Bali Yatra

As the name suggests Bali Yatra means a journey to Bali. Bali Yatra is mainly celebrated in the state of Orissa. It held on the full moon day in the month of Kartik which is considered to be the most auspicious month out of the 12 months of calendar, that coincides with the months of October-November according to the Gregorian calendar.

Traditionally Bali Yatra symbolizes the culmination of all religious festivals held in the month of Kartik. Images of Karthikeswar are worshipped and immersed in the waters of river Mahanadi, near the Shiva Temple, to mark the end of the month of Karthik The Fair is held on the banks of Mahanadi River in the fort area of Cuttack city.

As a ritual and a tribute to ancient sailors of the region people float artificial boats made of paper, cork, colored paper and banana tree barks in the river and water tanks. There is also a famous tradition of lighting small lamps in the hollow of the boat called Boita Bandana. Apart from the tradition it also gives an amazing spectacle to the visitors as the scene of numerous boats lit with lamps floating in the river.

Historical Traces:

According to the Legends the day of Kartik Purnima was considered very auspicious by the traders (Sadhabas) of Orissa to venture on a journey to distant lands namely the islands of Bali, Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Attractions:

The Festival of Bali Yatra has gained immense importance recently as tourists from far and wide gather here during the festival to witness the culture of Orissa. The government of Orissa organizes numerous tours and packages during the festival for tourists to have a complete look and feel of the state culture and richness. Orissa as a state id famous for its culture and vibrancy, which illuminates during this festival.

On the Festival of Bali Yatra a grand fair is organized that displays a great variety of goods and accessories for buying and selling. Apart from the rituals and fair there are number of arrangements by the government like Boating for the visitors which has slowly emerged as a great temptation.

Kolhaiya Mela

Kolhaiya Mela held in Jharkhand is one of the very popular cattle fairs in the state. As a state, fairs and festivals are not new to Jharkhand. There are numerous fairs and festivals celebrated in Jharkhand throughout the year in nearly every season.

Any person fond of rich culture would be delighted to visit the state of Jharkhand as there is some kind of celebration running throughout the year. Out of all, the fairs Cattle fairs are very popular among the localites. One of the most widely celebrated Cattle fair is Kolhaiya Mela.

Being Cattle fair, one of the most important activities in the fair is the buying and selling of cattle.

The Kolhaiya Mela , like other cattle fairs in Jharkhand originated much earlier, around the year 1925, way back before independence and much before Jharkhand was an established state. Till date the fair is held in the Hindu month of Maagh and mainly on Maagh Basant Panchami.

Some other cattle fairs held in Jharkhand other than the Kolhaiya Mela are the Chatra mela, Kundri Mela, Tutilawa Mela, Lawalong Mela and the Belgada Mela.

Jharkhand-Overview:

Jharkhand geographically is located on the eastern side of the Vindhya Hills and at the northern fringes of the Deccan. As a state Jharkhand is famous for its rich culture and heritage that it is successful in preserving till date. Kolhaiya Mela (Pratappur) is one of the major cattle fairs of Jharkhand and it is held at the time of Maagh Basant Panchami. Chatra Mela is another major festival of the state and it is also a cattle fair held during the time of Durga Puja.

How to Reach:

Jharkhand is a well connected state from various parts of India.

By Air:

Ranchi airport is the main airport of Jharkhand which has flights from important place of the country. A number of flights connect Ranchi with Kolkata, Patna, Mumbai and New Delhi.

By Rail:

Ranchi railway station is the main railhead of the state of Jharkhand. Hazaribagh is another important railway station of Jharkhand. Several express trains connect Ranchi and Hazaribagh with Patna, Kolkata and other important places of the country.

By Road:

State capital, Ranchi is situated at the junction of National Highways 23 and 33. Good network of road connects various places of the states with each other and rest of the country. State transport and private buses ply within the state and also to neighboring states like Bihar and West Bengal.

