Behdienkhlam festival : Meghalaya

Behdienkhlam festival : Meghalaya

.

Behdienkhlam is a combination of three words, Beh (to get rid of), Dien (wood or log) and Khlam (plague). Together, these words

become one and translates to ‘to get rid of plague’.

It is one of the most famous festivals in Jowai, Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. It is celebrated every year in the month of July.

The prime objective of the festival is to pray to the lord for good health and harvest

One week before the festival, a pig is sacrificed

Nongkrem Dance Festival - Meghalaya

Nongkrem dance festival is an annual festival of the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya.

The festival lasts for five days and is generally celebrated in the month of November.

The unique dance is performed by the members of HimaKhyrim, a sub-tribe of the indigenous Khasi tribe.

This indigenous dance festival is celebrated in order to honor the powerful Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for blessing

the people of the community with good harvest and prosperity.

The Nongkrem festival starts with a goat sacrifice ceremony as the word Nongkrem means ‘goat killing

ceremony.

Wangala Festival - Meghalaya

Wangala (also known as The Hundred Drums Festival, Wanma, Wanma Rongchua) is a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo

tribe, who live in Meghalaya.

Also celebrated in Nagaland and Assam in India and Greater Mymensingh in Bangladesh.

In this post harvest festival, they give thanks to Misi Saljong (also known as Pattigipa Ra'rongipa), the sun god, for blessing the

people with a rich harvest. Wangala is celebrated in the months from September to December, with different villages setting

different dates for the occasion.

Shad Suk Mynsiem - Meghalaya

"The 'Shad Suk Mynsiem' is one such celebration to show the community's admiration for God.

It is organised throughout the Khasi Hills during spring time when nature rejuvenates itself and mankind is filled with the hope of a rich

harvest from the sown seeds.

In every religious ritual of Khasi tribe, the grand finale is the performance of a dance, a Thanks Giving Dance called 'Shad Phur',

which is now called "Shad Suk Mynsiem.“

Chapchar kut festival - Mizoram

The Chapchar Kut is a festival of Mizoram, India.

It is celebrated during March after completion of their most arduous task of jhum operation i.e., jungle-clearing (clearing

of the remnants of burning).

It is a spring festival celebrated with great favour and gaiety.

Chapchar Kut is one of three annual festivals of the Mizos celebrated to mark three different

stages of the agricultural cycle.

The other two are Mim Kut and Pawl Kut, also revived in the last century.

Mim Kut - It is usually celebrated during the months of August and September, after the harvest of maize.

Samples of the year's harvests are consecrated to the departed souls of the community.

The Pawl Kut is a festival of Mizoram held in December in India.

Pawl means "Straw" hence pawl kut means a straw harvest festival.

It is typically celebrated in December for two days after harvest and an important festival

Zo Kutpui Festival – Mizoram

The Mizoram State Government organises Zo Kutpui festival aimed at re-unifying and strengthening brotherhood among different

tribes of Mizo.

The festival is an attempt to unify and strengthen the brotherhood among various Mizo tribes living in different parts of the world.

Hornbill Festival : Nagaland

The Hornbill Festival is a celebration held every year from 1 to 10 December, in Nagaland, Northeast India.

It is also called the 'Festival of Festivals'.

The festival is named after the Indian hornbill, the large and colourfulforest bird which is displayed in the folklore of most of the state's

tribes.

The Hornbill Festival provides a colourful mixture of dances, performances, crafts, parades, games, sports, food fairs and religious

ceremonies

Aoleang (Aoling) festival : Nagaland

The Aoling Festival (sometimes spelt as Aoleng) is a festival celebrated by the Konyak Naga people and held in the first week of April in the

Mon district of Nagaland, North East India.

The Konyak people are the largest of 17 officially recognized tribes in Nagaland and are the most well known due to their tradition of head

hunting.

The Aoling Festival celebrates the arrival of spring and prays for a good upcoming harvest.

The celebrations are held in the first week of April and coincide with the start of the Konyak New Year.

