India is known by many as the land of festivals. Here almost each day of the calendar is celebrated with one or the other festival where people enjoy these days with their friends and families. And all these festivals are worth witnessing as the zeal and enthusiasm with which the people here spent this day with their friends and families is a treat to watch for a person who is influenced by these occasions. India is a country which even today follows the old scriptures and books which even today show direction to this country, and these cultures and festivals are actually based on the stories of the past, which actually happened years ago. These stories were a lesson that still guide the people, and have now taken the shape of these festivals in the country.
If you are thinking of planning a travel tour package in this country then you must plan it around the times when the country is in the vibes of a festival. Every day there are festivals, but a few festivals are celebrated by one and all in the country widely. These are Holi, Diwali, Navratri and Makar-Sankranti. These festivals cover the major part. Here we list down the details of these festivals regarding the time period and where these festivals are celebrated at their best in the country so that, if you are a traveller from the north, can choose as to when they can come in India, to witness the beauty of these festivals.
1. Makar-Sankranti
Makar-Sankranti is popularly known by many as the Kite festival. This festival is a major attraction in Jaipur and is celebrated in the month of March, in the slight winter season, during the times when the environment is calm, pleasant and at its best, specifically good if you are someone travelling from the cooler regions of the world. Being the first Celebrations of the calendar, this festival is enjoyed with great enthusiasm by the people. This festival follows the Solar Eclipse which marks it as a great event in the Hindu Culture; People here at Jaipur on this day fly the Jaipur-Kites in the sky. And the best part is that nearly everyone in Jaipur gets themselves involved in this activity. Nearly all the sky, wherever you will through your sight at, you will find these kites in the sky, and this is something that you will find nowhere in the whole state. The major fun-part is that all the people climb up to their roofs, play music, dance, eat Rajasthani delicacies, enjoy their get together with friends and family, and spend the rest of the day full of zeal and enthusiasm.
Many visitors from all over the world and various parts of India throng in the city to participate in the Kite-Flying competition and partake in Merrymaking. One must certainly include this festival in their Rajasthan Tour Package. One who is traveling through the Golden Triangle Tour, during the month of March can also add on a day to celebrate this day.
2. Holi
The Holi festival is yet another important festival in the Hindu culture, and is again celebrated with excitement by many all over the country. Popularly known by many as the festival of Colors, indicates that even after all the people in the country follow a different religion but even then all the colors look beautiful together. People on this day gather together for merrymaking and to have fun and put colors on each other’s face, the reason for it being named as the festival of colors. People gather usually wearing whites, sing, dance and eat on this day. But here is the specific reason as to why Holi is celebrated that is the mythological story of Hiranyakshyap, who was an evil Ruler and wanted to kill his Son, because he worshiped Lord Vishnu, but by the end of this story his Son Pralad was protected giving lesson to one and all about the power of worship.
This festival is best celebrated in Mumbai where grand events are held and famous singers hold shows and performances, with color water and Music, and thousands of people gather together, eat, dance and enjoy the day in excitement and most of them wear Whites on this day. If you are planning to take an India Tour, then this day should be one of your days in your itinerary.
3. Navratri in Gujarat
This festival is the festival of dance, and people celebrate this festival majorly by doing Garba and worshiping the Goddess of Hindu religion. This festival is celebrated as it is believed that the Goddess Durga incarnates in 9 different forms in the period of 9 days. People on this day gather together on huge grounds, dance together, and enjoy with thrill and joy. Huge events are held on these 9 days where people gather and perform this style of dance called Garbs. The major attraction here is that people come together in unity to perform a dance form called Garba and Dandiya. It is widely celebrated in the state of Gujarat, in the month of September. If you are planning a trip in the western part of India, then you should plan it in the month of September, also this month offers a cool environment as it is nearly the start of winters in this month, so it is calm and pleasant.
4. Diwali
In the whole Hindu Literature, there have been stories of the past, which have their relevance and each story has a message for the people of today. But the story of why Diwali is celebrated is heard by one and all. Hence this is the reason why it is celebrated on a higher note in India. Diwali is the most lit festival of India, celebrated all over the country, as it marks a major event in Hindu religion, which is Homecoming of Lord Ram after defeating Evil King Ravana, People on this day decorate their houses with Diyas, Flowers, Candles and lights and the whole country lights up like on no other day. For a traveller who seeks to enjoy this day, the best it can be celebrated at a resort where these luxurious Royal resorts are beautiful decorated, and they organize hearties events for tourists, as most of the places on this day are closed, and people are mostly with their families hence the best it can be celebrated is at these resorts. It is celebrated in the months of October and November, hence if you are planning a trip to India, then these months are worth considering so that with travelling, you can enjoy the festivals here. If you are traveling during these times then your India Vacation will be the best one spent.