Time of Celebration:

Jharkhand is extremely popular for its culture and diverse tribal groups. There are numerous fairs and Festivals celebrated throughout the year and especially the Cattle fairs are too popular.

The Kolhaiya Fair or Kolhaiya mela is celebrated every year in the months of November-December. According to the Hindu calendar it falls in the month of Maagh. The mela has a religious significance as it is always observed on the Maagh Basant Panchami.

Kundri Mela

Kundri Mela held in Jharkhand is one of the very popular cattle fairs in the state. As a state, fairs and festivals are not new to Jharkhand. There are numerous fairs and festivals celebrated in Jharkhand throughout the year in nearly every season.

Any person fond of rich culture would be delighted to visit the state of Jharkhand as there is some kind of celebration running throughout the year. Out of all, the fairs Cattle fairs are very popular among the localites. One of the most widely celebrated Cattle fair is Kolhaiya Mela.

Being Cattle fair, one of the most important activities in the fair is the buying and selling of cattle.

The Fair traces its roots to 1930’s, way back before independence and much before Jharkhand was an established state. Till date the fair is held in the Hindu month of Kartik and mainly on Kartik Purnima .

Some other cattle fairs held in Jharkhand other than the Kundri Mela are the Chatra mela, Kolhaiya Mela, Tutilawa Mela, Lawalong Mela and the Belgada Mela.

Jharkhand-Overview:

Jharkhand geographically is located on the eastern side of the Vindhya Hills and at the northern fringes of the Deccan. As a state Jharkhand is famous for its rich culture and heritage that it is successful in preserving till date. Kunda Mela (Pratappur) is one of the major cattle fairs of Jharkhand and it is held at the time of Phalgun Shivratri. Chatra Mela is another major festival of the state and it is also a cattle fair held during the time of Durga Puja.

How to Reach:

Jharkhand is a well connected state from various parts of India.

By Air:

Ranchi airport is the main airport of Jharkhand which has flights from important place of the country. A number of flights connect Ranchi with Kolkata, Patna, Mumbai and New Delhi.

By Rail:

Ranchi railway station is the main railhead of the state of Jharkhand. Hazaribagh is another important railway station of Jharkhand. Several express trains connect Ranchi and Hazaribagh with Patna, Kolkata and other important places of the country.

By Road:

State capital, Ranchi is situated at the junction of National Highways 23 and 33. Good network of road connects various places of the states with each other and rest of the country. State transport and private buses ply within the state and also to neighboring states like Bihar and West Bengal.

Time of Celebration:

Jharkhand is extremely popular for its culture and diverse tribal groups. There are numerous fairs and Festivals celebrated throughout the year and especially the Cattle fairs are too popular. The Kundri Fair or Kundri mela is celebrated every year in the months of October-November. According to the Hindu calendar it falls in the month of Kartik. The mela has a religious significance as it is always observed on the Kartik Purnima.  

Sonepur Mela

 Introduction

 

The famed cattle fair is held at Sonepur, in Northern Bihar on the banks of the River Ganga. It is one Of the Asia's largest cattle fair. The full moon day of the month of Kartik (November) is regarded as one of the most auspicious days for the Hindus.

Sonepur situated on the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga and Gandak, has the reverence of a blessed ground and lasts for a fortnight.

In ancient times the Royal Rajahs and Nawabs used to camp here. The Sonepue Fair has unique and historical importance.

A bath at the confluence and a visit to the Hariharnath temple here is the aim for thousands of devotees on the Kartika Purnima day.

The sprawling mela ground here with the pulsating market has the widest possible range of cattle and commodities. The array of shops sells all sorts of merchandise. Sonepur Fair is the only one of its kind where a large number of elephants are sold.

These are purchased mainly by forest departments and people involved with logging operations. Apart from elephants, a large number of cattle and horses are also brought to the fair for sale. Various folk shows, games and jugglers can be seen in the fair.

 

History

There are many historical events associated with Sonepur Mela like the first meeting of the “Indian Association of Cow Protection” held at this place in 1888. Different meetings during Sonepur Fair lead to the launch of the struggle movement against the British imperialism in Bihar.