Ngada Festival

The Ngada Festival is celebrated by the Rengma tribe, originating in Assam and Nagaland, North East India.

It is among the most popular festivals of Nagaland.

The festival resembles a kind of thanksgiving which is clearly molded by the Rengma culture.

It is a post-harvest festival that celebrates a successful harvest.

Hega festival

Hega festival is a very prominent and popular festival of Nagaland, North East India.

It is celebrated by the Zeliang community in Nagaland.

Persistently praying to God and thanking him for his blessing is an important part of this festival.

Young couples are engaged and wedded during the course of this festival.

Hega festival is celebrated every year in the month of February.

Chaitra Jatra festival – Odisha

This festival is celebrated at Tara Tarini hill shrine on Tuesdays of the Hindu month of Chaitra.

Tara Tarini hill shrine, located at Kumari hill on banks of the Rushikulya river, is a major centre of Shakti worship in

Odisha.

Dhanu Jatra – Odisha

Dhanu Jatra or Dhanu Yatra is an annual drama-based open air theatrical performance celebrated in Bargarh, Odisha.

Spread across a 8 km radius area around the Bargarhmunicipality, it is world's largest open air theater, one that

finds a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records.

It is based on mythological story of Krishna (locally known as Krushna), and his demon uncle Kansa.

Jagannath Rath Yatra : Puri in Odisha

Jagannath Rath Yatra festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath(Lord Krishna), his sister Goddess Subhadra and his elder

brother Lord Balabhadra or Balaram

Jagannath Rath Yatra is organised at Puri in Odisha. It is believed that Lord Jagannath every year wishes to visit his

birthplace

Odisha celebrated its first one day Turtle Festival in Puri

Thakurani Yatra festival : Odisha

The month-long famous Thakurani Yatra festival held in Berhampur, Odisha

It marks worship of Goddess Buddhi Thakurani who is considered the protector of Behrampur. It is chief festival of

Southern Odisha.

Goddess Buddhi Thakurani is traditional deity of silk handloom weavers or Dera community of Berhampur

Bali Yatra Festival : Cuttack, Odisha

The festival 'Bali Yatra' which is organised every year in memory of the rich maritime history of the state.

It is the Asia's largest open trade fair. This festival is held in Odisha, in the city of Cuttack at Gadagadia Ghata of the Mahanadi

river.

The festival is organised to mark the day when ancient mariners from the state would set sail to the distant land of Bali, Sumatra, Java (Jawa) in Indonesia, Borneo and Sri Lanka, for the expansion

of trade and Culture

Nuakhai Festival - Odisha

The word nua means new and khai means food, so the name means the farmers are in possession of the newly harvested rice.

The festival is seen as a new ray of hope, held the day after the Ganesha Chaturthi festival.

Nuakhai is the agricultural festival of people of Western odisha.The festival is observed throughout Odisha, but it is particularly

important in the life and culture of Western Odisha.

Baisakhi - Harvest Festival Of Punjab

Vaisakhi also pronounced as Baisakhi is a historical and religious festival in Sikhism.

It is usually celebrated on 13 or 14 April every year, and celebrates the start of the month of Vaisakha.

For Sikhs, the day commemorates the formation of Khalsa panthof warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

Baisakhi festival celebrates the occasion of harvesting the first crop. The entire state rejoices and celebrates the sweet fruits of

the labor they have put in all through the winter.

Hola Mohalla - Punjab

Hola Mohalla or Hola Mahalla or simply Hola is a Sikh festival that takes place on the first of the lunar month

of Chet which usually falls in March.

This, by a tradition established by Guru Gobind Singh,follows the Hindu festival of Holi by one day; Hola is the

masculine form of the feminine sounding Holi.

Together the phrase "Hola Mohalla" stands for "mock fight".

During this festival, processions are organised in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums, standard-bearers, who

proceed to a given spot or move in state from one gurdwara to another

The custom originated in the time of Guru Gobind Singh who held the first such mock fight event at Anandpur in February 1701.

Lohri – Winter Harvest Festival of Punjab

It marks the harvesting season in Punjab and the end of the winter season.

