“Unity in diversity” is what makes India unique and so special. The diverse cultures, religions, and belief systems in India are worth exploring by one and all. Did you know that India celebrates over 50 festivals in a year? That’s a tough count right there.
As an Indian or a foreign tourist, you must attend the many events that make the different parts of India come alive. From the grandeur of Durga Puja in Kolkata to the traditional Ganesh Chaturthi festivities in Mumbai, these are experiences worth keeping stored in your box of memories.
Let us now look at a few popular religious fairs and festivals that form a vital part of Indian culture.
Diwali, the festival of lights, calls for one of the grandest celebrations in India. There is more than dressing up, eating sweets, and attending Diwali night parties as a part of this festival. Do you know people celebrate Diwali for different reasons? The people in southern parts of India celebrate Diwali to remember the demon Narakasura’s defeat at the hands of Lord Krishna, while those in the western parts celebrate it to remember Lord Vishnu, who sent King Bali to rule the nether world. On the occasion of Diwali, households and commercial enterprises worship Goddess Laxmi to invite luck, prosperity, and happiness into their lives. Let’s not forget the firecrackers and the sweets which bring people of all ages together to liven up the festivities. Besides, Diwali is nothing like it without the fairs brimming with loud music and excitement. Every fair is rooted in its local flavours and is a treat for the soul. To enjoy Diwali at its best, you must visit Uttar Pradesh during Diwali.
Ganesh Chaturthi in India is mostly celebrated with pomp in Western Indian states, like Maharashtra, and among business communities across India. This festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha. People bring home Ganesha idols and worship them for five, seven or ten days. Huge Ganesha idols sit in pandals with heavy decorations and lighting around them. You could compare it with the Durga Puja in Kolkata, West Bengal. Sometimes, pandals organise different competitions to engage the crowd, and people queue up outside pandals to witness the lighting and decor of every pandal.
If you are here for Ganesh Chaturthi, you must stay till the Ganesh Visarjan processions, where people form groups and head to nearby water bodies to bid a goodbye to their favourite God.
The festival of colours, spring, and love is what we commonly call Holi. It is celebrated across India and is one of the most fun-filled festivals you can participate in! Holi begins with Holi Dahan, a bonfire to celebrate the victory of good over evil. The real fun takes place the next day when Holi parties are hosted. People come together to play with colours and embrace one another. Children splash coloured water, screaming “Bura na mano, Holi hai” (Don’t mind, it is Holi). At Holi parties, people dance to music and sip on a Holi-special drink, Bhang. Do not miss out on any sweets made during this festival, especially Gujiya, Puran Poli, Malpua, and Dahi Bhalla.
According to Ramayana, when Lord Rama killed Ravana for abducting his wife Sita, it was a day worth celebrating. That day is celebrated as Dussehra in India to date; it is also known as Vijayadashami. Dussehra marks the end of Navratri, which is a nine-day festival. During Navratri, people come together to celebrate Goddess Durga. They fast for nine days, during which they consume only fruits and let loose with dance and music at what is called Dandiya Nights. On Dussehra, it is a tradition to hand over apta or bidi leaves to your loved ones, which on that day are synonymous with gold. The best part about this festival is that it encourages people to leave their vices and make way for good luck and vibes in their lives.
Christmas is a Christian festival celebrated with a spirited fervour in several parts of India. It marks the birth of Lord Jesus, the son of God. The Christmas festivities begin with the midnight mass, followed by a massive feast in Christian households the very next day. The excitement of decorating the Christmas tree cannot be described in words. Children excitedly leave behind stockings on Christmas eve for Santa Claus to come and fill with gifts. If you wish to witness the real magic of Christmas, you need to head to Goa. Witness the authentic Midnight mass, munch on Goan desserts like Bebinca, and of course, enjoy the vibrant beach parties.
A popular pilgrimage festival in India, the Kumbh Mela is a fair that takes place every 12 years. Isn’t that interesting? The last Ardh Kumbh Mela, which is held once every six years, was held in 2019. If you missed it, you must attend the one scheduled in 2025. You will be stunned to witness the millions of devotees who visit this mela from all over India.
Visitors crowd at the Kumbh Mela, which is essentially a religious fair, to wash away their past sins. You can be a part of the Kumbh Mela by visiting locations like Nashik, Haridwar, Ujjain and Prayagraj, where it takes place interchangeably.
If you have plans to visit Rajasthan in January or February, do attend the Baneshwar Fair. It is an interesting annual tribal fair held in the Dungarpur district. Visitors are fascinated by the delta of Som and Mahi rivers where the fair is held. Baneshwar Fair is a combination of two fairs. While one fair pays tribute to Lord Shiva, also known as Baneshwar Mahadev, the other fair celebrates the finishing of the construction of the Vishnu temple by Jankunwar. Two reasons, but the same devotion. Hundreds of thousands of devotees—mostly the tribal people from Banswara, Dungarpur, and Udaipur—participate in this fair.
Gangasagar Mela is India’s second-biggest fair, which takes place in West Bengal. Conducted on the 14th and 15th of January every year, this fair attracts thousands of pilgrims. The pilgrimage begins with devotees taking a dip in the holy waters of Ganga to worship Lord Surya. The lush green trees, clear waters, and countless people participating in the fair make the event worth a visit. Pilgrims believe that this fair is an opportunity for them to purify their souls while getting rid of evil deeds. Locals suggest that this fair has been prominent from the times of Mahabharata. Now that adds a tinge of mythology to this fair as well. To complete their pilgrimage, pilgrims attending this festival make it a point to visit the Kapil Muni Temple at Sagardwip, which is worth a visit too.
Pushkar Fair, also known as the Kartik Mela, takes place over seven days in autumn to mark the Kartika Purnima. Every year, the Ajmer district in Rajasthan hosts this fair. This fest takes place on the banks of Pushkar Lake, which is made more appealing by its picturesque backdrop.
With hundreds of thousands of farmers and Hindu pilgrims in attendance, the core of this fair lies in transacting cattle, camels and horses. Initially, Pushkar Mela was just another tribal gathering before it turned into a full-fledged event that awakened the sleepy town of Ajmer and its neighbourhood. The fun elements associated with the Pushkar fair are the small-time events, such as the Matka Phod, the longest moustache and the bridal competition. There is tough competition among participants to grab minor goodies.
India is famous for its industries, plantations, agriculture, cuisines, handicrafts, etc. However, nothing beats its fame for the kind-hearted and hospitable people and their culture. Indians make you feel at home whether you come from a different state or a country.
As an Indian or a foreigner, if you wish to experience India’s rich culture and diversity, you must visit the religious fairs and festivals that epitomise the rich and vivid culture of the place. You will go home satisfied for sure.
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