The fair was also used as a recruitment ground by The Provincial Congress Committee of Bihar and the Bihar Kisan Sabha (Farmers union), these all events made this fair as the breeding ground of politics.

One of the interesting histories associated with the fair is that the original site for this popular fair was Hajipur instead of Sonepur. Previously only the ceremony of puja used to be held at Harihar Nath temple of Sonepur but later the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb decided to shift the site of the fair to Sonepur..

It is believed that the temple of Harihar Nath was built by Lord Rama on his way to court of King Janak to win the hand of Mata Sita and later repaired by Raja Man Singh. Finally Raja Ram Narain further modified the temple during the late Mughal period.

These days, Sonepur fair also called Harihar Kshetra Mela is administered by District of Chapra with support from Bihar Govt. and promoted by the Tourism Ministry of Bihar. The administration also arranges health and welfare camps, sanitation, drinking water facilities for the visitors.

  

Legends

Like so many places of pilgrimage in India Sonepur also has its legend. It involves two kings both of whom were turned into animals – a crocodile and an elephant – by the curse of sages who were offended by them.

Once, while bathing in the lake with a party of women, a Gandharva chief named Huhu made fun of Dewala Muni by playfully pulling his leg. The ire of the sage took the form of a curse that turned Huhu into a crocodile.

The other accursed person was Indradyumna, a king of the Pandyas who was of a very pious nature but had offended the powerful sage, Agastya. The king had failed to notice the sage as he was in meditation when the sage visited him. The curse of the enraged Agastya turned Indradyumna into an elephant who took refuge in the woods surrounding the lake.

One day while the elephant came with a herd to the lake to bathe, the gandharva-turned-crocodile caught his leg in its powerful jaws. Not to be taken lightly, the king of elephants tried to pull the crocodile up on the bank in an effort to crush him under his feet. A mighty battle ensued which was joined by other crocodiles and elephants.

The contest went on for thousands of years without any one being able to overpower the other. But ultimately the King Elephant weakened and prayed to the supreme god Vishnu (Hari) to save him. His prayer was answered and Vishnu cut down the crocodile with his chakra (disc).

The touch of the chakra, however, released Huhu from the curse and he went to heaven. Vishnu also released Indradyumna from his curse by touching his forehead and took the king to His abode, Vaikuntha.

 

How to Reach Sonepur

Sonepur Fair, the Asia’s biggest cattle fair held at northern Bihar on the banks of the River Ganga. The month long fair attracts visitors from far long places for trade of cattle, horses and elephants.

Visitors also attend the pulsating fair for many other activities other than the cattle trade like shopping in market stalls or witness live music, traditional dancing, storytelling, carnival acts and enjoy regional food and drink specialties.

There are many religious reasons for visitors to attend the fair like people come here to take holy dip in the confluence of the River Ganga and River Gandak and to offer obeisance to Harihar Nath in Hariharanath temple.

One can reach the site of Sonepur Mela from Patna, as Sonepur is 25 kilometers from the capital city Patna of Bihar. Patna is well connected by Airways and Railways from all major cities of India. Even one can board a train to Hajipur station. Sonepur is assessable by road from Patna and Hajipur.

Where to Stay

State Tourism Department of Bihar offers Swiss cottage tents with all facilities and other then this there are wide options available for different private hotels at Patna.

Vautha Fair

Vautha Fair is the largest animal fair held in Gujarat, which involves wholesome trading of Camels, Donkeys and other animals. Held on the grounds of Sangam Tirtha, it is considered very auspicious and important by many communities. 

For some people this fair is more important than Diwali also. Sangam is considered as holy as seven holy rivers mix waters here: the Vatrak merges with the Meshwo, Hathmati, Shedhi, Majum and Khari before it then meets the Sabarmati, so the locals call it saptasangam (meeting of seven).

