JANUARY

• The Great Elephant March (Kerala)
• Mamallpuram Dance Festival ( Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu)
• Pongal (Tamil Nadu)
• International Kite Festival (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) (13,14,15 Jan. 2000) / (13,14,15 Jan. 2001) / (13,14,15 Jan. 2002) 
• Republic Day (Delhi and State capitals) (26 Jan)
• Float Festival (Madurai, Tamil Nadu)
• Kerala Village Fair (Kovalam, Kerala)
• Bikaner Festival (Bikaner, Rajasthan) (20 - 21 Jan. 2000)
• Calcutta Festival (Calcutta, West Bengal)
• Pattadakkal Dance Festival (Karnataka)

FEBRUARY

• Vasant Panchami (North India and West Bengal)
• Surajkund Crafts Mela (Surajkund, near Delhi)
• International Yoga Week (Rishikesh, Uttar Pradesh) (2 - 7 Feb. 2000)
• Desert Festival (Jaisalmer, Rajasthan) (17 - 19 Feb. 2000)
• Nagaur Fair (Nagaur, Rajasthan) (12 - 15 Feb. 2000)
• Elephanta Festival (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
• Deccan Festival (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh)
• Taj Mahotsav (Agra, Uttar Pradesh) (18 - 27 Feb. 2000)
• Goa Carnival (Goa)
• Garden Festival (Delhi)
• Chapchar Kat (Mizoram)
• Rose Festival (Chandigarh)
• Island Tourism Festival (Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands)

• Khajuraho Dance Festival (Khajuraho, MP)

• Shivratri (All over India)

• Shivratri Natyanjali (Chidambaram, TN)

• Holi (All over Norht India)

• Elephanta Festival (Jaipur, Rajasthan) (19 Mar. 2000)

• Hoysala Mahotsava (Belur-Halebid, Karnataka)

• Pataliputra Mahotsava (Patna, Bihar)

• Jhansi Festival (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh)

• Good Friday (All over India)

• Ellora Festivals (Aurangabad, Maharashtra)

• Gangaur (Rajasthan) (7- 8 Apr. 2000)

• Mewar Festival (Udaipur, Rajasthan) (7- 8 Apr. 2000)

• Baisakhi (All over India)

• Mahavir Jayanti (All over India)

• Ramnavami (All over India)

• Pooram (Thrissur, Kerala)
• Urs (Ajmer, Rajasthan)
• International Flower Festival (Gangtok, Sikkim)
• Id-ul-Fitr (All over India)
• Buddha Purinma (North India)
• Summer Festival (Major hill stations)

• Hemis Festival (Leh, Ladakh)

• Rath Yatra (Puri, Orissa)
• Id-ul_Zuha (Bakr-Id)
• International Mango Festival (Delhi)

• Janmashtami (All over India) (23 Aug. 2000) / (12 Aug. 2001) / (31 Aug. 2002)
• Teej (Rajasthan and Chandigarh) (2- 3 Aug. 2000)
• Independence Day (All over India) (15 Aug.)
• Raksha Bandhan (North India)
• Amarnath Yatra (Jammu & Kashmir
• Nag Panchami (West Bengal and South India)
• Nehru Trophy Boat Race (Kerala)

• Onam (Kerala) (9 - 15 Sept. 2000)
• Tarnetar Mela (Saurashtra) (2 - 4 Sept. 2000) / (22 - 24 Aug. 2001) / (10 - 12 Sept. 2002)
• Ganesh Chaturthi (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka)
• Ganesh Festival (Pune, Maharashtra)

• Dussehra (All over India) (17 - 19 Oct. 1999) / (5- 7 Oct. 2000)
• Muharram (All over India)
• Marwar Festival (Jodhpur, Rajasthan)(23- 24 Oct. 1999) / (12- 13 Oct. 2000)
• Diwali (All over India) 
• Gandhi Jayanthi (All over India) (2 Oct.)
• Rajgir Mahotsav (Rajgir, Bihar)

