JANUARY |
| With the new year the seasons of festivals starts. It all begins with the festival of Spring, VASANT PANCHAMI. Twenty sixth day of January is celebrated as the anniversary of the India's establishment as a republic. The 30th day is remembered as the Martyrs' day. |
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LORI
Lori is a winter festival celebrated in January. The festival marks the peak of winter and celebrated with burning bonfires, singing and dancing.
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REPUBLIC DAY PARADE
A national festival that no tourist should miss. Celebrated on the 26th of January when India became a Republic. It is the most spectacular pageant of Delhi.
It is held on the green lawns above Palika Bazar, Connaught Place, this colourful extravaganza attracts national as well as international participants.
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A splendid parade along the city’s main avenue, Rajpath, commemorates the day India became a republic. Marching soldiers, brass bands, tanks and armoury, the colourful camel corps, elephant pageantry, folk dancers, school children, colourful floats representing different states and an Air Force fly-past together make it the most spectacular event of the year. |
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| FEBRUARY TO MARCH |
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SHIVRATRI
is dedicated to lord Shiva and a fast is held on this day. The festival of colours is also celebrated during these months.
In ancient times this festival was celebrated with perfumed coloured water and petals powder.
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GARDEN TOURISM FESTIVAL
Held at the Talkatora Garden at the end of February every year, it is based on particular themes.
Highlights include an on- the- spot painting competition for children, varieties of flower arrangements, cultural programmes, stalls of rare plants, amusement park, puppet / magic shows, tourism pavilions of the different states of India and martial arts displays.
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In addition, craftsmen from various parts of the country display and sell their products. It is generally spread over three days and generates much enthusiasm amongst the gardening fraternity. Delhi is ablaze with flowers at this time.
It is also a useful meeting ground for gardening enthusiasts, as well as fun and frolic for children of all age Delhi is one of the greenest capitals in the world, with a long tradition of laying out of gardens, which dot the city. and generates much enthusiasm amongst the gardening fraternity. |
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| MARCH TO APRIL |
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These months celebrate the birth of Lord Rama as RAMANVAMI. On the thirteenth day of April comes the harvest festival of Baisakhi. The birth of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism also comes during these months. |
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HOLI
On the eve of this exuberant Hindu spring festival, bonfires burn all over the city, symbolizing the destruction of the devil Holika.
The next day, in celebration of the arrival of spring, people pelt one another with coloured paint. This festival of color is celebrated in March. Men and women stain each other by throwing colors at. Singing and dancing accompany the joyous occasion. |
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| MAY |
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BUDDHA PURNIMA comes in May.
This day observes the Buddha's enlightenment and attainment of nirvana. Ceremonies and prayers are held at Buddha Vihara on Mandir Marg, adjacent to the Laxmi Narayan temple. |
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| JULY TO AUGUST |
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MANGO FESTIVAL
To celebrate the advent of the king of fruits, Delhi Tourism holds the Mango Festival in the month of July. Mentioned in the Vedas and Upanishads the mango is considered auspicious and a symbol of life and joy forever.
The largest producer of mangoes, India grows more than eleven hundred varieties of mangoes in different parts of the country. The Mango Festival is the place to discover the magic of mangoes in all their immense variety. Many verities of mangos from the 1100 plus verities those India grow are displayed. |
Built by Hare Rama Hare Krishna cult foll |
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INDEPENDENCE DAY
Fifteenth day of August is the INDEPENDENCE DAY of India. Processions and flag hoisting on the Red Fort mark the celebration The Naag Panchami is dedicated to the serpant lord, Naag devta. |
The Kali Bari Mandir is rathe |
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RAKHI
This month also brings the festival of threads RAKHI. In this sisters tie sacred thread on the wrist of brothers and pray for their long life. Rakhi is celebrated on the full moon day. |
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| AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER |
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INDEPENDENCE DAY
Like 26 January, 15th August is also celebrated in the city as INDEPENDENCE DAY to mark the Indian independence from the British rule in the year 1947. The Prime minister of the nation addresses the nation from the Red Fort and many people gather to hear the Prime Minister's address.
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GANESH CHATURTHI
The GANESH CHATURTHI is celebrated with pomp and gaiety throughout the country and is dedicated to the Elephant God, Ganesha. PATELI is the Parsi new year.
The birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated as JANAMASHTMI. |
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| SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER |
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RAMLILA AND DURGA PUJA OR DUSSEHRA
is celebrated during these months. It is a ten days festival, celebrated in Sept./Oct., of which nine days are spent in worship. The tenth day is a celebration of victory of good over evil.
The heroic deeds of Lord Rama who destroyed Ravana are enacted in songs and dance. |
| Commemorating the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king, Ravana. A month-long dance festival, the Ram Lila is organised by the Bhartiya Kala kendra, depicting scenes from the epic Ramayana.
Similar presentations of the Ramayana are organized in different parts of the city. On Dussehra evening itself, gigantic effigies of Ravana are set afire. The biggest venue for this event is the Ram Lila ground, off Asaf Ali Road |
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GANDHI JAYANTI
2nd October is celebrated as the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. This solemn celebration honours of the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, the site of his cremation.
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QUTAB FESTIVAL OF CLASSICAL MUSIC AND DANCE
The festival is staged around Sharad Pournima in the month of October at the Qutab Minar complex. Evocative melodies and graceful dances are presented by various prominent artistes of the country.
The Qutub and its surrounding monuments, bathed in the silver radiance of the full moon provide a perfect backdrop.
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| OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER |
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DEWALI
The festival of light falls during these months. This also marks the Hindu New Year. It is celebrated by lighting countless oil lamps, candles and bursting crackers. , throughout the country during Oct-Nov.
People illuminate their houses with rows of earthen lamps to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. |
At night crackers are burst to celebrate the return of Lord Rama from exile. On the fifth day sisters put tilak on their brother's forehead. On this occasion people exchange greetings, sweets and gifts among relatives and friends.
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The festival of Govardhan is dedicated to the cows. The Birthday of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism is also celebrated in November.
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| DECEMBER |
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CHRISTMAS
The birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated in India, with the traditional exchange of greetings and gifts.
Like elsewhere in the world Christmas is celebrated in Delhi with a lot of gaiety and festivity. Special services are held at the churches. |
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ID-UL-ZUHA
Apart from these festivals the Muslim festivals are celebrated according to the Lunar months. Their dates are not fixed and change according to the movement of the moon.
The main festivals of the Muslims are- ID-UL-FITR, BAKAR ID, ID-UL-ZUHA, MUHARRAM, MILAD-UN-NABI ETC.. |
| Id-Ul-Fitar is celebrated to mark the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. It is an occasion for feasting and rejoicing. Muharram Is an Islamic New Year festival that commemorates the martyrdom of Muhammad's grandson, Iman Husain. |
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URS OF HAZARAT NIZAMUDDIN AULIA
A Muslim saint of the 14th century is celebrated in November or December at his tomb at Nizamuddin.
This is celebrated with a lot of pomp along with the accompaniment of quawalis and a wide array of sweet meat and kababs |
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SIKH FESTIVAL
Is the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and is celebrated throughout the city. |
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FLOWER SHOWS
An international horticultural exhibition of flowers, including hybrids is held on the grounds of . The Purana Qila.Delhi also conducts various flower shows in the winter months.
Rose Show, Chrysanthemum Show and Delhi Flower Show are among them.
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR
The capital city hosts an international trade fair every year. Quiet apart from religious events that take up the Delhi calendar, there are also other regular events that are hosted in Delhi like the International Trade Fair that is held annually at the Pragati Maidan. . |
The Pragati Maidan also hosts a variety of events at regular intervals. This is also one of the largest Trade Fair Complexes in Asia. |
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SURAJKUND CRAFTS MELA
Then there is also the SURAJKUND CRAFTS MELA where the villagers from the adjoining villages bring out their handicrafts and also to display their skills.
A variety of rural entertainments add colour to the impressive fair. Suraj Kund Mela is set in a rural ambience, with folk dancing, music and food from the different states. |
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THYAGARAJA FESTIVAL
This festival of southern Indian music and dance is held in Vaikunthnath Temple across from Nehru University.
The list of festivals in Delhi is endless, but in Delhi every festival is a special event. Festivals of Delhi are famous for sweets and other delicious dishes specially prepared on the occasion of these festivals. |
| A tour to India would let you experience all this.
Besides these festivals, the fairs organized at the Pragati Maidan and Dilli Haat are popular tourist attractions. On your tour to New Delhi you can visit the colorful fairs put up on different themes according to the season. |
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