Fairs & Festivals form an integral part of Indian culture. Indian Festivals are celebrated by varied cultures and through their special rituals add to the colors of Indian Heritage. Some festivals welcome the seasons of the year, the harvest, the rains, or the full moon. Others celebrate religious occasions, the birthdays of divine beings, saints, and gurus (revered teachers), or the advent of the New Year. A number of these festivals are common to most parts of India. However, they may be called by different names in various parts of the country or may be celebrated in a different fashion. The festivals reflect the vigour and life-style of its people. Vibrant colors, music and festivity make the country come alive throughout the year.

Dedicated to the indispensable ship of the desert, the festival starts off with a magnificent procession of bedecked camels against the red sandstone backdrop of the Junagarh Fort (1588-1593) in the town. Several competitions are held, marked with typical Rajasthani colour, joyous music and ilting rhythms and gay festivities. The camels display amazing footwork, dancing gracefully to the slightest direction of their riders.

The traditional annual boat race of Kerala begins in late June and early July at Champakulam. This festival is known as ' Moolam Vallamkali'. Moolam signifies a Malayalam asterism (star or Nakshathram),. The oldest and most popular snake boat race in Kerala, and is closely connected to the Sree Krishna Temple at Ambalappuzha.

Organised by the Department of Tourism, Andhra Pradesh, the Deccan Festival is celebrated in Hyderabad every year in February/March. This five-day festival comes alive with cultural programmes with ghazal nights, qawalis and mushairas, typical of the city. A pearl and bangle fair displays creations in lustrous pearls and multi-hued bangles that are local specialities. A food fest serves the best of Hyderabad's famed cuisine to visitors.

The Desert Festival around January-February is a 3-day extravaganza of colour, music and festivity, held at the golden city of Jaisalmer. Gair and Fire dancers swaying to traditional tunes, a turban tying competition and a Mr. Desert Contest are a part of the fun and frolic. The grand finale is a trip to the Sam Dunes where one can enjoy the pleasure of a camel ride and even watch the folk dancers and musicians perform.

It is celebrated by the Hindus all over India and across the world in the month of October-November. It marks the beginning of the five day Diwali celebrations. Dhan means wealth and Dhanteras is of great importance to the rich trading class. Goddess Laxmi or the goddess of wealth is worshipped during Dhanteras. On Dhanteras Goddess Laxmi is worshipped to usher in prosperity and wealth especially among the business community. Homes and offices are decorated on the occasion of Dhanteras and the entrances are made colorful with traditional Rangoli to welcome Goddess Laxmi. Small footprints are also drawn all over the house to welcome Goddess Laxmi.

Diwali (Deepawali), the Festival of Light, of wealth and prosperity is celebrated with fervor and gaiety among all races and religions. The festival symbolizes unity in diversity. Hindus all over the world celebrate Deepawali with great enthusiasm. This is a major Hindu festival honouring Mother Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth. Diwali is a holy tradition, not to be put in the shade. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness; darkness refers to ignorance and light refers to knowledge. Deepavali is celebrated during the month of October/ November every year.

The festival of Dussehra is an important celebration in many parts of the country. It is celebrated with great fanfare in most parts of North India, Mysore and in the form of Durga Puja in West Bengal. Dussehra is a very popular Hindu festival, which marks the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama. Dussehra also symbolises the triumph of warrior Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. The 'Ramlila' - an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, is held during the nine days preceding Dussehra. On the tenth day (Dussehra or Vijay Dasami), larger than life effigies of Ravana, his son and brother - Meghnadh and Kumbhakarna are set to fire. The theatrical enactment of this dramatic encounter is held throughout the country in which every section of people participates enthusiastically. In burning the effigies the people are asked to burn the evil within them, and thus follow the path of truth and goodness, bearing in mind the instance of Ravana, who despite all his might and majesty was destroyed for his evil ways.

Durga Puja is more than a festival; it is a celebration of life, culture, popular customs and traditions.This festival provides a perfect platform to every Indian with rich cultural ethos and values to organize them selves under a roof. It is celebrated in the month of September/October every year. The excited festivity is omnipresent during Durga Puja throughout India, specifically in East-India particularly in West Bengal. The beautiful idols of the ten headed but fierce goddess on her lion is worshipped with great enthusiasm.

Easter is the day when Jesus Christ was crucified and the Christians offer prayers and services in the Churches. Easter is another important festival for Christians. On this day Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Easter eggs and Easter bunnies are a major attraction during Easter, the festival of rejuvenation of life and living.

Out of several festivals celebrated with elephants, the one which is widely participated by Indians and foreign tourists is the Elephant Festival celebrated in Jaipur during Holi in Phalgun (March/April). This is an annual event held at Jaipur Chagan Stadium where people gather in large crowds to celebrate the occasion with much pump and gaiety. The elephants stride majestic-experience for everybody by parading their decorated trunks and tusks. And the most noticeable feature of this festival is that all the Elephants which take part in this festival are female Elephants.

