Indian Festivals

Indian Festivals are celebrated by varied cultures and through their special rituals add to the colours of Indian Heritage. Some festivals welcome the seasons of the year, the harvest, the rains, or the full moon. Others celebrate religious occasions, the birthdays of saints and gurus (revered teachers), or the advent of the New Year. A number of these festivals are common to most parts of India. However, they may be called by different names in various parts of the country or may be celebrated in a different fashion.

Attuvela Mahotsavam – Kerala Hindu Festival

Attuvela Mahotsavam - Kerala Hindu Festival

The Attuvela Mahotsavam is a grandiose water carnival as opposed to many of usual temple festivals celebrated in God’s own country, Kerala where elephants play an important role and is a center of attraction. The festival is continued for two days. The Attuvela Mahotsavam is associated with the Elankavu Bhagavathy temple, sited at Vadayar village 3 kilometers far from Vaikom, …

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Paripally Gajamela – Kerala Hindu Festival

Paripally Gajamela

Paripally Gajamela: Every celebration is regarded incomplete without the participation of elephants in Kerala. Elephants are worshiped as an incarnation of the elephant headed god Ganesha. Elephants tamed in some of the temples in India bear the images of the gods in temple processions on some special days. Elephants hold important place as they have the privilege of escorting the …

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Modhera Dance Festival: Sun Temple, Mehsana

Modhera Dance Festival

Modhera Dance Festival: The sun temple at Modhera in Mehsana district is dedicated to Lord Surya, the sun god, has its outer walls covered with sculptures in which the figures of Lord Surya are prominent. The beautiful Sun Temple acts as the backdrop during the festival of Indian classical dances held every year in January for three days. The Tourism Corporation …

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Rajgir Dance Festival: Rajgir Mahotsav, Bihar

Rajgir Dance Festival: Rajgir Mahotsav Information

Event Name: Rajgir Dance Festival (Rajgir Mahotsav) Location: Rajgir, Bihar Date: 27 – 29 December 2020 Rajgir Dance Festival Information: Rajgir, the ancient capital of the Magadhan empire in Bihar is held sacred by both Buddhists and Jains for its association with the Buddha and Mahavir. Department of Tourism, Bihar holds a colorful Festival of dance and music, Rajgir Mahotsav …

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Maha Navami: Navratri Final Day Celebrations

Maha Navami: Navratri Final Day - Hindu Festival

Mahanavami is the final day of Navratri celebrations. This day comes with mixed feelings. On one side the passion reaches to its highest on this day while on the other side, devotees get emotional as this day marks the end of Navratri celebrations. Celebrations of Maha Navami varies from state to state in India. Maha Navami: On the ninth day …

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Muharram: Muslim Festival of Mourning

Muharram

Muharram is a Muslim festival of mourning observed in the first month of the Hijri Year. The Shia community in Particular celebrate it with great fervor and enthusiasm. Muslims, in general, observe fast, offer prayers, recite fatihas, and sing elegies in homage to the martyrs during the celebrations. On the final day Tajias are taken out in grand processions, accompanied …

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Muharram: Islamic Month of Mourning, Sacrifices

Muharram: Month of mourning

Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, begins with mourning processions all over the world. Muslims of Shia sect, in black attire, participate in the gatherings in which the sacrifices of Hussein and his companions are commemorated. Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was martyred in 680 AD by a group of 72 men, women and children in the …

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Eid el-Adha: Bakrid – Festival of Sacrifice

Eid el-Adha

Eid el-Adha – A ritual of sacrifice and thanksgiving announces a religious pilgrimage. Eid el-Adha is an officially observed religious holiday that precedes the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to Islam‘s holiest sites. Eid el-Adha, is one of Islam’s most important celebrations, announcing the beginning of the Hajj, the celebrated yearly pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Muslims …

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