If you are looking for some spiritual experience as well to see vibrant culture India can be the best travel dentations to choose from. While many budget airlines are offering affordable deals on air tickets, even rest of your travel can be very affordable too since the travel experience is rather related with culture and not luxury. The Indian calendar is filled with celebrations throughout the year, but some festivities stand out more than others. The celebrations of Holi, Navaratri and Diwali are known for being fun and festive. These three festivities combine feasting and dancing to celebrate different traditions.
1. Holi
Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is celebration of good over evil. Holi celebrates the death of the female demon, Holika, and the survival of a young devotee of Lord Krishna. However, because Holi traditionally ushers in spring, it is also a celebration of love. Therefore, the festival is also in honor of Shiva preserving the spirit of Kamadeva, the god of love. Shiva killed Kamadeva, but in order to assuage the grief of Kamadeva’s wife, Shiva restores his spirit, thus keeping alive the purity of their love and placing spiritual love above physical love. Holi is celebrated on the last day of the full moon cycle of March. The main day of Holi is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and perfume at one another. The end of Holi is celebrated with a bonfire to signify the burning of Holika and the triumph of good over evil. The Holi celebration lasts about two days; the festival is known for loosening the strictness of social constraints. Because of the playful nature of the holiday, it is best for women to take care during the celebrations and avoid secluded or dangerous areas. Holi is celebrated all across India, but in South India, the festivities are more subdued and religious in nature.
2. Navaratri
This nine day festival celebrates the Mother Goddess in her various incarnation: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. For three days, each goddess is worshiped with prayer and worship in the morning and dances and feasts in the evening. The holiday is celebrated all over India, but the most boisterous celebrations are in Western India. The nine days of celebration culminate in Dussehra, the tenth day of the festival, which celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana. The festival is celebrated with plays and dances that depict the life of Rama. On Dussehra, effigies of Ravana are burned. In Mysore, the highlight of the celebration is a parade of elephants and guards on horseback. In Western India, Navaratri is celebrated with nine nights of traditional dances, which are performed in circles by dancers in colorful clothing. In Mumbai, the dancing now occupies stadiums and has been infused with a modern element. The dances are often done to a mix of traditional music and modern hip-hop/club music.
3. Diwali
Diwali is the celebration of the Indian New Year; it is also known as the Festival of Lights because on the third night, small clay lamps and candles are light in homes. The soft candlelight can make the festival feel warm and relaxing. But another part of this celebration is setting off fireworks. The fireworks are loud and smoky, so they can detract from the peaceful feeling emitted from the candlelight. Diwali celebrations last five days and commemorate the victory of light over darkness in addition to good over evil; it also marks the beginning of winter. One of the best places to celebrate Diwali is in Jaipur, where there is a competition among marketplaces for the best and most dazzling light display.
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