26 Results found for Search: events, festivals
1. Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, Udaipur.
Your trip to Udaipur is incomplete without seeing some gems of Rajasthani folk art. Visit Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal and pan through its brilliant range of folk articles from Rajasthan including ornaments, masks, puppets, traditional dresses, folk musical instruments, dolls, folk deities and miniature paintings. Located near Chetak Circle in Udaipur city, the museum gives you a glimpse into the culture and tradition of Rajasthan especially the Mewar region. In fact, the Lok Kala Mandal is a part of a program that exhibits the best in art and craft work of Mewar, given the popularity of Rajasthani handicraft and objet d’art world-over.
2. Chithirai Festival , Madurai.
Goddess Meenakshi is married off to Sundereshwar on the last day of the ten-day-long Chithirai Festival in the month of April-May every year. The temple town of Madurai exudes a festive atmosphere during this time of the year, with pilgrims and tourists gathering in thousands to witness one of the most spectacular temple festivals in South India. The wedding ceremony is celebrated on a full moon day when the idol of Lord Vishnu, locally known as Azhagar, is taken in and around Madurai atop a beautiful golden horse. According to folklore, Azhagar is taken to Madurai to attend the wedding ceremony of his sister goddess Meenakshi (Parvati) with Lord Sundereshwar (Shiva) at the Meenakshi Temple.
3. Dance Festival, Khajuraho.
Every year from 25th February to 2nd March the cultural capital of the Chandela Kings becomes the hub of one of the country's most prestigious dance festivals. Culture and art connoisseurs from across the globe descend on to this tiny cluster of villages that make up Khajuraho. Held in the Western Group of Temples, the festival draws the best classical dancers from across the country who perform against the beautiful backdrop of the floodlit temples. This synthesis of the past and the present gets their creative juices flowing to create a heady atmosphere.
As dusk falls, the temples are lit up in a soft, dream-like ethereal stage.
4. Evening at Mehran Terrace , Jodhpur.
Don't think food here, think great views. Once you've calibrated your expectation, rest assured you'll step out with an experience to cherish. The view of the city by night from this vantage point, high on the fort, is simply SPECTACULAR. Sip a chilled beer after a tour of the fort to set up the evening. The ambient and decor lighting add to the overall experience. This is probably the most romantic experience in town. Small wonder, Mehrangarh Fort is said to be the best managed fort in India.
5. Float Festival, Madurai.
Madurai gears up for festivities in January-February every year to celebrate the birth anniversary of the popular Nayak king Thirumalai. The tradition of the ‘Float Festival’ came into being in the 17th century when the reigning Nayak king was building a grand palace for himself. Legend has it that he ordered to convert the excavated depression into a lake with an artificial island in the middle of it and dedicated it to Lord Ganesha. Soon he initiated a custom of taking the divine idols for a boat ride on the waters of the lake on his birthday.
6. Light And Sound Show, Khajuraho.
Every evening an excellent 'Light and Sound' show in the grounds of the Western Group of Temples recreates the story of the Chandela Kings who built Khajuraho's temples. Set to the background tune of Indian classical music, the narration is in the voice of legendary Indian movie star Amitabh Bachchan who represents a 'master sculptor'. His voice quality, intonation and accurate punctuations add an extra dimension to the show.
7. Light and Sound Show at Amber Fort, Jaipur.
Amer Fort was the first capital of the mighty Kachchwaha Rajput rulers of Rajasthan, till water scarcity drove them to establish the newer city of Jaipur. A vivid sound and light show brings alive the history of this hill top fortress. The setting next to the Maota Lake at the bottom of the hill and Amitabh Bachchan’s booming voice make the show especially enchanting.
8. Nanda Devi Mela, Nainital.
Nanda Devi Mela held at the Nanda Devi Temple is a tradition started by Raja Kalyan Chand in the 16th century. This eight-day-long festival is held in honor of Sati or Naina Devi - the patron goddess of the Kumaon Hills, and Sunanda Devi - a local princess. During this festival, a procession of Goddess Sati is taken out around the hill station. The celebrations are marked by cultural programs including dance and musical shows and competitions.
9. Shilpgram, Udaipur.
Shilpgram is a pretty crafts village about 3 kilometers (2 miles) west of Udaipur near Havala village. This ethnic village hosts a crafts fair every year in November/December for 10 days, where artisans from different regions of the country display their creations. Sprawled out over 70 acres of land surrounded by the rugged Aravallis, this Rural Arts and Crafts Complex is conceived as an ethnographic museum to showcase the lifestyles of the tribal people of the west zone. You will come across traditional thatched, mud huts displaying artwork from all over Rajasthan, as well as the states of Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra. The interiors of these traditional huts are mirrored and offer hand woven clothes, embroideries, mirror works, pottery, beadwork, wood carving and an array of handicraft.
