Explore India  Fairs & Festival of India

Lord Ganesh, with his elephant head, is the God of good omen in the Hindu pantheon. He is revered by his followers, who carry clay models of him in grand processions, to the sound of cymbals and drums. The festival – Ganesh Chaturthi – is held on the fourth day of Bhadrapad.

The carnival is a secular event, celebrated all over Goa. On the eve of the festival (Fat Saturday), a colorful procession of bedecked floats, led by King Momo, is taken throuzgh the main street in the city.

Navratri is the celebration for the divine goddess, Durga. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival occurs four times a year but the one in the month of Ashwin (September/October) is the most popular. During the festivities, the streets throng with devotees performing the Garbas and the Raas (unique folk dance forms), especially in the state of Gujarat.

Nine nautical miles away from Mumbai, the Elephanta Island is now a World Heritage Site, in recognition of the Elephanta Festival celebrates classical music and dance forms. It is recognized as a hub of creative activity across the country.

This fair showcases traditional Indian arts & crafts, ethnic food, street performances as well as village and classical arts. The event is very popular among the people of Mumbai and tourists alike.

This festival is celebrated on Makara Sankranti. This day has a special significance. For the sun, symbolizing knowledge, wisdom and spiritual light – that recedes from us when we revel in the darkness of ignorance, delusion and sesuality – now joyously turns on its northward course and rushes towards one and all, to shed its light and warmth in abundance.
The day prior to Makara Sankranti is called the Bhogi Festival. On this day, old, worn-out and dirty things are discarded and burnt. Houses are cleaned and whitewashed. Kites are flown, in a celebration of the light and warmth of the sun.