• Ka Pomblang Nongkrem (Shillong, Meghalaya)
• Lucknow Festival (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
• Sonepur Mela (Sonepur, Bihar)
• Pushkar Mela (Pushkar, Rajasthan) (20- 23 Nov. 1999) / (9- 11 Nov. 2000)
• Guru Purab (All over India)
• Hampi Festival (Hampi Karnataka)

• Shilpgram Crafts Mela (Udaipur, Rajasthan)
• Vishnupur Festival (Vishnupur, West Bengal)
• Kurukshetra Festival (Kurukshetra, Haryana)
• Konark Dance Festival (Konark, Orissa)
• Christmas (All over India) (25 Dec.)

While caparisoned elephants go out in procession, boat races on the backwaters and cultural events lend colour to the festivities. The festival takes place in some of Kerala's major towns - Thrissur, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram. (Click here for more info)

Once the ancient port of the Pallavas, Mamallapuram plays host to a vibrant festival of dance. Exponents of Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Kathakali perform against the magnificent backdrop of the Pallava rock sculptures.

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.

Commemorating the day India became a republic (26th January), the Republic Day is celebrated in Delhi with a splendid parade - a colourful affair with soldiers marching in unison, followed by folk dancers, school children and floats from various states. The Beating Retreat which marks the end of the celebrations on 29th January, is a moving ceremony with massed military bands playing at Vijay Chowk. 

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. 

Every year, in the lush villages around Kovalam (18 km from Thiruvananthapuram), mid-January is the time for cultural events. The traditional thatch houses are decorated during this ten day long festival and are the venue for folk dances, music and festivities.

Dedicated to the indispensable 'ship of the desert', the festival starts off with a magnificent procession of bedecked camels. There are displays and competitions together with all the colour, music and rhythm unique to a fair in Rajasthan. 

Held every year in the centrally located maidan area of the city of Calcutta. Ethnic food stalls displaying Bengali cuisine and cultural events make this a lively occasion.

Delicately carved temples rich in detail, stand still at Pattadakkal, the ancient capital of the Chalukyan kings.  A festival of dance celebrates this marvellous heritage.

The ceremonial welcome to spring when people, colourfully attired, especially inbright shades of yellow, dance, sing and make merry. In West Bengal, 'Saraswati' - the goddess of learning is worshipped. The  festival is celebrated with great fervour in the university town of Santiniketan.

A delightful handloom and handicrafts fair is held annually at Surajkund. Skilled artisans from all over the country display the rich crafts tradition of India in the typical setting of a rural Indian marketplace. Cultural programmes and rural cuisine are also a part of this colourful fair.

A week-long event to promote Yoga is held in Rishikesh, a picturesque town in the foothills of the Himalayas. Detailed lectures and demonstration of various asanas by prominent exponents of Yoga are the major highlights of the Yoga Week.

A three day long extravaganza of colour, music and festivity at the golden city of Jaisalmer. Gair and fire dancers swaying to traditional tunes, a turban-tying competition and a Mr. Desert contest are part of  the fun of the occasion.  Camel rides and folk dances at the sand dunes at Sam are an added attraction.

Nagaur bustles with life during its annual cattle fair which is one of the largest in the country. Exciting games and camel races are part of the festivities.

This festival is held across the Mumbai harbour, on the Elephanta Island, near the world renowned  Elephanta Caves (A World Heritage Site). This feast of music and dance,  celebrated under the stars, transforms the entire island into a large auditorium.

Every year gracious Hyderabad comes alive during the Deccan Festival. There are cultural programmes with ghazal nights, qawalis and mushairas, typical of the city. A pearl and bangle fair displays creations in lustrous pearls and multi-hued bangles that are local specialities. A food fest serves the best of Hyderabad's famed cuisine to visitors.

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..

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 week- long event is a time for lively processions, floats, the strumming of guitars and graceful dances.

A spectacular flower show held in Delhi, where varieties of flowers and exotic plants are on display. This annual event is indeed a horticulturist's delight.