10. Shimla Summer Festival, Shimla.
Come June, and Shimla gears for the summer festival with folk dance and music shows, lavish flower arrangements in every cranny, and shops exhibiting a new collection. A beauty pageant is also conducted during the Shimla Summer Festival. A five-day festival, the International Shimla Summer Festival celebrates the rich culture and heritage of Himachal’s state capital. This festival sees artisans from across the state come together to showcase their skills. The last day of this 40-year-old event is marked by a musical concert.
11. Taj Mahotsav, Agra.
A 10-day long carnival, Taj Mahautsav is a cultural extravaganza that showcases the regions rich culture to visiting tourists. Held in the month of February each year, the festival is organized near the Shilpagram area of the Eastern Gate. The Taj Mahal forms an eye-catching backdrop to the festival where revelers can enjoy local arts, buy regional handicrafts and partake the specialty cuisine of Awadh. Each year, the organizers also invite popular performers for a must-attend cultural event.
12. Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, Madurai.
The grand venue of the very popular ‘Float Festival’ held during January-February every year, Mariamman Teppakulam is a beautiful square tank spread out over 16 acres, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) east of Meenakshi Temple. The tank sets the scene for the colorful Float Festival to celebrate the birth anniversary of King Thirumalai Nayak who built it. The area of the tank and the island pavilion with a garden in the center, is almost equal to that of the Meenakshi Temple, making it the largest temple tank in South India. The lake is fed by the Vaigai River through underground channels.
13. Wagah Border, Amritsar.
The Wagah Border, often called the 'Berlin wall of Asia', is a ceremonial border outpost on India’s western border. Located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) to the west of Amritsar, the Wagah Border over the years has become a tourist destination. An estimated 6000 people visit Wagah every day to catch a glimpse of the martial flag-lowering ceremony. Around sunset soldiers from Indian (BSF) and Pakistani (Rangers) paramilitary forces match steps and try to outdo each other in a show of ceremonial pomp. They lower their respective flags and present arms in a stage managed show, cheered on wildly by visitors on either side.
14. Ganpati festival, Pune.
The chief event of the region – the Ganapati festival – is devoted to Lord Ganesha (the Elephant God) and is celebrated, since 1894, during the months of August-September. The 10-day long ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ ends with a procession, in which hundreds of Ganesha idols are carried on floats to be immersed in the nearby rivers, thereby bringing the entire city to a standstill.
15. Gramam: The Kerala Village Fair, Kovalam.
Find out everything you wanted to know about Kerala’s rich culture and heritage at Gramam – the great Kerala village fair. This 10-day-long fair is celebrated from 14 to 23rd January every year on Kovalam Beach and the Marine Drive in Ernakulam. An initiative by the state tourism department, Gramam (meaning a traditional village in Malayalam) aims at recreating an entire village to include the Nalukettu - a quadrangular homestead of the upper class, Chayakada or the village teashop and Kamalagramam or the artisan’s enclave.
16. Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, Pune.
Pune, which gave us famous vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, hosts the unique Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. This four-day long extravaganza, organized during the first two weeks of December every year, has slowly but surely made its way into the yearly agenda of every classical music aficionado – be it of Hindustani classical, Carnatic or instrumental.
17. Trivandrum food festival, Trivandrum.
Flavor is the national food festival of Trivandrum celebrated usually in the second week of April every year. This seven-day-long affair beckons chefs from all over the country to come up with their stalls and represent their states. Renowned hotels from across Kerala too participate in this weeklong international festival of exotic cuisine. It is a great opportunity to sample authentic specialties from the Kerala kitchen as well as from other parts of India. If you are touring Trivandrum at this time of the year, you will be in for a mouthwatering treat at every restaurant and little eatery you visit.
18. Kala Ghoda Festival, Mumbai.
Mumbai's popular image as the home of Bollywood and that of a finance hub often undermines its contribution in field of art, craft, design and culture. Kala Ghoda Festival has come as fillip to the city’s literary and art fraternity. It is today a much sought-after event. The city's historic Fountain area forms the hub around which the event takes place. The event owes its name to Kala Ghoda, a district in South Mumbai that literally means Black Horse. Musician, dancer, painters, craftsmen, theater artists, film personalities come together to present a vibrant cultural show.
