India is a country of colors, tradition, and festivities that make the visitors spellbound. Its festivals are not just a religious celebration but also an energetic show of cultural heritage, music and dance as well as food. Every year, millions of tourists all over the world visit India to see its peculiar festivals, either the color fiesta during Holi, or the dazzling lights of Diwali. A trip around the most iconic festivals in India can be a very enriching experience to those living in the UAE who are willing to get a memorable cultural vacation. Indian festivals are an incomparable experience of getting into local culture, communing with people, and making a lifetime of memories that are far beyond sightseeing.
This attraction of the festivals in India does not limit itself to the borders of India. To the international visitors, these festivals give them an experience of the various regional cultures, rituals and folklore of the country. It could be the pompous Durga Puja in West Bengal, the electric Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra or the old-fashioned kite-flying festival of Makar Sankranti in Gujarat, each festival has a tale, symbolism and flair. It happens to be India at its best when traveling during the seasons of the festivals as the streets are lined with decorations, in the markets, people are busy, and the people are happy to meet newcomers. These festivals make a standard vacation in India a journey into the cultural realm of the UAE residents who plan their trips to India. The most renowned travel agency in Dubai, Go Kite Travel, is known to design itineraries based on these festivals, and so that the traveler can see India in its most vivid way.
Here are the Top Festivals in India That Attract Global Travellers
1. Diwali The festival of lights
The festival of lights or Diwali is certainly among the best festivals in India that attracts foreigners. Observed nation-wide, Diwali means the triumph of lights over dark and good over evil. Roads and houses are lit with diyas (oil lamps), ornamental lights and fireworks which give the magical atmosphere that fascinates the tourists. In addition to being a feast of the eyes, Diwali is also a festival of exchanging sweets, donning new clothes, and religious ceremonies especially the worship of Goddess Lakshmi in a bid to enjoy a prosperous life.
As a world traveler, Diwali gives the global traveler a valuable experience of the spiritual and social life of India. There is a lot of bustle in the markets, and there are handicrafts, traditional wear, and festival meals. Within such cities as Jaipur, Varanasi and Delhi, cultural shows, fairs and displays of fireworks offer innumerable moments of photography. The UAE citizens have an opportunity to mix sightseeing and participating in the festival in order to observe the richness of the Indian traditions. Travel agencies such as Go Kite Travel assist in designing customized Diwali tours such as temple tours to attending local festivals so as to make the trip a smooth and enjoyable cultural experience.
2. Holi – The Festival of Colors
The most popular of all Indian festivals is Holi, which is universally known. The festival is celebrated in March and is used to mark the spring, as well as represent the triumph of good over evil. The participants spray colored powders and water at each other, dance to the music, and taste celebratory dishes, such as gujiya and thandai. Holi is not a mere festival, but a joyful celebration of life, love and community.
Holi is celebrated with unparalleled passion in cities such as Mathura and Vrindavan whose residents are associated with Lord Krishna. To UAE flyers who intend to travel to India, a visit to these areas during the Holi celebrations is a lifetime event because it gives a chance to observe rituals, dating back to centuries, and the contemporary celebrations. Go Kite Travel have packages which include Holi festivities with cultural tours so that the visitors can learn about the historical and spiritual meaning of the festival as they engage in the colorful celebrations.
3. Durga Puja – The Glorification of the Goddess Feminine
One of the most popular festivals in India is Durga Puja, which is marked in West Bengal and has received international tourists with its magnificence and craftsmanship. The festival is done in honor of goddess Durga and her victory over a demon Mahishasura who was defeated by good. Durga Puja is a very spectacular affair with intricately made idols, artistic pandal (temporary structures) and elaborate cultural performances.
It is a carnival that becomes a city wide festival of Durga Puja which takes place in Kolkata, the main venue of the festival. The streets are illuminated with decorative lights, and each of the neighborhoods tries to demonstrate the most innovative pandals. Since UAE citizens are planning to have a cultural immersion when visiting India, attending a Durga Puja festival is an excellent chance to see the artistic and spiritual soul of India. Go Kite Travel will be able to help put together itineraries in this festival which are guided tours of pandals, experiences of the Bengali food, and cultural performances in the area.
4. Ganesh Chaturthi- Worship of Lord Ganesha
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival in Maharashtra that is celebrated in honour of Ganesha, the destroyer of challenges. It is also one of the best festivals in India that attracts tourists by their vibrant processions, energetic level of public celebration and music. There are massive clay figures of lord Ganesha that are placed on the homes and open areas with the accompaniment of devotional songs and social events.
The main attraction of Ganesh Chaturthi are the huge processions of immersion, and especially in Mumbai where thousands of followers take the idols decorated with flowers, songs, and fireworks to the sea. To UAE travelers, the sight of such processions can be considered an opportunity to experience the spiritual unity and excitement of India in general. Some travel agencies such as Go Kite Travel organize trips to India so that UAE residents celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi and have a complete and stress-free holiday.
