The air being filled with festive excitement, November is an excellent month to visit India for tourists. In fact, the country has always lured tourists from around the world as it is the breeding ground of numerous religions and cultures. And one of the major reasons being the myriad celebrations in the form of cultural events and religious festivals, spread across the year. Moreover, this year November holds some very special events and festivals of India which might just grab everyone’s attention as these fairs and festivals show the rich cultural tradition and heritage of India as part of India Tour Packages. To know more about various events and festivals, explore the list of top 10 Indian Festivals to Celebrate in November 2019 here.
Rann Utsav, Kutch
A celebration of Gujarati culture and traditions, Rann Utsav is one of the legendary festivals celebrated in India in the month of November. This desert carnival takes place in the Great Rann salt desert of Kutch in Gujarat. Organised by the residents of Kutch in collaboration with Gujarat Tourism, this 3 months long festival starts on 28th October 2019 and ends on 23rd February 2020.
The festival is a complete bliss with warm hospitality, folk performances, adventure sports, and ethnic demonstrations. Hundreds of luxury tents are set up on the fringe of the white salt desert to accommodate visitors. During this fest, the area becomes a colourful carnival of the local artisans who exhibit traditional textiles, handicrafts and ornaments. Many government and private organizations unite during this festival to offer great local food and artefacts to the tourists across the globe as part of Gujarat Tour Packages. Plan your visit during full moon nights to appreciate the glorious phenomenon of the white salt desert glowing silver under the moonlight.
Also Read: Most Popular Tourist Places in Rann of Kutch
International Yoga & Music Festival
The International Yoga & Music Festival is held from 1st November to 7th November 2019 at Nada Yoga School in Swargashram, the oldest ashram in Rishikesh. Often called as the yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh is one of the most famous places in India to study Yoga and is also the starting point to the four holy places – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is organized by the Nada Yoga Trust every year since 2008 with an aim to give all people an opportunity to learn various styles of yoga include ashtanga, hatha, Iyengar, kriya, power, and nada yoga along with Indian classical music from the team of professionals from Rishikesh, India and abroad. This is one of the state-of-the-art festivals in the month of November in India celebrated for 7 days which can be witnessed as part of Rishikesh Tour Packages. The festival also features concerts, live music performances, and lectures. The concert and most of the lectures will be free of cost.
Also Read: Popular Yoga Retreats in India for a Spiritual Escape
Chhat Puja
One of the unique festivals of India, Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival celebrated all across North Indian states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal as well as the Madhesh region of Nepal. This eco-friendly festival is dedicated to the Sun God and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes.
Usually, Chhat Puja is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika typically in the month of October or November. In 2019, this festival takes place on 2nd November by sunset. People gather near the river edge, chant prayers and perform many rituals. If you want to experience the festival at its best, then visit the banks of Ganges River in Varanasi. Juhu Beach in Mumbai is also one of the best places to witness these festivities during your Mumbai Tour.
Wangala Festival
Another most popular festival of India in November, Wangala is the biggest harvest festival celebrated by Garo tribes of Meghalaya and Assam as a thanks-giving ceremony to Misi Saljong, the deity of agriculture. Also known as the 100 Drum Wangala Festival, the festival signifies the beginning of winter and also marks the end of agricultural season. The three day cultural extravaganza will begin on 8th November 2019 and continue till 11th November 2019 at Asanang, Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
Music and dances form a significant part of the Wangala celebrations. The main attraction of the festival is the music and orchestra of drums, gongs and flutes, and an ancient traditional flute made of buffalo horn. The village chief, referred to as the Nokma, performs a ritual a day before the start of the festival during which freshly brewed rice-beer, cooked rice, and vegetables are offered to the Misi Saljong as thanksgiving for a rich harvest season. Festival highlights include a traditional dance competition among Wangala troupes from the Garo Hills, slow-cooking competition, and indigenous games, along with handloom and handicrafts exhibition.
Dev Deepavali
Dev Diwali or Dev Deepawali is a Hindu festival celebrated with great pomp and show in the Indian city of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh. Dev Diwali is the ‘Festival of Lights of the Gods’ and falls on the Kartik Purnima, fifteen days after Diwali. Held on 12th November this year, this is one of the auspicious festivals observed in November in India. The celebrations include the devotees dispersing floating earthen lamps in Ganga to show the way to the Gods towards the river. On the night of the festival, thousands of devotees from across the country gather on the ghats of the Ganges to watch spectacular Ganga aarti. Plan your Varanasi Trip to get the divine experience.