For participation in the fair people are seen coming on trucks, tractors, camels, jeeps and other wide ranging means of transport. The animals bought for trading are beautifully decorated, ornamented and cleaned to look at their best.

History:

According to the Hindu mythology, Kartikeya the son of Lord Shiva visited this place on the full moon night of Kartik (Kartik Purnima). Kartikeya was on a trip covering the entire earth. It was on Kartik Purnima that he stopped at this culmination of rivers and performed some austerities. Also the city of Dholka in the Ahmedabad district is considered to be the‘Virata Nagar’ of the Mahabharata where the Pandavas spent the last year of their exile in disguise. 

Celebrations:

Thousands of people and visitors visit Sangam during the month of kartik and especially during the Vautha Fair. The most important religious act performed by numerous devotees coming here is the purifying bath on the Sangam tirtha which is supposed to be reliever of all past sins.

All people from nearby villages and districts lock their houses and come to attend the fair which lasts for about five days. A number of tents are erected that are used by visitors of the fair to accommodate. Nearly 25,000 people house in about 2000 tents every year and enjoy the grand spectacle of the Vautha fair.

Visitors are seen preparing elaborate sweets and food dishes throughout the five days of fair. The fair generally ends with the preparation of Ladoos and the most popular and appreciated dishes are khichu and kachariyu.

One of the most significant features of the fair is the trading of animals. Numbers of merchants are seen selling a wide variety of products right from trinkets to machinery. In the evenings, numerous small lamps are set afloat in the river by devout pilgrims, producing a shimmering dance of faith and beauty.

People participating:

Over the years the Vautha fair has gained tremendous importance and popularity. Presently over 500000 visitors are seen participating in the fair over five days of the Fair. Many pastoral groups are seen participating in the fair especially the “Jath Vanjara” community. Initially the fair was only attended by Hindus; now Muslims are seen participating in large numbers.

Time of celebrating the Vautha fair:

The Vautha fair is held in the month of November every year which lasts for about five days. According to the Hindu calendar the fair is celebrated in the month of Kartik. The ceremony of holy bath is performed on the full moon day of Kartik Purnima.

Dates in upcoming years:

2nd to 3rd November 2009 (Mon, Tue)

21st to 22nd November 2010 (Sun, Mon)

10th to 11th November 2011 (Thu, Fri)

28th to 29th November 2012 (Wed, Thu)

17th to 18th November 2013 (Sun, Mon)

Nimar Utsav

Nimar Utsav is an annual event that is held at Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh. It is a three day event that is a comprehensive feast of music, dance, drama, boating and canoeing. It is organized by the state government of Madhya Pradesh and is celebrated on the banks of the holy river Narmada.

The time of celebration for this three day cultural extravaganza is around the month of November. Specifically it is held on the eve of Kartik Purnima.

Madhya Pradesh is a state known for its fairs and festivals which are deep rooted in its age old tradition and customs. Despite the difference in religious significance of each festival these festivals are celebrated with immense dedication and genuine belief in almighty. Thus, on a whole there is perfect blend of modern upsprings with cultural and traditional preservations.

The main festivals in Madhya Pradesh include:

Khajuraho Festival of Dance, Khajuraho

Tansen Music Festival, Gwalior

Shivratri Mela, Pachmarhi

Navratri Festival, Ujjain

Chethiyagiri Vihara Festival, Sanchi

Maheshwar the venue of Nimar Utsav is a small town situated at the banks of the holy river Narmada and known as the one time capital of the great Holkar Queen Devi Ahilya. It is world famous for its pilgrimage and sarees. 

How to Reach:

By Air

Nearest airport is at Indore which is around 91 km away from here. It takes around 3 hrs to cover this distance.

By Rail

Barwaha is the closest railhead but not all trains have a halt here. Indore at a distance of 91 km is the nearest major station.

By Road

Buses from all major cities of Madhya Pradesh frequent Maheshwar. Interstate buses also start from here.

Local Transport

Taxis are the best way of exploring the city. Buses are also available inside Maheshwar.

