Fairs and Festivals in India in month of January

Island Tourism Festival, Port Blair: 5-15 January 2012. Island Tourism Festival - a fortnight long festival organized by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration celebrated every year (December - January) gives a festive look to the Islands. The exhibition at the trade fair ground near Port Blair airport highlights the developmental aspects of these islands. Cultural troupes and artistes of national and international fame are invited to perform during the festival apart from performances by the talents of these islands including tribals. Water sports competitions like Nicobari Hodi race are organized. Other attractions are Magic show, Puppet show, Floating restaurant, Baby show, Dog show, Canoe Race, Scuba Diving etc. The festival projects the image of the islands as an eco-friendly tourist destination.

Bikaner Camel Festival, Rajasthan: 8-9 January 2012: Bikaner Festival is organized every year by the Rajasthan Government Department of Tourism. The festival starts with a colorful display of camels that are beautifully decorated. Bikaner Festival includes several spectacular activities such as the best breed competition, camel races, camel beauty pageant, camel milking, camel acrobats, tug of war contest, camel dance, fur cutting design and many more. These activities take place in the open polo ground. This festival also includes folk performances and musical performances which are done by the local artists. Major attractions of Bikaner Festival are huge variety of Rajasthani cuisines and delicacies and display of artifacts and handicrafts for sale.

Shekhawati Festival, Rajasthan: 12-14 February 2012: The Shekhawati Festival held in February every year is organised jointly by the State Department of Tourism, District administrations of Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu. Shekhawati, already famous for its frescoes, is fast becoming a rural tourism destination too. Travelling on horse back, the tourists get a closer view of the countryside and the people. And they return with an indelible imprint of not only the friendliness of the people but also of the agricultural revolution sweeping the villages - the region now exports 80 per cent of its crops whereas only a few years ago it could meet only 10 per cent of its requirement through local production. For a broad-based discovery of Shekhawati's culture, the festival is spread over a number of venues - Nawalgarh, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu. The programmes include a one day tour of the region, camel and jeep safaris, farm visits, rural games, cultural programmes, haveli competitions and fireworks. Nawalgarh is the central venue of the festival and can be reached comfortably by train and road from Jaipur (140 kms by Road). Nawalgarh also has some of the finest frescoes of Shekhawati. The Clock Tower is a famous landmark and the Roop Niwas Palace hotel occupies a place of pride in the town.

Lohri, North India: 13 January 2012: Lohri is a very popular harvest festival, celebrated in the North of India. The spirited festival is celebrated with tremendous enthusiasm by people, who get along with their family and friends on this festive occasion. Lohri can be understood as the Indian version of Thanksgiving. Lohri is celebrated to worship fire and mark the end of the biting North-Indian winters. The weather in the northern part of India begins to change from the day Lohri is celebrated, i.e. around January 13, and marks the onset of spring season. As per the Hindu Solar Calendar, the festival of Lohri falls in the Paush month, which is around January 13, according to the Georgian calendar. At this point in time, the earth is closest to the sun. The festival is celebrated a day before Makar Sakranti, which is the closing of winter season. Traditional songs and dances mark the celebration of this unique Indian festival. Mostly, the festival of Lohri falls on the same date every year. On Lohri, children go from door to door singing folk songs in the praise and honor of Dulha Bhatti, a thief (according to folklore), who helped the downtrodden, sought justice for them and fought for their rights. People give these young visitors sweets and savories. Occasionally, money is also given. It is these collections by children, which are actually known as Lohri. They are to be distributed among the celebrators during the night. Some of it is also offered to the holy fire. Celebrators throw peanut, popcorn and other food items in the fire, which are symbolic of offerings made to the God of Fire, Agni (in Hindi).

Makar Sankranti: 14 January 2012: Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the earth from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in Hindi, this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14th January every year. Apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the 'holy phase of transition'. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season. All over the country, Makar Sankranti is observed with great fanfare. However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. In the states of northern and western India, the festival is celebrated as the Sankranti day with special zeal and fervor.

Gangasagar Fair, West Bengal:January: Gangasagar Mela or also called Gangasagar fair is the largest mela in West Bengal and the fair is held in the place where the river Ganga and the Bay of Bengal form a connection together. Thus the name called Gangasagar Mela came into picture. Sagar Island is the place where the Ganga breaks up into hundreds of streams, and drains into the sea. This place is honoured as a pilgrimage site and it is there at the mouth of the river Hooghly in Bengal. A dip in the ocean of the Ganges is thought of as a place of great religious significance. This is more so during the time of the Makara Sankranti. This is the day when the sun makes a transition to Capricorn from Sagittarius. The Ganga Sagar Mela is explored by various foreign tourists and tourist from other religious background and thus all cultures, heritages mishmashes to form a single one. The illumination and the sacred atmosphere creates and mysterious ambience that attracts tourist every year. That can be proved by the constant growth of tourists every year. After taking the sacred bath the devotees visit the temple of 'Kapil Muni' a well-known sage of Indian mythology. There is an important hymn which is chanted by village's devotees such as sab teerth baar baar, Ganga Sagar ek bar.

International Kite Festival, Ahmedabad, Gujarat: 14 January 2012: Coinciding with the Makar Sankranti celebrations, Gujarat's International Kite Festival is held every year in Ahmedabad. As you've probably guessed, this is one day when the skies above the city come alive with kites- in a hundred different colours, shapes and sizes, fluttering and darting above the rooftops, triumphantly cutting another kite's string, and soaring way up above the earth. The Gujarat Tourism Development corporation organises the International Kite Festival at a local stadium, where kite enthusiasts from all across the world show off their skills. A kite market is held, alongside which are food stalls, cultural performances and special kite displays at night, when illuminated kites- known as tukals- are flown.

