Elephant Festival

Elephants are the centre of attraction at this festival held every Holi, in Jaipur, Rajasthan. They stride majestically, parading their decorated trunks and tusks. The festival begins with a procession of elephants, camels and horses, painted and gaily decorated with glittering ornaments and embroidered velvets. The elephants greet visitors, offer garlands to guests and walk past a jury of experts and tourists, vying for the "Best Decorated Elephant" shield. The animals are followed by lively folk dancers. Elephant races and elephant polo matches are special attractions. The highlight of the festivals is a hilarious tug of war between elephants and men. The Gaj Shringar exhibition displays everything connected with the elephant - ornaments, textiles (jhoo), howdahs and carriages, paintings, medicines and food. Tourists are encouraged to join in the dances, mount the elephants and play Holi.

Elephanta Festival

Nine nautical miles from the megapolis of Mumbai, just across the harbour, is the Elephanta Island, home to the Elephanta Caves, that date back to the 2 nd and 6 th century and are a UNESCO World Heritage site. This turns into a huge open-air auditorium during the Elephanta Festival held every year. The feast of dance and music, celebrated under the stars is surely not to be missed.

Ellora Festival

This festival of dance and music is organised in the splendid surroundings of the magnificent Ellora caves in Maharashtra, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Garden Festival

If you love flowers, you should at this spectacular flower show, held in the capital city, Delhi, each year. A humongous variety of flowers and exotic plants are on display.

Goa Carnival

February heralds the carnival at Goa. For three days and nights, the legendary king Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with colour. The Carnival is a truly Goan celebration. That means it has a Portuguese flavour with continuous singing, dancing, lively music, lots to eat, floats and processions. The week long festivity marks the period February-March before the beginning of the austerities of Lent.

Guru Purnima

India pays homage to all teachers ( gurus ) on the full moon ( purnima ) day of the month of Ashadh (July) . Students visit their elders, teachers and guides, and show their appreciation and respect with gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets.

Guru Purnima dates back to the time of gurukuls - places in ancient India, similar to boarding schools, where students stayed with their gurus and their families, getting an education that included not just the 3Rs but also spiritual training. Guru Purnima is also known as Vyas Purnima in memory of Ved Vyasa, the sage and guru who wrote the great epic, 'Mahabharatha', the 18 'Puranas' and classified the 'Vedas' of the Hindu Dharma. Religious discourses and public readings of the Bhagwad Gita (the Holy Book of the Hindus) are held.