Lohri usually falls on the last day of the month of Paush, a day known as Makar Sankranti in most parts of the country.

The main highlight of this important festivals of Punjab is the bonfire and the folk songs and danced that take place around

the fire.

Gurupurab - Punjab

Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurpurab, also known as Guru Nanak's Prakash Utsav and Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti, celebrates the birth of the first

Sikh guru, Guru Nanak.

This is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism.

The festival begins be a religious procession with the chanting of holy hymns.

People visit the Gurdwaras, offer prayers, seek blessings and enjoy the sweet and holy langar on this auspicious Punjabi festival.

Shaheedi Jor Mela - Punjab

Shaheedi Sabha (earlier Shaheedi Jor Mela) is three-day annual religious congregation (get-together) organised every

year in December at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, in the Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab

To pay homage to the martyrdom of Chhotte SahibzadeBaba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, the youngest

sons of the 10th sikh guru Guru Gobind Singh.

Pinjore Heritage Festival – Haryana

The Festival is a three day event organised & hosted by Haryana Tourism with the support of Ministry of Tourism, Government of

India.

The Pinjore Heritage Festival is mainly an exhibition of the culture and tradition of the north Indian state of Haryana

The festival is celebrate around Yadavindra Gardens, also known as Pinjore Gardens.

Surajkund International Crafts Mela -Haryana

Surajkund International Crafts FairFaridabad, Haryana.

There is a partner country There is a Theme State

The Surajkund Crafts Mela was first hosted in 1987.

Since then the festival is hosted annually by the Haryana Tourism Department in Surajkund

Gugga Naumi

This is a festival that is unique to Haryana. GuggaNaumi is a religious festival, in connection with snake-

worship. It is observed in the months of August-September.

People worship Gugga Pir or Zahir Pir (the saint) who was reputed for having the power of curing people of

dangerous snake bites.

Kartik Fair

The Kartik Fair is also a significant fair held every year in Haryana.

The fair is held with the objective of promoting various kinds of arts in the state like; classical music, martial arts,

dance and folk music.

This fair is held in the month of November at the Nahar Singh Mahal in Ballabgarh town in Faridabad District of

Haryana, India

Gangaur Festival - Rajasthan

Gangaur is a festival celebrated in the Indian state of Rajasthan

It is also observed in some parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

It is observed during March–April.

Gana is a synonym for Lord Shiva and Gaur which stands for Gauri or Parvati who symbolizes Saubhagya (marital bliss).

Elephant Festival - Rajasthan

Elephant Festival is a festival celebrated in Jaipur city in Rajasthan state in India. It is held on the day of Holi festival,

usually in the month of March.

The festival features Elephant polo and Elephant Dance. The Elephant Festival begins with a beautiful procession of bedecked elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers.

The owners proudly embellish their elephants with vibrant colours, jhools (saddle cloth) and heavy jewellery

Urs festival - Ajmer (Rajasthan)

The Urs festival is an annual festival held at Ajmer, Rajasthan, India which commemorates the anniversary of the death of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti, (founder of the

Chishtiya Sufi order in India).

It is held over six days and features night-long dhikr (zikr) qawwali singing.

The anniversary is celebrated in the seventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Thousands of pilgrims visit the

shrine from all over India and abroad

Pushkar Fair – Rajasthan

The Pushkar Fair, also called the Pushkar Camel Fair or locally as Kartik Mela or Pushkar ka Mela is an annual

multi-day livestock fair and cultural fête held in the town of Pushkar (Rajasthan, India).

The fair starts with the Hindu calendar month of Kartik and ends on the Kartik Purnima, which typically overlaps with late October and early November in the Gregorian

calendar.

Baneshwar fair – Rajasthan

Baneshwar fair is an annual tribal fair held in Dungarpur district in Rajasthan state of India.

This fair is a major fair in tribal culture and has been described as "the Kumbh mela for the tribals”

The term “Baneshwar” is very much related to “Shivling” as this tribe is a devotee of Lord Shiva and also because

in their traditional language Vagdi, Baneshwar stands for Shivlinga. In fact, the fair and puja also starts from the

Mahadev temple.

