India is a land of diversity and the more the exchange of culture the more is the number of festivals that are predominant in a particular region. Several festivals are celebrated in the wake of the winters and the inhabitants continue to enjoy the festive season and engage in some merrimaking. The towns are decorated and the houses are lit to join the spirit of celebration and indulge in some fun time. Here is the list of winter festivals in India that are celebrated in different parts of the country. The account of the festivals deals with the rituals and the history of the occasion. Let us go check them out quickly.
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1. Lohri
Lohri is the festival of vibrancy and ecstasy that you simply cannot miss out on. It is also called the Gurmukhi festival and celebrates the good winter harvest. The festival is predominant in the state of Punjab as the locals dance around the fire and enjoy the sumptuous festive meals. The bonfire is established to commemorate the end of evilness and celebrate the bond of companionship and togetherness. The couples move in circles around the fire and chant prayers to ask God to grant all their wishes. The festival marks the shortest day of the year that is the Winter Solstice. Traditional dance performances and songs are also encouraged during this time of the winter.
2. The Bihu Festival
Assam celebrates the Bihu festival which is also called the Magh Sankranti. The word Magh translates into January and signifies the winter harvest festival in Assam. The ladies dress in traditional costumes and perform elegant dances while the men are also seen playing musical instruments and taking part in the performances. Small tents and huts are set up in the field with leaves and thatch roofs to prepare food for the entire clan. Traditional and native games are played after the meal during leisure times and the famous buffalo fighting is also observed during this time.
3. Gujarat Kite Festival
Known as Makar Sankranti in other parts of the country, this is to commemorate the successful harvest week and celebrate abundance and prosperity. The movement of the heavenly bodies and the transition of the Sun next to the Capricorn zodiac is significant to the farmers. This is the festival of colours which is well known to people all over the country. The occasion also marks the beginning of spring which instils hope in the hearts of the people and end to the winter months. The sky gets covered with bright and colourful kites which are used as means of competition among the kids in the same localities. The festival of kites in Gujarat touches the hearts of individuals from all around the country and leaves them feeling joyful and content.
4. Nagaur Fest
This is a cultural festival and celebration which is referred to as the second most popular cattle fair festival in the country. This is certainly a winter festival that symbolises the free-spiritedness and jubilant nature of the occasion. Business is conducted in haat and bazaars where the cattle and the nearest breeds are sold and exchanged for conducting business. It is during the time of winter when the Nagaur Fest is set up. The fest is innate to the villages of Rajasthan and all the local inhabitants have some time for the other, visit this fest. A large number of 80000 cows and cattle are exchanged for both cash and kind. Dancing and singing are some of the entertaining performances held in the Mela. Camel racing, cockfighting, juggling and other fun activities are also held to keep the visitors engaged with the sprightly activities of the region. You must visit Rajasthan around February to witness this festival by yourself.
5. Jaisalmer Desert Fest
This is an example of another brilliant cultural festival which was organised by the tourism department of the state to attract a crowd of foreign visitors to the region. The colourful costumes and the incredible dance performances never fail to grab the attention of the tourists who enjoy this sort of merriment and ecstasy. Held around the time of February, the festival is four days long and allows you to nibble on the authentic cuisines of the desert city with the vast stretches of sand to keep you company.
6. Bikaner Camel Festival
The Bikaner Camel Festival is organised every time around January where camel dances and camel races are conducted for the sake of entertainment. Camel milking and fur cutting are also observed during this time. The festival is inherent to the state with the lip-smacking cuisines and Rajasthani dishes are simply going to be a delightful experience for you. A Camel March is initiated from the Junagarh Fort and the beautifully decorated camels are put on display for the visitors to admire the uniqueness of the winter animal festival in the state.