India is a land of celebration. Owing to the many religions that thrive under the arms of Mother India, all year round you will find the merriment to be alive. March in general is a beautiful season in India. Spring just sets in with its many colors. The temperature is just perfect with a mild breeze reminding you of the winter while the mellow sun welcomes the summer season. This month is not just beautiful in terms of the beauty nature beholds but also has many festivals that magnify the festivity of the season. Below are the seven must experience festivals in India this march:
1. International Yoga Festival
Date: 1th – 7th Mar, 2020
Location: Rishikesh
The land that gave the world the healing power of Yoga, celebrates world yoga week in style. Rishikesh is one of the most serene places on earth. With the Ganga river flowing on its side this city with its numerous temples gives calmness to anyone that visits. The International Yoga festival is a cherry on top if your objective is to get you mind, body and soul to synchronize. This is a week-long event at takes place at a many ashrams in Rishikesh. Experience this rejuvenating festival at the ashram that calls out to you.
Also Read : Top 10 Things To Do In Rishikesh
Suggested Tour : 6 Days – Golden Triangle Haridwar & Rishikesh Tours
2. Vairamudi Festival
Date: 1st Mar, 2020
Location: Cheluvanarayana Temple of Melkote, Karnataka
This festival is celebrated along with the Brahmotsavam celebration of the temple. This is one of the most lively religious celebrations of Karnataka. The famous diamond crusted ancient crown of Mysore Kings is used to decorate the main deity of the temple and thus, this festival is also called the Diamond Crown Festival. The temples will be decorated and many processions will take place during this festival. The temple premises will have many shops selling simple souvenirs and toys.
Also Read : 20 Most Famous Temples in Karnataka
Suggested Tour :
- 11 Days – Karnataka and Kerala Tour
- 16 Days – Karnataka Tour
3. Lathmar Holi
Date: 4th Mar, 2020
Location: Barsana and Nandgaon, Mathura
Another unique way in which the festival of colours or Holi is celebrated in India is Lathmar Holi. Holi is generally celebrated by throwing colours at one another. But here the tradition is that the women use bamboos on men when they charge at the women with colours. The ground becomes a fun battle field where men, women and children engage in the celebration of colours and at the same time show off their agility with the bamboo. This is an extremely fun festival to be part of but also fun if you are an audience. Another compelling reason to visit during this festival is the amazing assortment of food both sweet and savoury. You are guaranteed to go back with some terrific memories from this place and many great photographs.
Read More : Best Places to Celebrate Holi in India
Suggested Tour : 8 Days – Rajasthan, Agra with Mathura Vrindavan
4. Parippally Gajamela
Date: 4th Mar, 2020
Location: Paripally Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakaali Temple, Kollam district
Gajamela is a celebration of elephants observed a small district in the state of Kerala which lies in the southern part of India and is lined by the Arabian Sea. The word “Gajam” means elephant and “Mela” means fair. India has always been known to be a land where elephants are worshiped and used in wars. But due to modernization it is difficult to get a glimpse of the old traditions. The Parippally Gajamela is a perfect way to see India as was read in the old tales.
Gajamela was originally a procession where the affluent families of Kerala flaunted their grandeur by ornamenting their elephants and praying for prosperity. However this has now become just about an elephant procession. You will still be able to glimpse of the grandeur with which elephants are treated and decorated for the event. Along with this procession of the majestic beasts you will also experience the harmony of five traditional instruments followed by cultural programs at night. This annual festival is a gorgeous way of turning back time where nature was cared for and worshiped.
Read More : Top Fairs and Festivals in Kerala
Suggested Tour :
- 4 Days – Kerala Backwater Tour Package
- 10 Nights – Kerala Village Tour
- 15 Days – Kerala Tour
5. Brij Festival
Date : 5th – 6th March, 2020
Location: Bharatpur, Rajasthan
Bharatpur becomes more colorful during Brij festival. This festival is associated with color, song and dance. This is the festival of color. Raslila dance is the iconic celebration of this festival. People dress as Lord Krishna and Radha and take part in dance performances. If you visit Banganga River in the morning, you can find many rituals and people taking a holy dip. This festival is also associated with many interesting rituals in temples of Bharatpur.
Read More : How to Reach Bharatpur
Suggested Tour :
- 4 Days – Jaipur Bharatpur Agra Tour
- 8 Days – Golden Triangle with Bharatpur Tours
6. Chapchar Kut
Date: 6th – 7th Mar, 2020
Location: Mizoram
This is a cultural festival with dance, song and other exciting celebrations by the locals. This festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of the beloved spring. This is also the time when the fields are at the post-harvest stage, where the farmers slash and burn the agricultural remains in the fields. This festival takes place on the first Friday of the month of March, every year.