This festival is held across the Mumbai harbour, on the Elephanta Island, near the world-renowned Elephanta Caves (A World Heritage Site). This feast of music and dance, celebrated under the stars, transforms the entire island into a large auditorium. Elephanta, a small island 10kms away from the Mumbai harbour, is a favoured destination for culture lovers during the festival held in February. The Elephanta Island is known for its great cave shrine, excavated in the 6th century. The main highlights of the festival are the illuminated Maheshmurti (Shiva-idol), in the main cave of the island. Folk dances by the local fisher folk, ethnic local food varieties add to the ambiance.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of peace and the Father of the Nation was born on 2nd October 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat.

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated on the very day every year as the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of India.

The United Nations General Assembly announced on 15th June, 2007 that October 2nd will be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.

The birth of Lord Ganesh is on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad Shukla (August/September). This festival is celebrated for 10 days from Ganesh Chaturthi - birth -date-to Anant Chaturdashi - the final 10th day of his immersion. Everyone loves this deity with his curving trunk, potbelly and big flat ears. He is the benevolent protector of the innocent, yet the ruthless destroyer of evil. His mount is a rat.

For three days and nights the streets come alive with colour. Held in mid February the weeklong event is a time for lively processions, floats, the strumming of guitars, graceful dances and of non-stop festivity. One of the more famous of the Indian Carnivals the Goa Festival is a complete sell out in terms of tourism capacities. The 'Carnival’ is exclusive and unique to Goa, and was introduced by the Portuguese who ruled over Goa for over five hundred years.

Good Friday is the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified. Jesus Christ was born to Marry in Nezareth – a small town in Israel. He was the founder of Christianity, one of the world’s largest religions. Christ is believed to be an incarnation of God and his teachings are described in the New Testament. Hence, Good Friday is believed to be the time when Christians keep fast and celebrate the day over the birth of Christ. It is also celebrated as a festival of life and spirit.

Vishu is one of the most popular festivals of Kerala. Vishu falls on the first of Medam (March-April), which is the Malayalam New Year's Day. Since it is considered propitious to view good things on this day for year round good fortune, Vishu morning is an important time. The heart of this festival of Kerala is the preparation of the kani (the lucky sight or gift). Organized by the Government of Karnataka, the Hampi festival includes Dance, drama, music, fireworks; puppet shows and spectacular processions, all combine to recreate the grandeur of the bygone era.

Holi – the festival of color is marked as the opening festival in Hindu calendar, falls on the full moon day in the month of PHALGUN. People enjoy themselves playing with several colours and celebrate the whole day with much pump and gaiety. Celebration of Holi festival is characterized by performing Holi puja as per Hindu tradition.

Eid-ul-Fitr, popularly known as the "Festival of the Breaking of the Fast", occurs as soon as the new moon is sighted at the end of the month of fasting, namely Ramadan. This festival celebrates the end of Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting. It is an occasion of feasting and rejoicing.

Commemorating the day India attained freedom (15th August); Independence Day is celebrated with flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes in the state capitals. The Prime Minister's speech at the Red Fort in Delhi is the major highlight. On 15 August 1947, India attained freedom from the British rule. This national festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country.

A week-long event to promote Yoga is held in Rishikesh, a picturesque town in the foothills of the Himalayas. Detailed lectures and demonstration of various asanas by prominent exponents of Yoga are the major highlights of the Yoga Week. Yoga sessions are held along the banks of the Ganga at Rishikesh. Lectures and demonstrations a re held by prominent exponents of yoga throughout the week.

The Kumbha Mela, is a riverside festival held four times every twelve years, rotating between Allahabad at the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, Nasik on the Godavari, Ujjain on the Sipra, and Hardwar on the Ganges. Bathing in these rivers during the Kumbha Mela is considered an endeavour of great merit, cleansing both body and spirit. The Allahabad and Hardwar festivals are routinely attended by five million or more pilgrims (13 million visited Allahabad in 1977 and over 18 million in 1989) thus the Kumbha Mela is the largest religious gathering in the world. It may also be the oldest.

New Year’s Day ushers an occasion of universal celebration. It is an occasion when rejoicing bids farewell to the passing year with a grand welcome to the New Year. The time and celebration of New Year varies from region to region and religion to religion across the world. This is because people in different parts of the world use different calendars.

India's spectacular handloom and handicrafts fair is origanised in a rural setting at Surajkund in the vicinity of New Delhi. At this annual week long mela crafts people from all over the country meet and bring alove the age-old living crafts tradition. Visitors can see them at work and shop for some of the world's most treasured wares. Cultural programmes and rural cuisine are also part of this colourful fair.

The Taj Mahotsav is a non-stop 10 day carnival held annually at Shilpgram, near Tajmahal. The impressive festival commences with a spectacular procession inspired by Mughal splendor. Bedecked elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen together recreate the glorious past of the Mughals. Indian festivities can never be complete without the preparation of exotic cuisine. Some of the best and richest foods are available during this time.

Christmas the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, is celebrated in India with great fervor all over India by the Christians. On the Christmas day, people enjoy a sumptuous Christmas lunch. Christmas cakes and wine are served to visitors and exchanged as gifts among friends and relatives. Christmas celebrations vary in different parts of India.