|
 Delhi's
festival calendar begins with the Republic Day
parade on 26th January. It is the most
colorful of the city's festivals events and also
the biggest crowd-puller. Hundreds of thousands
people line the route from Rajpath to the Red Fort
to watch the pageant of solders, camel crops,
armored regiments, brass bands, folk dancers,
school children, war veterans and elaborate floats
representing the cultural diversity of India. The
two hour long parade is usually rounded off with a
much-awaited spectacular fly - passed presented by
Air Force squadrons. A special display of folk
dances also takes place at the Talkatora Stadium.
Three days later the Beating of the Retreat takes
place at Vijay Chowk. Various bands of the armed
forces set the pace for marching troops against
the grand backdrop of Rashtrapati Bhawan.
In
a much lighter vein, winter also witnesses the
Vintage Car Rally when the 'grand old ladies',
sprucedup for the occasion, make the long haul
from Delhi to Sohna. Winter is also the time for
the popular Balloon Mela, the Surajkund Crafts
Mela on the outskirts of Delhi, and Delhi
Tourism's Gardens Festivals. The latter is a
visual feast, for Delhi a blaze with flowers in
the month of February Delhi Tourism also organizes
cultural performances during the Garden Festivals.
 Holi,
the festivals of colors, marks the onset of
spring. In August, the festival Janamashtami,
celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Ballets in
the Kathak dance style depict the life of Lord
Krishna.
In early October, a festival specific to Mehrauli,
in Delhi, takes place. This the Phulwalon - Ki -
Sair or the Flower sellers Procession, which
originated in the 16th century. The highlight is a
prossional of people carrying decorated floral
fans, which are blessed at the shrine of the 13th
-century Sufi saint, Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtyar
Kaki and at the hindu temple of Jogmaya, both in
Mehrauli. The procession ends with a formal
ceremony at the Jahaz Mahal, a 16th - century
pleasure resort by the side of a lake.
Also in October is Dussehra, commemorating
the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king,
Ravana. A month - long Ram Lila dance festival is
organized by the Bhartiya Kala Kendra, depicting
seens from the epic Ramayana, while on Dussehara
evening itself, gigantic effigies of Ravana are
set a fire. The biggest venue for this event is
the Ram Lila ground, of Asaf Ali Road. Delhi
Tourism organizes the popular Qutab Festival in
October. Musicians and dancers performs at night
by the city's 12th -century land mark, the Qutab
Minar.
Diwali, the festivals of lights is preceded
by several Diwali Melas, where food, handicrafts
and a variety of earthern lamps and candles are
sold. Large communities of Indians from different
states reside in Delhi. As a result, regional
festivals are also celebrated in the capital.
Home ~
E-mail
~
Contact us
~
Query |
Fairs
& Festivals in Delhi