Some
say India is a continent rather than a country and it’s true that it is as vast
as it is versatile. Adventure and discovery are hiding behind every corner in a
land that is steeped in culture, history and spirituality. The seventh largest
country in the world, India occupies more than 3 million kilometres of landmass
on the globe. That’s a lot of travelling.
Colourful
clothing, alluring aromas and tantalising tastes are a small sample of the
sensory delights that India have on offer. Legendary
Moto Rides offer a land of colourful contrasts, and home to some of the most
breathtaking scenery and architecture in the world. India is a huge country and
has it all, beautiful beaches and quiet backwaters, arts, crafts and culture,
fascinating peoples and religions and of course, incredible history and
heritage. With over 30 World Heritage-listed sites in India alone, you can look
forward to discovering one of the world’s most culturally, religiously and
historically significant destinations. Assuming most first time visitors to India have 1-3 weeks to travel around, we recommend sticking with one area of the country. Join us on a journey through a region that has intrigued intrepid travellers for centuries and evolved over a recorded history of some 5,000 years
India
is a destination which is known for its rich and diverse culture. The
rich culture has been preserved in various forms – formidable forts, palaces
and havelis, magnificent temples. Besides architectural uniqueness, innumerable
numbers of fairs and festivals are also an integral part of Indian culture.
Each festival celebrated in India is unique but enthusiasm, feasts and colour
are common for all these fairs. India for travellers is at its best when
visited during these celebrations of life as that is the time when you can
experience most fascinating rich culture of India. We organize various fairs
and festivals tour of India combined with special events to make your tour a
memorable tour which you remain in your mind and soul forever.
Holi (All over
India)
In
March, during spring, comes Holi - the festival of colours. Holi is considered
as one of the most revered and celebrated festivals of India and it is
celebrated in almost every part of the country. It is also sometimes called as
the “festival of love” as on this day people get to unite together forgetting
all resentments and all types of bad feeling towards each other. Holi Festival
brings a lot of fun and enjoyment for people in India. The ritual starts by
lighting up the bonfire one day before the day of Holi and this process
symbolizes the triumph of good over the bad. On the day of Holi people play
with colours with their friends and families and in evening they show love and
respect to their close ones with Abeer.
Diwali (All over
India)
The
Indian Festival of Lights, is the most widely celebrated festival of the people
from the Indian sub-continent and across the whole world. Deepavali means rows
of lights, it is the festival symbolising victory of good over evil, light over
darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.
Though
there are many mythological explanations to this wonderful festival. One of the
mythological reasons is to celebrate the return of Lord Rama, the hero of the
epic Ramayana, to Ayodhya after a fourteen year exile. The flickering lights of
the traditional clay lamps or 'diyas' illuminate the houses and fireworks
resound through the night. The goddess of wealth and prosperity - Lakshmi, is
worshipped on this day. Houses are white washed and elaborate designs drawn at
the thresholds to welcome the goddess. The exchanging of gifts and sweets among
friends and relatives and playing of games of chance at night, are all an
integral part of the celebrations.
Pushkar Fair
(Pushkar, Rajasthan)
The
Pushkar Fair (Pushkar Camel Fair) or Pushkar Mela, as it is locally known as,
is an annual weeklong camel and livestock fair held in the town of Pushkar
between the months of October and November. It is one of the world's largest
camel fairs. Apart from the buying and selling of livestock, it has become an
important tourist attraction. Competitions such as the ‘matka phod’, ‘longest
moustache’ and ‘bridal competition’ are the main draws for this fair which
attracts thousands of tourists. In recent years, the fair has also included an
exhibition cricket match between the local Pushkar Club and a team of foreign
tourists.
Desert Festival
(Jaisalmer - Rajasthan)
Once
a year, the empty sands around Jaisalmer come alive with a mesmerising
performance on the sand dunes in the form of the Desert Festival. The festival,
organised by the Department of Tourism around January-February, goes on for
three whole days and lets you enjoy the rich and colourful Rajasthani folk
culture. You will get to see Cultural events, camel races, turban tying competitions,
Rajasthani men and tall, beautiful women dressed in their best and brightest
costumes dance and sing ballads of valour, romance and tragedy, while
traditional musicians attempt to outdo each other to showcase their musical
superiority etc. Attend the contests to judge the man with the best moustache.
Everything is exotic in the Desert festival, amidst the golden sands of the
Thar Desert. With a final musical performance by folk singers under the moonlit
sky at the dunes in Sam, just outside Jaisalmer, the festival comes to its end.
The rich culture of the region is on display during this three daylong
extravaganza.