JAISALMER DESERT FESTIVAL

The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is an annual event that take place in February month in the beautiful city Jaisalmer.

It is held in the Hindu month of Magh (February), three days prior to the full moon.

The festival is celebrated amidst the beautiful dunes of the Thar Desert in the Sam dunes (42 kilometers from

Jaisalmer).

Saga Dawa – Sikkim

The festival takes place on the full moon day in the 4th month of the Buddhist Calender at the end of May and

the beginning of June.

This festival takes place in the beautiful city of Gangtok.

This is a very sacred Buddhist festival, especially for the Mahayana Buddhists.

Drupka Teshi : Another great festival celebrated by the Buddhists is the Drukpa Teshi festival.

The festival takes place on the day the Buddha sermonized his first oration of four Noble Truths to the 5

disciples in Sarnath at the famous deer park.

Phang Lhabsol : Phang Lhabsol is another matchless festival of Sikkim which became famous during the reign of the third

ruler of Sikkim, Chakdor Namgyal.

During this festival the Mount Kanchendzonga is shown respect and devotion for its uniting powers

Bhumchu Festival – Sikkim

Bhumchu (Bhum is a pot, Chum is water) is a Buddhist festival, which on the Tibetan lunar calendar is held on

the 14th and 15th day of the first month, which is between February and March on the Gregorian calendar.

The Bhum or Sacred vase is made out of various kinds of sacred soil, water and five kinds of precious jewels found

in sacred lands of India

In Sikkim the Tashiding Monastery is recognized as a sacred place.

At the start of the year the vase is opened and the Lama or monk determines the future.

"If the water is to the brim, it foretells a year in which peace and prosperity will prevail.

If the water is over the brim and is spilling, it signifies a year with natural disaster and disturbances..

If the water level is low or almost dry it signifies famine."

A part of the holy water is distributed amongst the gathering of devotes and the pot is replenished with river water and sealed at the end of the festival to be opened

only in the during next Bumchu festival

Losoong Festival – Sikkim

Losoong also called Namsoong by the Lepchas is the Sikkimese New Year. It is usually the time when the farmers rejoice and

celebrate their harvest.

Although the festival is celebrated privately among family members and friends there is an air of festivity all around.

The Black Hat dance takes place at this festival commemorating the victory of good over evil, with ‘chaams’

held in many monasteries two days prior to Losoong.

The festival of Lossong is mostly celebrated in the month of December every year with traditional

gaiety and colour both by the Lepchas and Bhutias.

Pongal – Tamil Nadu

Pongal is a multi-day Tamil harvest festival of South India, particularly in the Tamil community.

It is observed at the start of the month Tai according to Tamil solar calendar, and this is typically about January 14.

It is dedicated to the Tamil sun god, the Surya, and corresponds to Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival

under many regional names celebrated throughout India.

The three days of the Pongal festival are called Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Maattu Pongal.

According to tradition, the festival marks the end of winter solstice,and the start of the sun's six-month-long journey northwards (the

Uttaraayanam) when the sun enters the zodiac Makara (Capricorn).

The festival is named after the ceremonial "Pongal", which means "to boil, overflow" and refers to the traditional dish prepared from the

new harvest of rice boiled in milk with jaggery (raw sugar).

Puthandu Festival – Tamil Nadu

Puthandu, also known as Puthuvarusham or Tamil New Year, is the first day of year on the Tamil calendar and traditionally

celebrated as a festival.

The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, as the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai.

It therefore falls on or about 14 April every year on the Gregorian calendar.

Chapparam (Chariot) festival : Tamil Nadu

The festival is celebrated with traditional rituals and festivities in the famous Madurai Meenakshi temple, in Tamil Nadu

The fest symbolizes the importance of preserving all kinds of food and fodder.

The festival is also an auspicious occasion when the God and Goddess measure out food for all living beings.

