India Events

India events offer a great portal into seeing the true culture of the country. As a highly spiritual nation, India has many celebrations and festivals throughout the year that offer visitors a glimpse into authentic Indian life. India festivals are often centered on the country’s religions and their plentiful traditions, and they are always colorful, festive events. Travelers who have chosen to coordinate when to go with the festivals of India return home with memorable experiences that they might not have not encountered during other parts of the year. While events in India are a great starting point for planning a trip, do also consider the season of travel and the weather as well, especially if you don’t take well to extreme heat.

One of the most popular India events is Diwali, the five-day festival that represents the start of the Hindu New Year. Celebrated in October or November, depending on the lunar calendar, Diwali is known as the festival of lights, which refers to all of the fireworks, candles, and small lamps that are lit during the celebration. This India festival is said to represent the triumph of good over evil, or brightness over darkness. An especially atmospheric festival, Diwali is known as a celebration of happiness and joy. The sacred city of Varanasi is an especially popular destination for this event.

Festivals of India take place year-round, such as Ganesh Chaturthi in August or September. In honor of the beloved Hindu elephant-headed god, Lord Ganesha, this festival includes elaborately painted statues of the god that artisans spent months creating. While India festivals are celebrated across the country, this festival is especially celebrated in Mumbai. In this city alone, more than 150,000 statues are on display. Ceremonies and rituals mark this festival, along with crowded city streets, fire dancers, and lasers. This festival also depends on the calendar of the moon, and the corresponding dates on the solar calendar change each year. With a little research, you can plan to be in Mumbai just in time for the festivities.

Other festivals of India include Govinda, a celebration of the birthday of Lord Krishna. The spectacle of this festival, celebrated in August or September, includes locals building human pyramids to try to climb and reach clay pots that have been strung across the streets. Springtime India events include Holi, a two-day festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Commonly referred to as the festival of colors, this event sees people throwing colored powder and water at one another and dancing beneath sprinklers. An especially carefree festival, this event is a treasured part of the year for the young.

A different type of festival is the temple festival. Including processions of elephants, ornaments, and musicians, these festivals are enjoyable for all audiences. The South Indian state of Kerala, whose capital city of Thiruvananthapuram is a popular tourist destination, has temple festivals that are known for their colorful floats, impressive drummers, and the overall spectacle. India festivals of course vary by region, so when planning a trip to India, factors including airfare to India and transportation should be considered to make sure you make the most of your trip.