Winters in India bid farewell to the otherwise scorching summer heat and supplant the country with a pleasant realm of fun and frolic. More cool translates into more fun for you & your loved ones. Winters also earmark the onset of a festive marathon which promises to take you on a joyride.
The world's most beloved cultural hot-spot-India, has a diverse religious diversity that too adds to the richness of its culture. A variety of school of thoughts and traditions combine to give birth to a list of unique, vibrant, and colorful festivals.
Combine winter with festivities and you have a memory that will never fade away.
That's why we bring to you 11 winter festivals of India which add a generous amount of incredibility to India.
Christmas (December)
Christmas in India is celebrated throughout the length and breadth of the country. While Christians visit local churches and paint their homes with colorful lights & decorative Christmas trees, others too get together with friends & family and make the most of the festive occasion. Christmas in India symbolizes integrity in diversity and is one of the more popular winter festivals in the country. The month of December further enriches the experience as a thick envelope of cold air enhance the overall mood of the festival. The weather in the hills is freezing cold with snowfall in most parts whereas the plains too experience bitter cold.
Mount Abu Winter Festival (December)
Rajasthan's only hill station; Mount Abu, is host to the famous Mount Abu winter festival. The three day carnival encompasses India's cultural diversity in a subtle manner. The festival showcases traditional dances, folk music, concerts, fireworks display, fairs and much more from different states of India. The weather during this period adds to the fun & frolic as days are comfortable while nights can get freezing cold. While most participants are from Rajasthan, performers from Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh also chip in. The festival registers an audience of lakhs every year.
Sunburn Goa (December)
The biggest and most vibrant celebration of electronic dance music (EDM) in Asia is perhaps the highlight of winters in India. Three day affair, Sunburn Goa is a musical gathering rather than a cultural union. Music takes centrestage as visitors rejoice in the mist of gleamy lights & loud music. Goa's picturesque beauty and its pleasant weather during winter season further compliments the largest EDM gathering in Asia. The absence of frequent rain showers during December is another added advantage.
Rann Mahotsav (December to March)
One of the largest salt deserts, Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, witnesses a three month long fair which features an array of attractions. The fair is host to visitors from around the world and affordable accommodation can be availed near the location. The carnival is host to lip-smacking local cuisine, enchanting handicraft items, spell-binding cultural performances, riveting adventure sports, and much more. The pleasantly warm climate during these three months is perfect for a visit to the region. The areas closer to the coast experience moderately higher temperatures than the plains. In addition to all this, the 3 month time period offers variability in weather thereby allowing you to plan a trip as per your own convenience. What else could you ask for!
Lohri (January)
Two weeks into the new year and the colors get brighter while the joy spreads further. India treats itself to another mega festival. The festival of Lohri is a signaturePunjabifestival involving a cozy bon-fire, foot-tapping folk music, vivacious costumes, and limitless Punjabiness! The celebration marks a season of good harvest and takes place on January 13th every year. This is the time when the days get longer and the nights are shorter. The weather is pleasant and the cold begins to recede. Chak De Phatte!
Kite Festival - Makar Sankranti (January)
An agrarian economy, India, gives a lot of prominence to agricultural activities and traditions. Makar Sankranti is another important festival which celebrates efficient harvesting in all parts of the country. It is celebrated on 14th January every year, although the festivities go on a for a week or two. The festival is widely known as the Kite Festival as big, bright, and colorful kites adorn the clear blue skies on this occasion every year. Several kite flying competitions are held across the length and breadth of the country as traditional delicacies are served to fulfill your appetite.
Camel Festival (January)
The Camel Festival of Bikaner is a two day event dedicated solely to the pride of deserts; camels. The festival is host to some exhilarating camel performances like camel races, camel rides, and the exclusive camel dances. It differs from other festivals in the sense that it focuses on camels and celebrates the dromedary. The fairly cold weather of Bikaner (which is a semi-arid region) during this period is highly suitable for a visit to the festival. The ships of the desert kick-start the festival with a mesmerizing procession which rakes in colors and liveliness in abundance. Also, even the tea and sweets available are prepared using camel milk. Other lesser-known competitions like the best decorated camel, camel with the best fur, and best camel hair cut, are also a part of the event.
Thai Pongal (January)
A four day festival earmarking the end of the harvesting season, Pongal is another significant festival celebrated during winters in Tamil Nadu. Pongal in Tamil dialect meansoverflowingand the nomenclature stands true in terms of an overflow of joy, fun, and prosperity. The four days of the festival are dedicated to the lord of fire, son of God, cattle, and birds respectively. January is marred by occasional showers and is perhaps the best time to visit the state. Vanakkam!
Nagaur Festival (January-February)
The two to four day event concentrates on lavishly dressed cattle and accommodates the buying & selling of the same. The second largest cattle fair of India is not just a livestock market though. Other mirthful competitions like bullock races, tug-of-war, camel races, and cock fights also form an integral part of the fair. Besides this, jugglers, storytellers, folk musicians, local artisans, and puppeteers too provide avenues for fun & entertainment.
Desert Festival (February)
Men wearing flashy turbans with thick (and lengthy) mustaches sit atop decorated camels. This unique sight symbolizes Rajasthan's desert festival which is held over a period of three days in the sandy & scenic city of Jaisalmer. The desert festival features a burst of Rajasthan's cultural wealth with traditional & modern aspects of the state mingling with each other. Camel parades, polo matches, races, folk concerts, an Air Force show, and the exclusive turban tying & mustache show-off competitions, all combine to offer a whole new perspective on festivals. Exuberance Exemplified!
Goa Carnival (February-March)
If you wish to experience the culture and tradition of Goa with complete zeal & zest, then the Goa carnival is where you should be. The four day festive marathon runs all across Goa with floats and troupes of colorful participants pouring in from all sides. The weather in Goa during the months of February & March is moderately cold with signs of mild humidity. The days tend to get warmer but the evenings are cool & comfortable. The preparations for the festival begin from December itself but the excitement reaches its peak only a month before the carnival. The spirit of the carnival instills a sense of euphoria that lasts for a long time.
Winters in India promise a lot of fun and enthusiasm. All these festivals have their own USP and the climate during winters allows you to embrace the vast and wondrous cultural diversity of India.
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