In it, both Goddess Meenakshi and her spouse Lord Sundareswarar circumambulate the four main streets

around the temple.

Cooked rice, which is distributed among devotees, are taken home and preserved because it signifies

prosperity for the whole year.

Chariot festival of the SuchindramThanumalayan Temple - Tamil Nadu

The famous chariot festival of the Suchindram ThanumalayanTemple, the southern most major temple in Tamilnadu, held in

December - JanuaryIt is a 10-day annual festival .

This 17th-century temple is famous for its architectural grandeur. It is said to be one of the tallest statues

of its type in India.

The temple is significant because it is sacred to both the Shaivite as well as Vaishnavite sects.

Mahamaham Festival – Tamil Nadu

Mahamaham Tank is a huge temple tank located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is considered to be the foremost and one of the largest temple tanks in Tamil

Nadu.

Mahamaham is an annual event that occurs in the Tamil month of Masi (February–March) in the star of Magam.

Once in twelve years, when the planet Guru (Jupiter) enters the sign Siṃha (Leo)

Vast crowds gather at Kumbakonam to have a dip in the tank, along with saints and philosophers.

All the rivers of India are believed to meet at the tank on this day and a purificatory bath at this tank on this day is

considered equal to the combined dips in all the holy rivers of India.

Thaipusam Festival – Tamil Nadu

Thai Pusam (Thaipusam) is a festival celebrated predominantly by Tamil speaking people across the globe.

On this day, devotees worship Kartikeya, who is also known as Murugan in the Southern part of the country.

It falls on the Full Moon day in the month of Thai when Pusam (Pushya) Nakshatram prevails according to the

Tamil calendar.

Bathukamma festival - Telangana

Bathukamma is floral festival celebrated predominantly by the Telangana

Bathukamma festival begins on the day of MahalayaAmavasya and the festival continues till nine days, ending

on the day of Durgashtami.

Bathukamma means 'Mother Goddess come alive' and the festival represents the cultural spirit of Telangana, symbolizing the patron Goddess of womanhood.

The festival is also regarded as the Spring Festival of Goddess Gauri

A beautiful flower stack is arranged in a unique style in shape of a temple, which usually consists of

seasonal flowers, having medicinal values. Gunukapoolu’ and ‘tangedu poolu’ are majorly used

Bonalu Festival – Telangana

Bonalu or Mother energy symbolized as pot is a Dravidian tradition Festival centered on the goddess is worshiped. It is

called Jatara.

This tradition is celebrated as an annual festival of Telangana Twin Cities Hyderabad, Secunderabad.

It is celebrated in the month of Ashada Masam, in July/August. Special poojas are performed for Yellamma on the first and

last day of the festival.

Nagoba Jaatara - Telangana

Nagoba Jatara is a tribal festival held in Keslapur village, Inderavelly Mandal Adilabad district, Telangana, India.

It is the second biggest tribal carnival and celebrated by Mesaram clan of Gond tribes for 10 days.

Peerla Panduga – Telangana

Peerla Panduga is a festival celebrated by Hindus and Muslims in the Telangana State, Rayala Seema region

of Andhra Pradesh, India.

It is a celebrated across the Sufi shrines called as Ashurkhana. A procession of the relic, called as Alam

is taken out as a part of Moharram.

Kharchi puja : Tripura

Kharchi Puja is a Hindu festival from Tripura, India. Performed in Agartala in July or August, the festival

involves the worship of the fourteen gods forming the dynasty deity of the Tripuri people.

The word "Kharchi" is derived from the word "Khya" which means "Earth". Kharchi Puja is basically done to

worship the earth

Ker puja

Ker puja is a festival held in Tripura, India.

Performance of the puja, which is typically held in August, benefits the people and the state.

The celebration occurs two weeks after the Kharchi Puja to honor Ker, the guardian deity of

Vastu Devata.

Garia festival : Tripura

Garia puja is a festival of Tripura.

It is held on the seventh day of the month of Vaishakha.

It is a three day festival to honour the deity Baba Garia.

