Dasara Festival - 02nd October 2006, Mysore
Dasara celebrates the victory of good over evil, marking the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by the goddess Chamundeshwari. The palace and city are lit up for ten days and the entire city wears a festive look. Festivals of music, dance and theatre are held. The Dasara exhibition, craft fairs, film festivals and vajramushti [traditional wrestling matches] entertain visitors.

Pushkar Fair - 29th October to 05th November 2006, Pushkar [Rajasthan]
Every year, Pushkar comes alive in the joyous festivities, cultural extravaganza and the cattle market of the famous Pushkar Fair. This fair is one of the major cultural reflectors of the state of Rajasthan and people from different parts of India gather on the fair ground to participate in the various entertaining events there.

Ganga Mahotsav - 02nd to 5th November, Varanasi
Ganga Mahotsav is a festive event held on the banks of Ganga in Varanasi, which tends to promote Varanasi as the cultural capital of India. The event focuses on promoting the classical style of Indian music & dance and providing opportunity to viewers to witness performance of the great exponents of Indian classical dance and music. The event also coincides with Dev-Deepawali the festival of lights at Varanasi.

Lumbini Festival - 08th to 10th December, Hyderabad
This festival highlights the 'Buddhist Heritage' of Andhra Pradesh. It is an excellent opportunity to discover the heritage that takes you back 2000 years in time.

Tansen Samaroh, Gwalior [Held in December]
This is the largest and the oldest Samaroh of the Academy in the field of classical music despite the fact that it is a regular annual festival being continuously celebrated. The great and well-known musicians and music lovers of the country and abroad participate in the Samaroh to offer their musical tribute to the all time great music Maestro Tansen.

Bikaner Festival - 02nd to 03rd January 2007, Bikaner
The festival starts off with a magnificent procession of bedecked camels. It is a colourful spectacle of beautifully decorated camels that fascinates the onlookers with their charm and grace. Several competitions are held, marked with typical Rajasthani colour, joyous music and lilting rhythms and gay festivities.

Lohri, 13th January 2007, Punjab [Celebrated in other parts of India as well]
Lohri is the only Hindu festival, which falls regularly on the 13th of January. Lohri is the time after which the biting cold of winter begins to taper off.

Makar Sakranti, 14th January 2007, various parts of India
A celebration of spring on the occasion of the 'ascent' of the Sun to the north. This is the day of Goodwill and friendship.

Desert Festival - 31st January to 02nd February, 2007, Jaisalmer
The Desert festival is a three-day-long extravaganza of colour, music and festivity, held at the golden city of Jaisalmer. Gair and fire dancers swaying to traditional tunes, a turban - tying competition and a Mr. Desert contest are part of the fun and frolic. The grand finale is a trip to the sand dunes at Sam where one can enjoy the pleasure of a camel ride and even view the folk dancers and musicians perform at the sand dunes.

Nagaur Festival - 25th to 28th February 2007, Nagaur
Nagaur is famous for the annual cattle fair, which is one of the largest in the country. The Nagaur bulls are renowned for their fleet-footedness and attract buyers from all over. The day begins with earnest bargaining between the buyers and sellers. Once the price of a horse or camel has been settled, the days draw to a close followed by exciting games, tug of war, camel races and strains of ballads, which create a joyful atmosphere.

Goa Carnival - February 2007, Goa
Goa Carnival is the most famous festival in the state and has been celebrated since the 18th century as a precursor to the abstinence of Lent. It first made its appearance in the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, where it metamorphosed into the very Latin singing-dancing-drinking celebration that it is today. Huge colourful parades take over the state's cities with bands, floats and dances, while the evenings mean serious partying wherever you are. Try not to miss the final day's festivities, which conclude with the famous red-and-black dance held by the Clube Nacional in Panjim.

Elephanta Festival - February 2007, Elephanta Island [Mumbai]
This festival is held across the Mumbai harbour, on the Elephanta Island, near the world-renowned Elephanta Caves. This feast of music and dance celebrated under the stars transforms the entire island into a large auditorium.

Modhera Dance Festival - January 2007, The Sun Temple Modhera
Traditional dancers from all over Gujarat gather together each January at the incredible medieval Sun Temple in Modhera for a three-day dance festival. The Sun Temple has outer walls covered with sculptures of the sun god, Lord Surya, and acts as a beautiful backdrop during the festival, which features Indian classical dance forms in the manner in which they were originally presented.

Taj Mahotsav - 18th to 27th February 2007, Agra
This ten day long event celebrated at Agra is a cultural vibrant platform that brings together the finest Indian crafts and cultural nuances. Folk music, Shayari [Poetry] and classical dance performances as well as the elephant and camel rides, games and food festival - all form part of the festivities.

Surajkund Crafts Mela - 01st to 15th February 2007, Surajkund
In order to promote the traditional Indian handicrafts, a delightful handloom and handicrafts fair is held annually at Surajkund. Skilled artisans and craftsmen display their skills and crafts in a rural setting. Cultural programmes and rural cuisine are also a part of this colourful fair.

Konark Dance & Music Festival - 19th to 23rd February 2007, Konark [Orissa]
This is organised by Orissa Dance Academy & Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Calcutta at the Natya Mandap, Konark. Everyday in the evening there is a live show of various folk and classical dances.

Deccan Festival - February/ March, Hyderabad
Every year, gracious Hyderabad comes alive during the Deccan Festival. There are cultural programmes with ghazal nights, qawalis and mushairas, typical of the city. A pearl and bangle fair displays creations in lustrous pearls and multi-hued bangles that are local specialties. A food fest serves the best of Hyderabad’s famed cuisine to visitors.

Khajuraho Dance Festival - February to March 2007, Khajuraho
The annual Khajuraho Dance Festival fills the amazing temples of Khajuraho with the best classical dancers in the country. Not just for tourists, it is an important cultural event that will delight aficionados of traditional Asian performing arts. Well-known exponents in their fields perform various classical styles of Indian dance including Kathak, Bharat Natyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi and Manipuri. Modern Indian dance is a recent addition. The western group of temples acts as the exquisite backdrop for the performers.

You may plan some special departure based on these festivals. For any assistance please contact us.