Ka Pomblang Nongkrem

Also called Shad Nongkrem, this colourful 5-day long event is the most important and elaborate festival of the Khasi tribe. Held annually in November at Smit near Shillong, Meghalaya, it gives thanks to the Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich harvest.

An important part of this festival is the Pomblang Ceremony, at which goats are sacrificed and offerings are made to the ancestor and ancestress of the ruling clan and U-Lei Shillong (the deity of Shillong peak). Sanctification of the tangmuri (pipes) as queen of musical instruments, forms part of the ritual. After the religious rituals, on the fourth day, Khasi men and women, dressed in traditional splendour, perform the famous Nongkrem dance, with young women dancing within a protective ring formed by young lads. The festival ends on the fifth day with a prayer for prosperity.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

The spotlight of this festival, held in the megapolis of Mumbai in January, is on fine, folk and performing arts and ethnic cuisines. Events include movies, concerts, competitions, exhibitions, food courts, street performances, workshops.

Kalidas Festival

Nagpur, in Maharashtra, is the venue for this festival, dedicated to the great Sanskrit Poet Kalidas. Celebrated every November since 1995, it is a feast of Indian classical dance and music. Upcoming artistes perform alongside experienced performers to make the festival a memorable experience.

Khajuraho Dance Festival

There's more to Khajuraho than erotic carvings on temple walls, and this week-long festival of classical dances, held in February/March each year proves it. All the classical dance traditions - Kathak, Bharathanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri and Kathakali - are on show, against the spectacular backdrop of the magnificently lit temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Modern Indian dance has also been added recently. The dances are performed by some of the best exponents in the field, in an open-air auditorium, usually in front of the Chitragupta Temple dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) and the Vishwanatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, belonging to the western group. They bring alive the former religious capital of Chandela dynasty, one of the powerful Rajput dynasties of Central India.

Along with the renowned performers, a number of craftsmen display their wares at an open market.

Konark Dance Festival

The floodlit Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of India's greatest architectural sights often described as a poem in stone, is the backdrop for this festival of classical dance held every December. Eminent dancers present their interpretations of various classical dance forms - Odissi, Bharat Natyam, Manipuri, Kathak and Chhau - as t he sound of ghungroo bells, flute and pakhawaj fill the air. A marvellous crafts mela and delectable cuisine add to the festive mood.

Kurukshetra Festival

Kurukshetra, Haryana, is the battlefield of the epic Mahabharata, on which Lord Krishna gave Arjuna, the Pandava prince, the advice enshrined in the Bhagwad Gita, the Holy Book of the Hindus. It is believed that Lord Brahma created the universe from Kurukshetra after performing a great yajna (sacrifice) here. Manu is said to have written his Manusmriti here, and it the Rig and Sama Vedas (Hindu holy scriptures) are also believed to have been compiled here. Lord Buddha and the Sikh gurus came visiting. All-in-all, it is an ancient holy land associated with the origins of Hinduism.

The Kurukshetra Festival coincides with Gita Jayanti, which celebrates the birth of the Gita. It is expectedly an exhilarating and spiritual experience. Pilgrims gather to take a dip in the sacred tanks of Brahma Sarovar and Sannehit Sarovar. Religious festivities include week-long Bhagwad Katha (Story-telling sessions of the Gita), recital of shlokas (sacred verses), dance dramas and deep daan at Brahma Sarovar. Free medical camps, book exhibitions and recitals of bhajans (religious songs) in the classical tradition are also organized.

Ladakh Festival

A colourful kaleidoscope of cultures - Central Asian, Tibetan, and North Indian - come alive in this festival held in September in Ladakh, nestled in the Western Himalayas. On display are traditional sports (polo and archery), folk dances and songs, age-old social and cultural ceremonies, art and handicrafts.

Lohri

Celebrated in Punjab on 13 th January, Lohri celebrates the successful harvest of the Rabi crops - an extremely important event in a predominantly agricultural community. It is a community festival, and celebrated as one. Children go from door to door to collect funds for community bonfires that are lit up in the evening. The villagers gather around the bonfires and offer sweets, puffed rice, til (sesame) and popcorn to the flames. The evening is spent singing, dancing, and exchanging greetings with family and friends.

After Lohri, the biting cold of North Indian winters begins to taper off.

Lucknow Festival

Held in November-December, in Lucknow, the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh, this festival perfectly captures the undying elegance and splendours of the ancient city formerly known as Awadh. The arts, crafts, and above all, heavenly cuisine, are yours to savour for 10 memorable days, bringing alive Lucknow's Nawabi past. Colourful processions, traditional dramas, Kathak dances in the Lucknow gharana style, music concerts (sarangi / sitar recitals, ghazals, qawalis, thumri), traditional village games ( ekka races, kite flying competitions, cock fights) . just choose what you want to be entertained by and surrender.