Festivals Of Delhi

Delhi is brimming with lots of festivals all through year. It is during the festive seasons that people get some respite from their maddening pace of lives. All festivals that are celebrated in other parts of India are also celebrated in Delhi, because the people belonging to this place belong to diverse cultures, religions, communities etc. Diwali by Hindus, Christmas by Christmas by Christians, Eid by Muslims, Guru Nanak Jayanthi by Sikhs and many more festivals by many more communities are celebrated with huge fervour, pomp and splendour. The city always has one festival or the other at any point of the year. When celebrated in Delhi, festivals get a special touch.

The Important Religious Festivals

Dussera

Celebrated mostly in October, this festival is one of the foremost religious festivals in the country. It is a 9 day Navrathri festival that is celebrated with great joy on the 9th and final day where Ravan’s head is burnt, thereby symbolising the death of evil.

Diwali

This is a festival that is celebrated by almost all Indians. The festival of lights comes right after Dussera mostly in the last week of October or early November. People decorate their houses with lights from candle or clay diyas on this day and it is mostly celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs.

Eid-ul-Fitr

This is the day that denotes the end of the month long fast during the holy Ramadan period. The day is known for its lip smacking delicacies and feasts prepared at Muslim households, who then distribute sweets and these delicacies to friends and neighbours. Sometimes festivities go on for three days too.

Christmas

Celebrated on 25th December every year, this festival denotes the birth of Jesus Christ. Churches all over India are illuminated and conduct special prayers. People across all religions celebrate Christmas.

Guru Nanak Jayanthi

The first full moon day of the Kartik month denotes the birth of first and foremost Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. Prayers and hymns are sung in large numbers by hundreds of Sikhs across Delhi followed by providing sumptuous lunch at Gurudwaras all over the country to people from all religions and faiths.

Holi

This is the festival of colours. This festival denotes the death of Holika, a demon who was killed when he tried to disturb a hard-core Vishnu devotee, Hiranyakashyap. Holika is created in the form of a bonfire the previous day and on the next day, people, irrespective of their age and gender, play with water and colours to celebrate the death of Evil.

National Festivals of Delhi

Republic Day

Celebrated on 26th January every year, this day denotes the day when India was first announced as a Republic Country during the same day during 1950. This was the day when the Indian Constitution was finalised. The day is marked by a long parade and procession along the lanes of Rajpath. Army, military and defence forces display their strength and prowess during this parade. Every year, the parade that starts at Rajpath ends in Red Fort. The best display known as Jhanki is awarded. The parade always has a foreign top official as one of the chief guests and soldiers, who displayed immense courage during wars, are awarded on this day.

Independence Day

During 1947, on 15th August, when India got Independence, the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the nation standing atop the Red Fort. The same practice is continued even today as the Prime Minister delivers a speech from the Red Fort. Lots of people from all over Delhi come to Red Fort to listen to this speech. Locals engage in kite flying contests with friends and neighbours on this day.

Seasonal Festivals of Delhi

International Mango Festival

There are around 600 varieties of mangoes that are put up on display during this festival. This fair runs for two days in the month of July, where farmers from across the country showcase their mango varieties. Talkatora Stadium is the venue where this fair is held annually. This fair also marks the onset of the mango season in the country.

Phoolwalon-ki-Sair

This is the festival of flowers. Every year, both Hindu and Muslim florists carry a procession with exotic and rare kinds of flowers to be offered at the Jog Maya temple and the Saint Qutubuddin Bakthiyar Kaki. These florists are witness to various cultural events like Ghazals, Qawwali and dance performances. This is usually conducted in the Mehrauli area.

India International Trade Fair

This fair is also known as the Delhi Trade Fair. In terms of number of visitors, this fair is the biggest in the country. This is a massive fair that houses products from all over the country and from about 100 countries. It is held every year between 14th and 27th of November. This is the place where you can literally shop till you drop.