India is renowned throughout the world as a country with abounding traditional and cultural festivals because of the many different religions and cultures it has. It doesn’t matter which month of the year it is, it isn’t difficult to find at least a few exciting festivals to attend within almost any vicinity–that’s the beauty of India. India’s people love to celebrate, to honor, to dance, to sing, to perform, to challenge–you’ll find almost every form of the arts in many festivals across the country. With thousands of customs and traditions, there’s never a lack of excitement, awe, passion, and intrigue in each unique Indian cultural festival.
# Ladakh FestivalEach year from September 20th-September 26th, the Ladakh Festival kicks off in the Himalayas coldest reaches, a secluded destination that comes alive come the summer months with a colorful burst of life lasting through the short warm period. As a goodbye to summer, the festival highlights regional culture and sports in a week long dynamic event of archery and polo, sports, handicrafts, and ritual dancing. The destination itself is stunning and worth a visit, especially this time of year. The exhibitions of thanga, a rare type of embroidery painting done on silk, are an exceptional sight. There are also organized treks and white water expeditions to be enjoyed.
# Kala Ghoda Arts FestivalThe nine-day-long Kala Ghoda Arts Festival begins annually on the first Saturday of February and traditionally comes to an end on the final Sunday of the same month in Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda region. Inaugurated in 1999, the festival has seen massive growth over the years in both popularity and stature, attracting people from all over the country and the world. The non-profit team organizing the festival aims to bring awareness to the arts in this particular area and make Mumbai an official art district. A wealth of literary workshop, cultural performances, special theater events, and rows upon rows of food stalls are the focal point. Heritage walks, film screenings, and kid’s events are also at the forefront of this lively and exciting festival.
# Prithvi Theater FestivalIn Mumbai’s Maharashtra district, Prithvi Theater Festival is a huge event, one that begins in the first week of November. Started by one of Bollywood’s most popular actors, Prithviraj Kapoor, this event honors the finest of performing arts and promotes and nurtures the most impressive talent going. In the past, one of the most unique aspects of the festival is the Fringe Theater, where experimental performances are performed in front of smaller audiences. There are acoustic jam sessions, and a program called Stage Talk, where actors reminisce about some of their most interesting experiences. If you’re a stage show buff or just enjoy the odd theater piece, this festival is well worth attending, even if just for one show.
# Khajuraho Dance FestivalThe Khajuraho Dance Festival is Indian dance at its finest, coming back to its birthplace inside the 1,000 year-old Khajurho temples which are an exceptional backdrop to the ancient art form. Khajuraho Dance Festival is a week-long festival that happens annually in the first week of February in the Madhya Pradesh district of Chhatarpur in India’s central region. Once the sun sets, spectators really get a show as when the temples are illuminated in golden light, the perfect backdrop for a journey from past to present.
# Nehru Trophy Boat RaceIn beautiful Kerala, on the Malabar Coast in southern India, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race proceeds along the languid backwaters of the Alleppey, a regatta held on the second Saturday each August since 1952. The power coming from the rowers in this championship race is palpable–you’ve not seen or heard such enthusiasm since the World Cup. The best way to catch the race is to head there as early as you can manage and grab a spot along Punnamada riverbanks where you can watch the lengthy “snake” boats, called Chundan Vallam, each holding four rowers at the helm and more than 100 at the main oars.