Here's the best of what's on in September in India (in date order).
1. Onam Pulikkali Tiger Play
www.flickr.com user Felix Francis
Hundreds of grown men dressed up as tigers and dancing to the beat of traditional percussion instruments are an unexpected feature of Onam celebrations. Although this display of the art of Pulikkali may be one of the quirkiest festivals in India, it's actually very serious business!
5 Kerala Onam Festival Attractions
- When: September 1, 2012.
- Where: Swaraj Round in Thrissur.
2. Ladakh Festival
www.flickr.com user stevehicks
The Ladakh Festival is a cultural extravaganza, and main showcase event for the region. It has plenty to offer tourists, including polo-match, music concerts, mask dances from the monasteries, motorbike/cycle expedition to Khardung-la, Thanka painting exhibition, archery, river rafting, and folk songs. Hotel and local transport discounts are available for the duration of the festival.
- When: September 1-15 every year.
- Where: Leh and surrounding villages.
3. Aranmula Snake Boat Race
www.flickr.com user Renju George
The Aranmula Boat Race is a predominantly religious occasion, that forms part of Onam celebrations. Rather than being a contest, it's more about retracing the time offerings were carried on snake boats to the Aranmula Parthasarthy Temple. The whole occasion is a celebration of the day Lord Krishna crossed the river.
- When: September 2, 2012.
- Where: Along the Pampa River at Aranmula, near Chengannur, around 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Alleppey in Kerala.
4. Ganesh Chaturthi
www.flickr.com user nickgraywfu
The spectacular eleven day Ganesh Chaturthi festival honors the birth of the beloved Hindu elephant-headed god, Lord Ganesha. The start of the festival sees huge, elaborately crafted statutes of Ganesha installed in homes and podiums, which have been especially constructed and beautifully decorated. At the end of the festival, the statutes are paraded through the streets, accompanied by much singing and dancing, and then submerged in the ocean.
- When: September 19-29, 2012.
- Where: Mostly in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. One of the best places to experience the festival is in the city of Mumbai.