This festival is famous for elegant cuisine, colorful cultural performances, and unique rituals. Many competitions will be conducted. Tourists are welcome to watch performances and competitions but, they are not included in the competition. Most of the competitions involve fast eating. The first Thursday night is the prime attraction of this festival. Young people of the land create large fires and dance around it. The Chai dance is an important tradition of this festival. A pageant is conducted as the last part of the festival.
Also Read : Seven Sisters of India – Complete Information About North East India States
7. Holi
Date: 9th – 10th Mar 2020
Location: Throughout India
This festival indicates the end of winter after the Full Moon night of the last winter month. The eve of Holi is celebrated with a bonfire, which is a symbolic representation of burning everything evil from last year. The bonfire starts after sunset. Special rituals are performed on the day before Holi. According to mythology, the festival of Holi is enjoyed to celebrate the death of Holika, the demon aunt of Prahalada, who burnt to death while trying to kill the child.
Read More : Best Places to Celebrate Holi in India 2020
On the day of Holi, people splash colors at each other, take color fights and even ambush strangers with colors. This goes on until the afternoon. This is the most colorful festival of all in India. In the evening, people will start making delicacies. Although the festival is celebrated throughout the country, it is best enjoyed in Mathura, Vrindavan, Mumbai, Delhi, and others.
India Tour Packages by Destination to Celebrate Holi
8. Eternal Mewar Holika Dahan
Date: 9th Mar, 2020
Location: City Palace, Udaipur
Holi is among the most celebrated festival in the country. It is a two day celebration where on the first day the triumph of good over evil is celebrated by lighting a bonfire which is called the Holika Dahan. On the second day of celebration powdered color is used to play. Among all the places across India where Holika Dahan is done none is as grand as that of the Udaipur City Palace. The royal family of Udaipur till date has kept the tradition of grandeur alive with a procession that takes place in the city starting from their royal residence.
Read More : Top 10 Festival and Events in Rajasthan
Udaipur Travel Guide :
- Top Tourist Attractions in Udaipur
- How to Reach Udaipur
- Best Time to Visit Udaipur
- Things To Do in Udaipur
Suggested Tour :
- 9 Day – Taj Mahal Tour With Udaipur
- 10 Days – Rajasthan Tour With Taj Mahal
- 14 Days – Rajasthan Tour by Car from Delhi
- 14 Days – Rajasthan Agra and Varanasi Tour
9. Velas Turtle Festival
Date: 9th – 31st Mar, 2020 (Every year)
Location: Velas Beach of Maharashtra
This is an annual festival celebrated to watch and excite about just-born turtles crawling their way into the sea, where they belong. This is the right time for photo-enthusiasts, tourists, nature lovers and children to watch their life journeys. The best time to visit the turtle walk is from 7 am to 7:30 am and from 6 to 6:30 pm. During this festival, NGOs and animal enthusiasts make sure that the hatchlings make their way towards the sea before getting attacked by animals, birds or even humans. A similar festival takes place at Anjarle Beach too.
Mumbai Travel Guide :
- How to Reach Mumbai
- What to Wear in Mumbai
- Famous Temples in Mumbai
- Things to do in Mumbai
- What to Eat in Mumbai
Suggested Mumbai Day Tours
10. Basanta Utsav
Date: 10th Mar, 2020
Location: Shantiniketan, West Bengal
The Basanta Utsav is a festival where music and colours are celebrated together in a small town in Eastern part of the country. This day in rest of the country celebrates the festival of Holi, where evil is burnt and good is celebrated with colours.
Shantiniketan is a quiet place in West Bengal which is dedicated to the study of fine arts. This place is famous for Vishwa bharati University which was started by the renowned Rabindranath Tagore. Every year on this day of the festival of Holi the student of the university perform variety cultural programs. The programs reflect on the long standing cultural heritage of the state of Bengal. The performers sing and dance to fuse the best of the past with the most creative of the present.
The entire ambiance of town during the festival is extremely lively. Even the trees around the area bloom with colourful flowers. It is almost as if the entire place starting from students to the animals are rejoicing in the amalgamation of spring and song. Being part of this occasion is exhilarating and will get you in touch with your inner being.
