Fairs and Festivals in July 2015 India

There are festivals galore around the month of July across the country, quintessentially reflecting the cultural diversity of the subcontinent. So, if you are looking for reasons to beat the summer heat, travelling in July will be a blessed release. Quality music, ethnic dance, and local food, to name a few, are some of the treats these exciting festivals bring during the month.

1. Champakulam Boat Race

When: July 1st

Where: Champakulam, Alappuzha district, Kerala

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It is no doubt that the boat races of Kerala are a one of a kind sporting event.

The Champakulam Boat Race is the oldest snake boat race of Kerala and the first boat race of the season. Colorful boats with fascinating designs attract both locals and travelers to witness this unique spectacle of speed, skill and endurance.

2. International Mango Festival

When: July 9th-10th, 2016

Where: Delhi

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Indian summers are incomplete without mangoes and this festival is an opportunity to relish them to the fullest. Head to the Mango Festival, which celebrates everything about the ‘King of all tropical fruits’, for some juicy mango tasting. Organized by the Delhi Tourism, the Mango Festival exhibits hundreds of mouthwatering varieties of mangoes like Dussehri, Langra, Chausa, Fazli, Neelam, Banganpalli, Alphonso etc., along with new hybrids from different Indian states.

Everything here is about mangoes. Mango based products are put on display along with the cultural programmes, culinary demonstration, quizzes and competitions at this mango extravaganza. The festival aims at promoting the domestic mango industry and exporters.

3. Dree Festival

When: July 4th – 7th

Where: Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh

Dree is a one of a kind agriculture related festival of the Apatani Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. This annual festival is celebrated to seek the blessings of the Gods and Goddesses of crops for harvest and protection of their crops, mainly rice. There is singing, dancing, sacrificial offerings, prayers and other cultural performances. Dree Festival of Arunachal Pradesh is one of the most famous events of the state.

The festival of Dree is a reflection of the rich traditional cultural heritage of the Apatani community.

4. Karsha Gustor Festival

When: July 31st - August 1st

Where: Zanskar, Ladakh

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Karsha Monastery, the largest and most important monastery in Zanskar, celebrates the Karsha Gustor- a festival that marks the victory of good over the evil. During the festival, a Black Hat Dance performance is followed by a Masked Dance performance by the monks. The masked Hat Dancers symbolizes the guardian divinities. Apart from music and dance, one gets to witness vibrant coloursat the Karsha Gustor Festival.

5. Eid ul-Fitr

When: July 8th

Where: All across India

Eid-ul-Fitr marks an end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid-ul-Fitr festival is celebrated to commemorate Islamic prophet Muhammad and his attainments by the God by breaking fast after a long period of fasting by eating delicious foods as a mark of brotherhood. Eid-ul-Fitr is observed with great enthusiasm across all parts of India.

6. Puri Ratha Yatra

When: July 6th

Where: Puri, Orissa

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The festival at Puri’s Jagannath Temple marks the annual journey of the deities Lord Jagannath (a reincarnation of Lords Vishnu and Krishna), along with and his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra on a chariot which are replaced by new idols symbolizing reincarnation.

It is the oldest, biggest and most visited Rath Yatra in the world.

This year, the festival takes on special importance as the idols are being replaced with newly crafted ones (the last time this occurred was 19 years ago).

Know more about the Jagannath Rath Yatra here.

Are you travelling this month? Here is a list of Best Places to Visit in July in India

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Fairs and Festivals in July in India

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