Fairs and Festivals in March

March month welcomes spring to the Indian subcontinent and brings  us festival of Holi, yoga and one too many elephant festivals which entice travelers from different parts of the world. Each part of the country welcomes the new season in their own way be it traditional art, culture, music or dance. March has enough excuses for you to visit the country and witness the most famous festival celebrated in India among which one is Holi- the festival of colour and another is International Yoga Festival which gives you opportunity to learn from Master Yoga Teachers and enlightened Spiritual Leaders. Here is some fairs and festivals listed below which is celebrated in the month of March.

IYF is celebrated by Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh) in the sacred and heavenly state of Uttarakhand, By the river Ganges, the birthplace of is one of its most global and awaited celebrations. ​In a weeks immersion and celebration, you have the opportunity to learn every major style of yoga from Master Yoga Teachers and also gain knowledge from enlightened Spiritual Leaders, Evolutionary Thought Leaders, and Wellness Specialists from around the world.  The way Rishikesh effortlessly turns from a religious hub to a cluster of cafes outlined by hushed hippie culture will also let you open another layer to this one by landing here this Holi. Registrations for IYF remain strictly online.

Dates: March 7-13, 2021. Venue: Rishikesh, Uttarakhand Registration link: https://www.internationalyogafestival.org/register/

Holi, also known as the “festival of spring”, the “festival of colours”, or the “festival of love” is among one of the most celebrated festivals in India. It starts with lighting a bonfire ‘Holika Dahan’ to celebrate the victory of good over evil. To experience grand Holika Dahan, one must visit the City Palace in Udaipur where the royal family of Udaipur performs religious rituals in front of the bonefire. On the following day, the celebrations involve smearing each other with colours.  Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, man or woman, children, and elders. Groups carrying drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, singing and dancing. People visit family and friends to throw coloured powders on each other, laugh and gossip, then share Holi delicacies, food and drinks. Some customary drinks include bhang (made from cannabis). In the evening, people dress up and visit friends and family. Though each place in India has its own unique way of celebrating holi, yet it totally depends on you which place attracts you the most.

Dates: March 28-29, 2021. Venue: All over India

Elephant festival is celebrated in the pink city- Jaipur in the state Rajasthan in India. The ceremony of this festival manage to attract a lot of tourists to this event which starts with adorn elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers. The festival features Elephant dance Elephant polo, Elephant race and a tug-of-war between Elephants and 19 men and women. The Elaphant owners proudly ornate their elephants with vibrant colours, jhools (saddle cloth) and heavy jewellery and the most beautifully decorated Elephant gets awarded too. Another remarkable feature of this festival is that it takes place on the eve of Holi making it worth visiting.

Dates: March 28, 2021. Venue: Jaipur, Rajasthan

A dance festival organized at Hoysala Shrines of Belur and Halebid in Karnataka, Hoysala Mahotsav makes for a perfect venue for both domestic and international tourists. The splendid Hoysala temples with their sculptural beauty, make it the perfect venue for this cultural event. With some of the most celebrated artists like Hema Malini, Sudha Chandran, Shobhana, this is a one-day celebration of classical and folk dances and music, as enchanting as its location. Many other artists across the country also takes part in this one day event. The beautiful architecture of the temples adds more charm to this cultural festival.

Dates: To be announced. Venue: Belur Halebid, Karnataka

Chapchar Kut is a dance festival of Mizoram which is celebrated with great favour and gaiety. A traditional bamboo dance is performed by women (while men sit on the ground and beat bamboo sticks against each other), called cheraw. This festival is a harvest festival named after bamboo that has been cut, and dried for burning and subsequent cultivation. Different styles of tribal dance performances take place amidst symbol clashes and beats of drums. There’s art, handicrafts, concerts, flower shows, and food as well.

Dates: March 2, 2021. Venue: Aizwal

Thirunakkara Arattu festival is a 10 day long festival which is celebrated in Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple in Kottayam, Kerala. A celebration where the highlight on the last day is a procession of decorated elephants and people dance to the beats of the dummers while they carry the temple god to be bathed. Local people perform Folk Arts like Mayilattom (peacock dance), Velakali etc during the celebration. Other attractions of the festival are traditional Kathakali dancers, which perform throughout the night on the third and fourth days of the festival.

Dates: To be announced. Venue: Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam, Kerala