The New Delhi calendar is one marked by a good number of festivals, with at least one happening every month except the hottest month of June, the capital city of India comes to life despite summer heat, monsoon rains during festival times. From religious and cultural festivals to those celebrating art, music and dance – New Delhi has it all.
Makar Sakranti: is a significant harvest festival of India and is one of the largest events in the area. Bull racing is an important feature of the celebrations.
Kite-flying Festival takes place on Makar Sankranti Day on the lawns above Palika Bazaar, Connaught Place. The festival draws in participants from around the world. Competitors compete to ensure their kites stay in the air, To do so requires a certain amount of skills in successfully cutting down their opponents’ kites, while flying their own.
Republic Day: marks a day with a great parade of folk dancers and floats. The Indian Armed Forces is the star of this national festival celebrating the inauguration of the Republic of India on 26 January 1950.
Basant Panchami: is a his Hindu festival welcoming the first day of spring and is the day to worship the goddess of learning, Saraswati. This is an important day of celebration for the Bengali community.
Thyagaraja Festival: offers a vibrant display of South Indian music and dancing at a location opposite Jawaharlal Nehru University in Vaikunthnath Temple.
Holi: is one of the most colourful festivals in India. Celebrated with great enthusiasm, it is marked by lots of fun and sweet treats.
Maha Shivratri: takes place on the no moon, or Amavasya eve of Phalguna. This is the night the Lord Shiva danced the Tandava Nritya, known as the ‘cosmic dance’, and he is worshipped at temples with all-night vigils. Unmarried women keep day-long fasts in the hopes of being granted good husbands.
Amir Khusrau's Anniversary: is celebrated with prayers and a festive fair in Nizamuddin. At the same time, the National Drama Festival is held at the Rabindra Bhawan.
Baisakhi: celebrates the beginning of the harvest season and the Hindu New Year. There is plenty of eating at this time.
Buddha Jayanti: is the first full moon of the month marking the birth of Buddha and prayers are hosted at Buddha Vihar.
Mahavir Jayantis: the celebration of the birth of Lord Mahavira, who founded Jainism. Prayers and processions are held.
International Mango Festival: sees more than 500 types of mango on display in Talkatora Stadium. Visitors can take part in free tasting.
Independence Day: marks the country’s independence from British rule in 1947. Citizens gather around the Red Fort to hear the Prime Minister's address.
Teejis: a monsoon festival celebrated by women. On this day, women wear their finest clothes and glass bangles, and adorn their hands with henna.
Raksha Bandhan: is a celebration when sisters and daughters tie a band of love on the wrists of their brothers and fathers, offering prayers for their safety and health. On the same day, brothers give gifts to their sisters and promise to protect them.
Janam Ashtami: is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna. Children everywhere enact the story of his birth.
Ganesh Chaturthi: is not as celebrated in New Delhi as it is in Mumbai, but its low-key events are still of interest. Lasting 10 days, each one dedicated to the worshipping of idols of Lord Ganesh, this is a religious event not to be missed.
Phoolwalon-ki-Sair: is also known as the Flower Sellers Procession and is a tradition that has been followed since the 16th century. During the procession, people carry decorated floral fans that are blessed at two venues: the shrine of the 13th century Sufi saint Khwaja Utb-ud-din Bakhtyar Kaki and the Hindu temple of Jogmaya.
Qutub Festivali: is a festival of music and dance, with performers dancing to the Qutub Minar to entertain the public.
Durga Puja: is a five-day festival commemorating the homecoming of goddess Durga and her four children.
Diwali: celebrates Rama returning home to Ayodhya after slaying Ravan and rescuing his wife Sita. Homes and streets are beautifully decorated with lights, lamps, and candles on the night of no moon. There are weeks of preparation before this night, including the purchase of clothes and gifts, and the making of sweets.
Bhaiya Duj: is a festival for sisters and brothers. Sisters put a little dot of sandalwood as a symbol of protection from dangers on the foreheads of their brothers. Both exchange treats and gifts.
International Trade Fair: is hosted at the Pragati Maidan and attended by all in the business community This fair also attracts Visitors from all over the world
Christmas: is marked by Christmas Eve entertainment at the major hotels and restaurants. The Christian community in New Delhi holds midnight mass and services at all churches.
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