Lucknow Festival

The Lucknow Mahotsav or Lucknow festival celebrates the Lucknow's living culture, which provides an insight into the old, cultured, atmosphere of the city. Colorful processions, traditional dramas, Kathak dances in the style of the famous Lucknow Gharana, Sarangi and sitar recitals along with ghazals, qawalis and thumri create a festive atmosphere.

Exciting events like ekka races, kite flying, cock fighting and other traditional village games recreate an atmosphere of bygone Nawabi days. There is display of crafts and one can also have a taste of the famous mouth watering Nawabi cuisine.

The 15-day festival, organized jointly by UP Tourism and Lucknow District Administration have stalls by the craftsmen of other states presenting a composite culture of the entire country and provides a platform for the local talents of UP.

The Lucknow Festival captures the undying elegance and splendour of Awadh, now Lucknow. A brilliant showcase of the arts, crafts, and above all the exotic cuisine of this land, the festival is an once-in-a-lifetime experience. One can taste the traditional delicacies of Lakhnawi cuisine, ranging from mouth-watering vegetarian cuisine to the lip-smacking non-vegetarian spread for which Lucknow is famous.

Time forLucknow Festival

This festival is celebrated between 25th November and 5th December in Lucknow, the capital city of U.P. It captures the undying elegance and splendours of ancient city Awadh, now known as . The 10 day long event captivates the everlasting grace and grandeurs of the ancient city Lucknow. This mahotsav commemorates Lucknow’s current culture which offers perceptivity into the old and cultured atmosphere of the city.

How to Reach

The time of Lucknow Festival is the best time to visit Uttar Pradesh as this provides the great chance witness the religious festival and fair and also be the part of stunning carnival. From the city of Lucknow the nearest airport is Amausi (14 km). Super fast and express trains join Lucknow to Guwahati, Varanasi, Puri, Kolkata, Dehradun, Allahabad and Ahmedabad. Lucknow is on the vital cross routes of National Highways 24, 25 and 28. UPSRTC bus stand is at Charbagh, Opp. Railway station.

Hamir Utsav

Hamir utsav is a cultural Festival celebrated mainly in the Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. The Fair is held every year in the first week of November. Numbers of cultural events showcase the dance and music of Himachal Pradesh and other states. The main aim behind the celebration of Hamir Utsav is to remember and cherish the existence of Hamirpur District.

The Hamir Utsav is extremely popular among the localites of district. The local people of the district of Hamirpur as well as performers from other districts of Himachal Pradesh come to the Hamir Utsav, to take part in the folk dances and folk music held during the festival.

The people of Hamirpur have a strong folk culture that is reflected through their different cultural programs like Jatras and Jheras.

Himachal Pradesh is very popular in terms of its culture and traditions. There are a number of fairs and festivals held throughout the year in nearly every season in Himachal Pradesh. These fairs and festivals attract thousands of tourists in the state every year.

People from far and wide gather here during various festivals and enjoy the festivals amidst beautiful surroundings of the state.

Himachal is one of the perfect holiday destinations in India due to its pleasant and favorable climate. There are number of attractive places for sightseeing including temples, picnic spots, markets and many more.

Apart from sightseeing adventure sports like mountaineering, para gliding, trekking and angling are some of the favorite among the sports lovers.

 

Hampi Festival

 Introduction

Hampi exists as one of the International tourist spots in world Heritage. The hampi Utsav or Hampi Festival or Vijaya Utsav is a cultural extravaganza that has been celebrated since he times of the Vijayanagar reign. Hampi, Karnataka once the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire (One of the greatest empires in the history of India), comes alive during the lively festival of dance and music, held in the first week of November.

Hampi Festival is a three day event which generally commemorated from 3rd to 5th November.Hampi has always bestowed many surprises and eye catching events for all its tourists from time immemorial.

The most famous is the King's Balance where kings were weighed against gold or money, which was then distributed to the poor.