A lively festival in Mizoram celebrates the arrival of spring. It is an occasion for dance, music and feasting.  

The biggest Rose Show in the country is held at the famous Rose Gardens at Chandigarh. Varieties of magnificent roses are on display during this two-day festival. 

A ten day long festival of dance, drama and music. Exhibitions, displaying arts and crafts, flora and fauna and marine life, are part of the event. Aqua sports, telegames and parasailing are added attractions.

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.

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) andChidambaram (Tamil Nadu) are noted for their special celebrations.

Shivratri is the occasion for a five day long festival of classical dance and music at Chidambaram. The magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, built a thousand years ago, provides a beautiful backdrop for  the event.

In March, during spring, comes Holi- the festival of colours. Celebrated all over North India, Holi is a time to make merry. People smear each other with coloured powder. Singing and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion. In Anandpur Sahib, Sikhs celebrate a special festival Hola Mohalla on  the day after Holi. The display of ancient martial arts and mock battles, are part of this unique Sikh festival. The Holi celebrations in Mathura and the small towns of Braj Bhoomi - the land of Sri Krishna, are spectacular. The Rang Gulal Festival is celebrated for over a week with exuberant processions, songs and music. Especially famous is the Lathmaar Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon.

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. 

The dance festival held at Belur and.Halebid is a magnificent event.  The splendid Hoysala temples with their sculptural extravaganza , make the prefect venue for this cultural feasts

Patna, an ancient city with a glorious past, celebrates its rich heritage with this lively festival. 

This week-long annual event is a display of the arts, crafts and culture of a splendid city - Jhansi. The cultural programmes include folk songs, dances, mushairas and ghazals. 

Good Friday is observed by Christians nationwide with special services in the churches.

The magnificent rock-cut caves at Ellora - 34 in number, were excavated between 600 and 1000 AD. They include Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves. Every March, a festival of dance and music is organised, here with the caves forming a splendid backdrop.

The most important local festival in Rajasthan, Gangaur celebrations last for eighteen days. It is dedicated to Gauri, a manifestation of goddess Parvati. The festival is celebrated by girls and married women throughout Rajasthan. The images of Gauri are ornamented and offerings are made. This is also an auspicious day for young people to select their life partners. Colourful processions with the town band playing, horses and elaborate palanquins make it a fascinating spectacle.

An exhilarating welcome to spring, this festival is a visual feast with Rajasthani songs, dances, processions, devotional music and firework displays. It is celebrated in the romantic city of Udaipur during the Gangaur Festival. A procession of colourfully attired women carrying the images of the goddess Gauri make their way to the Lake Pichola. An unusual procession of boats on the lake offers a fitting finale to this splendid celebration.

The Hindu New Year finds expression in this exuberant festival, celebrated throughout India. Baisakhi celebrations in Punjab are spectacular, as this is a very special day for the Sikhs. It was on this day that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa. Robust revelry and feasting mark the celebrations and dancers perform the vigorous Bhangra to the rhythmic beat of the drums.  In Kerala, the festival is known as Vishu. 'Vishu kani' - a display of grain, fruits, flowers, gold, new cloth and money, is viewed early in the morning to ensure a prosperous year ahead. Firework displays and the buying of new clothes are a part of the festivities.  Known as Rangali Bihu in Assam, the festival is celebrated with lively dances, music and feasting.

The birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, is observed by the Jain community. Special prayers are offered at temples and shrines. 

The anniversary of Lord Rama's birth is celebrated as Ramnavami by the Hindus. The epic 'Ramayana' is read for eight days preceding the festival. 

The colourful Pooram festival is held in Thrissur at its fine Vadakkumnathan Temple. Processions of beautifully caparisoned elephants provide a magnificent spectacle. The festival is rounded off at night by dazzling firework displays.

