7 Best Festivals in India You Should Experience
India is a land of grand celebrations and that is why we have India Tour Packages made to visit some of the most vibrant and culture rich festivals that the world has ever witnessed. If you are interested in spiritual retreat or a lively festivity, our India Holiday Packages are the most suitable way to explore the country’s traditions.
From the sparkling lights of Diwali to the colorful joy of Holi, each festival showcases India’s rich heritage and unity. Due to the sheer number of festivals come to India every year along with a mystical story of each festival associated, these festivals provide us with a view into the country’s heart and soul. It is an unforgettable experience of these grand celebrations with music, dance, great food and religious rituals, first-hand.
Here are the 7 Best Festivals in India You Should Experience
1. Diwali
Diwali is the most widely celebrated festival in India, signifying triumph of light over darkness. The homes are beautifully decorated with oil lamps (diyas) and rangoli and fairy lights that sparkle. Lakshmi Puja is performed by families, sweets are exchanged, and fireworks are enjoyed by families. Visitors can experience it as a magical one in cities like Jaipur, Varanasi, and Amritsar where the Diwali celebrations are some of the most spectacular.
2. Holi
Holi is a festival of joy, a festival of people coming together to celebrate the love, unity and the coming of spring. Festive treats include gujiya and thandai, and people throw powdered dye, dance to the lively music and fill the air with clouds of bright colours. The most famous Holi celebrations are in Mathura and Vrindavan where thousands of people come to stay for days of lively processions and traditional performances.
3. Eid ul-Fitr
The end of Ramadan is celebrated by Muslims with the observance of Eid ul Fitr. Prayers are said in mosques, feasts are eaten and the needy are fed. Special dishes like biryani, kebabs and sweet seviyan are prepared by the families. Delhi, Hyderabad and Lucknow light up with busy markets, festive decorations and a feeling of love and togetherness.
4. Navratri & Durga Puja
Celebrated as a festival of devotion to womanhood, Navratri comprises of nine days in which one fasts, invokes prayers, and dances to the traditional Garba and Dandiya. In West Bengal, the streets are taken over by huge grand artistic pandals, cultural performances and majestic processions as the name suggests that’s true in Durga Puja. If you are in Kolkata, you have the privilege to see this festival and witness how devotion and artistic expression is combined in a wonderful celebration.
5. Ganesh Chaturthi
Lord Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, hence Ganesh Chaturthi is a grand festival. It is customary to install large, elaborate made idols of Ganesha in homes, as well as in public pandals, where devotees pray, offer sweets, and flowers. Coming to its height, the festival is marked by huge immersion processions mostly in Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad where the crowds chant and they dance as they say goodbye to their beloved deity.
6. Dussehra
The victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana is symbolized by Dussehra, which represents the victory of good over evil. The festival is celebrated differently in different regions of India. Grand Ram Leela performances reenacting the epic battle and then the burning of towering Ravana effigies are held in North India. At the same time, in Mysore, the celebration is started by a majestic chariot procession filled with elephants, music and cultural performances.
7. Pongal
In Tamil Nadu, Pongal is a four day harvest festival in which farmers thank the Sun God for a good harvest. Freshly harvested rice, milk and jaggery is prepared by the families and it is known as ‘Pongal.’ Jallikattu is a traditional bull taming event that adds to the excitement. It is a festival that must be experienced, the festival of South India’s agricultural traditions and community spirit.
Conclusion
India’s festivals are a beautiful amalgamation of history, culture and traditions that unite people in joy. No matter Diwali in which its gleaming lights, Holi in which it’s cheerful and Durga Puja in which it besteht in devotion each festival is about the country’s rich heritage. Whether you go in summer, winter or any other time of the year, you’ll always find a vibrant festival that will take you into the lively spirit of India.
However, if you are planning to visit India to witness these celebrations, then our Indian Tour Packages and India Holiday Packages would suffice for the best travel to India. India’s festivals are grand religious ceremonies to cultural festivities and there is something special for every traveller to make your journey truly unforgettable.