A bamboo pole that symbolizes the Lord Garia, the deity of livestock and wealth, is worshipped with flowers and

garland.

Janmashtami – Uttar Pradesh

Krishna Janmashtami, also known simply as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates

the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.

It is celebrated across the country.

But since the Mathura is the birth-place of Lord Krishna, and Vrindavan is where he spent his childhood, both the

cities celebrate the festival with equal fervor.

Lathmar Holi is a local celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi.

It takes place days before the actual Holi in the neighbouring towns of Barsana and Nandgaon near

Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where thousands of Hindus and tourists congregate, each

year.

The name means "that Holi in which [people] hit with sticks" (laṭh is a thick traditional staff).

Phoolon Wali Holi is observed in Vrindavan

This Holi celebration is different as on the Ekadashi before Holi, the Banke Bihari temple at Vrindavan celebrates Holi which is not celebrated with traditional dry or wet colors

instead flowers are used.

The name Phoolon wali holi (Flowers' Holi) came as flowers are showered on the deities to play holi with them

on this day.

Ganga Mahotsav Festival in Uttar Pradesh

Ganga Mahotsav is observed for a period of five days in Varanasi on the bank of the pristine Ganga River.

The festival commences fifteen days after the biggest Hindu festival, Diwali in the month of October or November.

The festival also observed to welcome the Hindu deities that are believed to descend on this day on earth and take a holy bathe in

the water of River Ganga

Taj Mahotsav

Taj Mahotsav is an annual 10-day (from 18 to 27 February) event at Shilpgram in Agra, India.

This festival invokes the memories of the old Mughal era and nawabi style prevalent in Uttar

Pradesh in the 18th and 19th centuries.

“Phool Dei” festival - Uttarakhand

Known as the harvest festival of the state Uttarakhand, Phool Dei is an auspicious folk festival which welcomes the

spring season in the state.

The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month, Chaitra. Phool Dei is all about flowers and

springtime.

The term 'Dei' refers to a ceremonial pudding which is the key food in this festival that is made from jaggery. White flour and

curd are also offered to everyone.

Young girls gather together and go to every house in their village/towns with plates full of rice, jaggery, coconut, green

leaves, and flowers

Harela and Bhitauli Festival- Uttarakhand

Celebrated in the Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand, Harelafalls thrice in a year marking the commencement of a new

season.

This Kumaoni Hindu folk festival is celebrated during both the Navratris, Chaitra Navratri in the month of Chaitra (March/April), Sharad Navratri in the month of Ashwin

(September/October), and in Shravan (late July).

This festival is followed by Bhitauli which is the occasion of giving money to the young girls in the family.

It is basically the agriculturally based communities in the region that pay a lot of reverence to this occasion.

On the first day of this 9 days festival (the two Navratris), women sow 7 types of grains in the soil, which is symbolic to

future harvest.

The yellow leaves that are there in the plant during germination are called as Harela.

These Harela are cut on the tenth day and people place them behind their ears or on their head.

Ganga Dussehra Festival - Uttarakhand

Celebrated in the state of Uttarakhand, Ganga Dussheraor Dasar Festival is organized in the month of May-June.

The festival is held for ten days where Ganga River is worshipped.

As per Hindu mythology, on this day, the holy River Ganga descended from heaven to earth.

This festival in Uttarakhand starts on the Amavasya night (waxing moon) of Hindu calendar and ends on Dashami tithi (10th Day).

An Aarti takes place on Ganga Dusshera which is held on the bank of the river in the popular pilgrimage destinations of

Haridwar and Rishikesh.

Hill Jatra Festival – Uttarakhand

Hill Jatra is amongst the traditional festivals celebrated in the state of Uttarakhand, especially in Pithoragarh district of

Kumaon Region.

The festival is celebrated mainly by the people associated with farming in the state.

During the festival, a white-clothed deer is worshipped as a regional god.

The festivity takes place in three phase, and in the first phase sacrifice of goat is made with all the rituals, whereas

in the second phase, dramas are performed for public and in the third and final phase, songs are sung and dance is

performed.

