hemis Festival commemorates the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, who founded Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. There's traditional music, colorful masked dances, and a fair full of striking handicrafts.

• When: June 18-19, 2013.
• Where: Hemis Monastery, Leh, Ladakh

• Leh Ladakh Travel Guide
  
• Hemis Festival Photo Gallery

The most popular festival in Goa, Sao Joao (the fertility feast of Saint John the Baptist), involves the interesting feat of men jumping into overflowing village wells to retrieve bottles of local feni alcohol. There are also boat races, and singing and dancing.

• When: June 24, annually.
• Where: North Goa, particularly Siolim.