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India is a melting pot of cultures and traditions, that is time and again celebrated in the most resplendent manner of festivals. Every state and every region of the country has its own ways of celebrating different festivals. As we already know, the months of September and October happen to be the time when many festivals fall into place.
Diwali, Dussehra, etc. are celebrated all across the country every year. How would it be if you mixed having a vacation along with witnessing the best of festival celebrations? Read all about these destinations in India that you must spend your vacation at and witness the brilliance of their celebrations.
Diwali In Varanasi
Varanasi, the oldest city of India, nestled on the banks of the holy river Ganga, also happens to be one the most important cultural hubs. Also known as Kashi or Benaras, the city is an important site of pilgrimage for Hindu, Buddhist and Jain devotees.
Some places that you must visit in Varanasi include Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which happens to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, Asi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, etc. Diwali in Varanasi is particularly beautiful since they celebrate the festival in its true essence. You can witness thousands of lit diyas floating on the holy river Ganga during this time.
PC: Matt Zimmerman
Durga Puja In Kolkata
Kolkata is popularly known as the Cultural Capital of India and it certainly lives up to the title. The city is known for its art, literature and magnificent heritage. Kolkata's delicious sweets and seafood cuisine are must tries while visiting the city.
Popular tourist places at Kolkata are the infamous Victoria Memorial, Fort William, Belur Math, Howrah Bridge, etc. Durga Puja is the most famous festival of the city that is celebrated in their own unique way.
Thousands of pandals of Goddess Durga are put up all across the state, each themed differently. You may go pandal-hopping if you visit during the last week of September.
PC: Srijan Kundu
Rajasthan International Folk Festival
Rajasthan, which literally means Land of Kings, is a state that is filled with cities of royal past. Forts, palaces, havelis and monuments of magnificent architecture fill the state. Jodhpur, Jaipur and Jaisalmer, are some of the most popular places that cannot be missed in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) is held in Jodhpur, in the beautiful Mehrangarh Fort every year. Its an annual music festival where tradition folk music artists gather and perform. It is taking place between 5th to 9th October in 2017.
PC: Varun Shiv Kapur
Mysore Dusshera
Mysore is a beautiful city of Karnataka that is settled on the foothills of Chamundi Hills. Since it used to be the capital of the royal Mysore Kingdom, celebrations of festivals has always been with utmost grandeur.
Some of the places of attraction in Mysore include the famous Mysore Palace, Mysore Zoo, Chamundi Hills, St Philomena Church, etc.
Dusshera or Dasara in Mysore is a grand 10-day festival, when the Mysore Palace is completely, from 7-10 pm, illuminated using almost 100,000 bulbs! Visit Mysore between Sept 21-30 to witness these celebrations.
PC: Ananth BS
Yemshe Festival In Kohima
The capital city of Nagaland Kohima, is a land of vibrant culture and fiercely independent tribes of Nagas and Kulkis. Kohima War Cemetery, that maintains the graves of the Commonwealth soldiers who died fighting the Japanese Army during World War II, is one of the main attractions of the city.
Yemshe Festival is celebrated only in Kohima by the Pochury tribe and it is one of their most awaited festivals, that is celebrated in dedication to the people's hard work of the season's harvest. It happens on the last week of September or first week of October.
PC: Homen Biswas
Navratri In Gujarat
Gujarat is a treasure trove of many historical sites, vibrant cultures, a delicious cuisine and is home to the last few Asiatic Lions. Ahmedabad being the capital and recently declared UNESCO World Heritage City, Gujarat has one too many places to visit.
Navratri in Gujarat is celebrated with their folk dance, known as garba, throughout the state. It is a grand festival of 9 days where groups of people from a locality gather in a huge open ground and perform garba, or garba dance performances are put up on stages.
PC: anurag agnihotri
Marwar Festival in Jodhpur
Jodhpur, the second largest city of Rajasthan, used to be the capital of Marwar. The beautiful Mehrangarh Fort overlooks the entire city which is painted blue, since houses of blue paint are all over the city in order to reduce the heat during summer.
Some of the places that you must visit in Jodhpur include Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jaswant Thada, Ghanta Ghar, to name a few.
Another popular festival that takes place exclusively in Jodhpur, apart from RIFF, is the Marwar Festival. This festival is celebrated to commemorate the heroes of Rajasthan. It is happening on 4th and 5th October this year and the festival attracts visitors from all over the world.
PC: Kroisenbrunner