This festival in Uttarakhand is celebrated in the remembrance of Champawat Rulers as it is connected with their victory. However, the major connection of the festival is with the plantation of paddy along with agricultural and

pastoral labourers of the rainy season

Ghee Sankranti Festival – Uttarakhand

Ghee Sankranti which is also known as Olgia festival is celebrated on the first day of Bhado (the month of August)

in Uttarakhand.

This ancient festival in the state is celebrated during the time the crops are growing well and the milk-giving animals

are also healthy.

It is basically a festival that denotes the gratitude of the locals and families indulged in the occupation of farming.

The reason for the celebration of this festival is marking the harvesting season and showing gratitude for prosperity.

Poila Boishakh – West Bengal

Poila Boishakh or the first day of Baisakh is the first day of a Bengali calendar year. The day is often known as Bengali

New Year.

This day marks the beginning of a new year for a Bengali household and thus calls for a celebration.

This festival generally falls around April 13 or 14, according to the Gregorian calendar.

Jamai Shoshti – West Bengal

This beautiful commemoration celebrates the complicated but underrated relationship between a mother in law and her

son in law.

On this special day, the son in law visits his in-laws home where a grand party is organized for him. The mother in law

cooks extensive and mouth-watering dishes for her son in law

Bhai Phota – West Bengal

This festival is celebrated in Kolkata as a substitute for the Hindu Raksha Bandhan although it is somewhat different.

In this, the sister puts a 'tika' on the forehead of her brother while muttering incantations and then feeds him, sweets.

The sister prays for the long life of her brother and also that he finds the strength to fight wrongdoings. This is the Bengali

version of celebration cherishes the bond between a brother and sister.

Durga Pooja - West Bengal

Durga Puja, also called Durgotsava is an annual Hindu festival originating in the Indian subcontinent which reveres

and pays homage to the Hindu goddess, Durga.

It is celebrated across India as Navratri. It is particularly popular in West Bengal as Durga Puja.

The festival is observed in the Indian calendar month of Ashwin, which corresponds to the months of September–

October in the Gregorian calendar,and is a ten-day festival.

The puja is performed in homes and in the public, the latter featuring temporary stage and structural decorations

(known as pandals).

As per mythology, the festival marks the victory of goddess Durga in her battle against the shape-shifting asura,

Mahishasura

Sindoor khela and immersion: The tenth and last day, called Vijaya dashami is marked by sindoor khela, where women

smear sindoor or vermillion on the sculpture-idols and also smear each other with it.

Dhunuchi naach and dhuno pora: Dhunuchi naach involves a dance ritual performed with dhunuchi (incense burner).

Drummers called dhakis, carrying large leather-strung dhak5 create music, to which people dance either during or not

during aarati.

Bastar Dussehra – Chhattisgarh

Bastar Dussehra is the unique cultural trait of Chhattisgarh. Celebrated by the local people of the state with sufficient

vigor, the festival of Dussehra connotes to the supreme power of goddess Danteswari.

During Dussera, the inhabitants of Bastar organizes special worship ceremonies at the Danteswari temple

of Jagadalpur

Madai Festival – Chhattisgarh

It is celebrated by the tribal communities of Bastar, Kanker and Dantewada from December to March

every year.

The ceremony is celebrated in a large compound which begins with a procession of the local deities

followed by the rituals, food and cultural extravaganza.

Hareli Festival – Chhattisgarh

Hareli is an agricultural festival celebrated by the many rural farming communities in the state.

The name of this popular and famous festival comes from the Hindi word "Haryali" which means greenery, which

abounds at this time of year as the annual monsoon season is in full swing.

Fittingly it is Kutki Dai, the goddess of crops who is the focus of worship during the festival as the farmers seek

her help in ensuring they will have plentiful crops.

Hareli festival is of special importance among the Gondi people, one of the main ethnic groups in the state. During this time the farmers of

Chhattisgarh worship their equipment.

The farmers pray for a good harvest and the basic theme of this festival is nature-centric. The rituals are simple, though the importance of a

good crop ensure the prayers are ardent.