Marwar Festival
(Jodhpur - Rajasthan)
The
most popular festival in Jodhpur is the Marwar Festival. The two-day festival
is held every year in the month of Ashwin (between September and October) in
memory of the heroes of Rajasthan. It was originally known as the Maand
Festival. The main attraction of this festival is the folk music centering
around the romantic lifestyle of Rajasthan's rulers. The music and dance of the
Marwar region is the main theme of this festival. The folk dancers and singers
assemble at the festival and provide lively entertainment. These folk artists
give you a peek into the days of yore, of battles and of heroes who live on
through their songs. Among other attractions at the festival is the Camel
Tattoo Show and various competitions like Moustache, Turban Tying, Tug of War,
Matka Race, Traditional Dress Competition and many more. The venues of this
festival include the famous Clock Tower & Osian’s sand dunes.
CAMEL FESTIVALS
(Bikaner-Rajasthan)
Bikaner
Camel Festival is an annual festival dedicated to the ship of the desert.
Organised in the month of January, the celebrations include camel races, camel
milking, fur cutting design, best breed competition, camel acrobatics and camel
beauty pageants. The camels themselves are beautifully bedecked and form a
colourful spectacle against the red backdrop of the Junagarh Fort. There's
plenty of scope for eating, souvenir-shopping and photography at this festival.
Other sights to watch out for include the skirt-swirling folk dancers, fire
dancers and the spectacular fireworks show, that lights up the night sky above
the fortified Desert City.
Hemis Festival (Leh
- Ladakh)
Hemis
Festival is one such prominent festival that attracts people from all parts of
the world. The two day Hemis Festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and
pomp all over the Ladakh region. The festival is organized in Hemis Gompa,
which is one of the largest and richest Buddhist monasteries in the world. The
only reason behind this festival is to celebrate the birth anniversary of the
Buddhist leader Guru Padmasambhava. According to the Buddhist culture and
tradition this festival marks the dominance of evil over good. As per the
Buddhist culture their Guru fought against evil and saved his followers and
hence people of this monastery celebrates their Gurus birthday in order to
tribute him.
The
main attraction during this festival is the masked dance performed by the Lamas
of this monastery. This form of dance is also known as the Cham Dance of
Ladakh. The unique feature of this dance form is that the dance postures are
slow compared to other dance forms. The expressions involved in this dance form
are twisted. The masks worn by the Lamas depict some special characters of the
myth that they were depicting. The dance is a tribute to their Guru.
Kumbhalgarh Festival
(Kumbhalgarh – Rajasthan)
The
Kumbhalgarh fort, cradled in the Aravali Ranges, north of Udaipur, hosts the
vibrant and colourful Kumbhalgarh Festival for three-days. The event is divided
into two parts- day and night. In the daytime there is the folk performances by
traditional artistes and competitions like turban tying and henna applying. On
the other hand, the night is filled with impressive explosions of lights,
sound, colours and dance. The Kumbhalgarh Festival is a must visit for ardent
patrons of art, music and dance.
Ranakpur Festival
(Ranakpur – Rajasthan)
This
festival offers a unique insight into the local culture and heritage. With fun
activities like yoga, nature walks at the foothills in forests of aravallis,
visits to the Ranakpur Jain temple, hot air ballooning, interesting activities
like: tug of war, beautiful decorations, cultural programmes, the open air
amphitheater at Sun Temple showcases attractive folk and classical performances
every evening and much more, the Ranakpur Festival is something you simply
cannot miss. This festival is usually held on the 21st and 22nd of December
every year, playing host to tourists from all corners of the globe, to immerse
them in a colorful affair of cultural festivity.
Chandrabhaga Fair
(Jhalawar-Rajasthan)
Every
year, the Chandrabhaga Fair in Rajasthan welcomes thousands of visitors and
participants from all over the nation. It is held at Jhalrapatan, situated at a
distance of about six kilometres from Jhalawar, in the month of Kartik (October
and November). This fair attracts travellers, pilgrims and explorers alike with
rituals and traditions practiced in this region. A lot of pilgrims assemble on
the banks of river Chandrabhaga during the fair and participate in this gala
event. The festival, named after the river Chrandrabhaga, is considered very
sacred by the people of Rajasthan. People travel from far just for a dip in the
river as they believe this will purify their souls. A huge cattle fair is also
organised here, where livestock such as cows, horses, buffaloes, camels and
bullocks are purchased from various parts for resale. The fair includes several
spiritual and traditional activities. During the fair, the Department of
Tourism organises activities over a course of 3 days like traditional Deepdan,
Shobha Yatra and various competitions as well as cultural evenings.
