29 State wise Local and Unique Fairs and Festivals of India

The article gives a detail understanding of 29 State wise Local and Unique Fairs and Festivals of India. Indian is a sub-continent and has 28 States and 8 Union Territories. With each of the states and territories, different fairs and festivals are celebrated all around the year.

1. Andhra Pradesh– The festivals in Andhra Pradesh is widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Brahmotsavam- The festival is celebrated at Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, for nine days straight during the month of between September to October.
• The other festivals celebrated are Bhishma Ekadasi, Deccan Festival, Pitr, Sankranthi, Tyagaraja Festival

2. Arunachal Pradesh– The state has on local festival that is celebrated by its natives which are:

• Losar Festival- The festival is known as Tibetan New Year, Marked by ancient ceremonies that represent the struggle between good and evil
• Other festivals are Chalo Loku, and Pongtu

3. Assam– The festivals in Assam is widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Bohag Bihu- Assam in known for this special festival. The spring festival of Bohaag Bihu or Rongali Bihu ushers in the New Year in the State of Assam, which marks the onset of a new agricultural cycle.
• Other festivals are Magh or Bhogali Bihu

4. Bihar– The state has various local festivals that are celebrated by its natives which are:

• Chhath Puja- This festival is considered to be the sacred Pooja in the Hindu scripture. The devotees have to follow very strict rules while performing the worship to the God Sun including Fasting for two and half a day. It is also called Dala Puja devoted to worshipping the sun is traditionally celebrated by the people of Bihar.
  It is generally celebrated 10 days after Diwali.

5. Chhattisgarh– The festivals in the state is widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Bastar Dussehra – The longest Dussehra celebration in the world is celebrated in Bastar and spans over 75 days starting around August and ending in October.
• Maghi Purnima- It is the flagship festival of this state which encompasses the birth anniversary of Guru Ghasidas.

6. Goa- The festivals in Goa are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Goa Carnival- It is the three-day non-stop extravaganza of fun, song, music, and dance celebrated just before the 40 days of Lent which attracts visitors from around the world, celebrated in February month.
• Shigmo Mela- it is a counterpart of the festival of colors Holi and been celebrated in March.
• Other festival celebrated is the Sunburn Festival which invites numerous artists and musicians around the world.

7. Gujarat– The festivals in Gujarat are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Janmashtami- The festival is celebrated grandly as birth anniversary of Lord Krishna in the month of August.
• Diwali – It is the Festival of lights, the Festival marks the beginning of the New Year. The festival has several myths in which, the famous one is When Lord Ram returned to his home in Ayodhya, and residents celebrated his arrival by lighting their homes with Mud candles.
• Other Festivals that are celebrated are Navaratra celebration  Nine Forms of Goddess Durga, Kutch Rann Utsav, and the Kite Festival.

8. Himachal Pradesh– The festivals in Himachal Pradesh are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Gochi Festival- In this festival the villagers celebrate the birth of male children. Token marriages of children below the age of six are also performed
• Mahashivaratri-  A week-long international Mandi Shivratri Fair and Sobha Yatra are held near the Temple of Bhoothnath (Lord Shiva) every year
• The other festival is Rakhadumni

9. Haryana– The festivals in Haryana are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Gugga Naumi – Snake-worship. It is observed in the months of August-September.
• The other festivals are Surajkund Mela, and Baishakhi

10. Jammu and Kashmir– The festivals in Jammu and Kashmir are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Eid-ul-Fitr – The festival marks the end of fasting month of Ramadan.
• Eid-ul-Azha – More prominent for the Qurbani (sacrifice). People sacrifice goats, sheep and some even camels
• Bahu Mela- It is a biannual festival held at the Kali Temple in Bahu Fort. It is celebrated twice a year in the month of March-April and September-October.
• The other festivals are Chhari  (Pilgrimage to Amarnath cave),  Urs,  and Har Navami

11. Jharkhand– The festivals in Jharkhand are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Karam Festival –  It is celebrated 15 days after the Kunwaar-ShuklaPaksha.
• Holi- Festival of colors, celebrated in the months of February/March.

12. Karnataka– The festivals in Karnataka are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Ugadi- Celebrated in the second half of March or in early April. It marks the beginning of the new Hindu lunar calendar.
• Mahamastakabhisheka – Held once every 12 years in veneration of Gomateswara Bahubali at Sravanbelagola.
• The other festival are Mysore Dasara, and Makar Sankramana.