The Urs are held every year at the dargah of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, commemorating his symbolic union with God. Pilgrims from all over the world gather here to pay homage. Qawalisand poems are presented in the saint's honour. At the huge fair that springs up at this time, religious objects, books, rosaries, embroidered carpets and silver ornaments are on sale.

A rare show of exotic varieties of flowers, orchids and other plants native to Sikkim. Held every summer during the peak flowering season, this is a spectacular event, attracting people from all over India. River rafting and a Yak Safari are added attractions.

The festival marks the end of 'Ramzan' - a month when Muslims fast throughout the day and eat only at night Prayers, family get- togethers and feasts are the major highlights of the celebrations.

This festival commemorates the birth of Lord Buddha - 'the enlightened one'.

The advent of summer in the major hill resorts ushers in colourful festivity. Lively cultural events, flower shows, regattas and exhibitions brighten the summer season at the picturesque hill stations of Ooty, Shimla, Darjeeling, Mount Abu, etc.

The courtyard of Hemis - the biggest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh, is the stage for the famous 'Hemis' Festival, that celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. Splendid masked dances are performed to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums and long horns. A colourful fair, displaying some beautiful handicrafts, is the special highlight of the festival.

This spectacular chariot festival is held at the famous Jagannath Temple at Puri. Images of Lord Jagannath - the Lord of the Universe, his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are taken out in procession in three immense chariots. The main chariot is 14 meters high and 10 meters square with 16 wheels. Thousands of devotees pull these chariots to Gundicha Mandir, a temple 1.5 km away.

This Muslim festival is celebrated all over the country. Prayers are offered in the mosques and special delicacies are prepared and served among family and friends on the occasion.

Savour innumerable varieties of mango - the king of fruits, at the unique Mango Festival in Delhi. Cultural programmes make this a lively event.

The birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great fervour all over the country.  In Mathura and Brindavan - where Lord Krishna 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. 

This swing festival welcomes the advent of the monsoon. Swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Women, colourfully attired, swing on them and sing songs in celebration. 

Commemorating the day India attained freedom (15th August), Independence Day is celebrated with flag  hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes in the state capitals. The Prime Minister's speech at the Red Fort in Delhi is the major highlight.  

Brothers and sisters reaffirm their bonds of affection on this day. Sisters tie colourful threads or rakhis on their brothers' wrists. The brothers in turn promise to protect their sisters and give them gifts.

In the month of Shravan, thousands of pilgrims make an arduous trek up to the Amarnath cave in the Kashmir Himalayas. They come to worship the sacred ice lingam - a symbol of Lord Shiva, which is a natural phenomenon.

This festival, which is usually celebrated in West Bengal, Maharastra and South India, venerates snakes.

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. (Click here for more info)

Alappuzha is famous for its annual boat race, held on the second Saturday of August every year. The long elegant snakeboats, with crews of over hundred men vying to win the coveted trophy,attract spectators from all over.

An exciting and unique fair held annually at Tarnetar in Saurashtra. The fair coincides with the festival at the Trineteshwar Temple, celebrating the wedding of the legendary Mahabharat hero, Arjuna with Draupadi. The fair is a kind of marriage market for the local tribals - the Kolis, Bharwads and Rabaris. The traditional costumes, exquisite jewellery and lively folk dances -garba, ras, haro, are the special attractions of the fair, not forgetting the wonderful Tarnetar "Chhatris"- umbrellas with intricate embroidery and mirror work.

This day is dedicated to the Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of all good beginnings and success. Held annually, this festival is a ten day long event. The images of Lord Ganesha are installed and worshipped and on the last day these are taken in processions to be immersed in flowing water. The seafront at Mumbai, packed with people, is a spectacular sight

Celebrated with a lot of merrymaking and gaiety, the Ganesh Festival is dedicated to the Lord Ganesha - the harbinger of good fortune and success. This cultural feast is held to coincide with Ganesh Chaturthi. With classical dance and music performances, a theatre and film festival and folk dances, this is the most popular festival in Pune. 