Pushkar Camel Fair
Locally called as Kartik Mela or Pushkar ka Mela, Pushkar Camel Fair is an annual multi-day livestock fair held in the town of Pushkar, Rajasthan, India. Held during the auspicious period of Kartik Poornima, the Pushkar Camel Festival 2019 is going to spray its colours from 4th November to 12th November. Attracting over 200,000 visitors, the Pushkar Camel Festival is considered as one of the largest camel festivals in the world and among the most celebrated Indian festivals in November. The traders come from different parts of the state for selling and buying camels and horses. The major highlights are competitions such as the camel race, matka phod, longest moustache, and bridal competition. This fair exhibits the folk culture of Rajasthan in a unique manner. A new addition to this celebration is the international balloon celebration. Also, Pushkar is the only place in India where there is a temple of Lord Brahma, among the top places to visit in Pushkar as part of Rajasthan Tour Packages.
Guru Nanak Jayanthi
Also known as Gurpurab or Guru Nanak’s Prakash Utsav, Guru Nanak Jayanthi marks the birth of first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. This is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism and is celebrated with great zeal in the state of Punjab especially in Amritsar. The birthday of Guru Nanak Sahib mostly falls on Kartik Poornima that is on 12th November 2019. During this festival, the Golden Temple in Amritsar will be decorated with numerous lights and is a sight to behold. It is usually celebrated for three days where on the first day the pilgrims conduct an Akhand Path (48 hours of non-stop recital of Guru Granth Sahib). The second day records a procession led by Panj Pyaras. In this procession, the Sikh flag and a palanquin carrying Guru Granth Sahib are carried out along with a group of singers. The third day is Guru Nanak Jayanthi when the devotees get up early and sing Asa-Di-Var and have langar in the afternoon. People also perform ‘Gatka’, a type of martial art with the sword.
Also Read: 19 Best Places to visit in Amritsar & Things to do
Puri Beach Festival
Puri Beach Festival reveals the majestic grandeur of Odisha. Sprawling sands of the Swargadwara Beach in Puri provides the perfect ambience for this festival that is held in November every year and lasts for about five days. The main aim of Puri Beach Festival is to present the art, crafts, culture, cuisine and tourism potential of the state on a single platform and to attract world focus on it. Lots of entertaining events like exhibitions, fashion shows, cultural programs, delicious cuisine, etc. are organized during this festival. Besides, the gigantic, larger-than-life sand sculptures of gods and goddesses from the Hindu pantheon are the biggest draw of this festival that can be witnessed as part of Orissa Tour Packages. Also, a variety of sports such as like beach volleyball, Kabaddi, Malkhamb (pole gymnastics) are conducted during this festival.
Majuli Festival
Majuli Festival is celebrated on the bank of the River Luit in Majuli Island of Assam. It is one of the most colorful festivals celebrated in the month of November in India that includes several cultural programs and exhibitions showcasing Assam handicrafts, tradition, folk culture, and cultural heritage. In 2019, the festival will be held from 21st to 24th November. Artists from across the country flock to Assam to participate in the cultural events of this festival. The Food Festival is also a part of the grand Majuli festival where one can tastes the delicacies of the state as well as the tribes of Majuli. The Majuli festival is also attended by artists and artisans who come to exhibit their handmade products. Some of these products include garments and traditional handicrafts, bamboo products and locally made cane.
Bundi Utsav
Bundi Utsav is a 3-day-long cultural affair held in the historic town of Bundi, Rajasthan. Organized by the Rajasthan Tourism Department, the Bundi Utsav brings it alive with the culture, folklore, traditions and craft of the region. The festival commences with a procession on 15th November 2019 and concludes on 17th November 2019. It features crafts fair, traditional rural sports, cultural exhibition, folk/classical music and dance program, and even a turban competition. The sparkling fireworks exhibited in the evening are the most alluring attraction of the Utsav. One can also enjoy souvenir shopping in the stalls around the festival region as part of Rajasthan Tour Packages.