13. Kerala– The festivals in Kerala are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Onam- The festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali. It is celebrated in Chingam (August-September) and lasts for ten days. Vallamkali, the enchanting Snake Boat Race, Folk performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add to the zest of celebrations. Nehru Trophy Boat Race is also organized.
• The other festivals are Vishu, and Pooram

14. Madhya Pradesh– The festivals in Madhya Pradesh are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Lokrang festival – The Most iconic dance festival of MP which signifies the existing legacy of its dance.
• The other festivals are Diwali, and Khajuraho Dance Festival

15. Meghalaya– The festivals in Meghalaya are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Nongkrem Dance Festival-  Five days long religious festival devoted to appeasing the Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich bumper harvest and prosperity of the people
• The other festival is Khasis, a Dance festival

16. Maharashtra– The festivals in Maharashtra are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Ganesh Chaturthi- The festival falls in the month of August – September. Lord Ganesha’s images are kept in houses as divine guest for five to ten days by people. The image is then taken out ceremoniously and immersed in the river, sea or well. It is called the Visarjan.
• The other festivals are Nag Panchami, Navratri, and Gudi Padva

17. Manipur– The festivals in Manipur are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state is

• Yaoshang- It is celebrated for five days. It commences from the full moon day of Phalguna (February/March). The main highlight of the festival is the Thabal Chongba dance.

18. Mizoram– The festivals in Mizoram are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state is

• ChapcharKut Festival – Marks the clearing and readying of hill slopes for jhum or shifting cultivation.

19. Nagaland– The festivals in Nagaland are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Hornbill Festival- It is one of the biggest cultural extravaganzas in the North East & held every year from Dec1-10. It is a festival to protect, revive and promote the richness of the Naga heritage and traditions.
• Sekrenyi – It is celebrated by the Angami Tribe. It is also associated with celebrating the rich culture of the tribes that has lasted for many a moon.

20. Odisha– The festivals in Odisha are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Rath Yatra (Dola Yatra) – It triggers the construction of the Oriya calendar and its consequent presentation to their deity Jagannath who also carries another name of Dola Govinda. Mainly celebrated at Puri.
• Raja Parba – It is the living cultural heritage and agricultural way of life. It is held for three days in June.
• The other festivals are Akshaya Tritiya, and Konark Festival

21. Punjab– The festivals in Punjab are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Lohri – It is celebrated on the 13th of January a day before Makar Sankranti. It is dedicated to the Sun god.
• Baisakhi – Marks the time for the harvest of Rabi crops. Traditional folk dances Bhangra and Giddha are performed by men and women to the beat of Dhol
• The other festivals are Bandi Chhor Divas, and Guru Parab

22. Rajasthan– The festivals in Rajasthan are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Gangaur Festival – It falls a fortnight after Holi & is celebrated for 18 days in honor of Goddess Parvati mostly by the womenfolk of Rajasthan. It is also the consequent celebration of the harvest.
  
• Pushkar Festival- The festival is also known as Desert festival. The festival is global known for its colours, camels, games, competitions, and Rajasthani cuisines. Visitors from around the world come to Pushkar to attend the festivals. The festival usually held in the month of November for 1 week.
  
• The other festivals are Teej, Bikaner Fair, and Urs at Ajmer.

23. Sikkim– The festivals in Sikkim are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Losar – The festival is celebrated on the dawn of the new Tibetan year
• Saga Dawa – The magnificent carnival famous for masked dances

24. Tamil Nadu– The festivals in Tamil Nadu are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Pongal- Four-day-long harvest festival which falls in the month of January-February. Bhogi festival, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal is celebrated. Is is the local Makar Sankranti of this state.
• Thyagaraja Aradhana, Jallikattu, Panguni Uthiram, Puthandu (Tamil New Year)

25. Telangana– The festivals in Telengana are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are 

• Bonalu- The word Bonalu came from “Bhojanalu” which is offered to the goddess during festival time.  
• Bathukamma – It involves the worship of goddess Gauri and consequent celebrations.

26. Tripura– The festivals in Tripura are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Kharchi Puja – It is the worship of the fourteen gods of Tripura and is celebrated in the month of July-August. It ends up with sacrifices of cattle to the Earth God.
• The other festival is Tripureshwari Temple Festival.

27. West Bengal– The festivals in West Bengal are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state is

• Durga Puja- The festival is also referred to as Durgotsava. It is commemorated by worshipping Goddess Durga

28. Uttarakhand– The festivals in Uttarakhand are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

• Ganga Dusshera- It is a day of devotion and faith celebrated in the month of June.
• The other festival is Purna Kumbh Mela that us celebrated near Holy Ganges River.

29. Uttar Pradesh– The festivals in Jammu and Kashmir are widely known and celebrated in grandeur. Major local festivals in the state are

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• Navaratri – Celebrated for nine nights during which people worship Goddess Durga and her nine forms to seek her blessings.
• Ram Navmi – Marks the birth anniversary of God Rama and is celebrated with the worship of girls and other females of the society.
• The other festivals are Brahmostav, Kans ka Mela, Sravana festival, Ram Leela, and Ganga Mahotsav

The Unique Fairs and Festivals of India

References

Gaur, S.S. and Chapnerkar, M. (2015), “Indian festivals: the contribution they make to cultural and economic wellbeing : A case study of Ganapati festival”, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 367-376. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-03-2015-0017

Byju. https://byjusexamprep.com/liveData/f/2019/5/list-of-festivals-e-31.pdf