Indian Festivals

The Moon Festival – Mid-Autumn Festival (also called the Mooncake Festival) falls on September 19th in 2013. What is the Moon festival? Every year on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when the moon is at its maximum brightness for the entire year, the Chinese celebrate “zhong qiu jie.” Children are told the story of the …

Pinjore Heritage Festival – One of the oldest yet well maintained Mughal Gardens of the world, Yadavindra Garden was the venue for the first ever Pinjore Heritage Festival. The festival was cerebrated with great enthusiasm and glory. The festival was organized to promote the rich cultural and historical tradition of the region. The Pinjore Heritage Festival in Pinjore, Haryana is …

O-Shogatsu – Japanese New Year, unfolds over 3 days starting on January 1st, and is an official national holiday. The Japanese New Year is a three-day series of community and family events revolving around themes of good fortune and “firsts.” Many O-Shogatsu rituals are celebrated in a community and family context and there is little emphasis on sharing them with …

Hampi Utsav, also known as the Vijaya Utsav, Festival of Hampi has been celebrated from the times of the Vijayanagar reign. This event has been reiterated as the “Nada Utsava” by the Government of Karnataka. Hampi being a World Heritage Site is a international tourist spot. This festival is attributes to the mega cultural extravaganza, held from 3rd November to 5th …

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a 4 day event held 60 miles outside of Nashville, Tennessee. It began in 2002 and has quickly grown to be one of the country’s premier festivals. Traditionally the focus has been jam bands with a fair sprinkling of bluegrass, folk, alternative rock and pop. In recent years the lineup has branched out a …

Passover celebrates the Jewish exodus from Egypt, which is considered the pivotal event in the history of the Jewish people. Date Passover, called Pesach in Hebrew, begins at sunset on the fourteenth day of the Jewish month of Nisan, generally between late March and mid-April, and continues for seven days. In Jewish communities outside of Israel (the Diaspora) it lasts …

Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day — Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. The name Shrove comes from the old middle English word ‘Shriven’ meaning to go to confession to say sorry for the wrong things you’ve done. Lent always starts on a Wednesday, so people went to confessions on the day before. This became known as …

Ooty / Mount Abu – Summer Festival — Cultural programs, adventure sports, boat races, flower and fruit shows add to the splendor of the festival. Mount Abu The Summer Festival is held every year in the month of Aashadh (June). The steep rocks, tranquil lakes, picturesque locations and the pleasant climate of Mount Abu make it an ideal location for …

Ching Ming is a Chinese rite marking the beginning of spring that is focused on ancestor worship. On this day, people visit gravesites and make offerings to the souls of their deceased relatives. In English, we call it a Ching Ming Festival, Grave-Sweeping Day, Clear and Bright Festival. Ching Ming is held on the 106th day after winter solstice, and …

Pattadakkal Dance Festival is celebrated every year in Pattadakkal and the venues are inevitably the temples of Pattadakkal. Fairs and Festivals forms an integral part of the living heritage of Karnataka. Festivals here is marked by enthusiasm, gaiety, color, adherence to traditions and culture. The diversity of the state is well manifested in these fairs and festivals of Karnataka. Pattadakkal …