Also Read : Top Tourist Spots To Visit In West Bengal
11. Gangaur Festival
Date: 10th – 27th March, 2020
Location: Rajasthan
This festival celebrates Goddess Gauri (Parvati), marriage, love, and honor. During this festival, the locals create small clay figurines of Parvathi and Shiva. They dress and decorate them and offer prayers to the figurines throughout the festival. The most extravaganza of the celebrations start on the last day of the festival. In Udaipur, the last day is celebrated with a large boat procession, which takes place on the Lake Pichola. You can watch women carrying a small pitcher on their heads towards the lake. The parade ends with submerging and dissolving the clay figurines in the river. You can find music and dance performances during the procession. This is one of the liveliest festivals of Rajasthan.
In Jaipur, a parade is conducted to end the festival. The parade starts from City Palace and covers important cultural destinations of the land like Choti Chaupar, Tripolia Bazaar, Chaugan stadium, and others before ending at Talkatora. During this procession, Gauri and Shiva are taken on a palanquin. You can find bullock carts, elephants and chariot in this procession along with locals performing folk music and dance as they walk along with the crowd. This is one of the grand processions of Jaipur.
Popular Rajasthan Tours to Enjoy Gangaur Festival
12. Jaipur Elephant Festival
Date: 10th Mar, 2020
Location: Jaipur
Jaipur Elephant festival is about showing respect towards all living being. This festival is dedicated to the Indian deity Lord Ganesha who symbolised by the elephant. This festival takes place on the day of the festival of colours, Holi. During this day there are various cultural programs that take place and the animals are adorned with beautiful ornaments and take part in a ceremonial procession. The city comes alive with colours, music and dance which gives you the opportunity to lose yourself in the merriment.
Read More : Top Fairs and Festivals in Jaipur
Suggested Tour :
- 3 Days – Private Jaipur Tour From Delhi
- 8 Days – Rajasthan Tour from Jaipur
- 10 Days – Rajasthan Tour with Only Luxury Hotels
- 11 Days – Rajasthan Tour from Mumbai
13. Doljatra
Date: 10th – 11th Mar, 2020
Location: Sikkim
Doljatra or Dol Purnima is a full-moon celebration dedicated to Lord Krishna. According to the Bengali calendar, this is the last festival of the year. This festival celebrates the cosmic love between Lord Krishna and Radha. This festival is also celebrated in Assam, Odhisha and other regions. This is similar to the festival of colors. According to mythology, Lord Krishna expressed his love for Radha on this day and to celebrate this love, people enjoy drenching each other with colors.
This festival is also called the Swing Festival. During this festival, the deities are decorated and are paraded around the city on the large palanquin. While women sing traditional ritual songs, the men in the procession spray colored powder on everyone in the procession.
Also Read : Sikkim International Flower Festival
14. Hola Mohalla
Date: 10th -12th March 2020
Location: Punjab; especially in Anandpur
This Sikh festival is celebrated as a tradition of Guru Gobind Singh. This festival is considered as a masculine version of Holi. In Holi, people smear each other with colors and during Hola Mohalla, the Sikhs express their martial arts. Many simulated battle scenes will be conducted during this festival. Army processions, war drum performances, and other elements start from one Gurudwara and end in another. This festival started in the early 18th century and is continued until today.
This three-day celebration holds music competition, display of war weapons, exhibitions, mock battles, poetry competition, feats, horse riding competition, horse-based gymnast performances, and others. Many religious activities including rituals and lectures take place during this festival. Traditional cuisine of the land is served to the visitors of the temple during this festival. This festival concludes at Holgarh Fort where color fights take place similar to the Holi festival. You can also find many simulated fights during this festival.
Also Read : Golden Temple Amritsar- The Most Visited Place in the World
Suggested Tour : 10 Days – Golden Triangle Tour with Amritsar (Golden Temple)
15. Arattu Festival
Date: 11th – 20th March 2020
Location: Ambalapuzha, Kerala
This ten-day festival is celebrated in the famous Krishna temple of Ambalappuzha. The festival starts with kodiyettam, a flag hoisting ceremony and ends with a holy bath. You can find many processions from the temple to the streets of the city and then back to the temple. Elephants, musical instruments, deities, dancers and much more will accompany the procession. Velakali martial art and local instrumental music are performed during all the processions.On the Pallivettu day of this festival, a grand feast is served in the temple premises. Any visitor with no regard to religion or creed can take part in the feast. During this festival, the best delicacy of the region, paalpayasam is served to the visitors.
Numerous stalls will be erected outside the temple throughout the festival. These stalls are the best places to buy cultural souvenirs, religious articles, small statues of deities and much more. You can find many cultural performances throughout this festival.
