PONGAL/SANKRANTI (January 15)
The four day harvest festival of thanks giving in the South. Commences with prayers and rituals and ends with the thrills of racing bulls and bullock carts.

REPUBLIC DAY (January 26)
The constitution of India was formed on this day in 1950. The celebrations all over the country are characterised by colourful parades, specially in New Delhi where one has glimpses of folk-dances representing different regions of India.

FLOATING FESTIVAL ( January )
Madurai, the famous temple town of South India celebrates the birth anniversary of its famous 17th century ruler where temple deities, splendidly decorated and dressed, are taken in a floating procession on illuminated sacred barges.

VASANT PANCHAMI (January 13)
A spring festival in the North when Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning, Wisdom and Fine Arts, is worshipped by the Hindus.

ID-UL-ZUHA (January 21)
This festival commemorates the sacrifice of Ibrahim. Prayers are offered at mosques and goats are sacrificed by the Muslims. The festival ends with fasting and exchange of greetings.

SHIVRATRI (March 08)
Devotees fast and pray in honour of Lord Shiva. This all night festival is celebrated at all Shiva Temples in India.

POORAM ( April 29 )
This is spectacular temple festivel in Kerala. Richly caprisoned elephants, sounds of trumpets, pipes and fireworks add a lot of gaeity and grandeur to the celebrations.

MUHARRAM (February 20)
This festival commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet. Tajias, the bamboo replicas of the martyr’s tomb are taken out in procession by the Muslims.

HOLI (March 25)
The most colourful festival in India, celebrating the advent of spring. Men and women throw coloured powder and water on each other. Its rustic fervour is still manifest in Mathura, the home of Lord Krishna.

RAMANAVAMI (April 17)
The birth anniversary of Rama. The hero of the Epic Ramayana, is celebrated by decorating temples and holding religious discourses.

GOOD FRIDAY (March 25)
Christians fast and pray in memory of the crucification of Lord Jesus Christ.

BAISAKHI (April 13)
Celebrated as the festival of spring, on this day Guru Govind Singh, organised the Order of the Khalsa.

GANGAUR FAIR - JAIPUR (April 11-12)
A festival in Rajasthan where the women, in colour dressed, worship Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva and pray for a good husband. The celebrations are marked by singing and dancing.

MEENAKSHI KALYANAM (April )
A ten day celebration at Madurai, marking the anniversary of the mythical marriage of Lord Shiva with Meenakshi.

BUDDHA PURNIMA (May 23)
Buddhists celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha.

INDEPENDENCE DAY (August 15)
An annual celebration of India’s Independence achieved in 1947, is marked by processions and flag hoisting ceremonies.

TEEJ (August 08 - 09)
The onset of monsoon sends hundreds of Rajasthani women, dressed in green, to the outdoor swings. It is also an occasion to celebrate Goddess Parvati’s departure for her husbands home.

RATH YATRA (July 8)
A magnificient temple festivel at puri in Orissa, held in honour. Lord Jagannath, whose image is placed in decorated carriage and brought out in an eloborate procession by thousands of pilgrims.

ONAM (September 15)
The harvest festival of Kerala is characterised by the picturesque boat race - Vallokali alongwith joyous singing and fasting by the local folk.

RAKSHA BANDHAN (August 19)
Sisters tie ‘Rakhis’, a bracelet made of coloured thread, on their brother’s wrists, which symbolises an everlasting bond of love and protection.

AMARNATH YATRA (August 19)
Nestled in the Himalayas, the Ice Lingam that symbolises Lord Shiva, is worshipped on Full Moon at the Amarnath cave in Kashmir’s Lidder valley.

NAG PANCHAMI (August 24)
It is the festivel of the mythical thousand - headed serpent - Sesha. A spectacular celebration in Jodhpur, where huge cloth effigies of the serpent are displayed at a colourful fair.

JANAMASHTAMI (August 27)
To celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu the Preserver, Krishna stories are enacted througout India with greater fervour in Mathura and Brindavan, the birth place of Lord Krishna.

GANESH (VINAYAK) CHATURTHI (September 7)
A festivel in honour of Lord Ganesh, the elephant headed God of Wisdom & Success. Huge images are taken out in grand processions and then immersed in the sea.

GANDHI JAYANTI (October 2)
Solemn prayer meetings are held all over the country, on this day, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi the Father of the Nation, is celebrated.

DURGA PUJA (October 10 - 12)
Durga, the warrior Goddess is worshipped in colourful Puja Pandals and the images are taken out in grand processions to the sea river where they are immersed amidst chanting and singing.

DUSSEHRA (October 12)
Huge effigies of Ravana, the demon king, are burnt on the last day of the ten day festival. The heroic deeds of Lord Rama, the destroyer of Ravana, are enacted in song, dance and music dramas which is known as Ramlila.

DIWALI (November 1)
A festivel of lights and fireworks. Houses are decorated with oil lamps to welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and to celebrate the return of Lord Rama from exile.

GURU NANAK JAYANTI (November 15)
The ‘Akhand Path’ the Guru’s verves, are recited on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

PUSHKAR FAIR (November 13 - 15)
At Pushkar Lake situated off Ajmer, one of the most colourful fairs is held every year. This fair is famous for its Camel bazaars and Camels followed by a thanks giving dip at the holy Pushkar lake.

ID-UL-FITR (November 4)
Also known as Ramzan Id, marks the end of Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting. Thousands of Muslims gather to pray and exchange greetings.

CHRISTMAS (December 25)
Celebrated mainly in Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Calcutta, Chennai & Bangalore. The birth of Jesus Christ is marked with an all-night mass, hyms and feasts.