Owing to many cultures and religions, India is an epitome of resplendent festivals and fairs where the hues of festivity never lose its charm. Every festival is unique in its way and celebrating them while you pay a visit to the country is a great chance to explore the prosperity of Indian culture and heritage. Besides, the significance of the festivals in July lies in the enthusiasm and passion that they evoke among the people across regions and provinces. If you want to be a part of these festivities, plan your trip coincide with any of these splendid festivals and relish the excellent traditions and celebrations as part of India Tour Packages.
Here are the few spectacular festivals to enjoy in the month of July.
Hemis Festival, Ladakh
Among the most famous Buddhist festivals in the world, Hemis Festival is an annual festival held at Hemis Gompa, Ladakh. This 2-day festival is celebrated on the 10th day of the Tibetan lunar month by the people of Ladakh to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. This year, the festival is held on 11th and 12th July. This joyous occasion is further lights up with the splendid Mask Dance or Cham Dance by Lamas which depict the triumph of good over evil. Over 80,000 people, including locals and visitors from India and overseas, visit Ladakh in order to witness these celebrations. The festival takes an auspicious turn every 12 years in the Tibetan Year of the Monkey when the two-story high ‘Thanka’ depicting Padmasambhava is displayed.
Also Read: 15 Most Famous Festivals of India
International Mango Festival, Delhi
The International Mango Festival is a splendid 2-day festival held every year in Delhi since 1987. Organized by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), it will be held on 9th and 10th July at Dilli Haat this year. The Mango festival is showcasing more than 500 varieties of mangoes like Dussehri, Langra, Chausa, Fazli, Neelam, Banganpalli, Alphonso, etc. Apart from tasting & buying some mango products, one can also participate in many competitions like mango eating competition, mango slogan writing, and a quiz about mangoes which adds more fun to this event. Besides, one can also visit Red Fort, India Gate, Qutub Minar, Jantar Mantar, etc. Other popular attractions include Rashtrapathi Bhavan, Akshardham Temple, and Lotus Temple as part of Delhi Tour Packages.
Puri Rath Yatra
Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the most awaited and much-celebrated festivals in Orissa and across India. Also called Gundicha Yatra, Chariot Festival, and Navadina Yatra, it is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha Ashadha month as per traditional Oriya Calendar. Observed this year on 4th July, it marks the annual visit of Lord Jagannath to his birthplace along with his brother Balarama and sister Subhadra. During Rath Yatra, the wooden idols of Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra are taken out for procession in three chariots to Gundicha Temple of Puri and remain there for a week. Then the deities or Rath Yatra return to the Main temple on the 9th day. The Rath Yatra attracts approximately 17 lakh visitors to this temple town as part of Puri Tour Packages.
Karsha Gustor Festival, Ladakh
Karsh Gustor Festival is one of the auspicious Buddhist festivals celebrated every year in the month of July/August. Also known as Spitok Gustor Zanskar Festival, the festival will be held from 30th July to 31st July this year. Karsha Monastery, the largest and the most important monastery in Zanskar celebrates this two-day festival annually to recognize the victory of good over evil. Black Hat Dance and Masked Dance by the monks are the main highlights of this festival. Apart from the joyful music and dance, one can also get an opportunity to witness the vibrant colors of the region during Karsha Gustor.
Bonalu Festival, Hyderabad
One of the biggest festivals of Telangana, Bonalu is an annual festival usually observed during the months of July/ August in the famous twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad and also other parts of Telangana state. This festival is dedicated to Goddess Mahankali. In 2019, Bonalu will extend over four Sundays – 7th July, 14th July, 21st July, and 28th July. The festivities are first held at Mahankali Temple in Golconda Fort. The second Sunday rituals will be held in Balkampet Yellamma temple and Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad, with Rangam and Ghatam, takes place on the following day. The final and biggest event happens at Sri Matheswari Temple of Lal Darwaza in the Old City of Hyderabad on the last Sunday. Bonam means feast in Telugu, and it signifies the offerings (rice cooked in milk and jaggery) presented to the Mother Goddess in return for fulfillment of vows. Women carry decorated clay pots filled with offerings on their heads to the temple in order to thank Goddess Mahakali for her blessings all-round the year. Marked with colorful attires, big feasts, and dance performances, these festivities attract a large number of devotees as well as tourists as part of Hyderabad Tour Packages.
