10 Vibrant Festivals in India that everyone who loves photography must attend

Alongside its magnificent monuments, highest mountain ranges, beautiful beaches, and islands, mouthwatering cuisine, India is a land famous for its festivals that showcase the country’s traditions and culture. India is perhaps the best country where travelers all around the world feel the spirit of celebrations with a mix of culture. Held throughout the year, these spectacular events offer visitors a chance to capture the best celebrations moment on camera at its very best. Have fun!

Here is the list of some popular festivals in India that you need to experience:

1. Rann of Kutch Utsav

Calm, Charismatic and enigmatic is the Rann of Kutch, the white gorgeous salt desert, is the perfect winter holiday destination. The Rann Utsav usually starts in winter and ends in February, one of India’s most unique cultural festivals is celebrated in Gujarat. The best time to visit here during a full moon night to take in the splendors of the region. The vibrant culture of Gujarat is portrayed in the festival through myriad art and crafts of that place, folk artists from various parts of the region enthrall the audiences with their performances. The Rann Utsav is a shopper’s delight where you must buy intricate Kutchi embroidered things, beautiful block-printed fabric, gorgeous silver jewelry, and leather accessories. Also, Kutchi cuisine is a must-have experience at the festival.

If you are an adventure enthusiast, you can go on a hot air balloon or enjoy the fun solo ride or on a camel ride.

2. Holi Festival

Holi is a Spring Celebration celebrated in almost all parts of the country but nowhere celebrates the Holi festival with more spirit than Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Marking the beginning of spring, Holi takes place over two days. Interestingly, it is a celebration of fertility, love &colourand to signify the victory of good over evil. Holi is one of the popular festivals of India and is the most vibrant of all.

3. Bihu Festival

Assam is a very beautiful landscape with alluring traditions, attractive tea gardens, blue mountains, and iconic wildlife. Assamese people celebrate the Bihu festival three times in different seasons. The festival is a reflection of the lifestyle of many ancient rituals of Assamese culture. 

All three Bihu have different significance and it is celebrated on the basis of the farming calendar. The first Bihu is celebrated during January is known as “Bhogali Bihu”. The second Bihu is the most important festival is called “Rongali Bihu”. This is celebrated to mark the harvest festival during April, and the local people perform folk dance, musical and cultural activities and follow holy rituals to bring peace, harmony, and happiness. Bihu celebrated for the third time is known as “Kati Bihu”. This is dedicated to protecting crops and vegetation. Bihu is all about sharing the essence of the spring season. So, book your train tickets to the Assam from EaseMyTrip.com and indulge yourself in the celebration of this festival.

4. Pushkar Camel festival

If you want to see the fascinating Camel Fair, then plan your next travel to Pushkar, is one such place in Rajasthan that transcends into a magical land of royalty every year when it hosts the festival. It is only one of many camel fairs in Rajasthan, but it attracts massive tourists and photographers each year. This fair is also timed to coincide with the Kartik Purnima (full moon). The fair was organized to attract local camel traders to promote business exchange but today, the highlights of the festival are the camel race, matkaphod contest, the bridal and mustache competition which completely entertain the travelers.

5. Hemis Festival

Watch the valleys, mountains, and rivers thriving on the beats of drums, cymbals, and trumpets as the people of Ladakh are filled with a refreshing zeal to celebrate their grandest fiesta known as “Hemis festival”. It is a two-day celebration begins with the followers offering prayers, seeking blessings of a portrait of the Guru Padmasambhava in Hemis Monastery, each year on his birth anniversary. During June, a joyous occasion starts with the performance of Cham dance or Mask dance and musicians playing music while the ceremony is going on. It is a slow dance while imparting the message of the triumph of good over evil.

Hemis Monastery Festival looks so promising that it attracts globetrotters every year to Leh to witness the grandest display of Tibetan culture in India where the people decked up in their best traditional attires.

6. Onam

Onam is celebrated annually, all over India with its origin in the Kerala state to mark the arrival of the harvest season. This harvest festival unites the people of Kerala with a ten-day celebration. August-September is the best time to visit God’s own country, with the landscape lush green after the monsoon, the lakes, lagoons flowing beautifully, and enjoy houseboat tours. Locals wear new clothes and engage themselves with various energetic and fun-filled activities like the snake boat race, hundreds of people get themselves painted and dressed like a tiger to perform Pulikali dance on traditional music, homes are colorfully decorated with floral carpets and a grand feast is prepared. Totally, a sight to behold!

7. Firefly Festival

Travelers must visit Purushwadi, a beautiful hamlet, 220 km away from Mumbai to witness a magical firefly’s festival during the month of May-June. Fireflies are found in abundance in Maharashtra because of it’s a tropical and temperate climate. There are other places like Rajmachi, Igatpuri, MalshejGhat, and Prabalmachi where you can spot the fireflies while enjoying your hiking.

8. Chhau Dance

The Chhau dance is a popular form of tribal dance in Eastern India bordering the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha. Purulia Chhau of West Bengal and SeraikelaChhau of Jharkand use masks while dancing but Mayurbhanj Chhau of Odisha doesn’t use it. The century-old form of dance has developed a means to portray the mythological epics – Ramayana and Mahabharat to the audience. The traditional dance is performed at open spaces accompanied by Dhol, Dhamsa and Shehnai.

Chhau is mostly performed during the Gajan festival and other Shaivite festivals to pay respect to Lord Shiva. Purulia Chhau masks are very popular which you get in Charida, Purulia is famous for this exquisite artwork.

9. Hornbill Festival

Hornbill festival is the most popular festival in Nagaland held during the first ten days of December each year. It is the best time to visit Nagaland and get introduced to all the tribes here. During the festive season, Nagaland showcases the history, art, culture, lifestyles - everything to the visitors. The local Nagamese people will interact with you in a friendly manner, and offer you to have food and beer with them. Now that’s something you rarely experience.

10. Sunburn Festival

If you are a true music lover, then the Sunburn Festival in Goa is the right destination for you during winter. This is a lifetime experience for all lovers of music, travel, and culture to witness one of the world’s top electronic dance-music festivals in an exciting place like Goa.

Now pack your bags, crank up the music and book your flight tickets at the lowest price from EaseMyTrip to spot one of your favorite festivals. Hurry!