Bundi Festival
(Bundi-Rajasthan)
The
Bundi Festival is celebrated in the month of Kartik (October-November) and
includes several spiritual and traditional activities. It is a remarkable
cluster of traditional art, culture and craftsmanship and visitors are left
charmed by its magnificence. The program includes a colourful Shobha Yatra,
arts & crafts fair, ethnic sports, cultural exhibition, classical music
& dance program, turban competitions, bridal clothing, musical band
competitions, and a sparkling fireworks display. Early in the morning, after
the full moon night of Kartik Purnima, women and men clad in attractive
colourful costumes light diyas or lamps on the banks of River Chambal and seek
blessings.
Nagaur Fair
(Nagaur-Rajasthan)
The
Nagaur Fair is the second biggest fair in India. Held every year between the
months of January and February, it is popularly known as the Cattle Fair of
Nagaur as this is where owners gather to trade animals. Approximately 70,000
bullocks, camels and horses are traded every year at this fair. The animals are
lavishly decorated and even their owners dress up with colourful turbans and
long moustaches. Besides cattle, sheep, horses and even spices are traded.
Other attractions include the Mirchi Bazaar (largest red chilli market of
India), sale of wooden items, iron-crafts and camel leather accessories.
Several sports are also held during the fair. These include tug-of-war, camel
races and bullock races. Nagaur fair is also famous for its jugglers,
puppeteers, storytellers, etc.
PONGAL (Tamil Nadu)
A
celebration of the harvest - Pongal is observed for three days in January, in
Tamil Nadu. Bhogi Pongal - the first day, is an occasion for festivities at
home. Flavoured rice is offered to the Sun God on the second day. Mattu Pongal,
the next day, is celebrated in a more boisterous fashion. Village cattle are
bathed and decorated and cattle races enliven village festivities.
International Kite
Festival (Ahmedabad, Gujarat)
On
14th January, Ahmedabad is at its colourful best as kites of all colours,
patterns and dimensions soar into the sky. Special kites with little paper
lamps fill the night sky with a myriad flickering lights. Special Gujarati
cuisine, exhibitions of handicrafts and folk art enhance the festive spirit.
International Yoga
Week (Rishikesh – Uttarakhand)
A
week-long event to promote Yoga is held in Rishikesh, a picturesque town in the
foothills of the Himalayas. International Yoga Festival is grounded in the
authentic origin of Yoga. Practice and learn from masters from the Traditional
Yoga Lineages from India, as well as masters of International well known yoga
schools & styles. During this one-week Festival, you will have the
opportunity to participate in over 60 hours of Yoga classes from world-class
Yoga teachers practicing multiple styles of Yoga including Kundalini Yoga,
Power Vinyasa Yoga, Iyengar Yoga and Kriya Yoga. The participants will also be
blessed with the presence, satsang and divine words of revered saints and
spiritual masters from within India.
Float Festival
(Madurai - Tamil Nadu)
This
magnificent festival is celebrated in Madurai. On the night of the full moon,
ornamented icons of goddess Meenakshi and her consort are taken out in a colourful
procession to the huge Mariamman Teppakulam. The icons are floated in the tank
on a raft decked with flowers and flickering lamps.
Kerala Village Fair
(Kovalam-Kerala)
Kerala
Village fair falls in the mid January around Kovalam every year. It is one of
the colorful cultural events celebrated with great enthusiasm. It is ten long
day celebration of tradition and culture of Kerala. Local people of Kerala call
this festival as Garamam fair as well. The main objective of this fair is to
replicate and re-create an entire gramam or village in the cultural and
traditional colors of Kerala.
Goa Carnival (Goa)
Goa's
100 km coastline has some of the world's most beautiful beaches. The exuberant
Goa Carnival is an annual feature here. Held in mid-February, just before Lent,
the weeklong event is a time for lively processions, floats, the strumming of
guitars and graceful dances.
Khajuraho Dance
Festival (Khajuraho - Madhya Pradesh)
The
thousand year old temples at Khajuraho, built by the Chandella kings, are majestic
structures sculpted in stone. Only 22 of these temples remain today, to bear
testimony to the craftsmanship of Chandella builders. Every year in March,
these splendid temples come alive during the week-long festival of classical
dances.
Shivratri (All over
India)
All
over the country, Shivratri is observed as the night, when Lord Shiva danced
the "Tandav" - his cosmic dance. Fasts and prayers mark the day and
devotees throng the temples. The major Shaivite temples at Varanasi, Kalahasti
(Andhra Pradesh) and Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu) are noted for their special
celebrations.