Dree Festival, Arunachal Pradesh
Known to be the biggest and the most renowned festival of the Apatani tribe, Dree Festival is an annual festival celebrated in the month of July with great enthusiasm in Zero district of Arunachal Pradesh. Observed this year on 5th July, it is an agricultural festival where the people of the Apatani tribe pray to the deities of Tamu, Metii, Danyi, and Harniang for a good harvest. They are worshipped by offering sacrifices of fowls, dogs, pigs, chickens, eggs, mithuns and cows. During the festival, every individual prepares rice beer and women present a vessel of rice beer to their elderly brothers, sisters, son-in-law, etc. as a symbol of love and affection. Folk songs, traditional dances, and other cultural performances by the tribes have also become a part of this three-day long agricultural festival.
Champakulam Boat Race, Kerala
One of the oldest Snake Boat Races of Kerala, Champakulam Boat Race is all set to begin on 15th July this year in the placid waters of River Pampa at Champakulam near Alappuzha. This is the first boat race held during the monsoon season in Kerala. It is celebrated on moolam day in the Malayalam month of Midhunam since centuries as a tradition to commemorate the installation of Lord Krishna’s idol in Ambalappuzha Temple. The festivities include spectacular water floats, decorated boats, vanchipattu – the song of the oarsmen and the popular Chundan Vallam race. The race is held in various stages for various categories of boats. The banks of the Pampa River get flooded by people from far and near, cheering the oarsmen and witness the grand spectacle as part of Alappuzha Tour Packages.
Amarnath Yatra
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Amarnath Cave is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India for Hindus. Amarnath Yatra is a 46-day long annual yatra to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath which will commence this year from 1st July, the day of Masik Shivratri and would conclude on 15th August, the day of Shravan Purnima. Surrounded by snowy mountains, the cave itself is covered with snow most of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for pilgrims. Managed by Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), it is one of the toughest pilgrimages in India to visit as it features extreme weather, dangerous track, as well as very high altitude. Thousands of Hindu devotees make an annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave on challenging mountainous terrain to pay homage to Lord Shiva here as part of Jammu & Kashmir Tour.
Malabar River Festival
South India’s only extreme adventure competition, the Malabar River Festival, is back for the seventh edition this year from 26th to 28th July. It is organized on the behalf of Kerala Tourism by DTPC Kozhikode and Madras Fun Tools. With its top quality competitors and the amount of prize money, it is considered as Asia’s biggest Kayaking festival which attracts a huge number of spectators as part of Kerala Packages. Held across the rapids of the rivers Kuttiyadi, Chalipuzha, and Iruvanjhipuza in Malabar, it brings together top whitewater athletes from around the world, with kayakers from more than 15 countries expected to participate in Extreme Race, Boater Cross and Giant Slalom categories to showcase their Kayaking skills.
Behdienkhlam Festival, Meghalaya
Another important festival celebrated in July in India is Behdienkhlam. It is an annual event held every year at the small peripheral town of Jowai, Meghalaya. Held from 14th July this year, this long festival is observed as a traditional celebration by the Pnar tribe of Meghalaya after agricultural sowing is over. Khlam means plague and behdien means to drive away with sticks. Hence, the festival is held to drive away negative forces that may affect the crop. The festivities take place over three days and culminate with a procession of chariots and ceremonial tree trunks to a sacred pool full of water. Another highlight of the occasion is a football match held between locals and the winner is believed to have a bumper harvest.