Celebrated to mark the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama, Dussehra symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The Ramlila - an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, is held during the nine days preceding Dussehra. On the tenth day, larger than life effigies of Ravana, his son and brother - Meghnath and Kumbhakama, are set alight.  In West Bengal, puja pandals have beautifully decorated images of the goddess Durga and people gather here in large numbers to enjoy the festivities.  In South India, houses are decorated with displays of toys and clay images of gods. Relatives and friends visit each other to exchange greetings.  In Gujarat, the exuberant Navaratri celebrations include dancing the lively garba and dandiya ras.  In Himachal Pradesh, a week-long fair in the hill town of Kullu, is a part of the Dussehra celebrations. From the little temples in the hills, deities are brought in procession to the 'maidan' in Kullu, to pay homage to the reigning deity, Raghunathji.  Mysore - the city of palaces, celebrates the ten day Dussehra in a royal style. The Mysore Palace is illuminated with a myriad lights. Majestic processions, a torch light parade and dance and musical events enliven the tranquil city. 

Commemorates the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson—Imam Hussein. Tazias, glittering replicas of the martyr's tomb, are carried in procession through the streets. The tazias of Lucknow and Hyderabad are noted for their splendour.

The festival celebrates the 'Maand' style of folk music - an evolved classical style that describes the romantic life of Rajasthan's rulers. I Held during Sharad Pumima, the folk artistes bring alive the legends and folklore of earlier times. 

This festival of lights is the prettiest and the most eagerly awaited occasion in India. It celebrates 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.

The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi - the 'Father of the nation'(2nd October). The President and Prime Minister, along with other eminent political leaders, pay homage at Raj Ghat - the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. All the offices and schools, throughout the country, remain closed on this day. 

This colourful festival of dance and music is held at Rajgir, the ancient capital of the Magadha kings - the land where the Buddha meditated and preached.

The most important festival of the Khasis in Meghalaya. This five day long festival, held annually near Shillong, is an occasion for thanksgiving for a good harvest and the time to pray for peace and prosperity. Khasi men and women, dressed in traditional splendour, perform the famous Nongkrem dance.

This festival celebrates Lucknow's living culture. The capital city of Uttar Pradesh is alight with excitement during this ten day long event. Colourful processions, traditional dramas, Kathak dances in the style of the famous Lucknow gharana, sarangi and sitar recitals alongwith ghazals, qawalis and thumri create a festive atmosphere. Exciting events like ekka races, kite flying, cock fighting and other traditional village games recreate an atmosphere of Avadh's nawabi days. 

Asia's biggest cattle fair is held at Sonepur, on the banks of the River Ganga. During this month-long fair, cattle, decorated for the occasion, throng the venue.

Tranquil Pushkar is transformed into a spectacular fair ground for twelve days in the month of Kartik. Trading of cattle, camel races and dazzling displays of bangles, brassware, clothes, camel saddles and halters are the major attractions of this colourful event. Devotees come in their thousands to take a ritual dip in the lake on the day of the Kartik Purnima and to worship at the Brahma temple.

The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak - the first guru of the Sikhs, is celebrated with great fervour. The 'Akhand  Path' - recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib, is held in gurdwaras all over the country. Taking the holy book out in procession, is also an integral part of the celebrations. 

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.

Some of the magnificent crafts of Rajasthan are on display at a colourful festival, held in the royal city of Udaipur.

The festival celebrates the rich heritage of the town of Vishnupur, noted for its beautiful terracotta temples and elegant silk sarees.

The festival coincides with Gita Jayanti, signifying the birth of the Srimad Bhagvad Gita. Pilgrims gather here to take a dip in the sacred tanks of Brahma Sarovar and Sannehit Sarover. Week-long Bhagwad katha, dance, dramas and 'deep daan' are part of the religious festivities.

The Sun Temple - a magnificent structure 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 marvellous crafts mela, with avariety of handicrafts and delectable cuisine, adds to the festive mood. 

Christmas is celebrated in India with great fervour. 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.