Gangaur Festival
Gangaur
is one of the most important festivals in Rajasthan. In some form or the other,
it is celebrated all over Rajasthan. “Gan” is a synonym for Lord Shiva &
“Gauri” or “Gaur” stands for Goddess Parvati, the heavenly consort of Lord
Shiva. Gangaur celebrates the union of the two and is a symbol of conjugal
& marital happiness. Gangaur is celebrated in the month of Chaitra
(March-April), the first month of the Hindu calendar. This month marks the end
of winter & the onset of spring. This festival is celebrated especially by
women, who worship clay idols of “Gan” & “Gauri” in their houses. These
idols are worshipped by unmarried girls who seek the blessings of Gan &
Gauri for a good husband, while the married women pray for the good health and
long life of their husbands. This worship which starts from the first day of
the chaitra month culminates on the 18th day into Gangaur festival with a great
religious fervor. On the eve of Gangaur festival, women decorate their palms
and fingers with henna. The idols of Gan and Gauri are immersed in a pond or in
a nearby lake on the last day of the festival. A traditional procession of
Gangaur commences form the Zanani-Deodhi of the City Palace, passing through
Tripolia Bazaar, Chhoti Chaupar, Gangauri Bazaar, Chaugan stadium and finally
converges near the Talkatora. The procession is headed by a colorful pageantry
of old palanquins, chariots, bullock carts and performing folk artists.
Janmashtami (All
over India)
The
birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great fervour all over the country. In
Mathura and Brindavan - where Lord Krishna sp-spent his childhood and youth,
the Janmashtami celebrations are quite elaborate. The Krishna Leela - stories
of his eventful youth are enacted. In Maharashtra, earthen pots of curd and
butter are hung high up over the streets. Young men enacting an episode from
Krishna's childhood form human pyramids by climbing on each others' shoulders
and try to break these pots.
Elephant Festival
(Jaipur-Rajasthan)
A
festival where elephants are the centre of attraction. The festival begins with
a procession of elephants, camels and horses, followed by lively folk dancers.
Elephant races, elephant-polo matches and a most interesting tug of war between
elephants and men, are all part of this spectacular event.
Onam (Kerala)
Kerala's
most important festival is celebrated in the honour of the ancient asura king
Mahabali. the occasion also heralds the harvest season. The decorating of
houses with carpets of flowers, a sumptuous lunch and songs in praise of the
golden reign of Mahabali, mark the ten day long festivities. A major attraction
of the Onam celebrations are the famed snake boat races along the backwaters at
Champakulam, Aranmula and Kottayam.
Hampi Festival
(Hampi - Karnataka)
The
magnificent ruined city of Hampi, once the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire,
comes alive once again during this lively festival of dance and music, held in
the first week of November. Designed as the chariot of the Sun God, drawn by
seven exquisitely carved horses, stands in solitary splendour on the beach at
Konark. This is the venue of a joyous festival of classical dance and music
which is held annually. A host of celebrated dancers from all over the country
perform in the open air auditorium. The sound of ghungroo bells, flute and
pakhauj fill the air and a marvelous crafts mela, with a variety of handicrafts
and delectable cuisine, adds to the festive mood.
Christmas (All over
India)
Christmas
is celebrated in India with great fervor. All the major Indian cities wear a
festive look. Shops and bazaars are decorated for the occasion and offer
attractive bargains. Carol singing, get-togethers and the exchanging of gifts
enhance the Christmas spirit. Christmas parties launch off celebrations for the
New Year, thus retaining the festive mood for at least a week.
UDAIPUR WORLD MUSIC
FESTIVAL (Udaipur – Rajasthan)
The
City of Lakes sings a different tune come February. Udaipur plays host to the
fourth edition of the Udaipur World Music Festival. Organized by SEHER, this
festival brings together global artists and ensembles from over 20 countries
including Iran, Spain, Brazil, Senegal, France, Portugal, Italy and India,
amongst other nations. The event is designed to cater to the music
sensibilities of people across different ages and from all walks of life. An
absolute once-in-a-lifetime experience, this one is a sheer treat for lovers of
good music.
Taj Mahotsav (Agra-Uttar
Pradesh)
A
ten day event that starts on 18th February each year in Shilpgram, the Taj
Mahotsav is a much awaited event. India's extensive arts, crafts and culture
are on display. Folk music, shayari and classical dance performances along with
elephant and camel rides, games and a food festival, all add to the excitement
of the occasion.