Also Read : Top Fairs and Festivals in Kerala
Popular Kerala Tours
16. Myoko Festival
Date: 17th Mar – 2nd Apr 2020
Location: Ziro of Arunachal Pradesh
This festival is a celebration of fertility, sacrifice, and honor. This is celebrated by the tribes of the region and the main elements of this festival are dance music and cuisine. You can watch martial art performances, fireworks, drum performances and so on. This festival is celebrated in Apatani villages in the region. This festival indicates the time of paddy sowing. Animals are sacrificed to the god and the shaman of the village recites rituals while newlywed women take part in the process.
17. Hoysala Mahotsava
Date: 16th Mar, 2020
Location: Hoysala Temples and Halebidu Karnataka
This is an interesting tradition of music and dance, which is celebrated in the ancient temples of Hoysala, which were built in the 12th century. You can find interesting carvings, sculptures and other architectural features in this temple. This festival’s main aim is to celebrate this temple. The festival focuses on traditional performance arts and fine arts. You can find many programs related to this genre conducted in and around the temple premises. You can also find similar smaller celebrations in hamlets of Halebidu too. This sacred festival provides a platform for the heritage art styles of the land. People from around the state and even other parts of the country visit Hoysala temples to enjoy this celebration.
The temples in this region will be decorated with lights, earthen lamps, and others. Thus, stay back after sunset to watch the place glitter.
Also Read : 15 Top Places To Visit In Karnataka
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18. Ugadi or Gudi Padwa
Date: March 25th, 2020
Location: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and others
This is a celebration of the local new year in many states. Just like any other cultural celebration, this festival is filled with cultural activities, colorful cuisine, performances, rituals and much more. This festival is famous for dishes prepared only during this day. The Pachadi is the dish, which is said to have all six tastes into it to reflect that life has all sorts of elements in it. Other important delicacies to try during this celebration are Bobbattu, Holige, and others. In Maharashtra, this festival is celebrated with processions, decorations on floor, dancing, singing, flag-waving, and others.
Popular Mumbai Tours
19. Chaitra Navratri or Vasanta Navratri or Rama Navratri
Date: 25th Mar – 3rd Apr 2020
Location: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Do not confuse it with the Navaratri celebration involving Dusshera. This is a similar nine-day festival celebrated as Rama Navratri to indicate the birth of Lord Ram. This festival starts with the celebration of New Year in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. On each day, a form of Durga is celebrated and special rituals are conducted for the deity. During this festival, many unique cuisines will be served like buckwheat poori, ragi delicacies, singhare ka halwa, sago, and others.
On the ninth day of the festival, the fasting is broken and the feast is conducted in many temples and households. This nine-day festival comes to an end on the tenth day called Navratri Parana. It is a farewell ceremony praying to Durga for her return, next year. This festival is celebrated as the beginning of the summer season and to prepare the human body for the change of climate.
Andhra Pradesh Travel Guide
- Culture of Andhra Pradesh
- Famous Festivals in Andhra Pradesh
- Places to Visit in Andhra Pradesh
- Best Time to Visit Andhra Pradesh
- How to Reach Andhra Pradesh
20. Attuvela Mahotsavam
Date: 26th – 27th Mar, 2020
Location: Elankavu Bhagavathy temple of Kerala
This is a temple fair combined with processions and traditional art forms celebration. This festival is celebrated as a water carnival and as a dedication to Goddess Kodungalloor. A huge replica structure of the temple is designed and let to float on the water to indicate how the Goddess and her sister reached the region. The procession of canoes is the main part of the festival and it starts 2 km away from the Elankavu Bhagavathy temple.
Also Read : Onam Festival – The Harvest Festival of Kerala
21. Godwar Festival, Udaipur
Date: 27th – 28th Mar, 2020
Location: Udaipur
Godwar festival near Udaipur is the traditional mela that we were used to back in the 80s and 90s. First of all, the venue of this fiesta is the dry valley region Ranakpur. It brings out the best of Rajput heritage and opens up for an adventurous week. From turban-tying competition to bullock cart rides, Godwar festival imbibes the true show of a culturally rich country. The Rajasthani songs are accompanied with some heavy feasts ultimately letting you relax in the wildlife safaris. This festival will define a new meaning of party for you, which by the way is a million miles ahead from our lame booze discs.
Read More : How to Reach Ranakpur
Suggested Tour : 17 Days – Rajasthan Cultural and Wildlife Tour
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