19. Camel Festival, Bikaner.
One of the most exclusive, awe-inspiring and colorful festivals of the land, the Camel Festival organized by Rajasthan’s Department of Tourism, Art & Culture in January brings together Bikaner’s entire populace. The event revels the audience, who assemble from far and wide, with spectacular camel dances, races, rides and camel shows. Numerous competitions are also held to adjudge the best-decorated camel, best fur-cutting design, best camel haircut, among others. On sale are tea and sweets made of rich camel milk. The evenings’ highlights are cultural performances by renowned and folk artists of the region.
20. Gangaur Festival, Bikaner.
Dedicated to Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva's consort, the 18-day long Gangaur festival is the most important local event of Rajasthan. Marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, it holds special significance to the womenfolk of the region. While the unmarried young girls pray to be blessed with good spouses, the married women observe the celebrations for the welfare, health and long life of their husbands and a happy married life. Marked with long processions, preparation of sweet dishes, songs and dancing, the Gangaur festival epitomizes hope, prayers and cultural fervor amidst the barren landscape of Bikaner.
21. Pushkar Fair, Pushkar.
The Pushakar Fair is the world’s largest camel and cattle fair. Held over five days between the Kartik ekadashi to Kartik Poornima of the Hindu calendar, the fair is a vibrant display of local trade, culture, lifestyle, and history. During fair days, normally in mid-November, the small town is abuzz as traders and tourists mill about, some looking for the year’s best deal while the latter soak in the amazing atmosphere. Conservative estimates say around 50,000 camels alone are brought to the fair, along with traders who wish to sell local products like woolen blankets of Merta, bead necklaces of Nagaur, textiles printed in Ajmer and Jodhpur, and brassware of Jodhpur and Jaipur. Other notable events are tug-of-war between the womenfolk, and other traditional games such as matka phod or moustache competitions.
22. April Fools Day, Chandigarh.
April Fools’ Day celebrations on Chandigarh are unique. In keeping with the spirit of the day and its many varied pranks, the city hosts a Maha Moorkh Sammelan or the Conclave of Colossal Fools. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it is not a gathering or fools or other such characters, but a celebration of humor and wit.
23. Chandigarh Carnival, Chandigarh.
Chandigarh, also called the City Beautiful, prides itself in its architecture and people. The three-day long Chandigarh Carnival held in November of each year is a celebration of the city as a whole. A colorful fiesta organized by the city administration, the Carnival witnesses enthusiastic participation from residents, especially children and senior citizens as well as from surrounding suburbs. Thousands of people participate in the parades and many contests that make up the Carnival Calendar.
24. Festivals, Keylong.
Many of the festivals around Keylong are family or community based ones and by and large, visitors are welcome to join in. Revelry and dancing mark practically every one of these events and their joyous celebration of life. Bhumskor is a religious - agrarian festival where the fields are blessed by the lamas. In January-February comes Halda, the New Year celebration. Along the valleys of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers, a few members of every household step out with lit cedar twigs to a west oriented place selected by the lamas. These slender branches form the first flames of a bonfire which is then dispersed. The goddess of wealth, Shiskar Apa is worshipped, flowers are offered by way of greeting and the festivities continue for a couple of days. On a mid-night towards the end of the month of Paush (December-January), Phagli begins in the Pattan valley, with snow being packed in a conical basket - kilta. This is upturned on a roof and resembles a Shivalinga. Shiva, Naga and the goddess Hadimba are worshipped, and the younger generation also marks the moment by venerating village elders. Chhang and lugari, locally brewed liquors flow freely and ritual dishes are eaten. Ritual dances and an unbelievably rich imagery mark Lossar in February. Lahaul's monasteries have some of the most spectacular dances.
25. International Mango Festival, Chandigarh.
The mango is undoubtedly the king of fruits. And as fitting tribute, the beautiful city of Chandigarh hosts and annual festival in its honor. Organized in the month of June, when almost all parts of India are submerged in the intoxicating aroma of mangoes, this festival is an important platform for agriculturalists to showcase the product and common visitors to appreciate a fruit they so love.
26. Plaza Carnival, Chandigarh.
A weekly celebration of the city’s folk culture, the Plaza Carnival is a regular fixture on Chandigarh’s cultural calendar. Held at the open stage of Plaza Square in Sector 17, it is a three-hour long event where artists from around the city showcase their talents.