Other Attractions at Hampi:

Some spots worth a visit are the Queen's Bath with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus shaped fountains,

the two storeyed Lotus Mahal, the huge Elephant Stables, the splendid Vitthal Temple with its musical pillars and the Stone Chariot, the Virupaksha Temple, Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 meters tall monolith, the Pushkarini Tank, the Mahanavami Dibba, etc.

Virupaksha temple is still in use. Temples of this city are noted for their large dimensions, florid ornamentation, bold and delicate carvings, stately pillars, and magnificent pavilions. Most of the site is early 16th century, built during the 20-year reign of the great Vijayanagar ruler, Krishna Deva Raya (1509 -1529).

How to Reach?

Hampi, once the capital of Vijayanagar it today in ruins, but at some point in history it boasted of extravaganza and unsplended riches. It is situated at a distance of approximately 353 km from the capital city of Bangalore. The closest town to Hampi is Hospet. Hospet is a travel hub providing connections to major parts of India.

By Road

Hampi is well connected by road to Bangalore and other major cities of Karnataka. KSRTC buses ply regularly from Hospet to Hampi. Travellers can either avail taxi or auto-rickshaw to explore the ruins of Hampi. Bicycles can also be obtained on rent.

By Train

Hampi do not have a railway station of its own and the nearest railhead to Hampi is Hospet, which is about 13 km from Hampi. There are about 10 daily trains and about 5 special trains, which ply once or twice a week. Two of these trains are from Bangalore.

By Air

Bellary is the nearest airport to Hampi. Air Deccan operates direct flights to Bellary Airport from Bangalore and Goa.

Celebration

Hampi Festival is organized by the government of Karnataka to attract people all over the world to this magnificent land. At the hampi utsav the celebrations includes Dance, drama, music, fireworks; puppet shows and spectacular processions, all combine to recreate the grandeur of the bygone era. 

Bright colored handicrafts, leather puppets done by the traditional craftsmen of the past are reproduced with the same skill by their present generation. Musical instruments such as pipes and drums traditionally played vibrate the air with past grandeur.

Many renowned artists are seen paying their share to the town during this Festival. All this combines to recreate the grandeur of Vijayanagar times.

Throughout the lanes of Hampi, decorated elephants, horses and men dressed in the military fashion of the Golden Era are posted under the red, blue, green, white cloth “Gopuras”. At five different venues many vocalists, traditional dance artists entertain the guests and tourists.

One of the major attractions at the festival and especially for women is shopping, as Hampi presents some exquisite and elaborate varieties of craft and craftsmanship. All along the festival colorful, musical, vocal processions can be seen in Hampi which truly have great reflections of its past.

Some other events at the Festival sre:

“Janapada Kalavahini " a concert of folk songs is a special attraction introduced this year festival.

"Jumbo Savari " similar to the Dasara elephant march is held at Hospet town. The Howdah in Panchaloha( made of 5 metals), from the Vijayanagar Empire is being used.

Light and sound show : Special lighting of monuments across the 15 km of Hampi ruins on the banks of Tungabadra is another attraction guaranteed to make the visitor mesmerize and put the spell of the ancient days.

Hampi Festival 2010 

The Schedule for the Hampi Utsav 2009 is slightly changed and government of Karnataka has planned grand celebrations of the festival in Jan 2010. As Jan 2010 mark the 500th anniversary of Vijayanagar king, Sri Krishnadevaraya ascending the throne.

Instead Govt. of Karnataka has planned to hold several series of programs from Nov 1, 2009 to Jan 29, 2010 as part of the anniversary celebrations while the grandiose cultural extravaganza is planned from 27-29 Jan 2010. 

Chandigarh Carnival

Chandigarh Carnival is an annual event held in Chandigarh. It is an extremely mega event held in the month of November and normally lasts for three days. The fair marks a highly innovative step taken by the Chandigarh administration that has over the years been a great promoter and contributor towards exposing and exhibiting the talent breeding in the city. 