Pattadakkal Dance Festival, Pattadakal ,Karnataka-14 January 2012: The Pattadakal Dance Festival also called the Chalukya Utsava is an annual event organized by the Government of Karnataka in the month of January. Pattadakal is popular for a number of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Out of these temples, about ten temples boast of both North Indian as well as South Indian architecture. Apart from Pattadakal the venues includes the nearby ancient sites Badami and Aihole too.The Pattadakal Dance Festival celebrates the glory of these beautiful temples. Renowned dancers from all over the country participate in this festival. Another major attraction of the Pattadakal Dance Festival is the craft mela.

Jaipur Literature Festival:-20-24 January 2012: DSC Jaipur Literature Festival is the largest literary festival in Asia-Pacific, and the most prestigious celebration of national and international literature to be held in India. It encompasses a range of readings, talks, debates, performances, children's workshops and interactive activities held in the beautiful heritage property, Diggi Palace in the Rajasthani capital of Jaipur. JLF is now regarded as the Kumbh Mela of Indian and international writing, drawing in writers and readers from across India and the wider world: from America, Europe, Africa and from across the breadth of South Asia, the brightest, most brilliant, funny, moving and remarkable authors come to Jaipur every January.
Modhera Dance Festival, Modhera, Gujarat: 20-24 January 2012: The Sun Temple of Modhera is a masterpiece of the Golden Age of the Solanki Empire, which hosts the annual Dance Festival and flaunts the glory and splendor of that era. The Modhera Dance Festival which is also prevalently known as the Uttarardh Mahotsavor. Modhera Utsav is one of the most famous celebration of art, music, dance and culture, in this part of the country. This unique occurrence showcases traditional dance forms of the region as well as acts as a platform bringing together the cultural ethos of other regions expressed in form of dance or nritya. The three day festival of Uttarardh Mahotsavis is organized by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL), to venerate and celebrate the inherited treasure of performing arts of the country. The festival is an ideal opportunity to experience living heritage of Indian dance and music while traversing back in time sitting in the lap of golden history.

Republic Day-26 January 2012: Republic Day, celebrated on January 26th every year, is one of India's most important national events. It was on January 26th, 1950 that the constitution of India came into force and India became a truly Sovereign, Democratic and Republic state. On this day India finally enjoyed the freedom of spirit, rule of law and fundamental principle of governance. The patriotic fervor of the Indian people on this day brings the whole country together even in her embedded diversity. Republic Day is a people's day in a variety of ways: It's when regional identity takes a backseat and what matters most is the universal appeal of unity and brotherhood projected by all Indians. The Indian constitution basically stands for the aspirations which 'the common man of India' cherishes. Republic Day is a day of the citizen of the country when he is entitled to be 'all supreme'. Republic Day is celebrated most majestically in the capital, New Delhi, where symbols of the great nation's military might and cultural wealth are displayed in what is the world's most impressive parade. All Government buildings are illuminated lending the city the atmosphere of a fairyland. This day is celebrated with much zeal and pride all across the nation.

Ellora Festival, Aurangabad: 26 - 29th January 2012: The four-day Ajanta- Ellora Festival is an exotic and delightful dance and music festival held at the Soneri Mahal in the traditional city of Aurangabad. The impressive surroundings of the Ajanta-Ellora Caves and temples will make your visit all the more alluring. This festival, organised annually by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, showcases renowned musicians and dancers from all over India as well as provides an opportunity to explore the magnificent caves, filled with history.

Vasant Panchami-28 January 2012: Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and art. It is celebrated every year on the fifth day (Panchami) of the Indian month Magh (January-February), the first day of spring. Traditionally during this festival children are taught to write their first words; brahmins are fed; ancestor worship (Pitr-tarpan) is performed; the god of love Kamadeva is worshipped; and most educational institutions organise special prayer for Saraswati. The color yellow also plays an important role in this festival, in that people usually wear yellow garments. Saraswati is worshipped dressed in yellow, and yellow sweets are consumed within the families. Children love flying kites. They enjoy the festival with great fun and enthusiasm.

Kumbhalgarh Classical Dance Festival, Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan: 28-30 January 2012: The Classical Dance Festival is held at Kumbhalgarh Fort, which is 80 km from Udaipur. The Dance Festival is organised in line with Maharana Kumbha's dedication towards promoting arts. The Festival brings together some of the finest performing artists from various corners of India and stands a proud host to Classical Dance Recitals set against the backdrop of the glowing citadel. The Festival has a daytime and an evening segment, each of these have their special splendour. Daytime highlights include folk performances by the folk artists of Rajasthan and also various attractive competitions for the tourists. During the evenings, the tone of Festival is more dramatic. The scintillating, bedazzling explosion of sound, light, colour and dance create a magic unseen at Kumbhalgarh since the heydays of the then Maharana Kumbha, an ardent lover of arts.

Nagaur Fair (Ramdeoji Cattle Fair): 30 January-02 February 2012: Nagaur fair is founded by the great Jodhpur Dynasty king Mr. Umed Singh in honour of Sh. Ramdeoji 56 years back and since then it has been held regularly. Nagaur fair or Ramdeoji Cattle fair is infact a cattle fair, the second largest in Rajasthan held in charming Rajput town- Nagaur, located between Jodhpur and Bikaner. It is held in the month of January-February every year and continues for four days starting on Magh Shukla Saptmi. Every year about 70,000 bullocks, camels and horses are bought and sold in this fair. It magnetise visitors from all over the world, who come to see the trading of camels, cattle and horses by their ownersdressed in colourful and beautiful attire.

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