Fairs & Festivals of Delhi
Delhi's
festival calendar begins with the Republic Day parade on 26th January. It is
the most colorful of the city's festivals events and also the biggest crowd-puller.
Hundreds of thousands people line the route from Rajpath to the Red Fort to
watch the pageant of solders, camel crops, armored regiments, brass bands, folk
dancers, school children, war veterans and elaborate floats representing the
cultural diversity of India. The two hour long parade is usually rounded off
with a much-awaited spectacular fly - passed presented by Air Force squadrons.
A special display of folk dances also takes place at the Talkatora Stadium.
Three days later the Beating of the Retreat takes place at Vijay Chowk. Various
bands of the armed forces set the pace for marching troops against the grand
backdrop of Rashtrapati Bhawan.
In a much lighter vein, winter also witnesses the Vintage Car Rally when the
'grand old ladies', sprucedup for the occasion, make the long haul from Delhi
to Sohna. Winter is also the time for the popular Balloon Mela, the Surajkund
Crafts Mela on the outskirts of Delhi, and Delhi Tourism's Gardens Festivals.
The latter is a visual feast, for Delhi a blaze with flowers in the month of
February Delhi Tourism also organizes cultural performances during the Garden
Festivals.
Holi, the festivals of colors, marks the onset of spring. In August, the festival
Janamashtami, celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Ballets in the Kathak dance
style depict the life of Lord Krishna.
In early October, a festival specific to Mehrauli, in Delhi, takes place. This
the Phulwalon - Ki - Sair or the Flower sellers Procession, which originated
in the 16th century. The highlight is a prossional of people carrying decorated
floral fans, which are blessed at the shrine of the 13th -century Sufi saint,
Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtyar Kaki and at the hindu temple of Jogmaya, both in Mehrauli.
The procession ends with a formal ceremony at the Jahaz Mahal, a 16th - century
pleasure resort by the side of a lake.
Also in October is Dussehra, commemorating the victory of Lord Rama over the
demon king, Ravana. A month - long Ram Lila dance festival is organized by the
Bhartiya Kala Kendra, depicting seens from the epic Ramayana, while on Dussehara
evening itself, gigantic effigies of Ravana are set a fire. The biggest venue
for this event is the Ram Lila ground, of Asaf Ali Road. Delhi Tourism organizes
the popular Qutab Festival in October. Musicians and dancers performs at night
by the city's 12th -century land mark, the Qutab Minar.
Diwali, the festivals of lights is preceded by several Diwali Melas, where food,
handicrafts and a variety of earthern lamps and candles are sold. Large communities
of Indians from different states reside in Delhi. As a result, regional festivals
are also celebrated in the capital.
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