Fairs & Festivals of India 2011

[Perfection]

September

01 - Ladakh festival at Leh (up to 15th, lion dances, yak dances, craft stalls, excellent local food and plenty of chang!.), Ganesh Chaturthi ("Ganpati bapa, mouriya! Pudcha varshi, laukar ya!") celebrated all over Maharashtra mainly in Pune and Mumbai., Tarnetar fair (75 km from Rajkot up to 3rd).
02 - Dahi Handi (Pune and Mumbai)
04 - Panangad boat race, Ernakulam
08 - Manarcad church festival (Kottayam), Vechoor church, Vailankanni festival (Tamil Nadu)
09 - Thiru Onam, Pookkalam (Flower arrangement from Atham to Onam day). Onavillu, the ceremonial bows an offering to the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on Thiruonam day, Harippad Payippad boat race (up to 11th Sept), Neerettupuram boat race (On the Ambalapuzha - Thiruvalla highway).
10 - Neelamperoor padayani at Palli Bhagavathy temple in Alappuzha district (16 km from Kottayam). Begins at 10 pm on Avittam day in the Malayalam month of Chingam.
11- Tazhathangady boat race at 3 pm (first Sunday after Onam, Kottayam)
14 - Aranmula Uttrathadi boat race (10 km from Chengannur/Pathanamthitta). Aranmula is on the banks of river Pamba. Aranmula is famous for Pardhasaradhi Temple and Aranmula kannadi (high tin bronze -Copper & tin - mirror. The polishing of the metal takes several days to give reflective property).
24 - Vallarpadom St Mary's Basilica festival (Ernakulam), Vettikot Ayilyam (Kayamkulam)
28 - Navaratri begins - Jwalamukhi Fair (30 km from Kangra / 56 km from Dharamshala, HP).
29 - Navaratri Brahmotsavam at Tirupati is celebrated with Chariot festival in September/October for 9 days (in the month of Asweeja in Salivahana Calendar,when sun is in kanya rasi). Ends on October 9 with Chakrasnanam.

Karunagappally Sree Narayana Jaloltsavam (boat race)



Dahi handi

The breaking of the `dahi-handi’ - a pot of milk, yoghurt, butter, honey and dry fruits - which is suspended high above a street. Teams of young men and boys compete with each other to build human pyramids high enough to reach the dahi-handi and break it. The act is symbolic of Krishna’s love for milk and butter, and his plundering of the local cowgirls’ handis.

Vallarpadom church festival

The festival is held in great devotion 'Vallarpadath Amma' is believed to have miraculously saved her devotees several time from violent storms. The celebrations which last for more than a week is accompanied by an unusually big fair. The most important products and articles offered at this fair are country boats and cars, pots and straw mats. The last item finds an important market here as the festival falls in the harvest season.

October

05 - Mahanavami/Ayudha Puja
06 - Vijayadashami / Dussehra (Mysore, Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, Kota fair), dandiya, Durga Puja (West Bengal), Kollur Mookambika temple.
Second week - Koratty church festival
14 - Mahe St Theresa's church festival
15 - Karwa Chauth
up to 17th - Karni Mata fair near Bikaner (Rajasthan)
18 - Rayiranallur mala kayattom (Palakkad)
19 - Sree Padmanabha swami temple Aarat (Thiruvananthapuram)
22 - Mannarasala Ayilyam (Haripad, Alappuzha)
26 - Diwali (Deepawali - festival of light and joy), Thripunithura festival (Ernakulam)
28 - Bhai Dooj (day dedicated to the love between a brother and sister, Bihar)
30 & 31 - Chhath Puja (Nahai Khai, Bihar & UP)

Cape festival at Kanyakumari (3 days, in October)