Age specific competitions and events are held that provide a chance to everybody to come forward and showcase their talents to people. There are special competitions for children, adults and senior citizens. Many schools also come and take part in this three-day event.

 

The fair is always mentioned whenever the culture and tradition of Chandigarh is talked about. It is not only the spirit of the Carnival but the systematic arrangements by the administration as well that deserves a round of applause. Pick and drop, accommodation and other conveniences are provided and planned well in advance leaving no stone unturned for their citizens to participate.
 

Celebration:

The Grand Carnival generally starts with a fantastic parade where one can get to see people dressed in colorful costumes dancing and singing to the tune of their favorite songs.

All the three days of the Carnival are well planned and packed with numerous activities. Numerous competitions, events are present for every generation and taste of people. Over the years the carnival ha become so popular that viewers come from far and wide to witness this mega event.

Some of the major competitions that are held over here include clay modeling, painting, fancy dress, singing, sit-and -draw competitions and others.

Time and Venue:

The fair is an annual event organized by the administration of Chandigarh aimed at promoting the talent of citizens and providing them a valid platform for the same. The Carnival is held every year in the month of November. The venue for the same is Leisure valley in Sector 10.

Chandigarh Carnival 2009:

The mega event of Chandigarh carnival is held every year in November. This year in 2009, the Carnival is informed to be scheduled on November 22 and Nov 23rd. The theme for this year would be “Fun and Games”.

Bundi Festival

Bundi one of the most attractive, beautiful locations in the Hadoti district Rajasthan comes alive during the Bundi Utsav held in the month of November every year. Bundi Utsav is a spectacular culmination of traditional art, culture and craftsmanship which surprises every visitor with its grandeur. 

Music, Dance, sports, sightseeing, competitions and many other events organized by the Rajasthan State Tourism Department are not only engaging but also present the scale of Indian Culture and traditions in front of Foreign tourists.

The people visiting the place during this Festival held in the month of Kartik are totally captivated with the scenaric and natural beauty.

Celebrations:

Held in the month of Kartik, there are a number of religious and traditional customs associated with the celebration of Bundi Festival.

The programme includes : a colorful Shobha Yatra , Arts & Crafts Fair, Ethnic Sports, Cultural exhibition ,DEEP DAAN ,Folk/Classical Music & Dance Programmes , Sight Seeing, Traditional Rural Sports, Turban competition, Bridal Attire , Musical Band Competition, Folk /Classical Music & Dance programme , & sparkling fireworks display etc. Early in the morning after the full moon night of kartik (Purnima), women and men are seen clad in attractive colorful costumes lighting diyas (lamps prepared by them from flour dough) on the banks of River Chambal and seeking blessings by offering prayers

“Keshorai Patan” a small township near Bundi is sometimes referred as “Mini Pushkar” especially on the full moon night of kartik.

About Bundi:

Bundi is one of the most picturesque locations of the hadoti district in Rajasthan. It is quite popular that the palaces and forts of Bundi have a fairy tale feel about them.The town is quite isolated from the maddening rush and crowd of adjoining cities and thus at times appears like a beautiful frozen painting,.

The town is surrounded by rock gorges and the adjoining river Chambal provides a perfect location for water activities. The zone with the lush green widespread jungles, the vast stretches of forests and wildlife, the sprawling rocks and ravines makes it a paradise for adventure lovers.

Bundi till date claims to be the house of World’s best paintings and their origins. Especially the paintings at Chitrashala are known across the world.

Rajput architecture and feel is still felt in its palaces as in the Bundi Palace.
 

How to reach:

By road:

Bundi is around 210 kms by road from Jaipur and about 110 kms from Sawai Madhopur. Bundi, Baran and Jhalawar are all easily accessible by road from Kota.

By rail:

Kota is connected on the broad gauge railway line on the Delhi-Mumbai route. Bundi

By air:

Nearest airport is Jaipur.

Time to celebrate:

The Festival is celebrated every year in the month of November. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival falls in the month of kartik.In 2009 the festival will be celebrated from 5th to 7th November 2009.