5. Navratri -A Dance and Devotion Festival
The Gujarat and other regions of India celebrate Navratri with a lot of devotion, which means nine nights. This is an event that glorifies the divine female and has nightly events of dancing known as Garba and Dandiya Raas which require participants to wear traditional clothes and do some complex dances. It is a vibrant and colourful party that is full of action and interaction.
The UAE residents will be able to spend Navratri as a cultural spectacle and social gathering with local communities and dance and celebrate together. Ahmedabad and Vadodara are the cities that come alive during the festive market, dance, and music, and Navratri is one of the best festivals in India among international tourists who want to get immersed in Indian culture. Go Kite Travel offers holiday packages of Navratri that include sightseeing along with attending the festival to experience it as a complete whole.
6. Pushkar Camel Fair- Rajasthan Unique Festival
One of the most remarkable of the top festivals in India is the Pushkar Camel Fair in Rajasthan, which is a great attraction to the traveling people all over the world. Although it is mostly a farm animal fair, the festival has evolved into a colorful cultural event with camel racing, folk songs, folk dance and Rajasthani traditional handicraft.
To experience a combination of rural and cultural tourism, visiting the Pushkar Fair can be experienced as the genuine India visit by the UAE residents. A visit to the desert, hot air balloon flights, and camel racing will provide tourists with an experience that they will remember. Go Kite Travel is the tour company that provides special packages to the Pushkar Fair and this way, the visitors will enjoy the festival without having to strain themselves to discover the rich heritage of Rajasthan.
7. Makar Sankranti -Kite Festival Extravaganza
The season of harvest is commemorated in Makar Sankranti in January and is also referred to as kite fighting in such states as Gujarat and Rajasthan. There are colorful kites flying in the sky which presents a spectacular view to both the locals and tourists. Sweet preparations, including sesame seeds and jaggery, like tilgul, are a part of the festivities.
Makar Sankranti is a cultural event that is special in the eyes of UAE travelers since they get the chance to engage in kite flying contests and local fairs. It is a festival that combines outdoor fun and traditional practices as a result of which it is one of the best Indian festivals that can be experienced first-hand. The agencies, such as Go Kite Travel, are organizing trips to India among the residents of the UAE to align the festive spirit with the local sights to ensure the tourists do not miss out on any tourist attraction sites.
8. Onam -Harvest Festival in Kerala
The biggest festival in Kerala is the Onam associated with boat races, flower arrangements (Pookalam), traditional dances, and feasts (Onasadya). It gives honor to the re-emergence of the legendary King Mahabali and the well-being of the land.
Onam is a display of the great cultural heritage and natural beauty of Kerala to international travelers. The celebrations of the festivities and the picturesque backwaters, the green scenery, and the traditional arts of Kerala are just some of the reasons why the festival is one of the most preferred festivals to organize in India. Go Kite Travel is also planning specific deals of the UAE resident, including the Onam festivities and visits to the Kerala main attractions guided.
9. Eid in India
Eid festivals and in particular the Eid-ul-Fitr and the Eid-ul-Adha festivals are significant festivals which bring out the religious diversity of India. On the way to Hyderabad, lights, bazaars, and feasts of communities decorate cities via Delhi. These celebrations include special prayers, charity and feasts.
To the UAE travelers, when they see Eid in India, they are able to get a glimpse of the multicultural nature of the country. The spirit of the festival is contagious and the involvement in the local traditions makes the traveling more effective. The Go Kite Travel can organise India tours around Eid of the UAE residents such as sightseeing tours, food and tours to the popular mosques.
10. Christmas – Festivities in India
India celebrates Christmas with great joy and lots of devotion especially in Goa, Kerala, and in the large metropolitan cities. Lights are used to decorate churches, there are nativity scenes and communities overindulge in carols, feasts and cultural performances.
Christmas in India is a special celebration that unites the religious piety with the local culture, and it has become a unique festival among the global travelers. It is among the best festivals to visit in India as a traveler since it is a great place to experience Christmas markets, cultural events, and festal food. The UAE residents can count on Go Kite Travel to design the India trips that include Christmas celebrations and sightseeing and cultural experiences.
Conclusion
The festivals of India are a riot of colors, sounds, and tastes and, therefore, it is one of the best cultural tourism destinations. In the religious zeal of Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi, the joyful activities of Holi and the grandeur of traditional Diwali Durga Puja, every festival offers a specific prism through which to see the Indian varied heritage. To the UAE residents who want to get full cultural experiences planning the trips according to these festivals would guarantee them a full and memorable trip. The travel agencies such as Go Kite Travel -Best travel agency in Dubai, are focusing on planning hassle free itineraries centered on the festival to enable the tourists to see India as it is.
It could be kite flying in Makar Sankranti, boat racing in Onam or the musical evenings of the Navratri, attending these celebrations will help the travelers to relate to the soul of India. The Go Kite Travel can also offer residents of the UAE the opportunity to explore the cultural diversity of India, without the hassle of making travel arrangements, guided tours, and other exclusive experiences. Festivals in India are not only about rituals and observing but also living a joyful, traditional, and harmonious life among people which is indeed a journey to be remembered by any traveller.