Given the great size of India, the vast diversity of its people, religions, cultures, languages and terrain, it is hardly surprising that a great wealth of culture and beliefs has grown up. Holidays are celebrated throughout the country in the form of colourful and exotic festivals which form an intrinsic part of India's celebration of life.

Great bursts of song, dance procession and colour are everywhere as certain cities, regions, and sometimes the whole country, comes to life. All festivals have a reason and are important for keeping alive ancient artistic and religious traditions. They are manifest in different ways with some being linked to aspects of fertility and renewal and others making the coming of seasons and harvest times.

New year is another occasion for festivity and is celebrated in different forms with various religious communities following their own calendars and traditions. perhaps the most widely celebrated of festivals, however, are religious; the feasts of saints, prophets, gods and gurus. These are particularly happy times, full of pageantry, music, elaborate rituals and times for prayer. Several festivals also take the form of fairs where locals come from miles around to buy and sell livestock.

People of different nationality, race and religion are welcome with festivals being occasions for families and communities to get together. Since most follow the Indian lunar calendar, dates change from year to year according to the Gregorian calendar. Below we list the approximate times of some of the major festivals enabling you to combine your holiday with one of these spectacular occasions.