The Hareli festival of Chhattisgarh is also marked by playing 'Gedi', a game where small children use bamboo sticks as stilts and walk around

the fields.

Tulip Festival – Srinagar

The Tulip Festival is held at the beginning of spring in Srinagar, between March and May, when the tulip buds are

ready to bloom.

This festival lasts for fifteen days or a month as different flowers continue to bloom creating a rainbow of colours. The weather dictates when the Tulip Festival begins each

year

Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is the largest tulip field in Asia and is situated in the Zabarwan foothills of Srinagar,

at an altitude of 5,600 ft.

One of Kashmir’s major tourist attractions, the garden is home to more than 2 million colourful tulips.

It was started as a ‘Model Floriculture Centre’ in 2007 by then J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to promote

tourism in the Valley.

Losar Festival - Ladakh

Losar Festival is celebrated to mark the Ladakhi or Tibetan New Year

People of various parts of Ladakh region, annually celebrate Losar Festival on 1st Day of Eleventh Month of Tibetan Calendar correlating to a date in Gregorian calendar.

The celebrations continue for 3-9 days in different parts of Ladakh.

Hemis Festival – Ladakh

Hemis Festival of Ladakh is celebrated every year on the birth anniversary of Guru Padamsambhav.

It is a two-day celebration which marks the victory of good over evil.

The legend has it that Lord Padamsambhav defeated the dark forces with the help of Vajrayana Buddhism.

And, therefore, the people of Ladakh celebrate the day of his birth on a huge scale.

Mela Kheer Bhawani festival –Jammu & Kashmir

Kheer Bhawani/Ksheer Bhawani is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Kheer Bhavani (Maharagnya Bhagwati) constructed

over a sacred spring

The worship of Kheer Bhawani is universal among the Hindus of Kashmir, most of them who worship her as their

protective patron deity (Kuladevi).

The temple is situated at a distance of 14 miles east of Srinagar near the village of Tulmul.

The term kheer refers to rice pudding that is offered in the spring to propitiate the Goddess, which became part of the

name of the temple.

As is the custom with Hindu deities, she has many names: Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Devi, Rajni, Ragnya Bhagwati, and

so on.

Singhey Khababs Sindhu festival -Ladakh

Ladakh Singhey Khababs Sindhu Festivals is a tourist's promotional festival in Ladakh region

It is celebrated on the bank of Indus River at Leh.

The festival presents the Indus River as a symbol of the multi-dimensional cultural identity of India that got its

name from the Indus River.

It is celebrated every year since 1997 for 3 days in the month of June.

Folk songs and dances are performed and local handicrafts and ethnic foods are being exhibited before the tourists

during the festival

Dosmoche Festival

Dosmoche is a festival celebrated in Ladakh, India. It is celebrated in Leh, Likir and Diskit monasteries.

It is the last festival of New Year Celebrations, other one is Losar.

The two-day Dosmoche festival is a gazetted holiday for Leh district and Zanskar Sub Division.

Dosmoche is also known as the "Festival of Scapegoat" and is one of Ladakh's most popular prayer festivals.

Sindhu Darshan: Ladakh

Sindhu Darshan Festival is a festival of India held every year on full moon day (on Guru Purnima) in June. It is held at Leh,

in Ladakh District of Ladakh.

It stretches for three days. It was first started in the October, 1997 and continues to be held every year since then,

attracting large number of foreign and domestic tourists.

The Sindhu Darshan Festival is a celebration of River Sindhu, also known as the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Yuru Kabgyat Festival - Victory Of Good Over Evil

New Year Festival in India

Ugadi - Karnataka and Andhra pradesh.Gudi Padwa - Maharashtra

Puthandu - Tamil Nadu.Vishu - Kerala

Navreh – KashmirBestu Varas – Gujarat

Cheti Chand – SindhiCheiraoba – Manipur

Chaitti and Basoa are celebrated as part of the festivities to usher in the New Year in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Pana Sankranti, also known as Maha Vishuba Sankranti -Odisha