Fairs and Festivals of India

Festivals in India

India is such a diversified land that each Indian region has its own uniqueness. Round the year, people are seen merrymaking and frolicking in the ecstasies of festivals. The festivals in India are a reason to enjoy and celebrate some moments stolen from busy lives. The extravaganza of pomp and show in festivals is recent trend but otherwise, the festivals are a pregnant with social and religious importance.

Indian festivals bring people of various religions together on a common platform. The four major religions followed in India – Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity – have their own specific festivals. But you will find follower of one religion celebrating festivals of other religion. A Hindu celebrating Id and a Muslim rejoicing in Holi and Diwali is a common site in India.

The Indian festivals involve a lot many traditions, customs and rituals. The traditional values of India are reflected through the celebration of festivals. Preparations start long back the actual festival day. Children specially take interest during the time of festivals because this is the time when their schools give them off and they indulge in festivities.

Religious Festivals of India
The multi religion nation, India, sees people enjoying many festivals. Some of the major festivals that Indians enjoy are:
- Holi
- Diwali
- Dussera
- Rakshabandhan
- Janamashamti
- Shivaratri
- Makar Sankranti
- Id
- Christmas
- Easter

Tourist Festivals of India
The Indian Tourism Industry understands the importance of foreign travelers. It has taken adequate measures to ensure the comfort of the tourists. To attract more foreign tourists to India the Department of Indian Tourism and the State Tourism Department organize some tourist festivals. These festivals are the best time to explore the nuances of the region's culture, people, traditional ethos and social milieu.

You have an excellent opportunity to have a glimpse of the handicrafts, cuisines and costumes of the region you are enjoying the festival in. some of te major tourist festivals of India are:
- Desert Festival
- Elephant Festival
- Summer Festival
- Winter Festival
- Car Festival
- Kite Festival
- Marwar Festival
- Mewar Festival

Other Fairs and Festivals of India
Not only religious festivals but the fairs organized in India are also very famous. These fairs a part of Indian culture. Rajasthan is one such place where fairs and festivals have a social connotation as well. These fairs are meant for cattle trading, handicrafts exhibitions etc. These fairs give the villagers a golden chance to exhibit their adeptness, their promote their business. Some such fairs are:

- Pushkar fair
- Nagaur Fair
- Baneshwar Fair
- Shekhawati Fair
- Shri Mahavirji Fair

Come to India during the time of festival and you will see a different India rejoicing in sheer rapture.

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Indian Cuisine

Food habits in India are a bit different from that of rest of the world. In India, people are fond of eating and treating. Each occasion is marked with lot of feasting. Many people are so much involved in merrymaking through feasting that they do not hesitate to spend extravagantly for the event. Minus any exception, each region of India has its own specialty in terms of cuisine preparation, recipes, use of spices, use of condiments etc.
The lip smacking delicacies of Indian cuisine are a matter of perseverance and diligence. Use of spices add to the aroma of the the redolent dishes. Indian kitchens always ooze with that typical aroma of spices. The traditional way of cooking is now amalgamated with the modern ways and the offshoot of this is more unique and delicious food.

Vegetarian or non vegetarian, the Indian dishes have their own taste. The assortment of dishes and liberal use of spices with a different style of cooking is the key factor behind the uniqueness of Indian dishes. Indian cuisine is a reflection of Indian culture because the culture is major impetus behind the evolution of Indian food.

On one hand you can find regional variations in Indian food like:

- Mughlai
- Punjabi
- Kashmiri
- Avadhi
- Rajasthani
- Goan
- Marathi
- Konakani
- Parsi

and on the other you will find a similarity of ingredients and types of food like:

- Main course
- Deserts
- Breads
- Curries
- Snacks
- Beverages
- Spices
- Condiments

With due course of time Indian food habits have been changed. Various other cultures have influenced the Indian food preparation. The many schools of Indian food are a result of climatic and regional variations of India. However, the staple food in a Indian thali would comprise of:

- Dal
- Vegetable with gravy
- Vegetable without gravy
- Chapati (Wheat bread)
- Rice
- Curd
- Pickle
- Chutney
- Dessert

Visit India and taste the mouth watering delicacies and I assure that you will never forget that taste.

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Fashion Shows in India

The fashion industry is on its boom in India. The Indian fashion designers are making the nation proud of them. An international exposure to the fashion designers from India has made the world wide famous. Today, everyone knows the designers from India. In fact the International super models also know these designers well and so have started burning the ramp for them. The Divas and Hunks from abroad happily come to India and walk the ramp, mark their presence in Indian Fashion Industry.

The recent events of Fashion weeks have at least proved this, that now National and International models are taking these fashion events very seriously. Big names like Naomi Campbell from abroad and numerous Bollywood stars walk the ramp and create a sensation among the audience. These sensational stars cast a spell on the beholders.

The major fashion shows of India are covered on global basis. The Indian Fashion designers are now even for Hollywood stars. Isn't it an ushering of an new era in the Indian Fashion industry? The Indian Fashion Industry has got that due exposure and fame that it deserves. The giant names of designers are every now and then in news. Each designer organizes his or her own fashion shows. The very famous fashion designers from India are:

Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Abu Jani
Sandeep Khosla
Ritu Beri
Hemant Trivedi
JJ Vallaya
Maneesh Malhotra
Neeta Lula
Tarun Tahiliani
Rohit Bal
Vikram Phadnis
Nandita Mahtani
Rahul Reddy
Narendra Kumar Ahmed

The fashion shows of these designers are a spectacle for the fashion partisans. A wide of latest fashion trends can be witnesses in these fashion shows. Some of the major fashion events in India and abroad are:

Lakme India Fashion Week
Kolkata Fashion Week
L'Oreal Fashion Week
India International Garments Fair
Bridal Asia and Helsinki International Fashion Fair
National Garment Fair
Will India

These shows and events are a manifestation of the changing trends of Indian Fashion Industry.

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Indian Marriages

No event in Indian family is as big as marriage. Indian marriages are an affair of merrymaking and complete social responsibilities. Indian marriages are for every social requirement, family ties, passions, and monetary resources. Regarded as essential for everyone, Indian marriages are an institution that everyone is fascinated by. People give due importance to marriages in India.

Traditions in Hindu Marriages

The Hindu marriages in India are an affair of traditions and customs. Marriages are generally arranged by the older members of the family (the grandparents and in their absence the parents) where the prospective bride and groom formally meet each other in presence of their family members.
Attractions of Indian Marriages

Indian marriages are marked with great enthusiasm and feasting. The feasting and celebrations in an Indian marriage are the key attractions besides, there are many traditional customs that are preceded and followed by the main occasion. The functions held to commemorate the celebrations of marriage are:

a) Roka Ceremony
b) Godd Bharayi
c) Tilak
d) Mehandi
e) Varmala
f) Phere
g) Paani Grahan Ceremony
h) Vidaai
i) Muhn Dikhayi

All these functions have their own unique happiness where people enjoy and bless the would be couple.

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