Festivals are a huge part of India’s rich cultural heritage, and hundreds of them take place all over the sub-continent throughout the year. Of course, some are more unique than others. Visiting and taking part in these uncommon celebrations is an experience you will never forget, so why are you waiting?
Don’t Have Enough Money to Plan Your Trip? Use a Line of Credit or Loan!
If lack of funds is keeping you from planning a trip, you can always consider an instant travel loan or personal line of credit for travel. This opens up new opportunities for you, especially if you want to visit festivals that only take place at a certain time of the year.
Not only can you book flight and train tickets with a personal loan for travel, but also pay for accommodation, sightseeing and meals. It’s also a great way to ensure you have spare cash for gifts and mementos to bring back with you. And the best part is, you can travel now and pay later!
Uncommon Indian Festivals You Should Visit At Least Once
If you’re looking for new and exciting travel experiences, these 7 cultural festivals of India are totally worth a visit:
- Snake Boat Race, Kerala – The serene backwaters of Alleppey play host to the Vallam Kali (boat game or boat race) festival between July and September every year, with the main race held on the second Saturday of August. This vibrant and unusual boat racing carnival is not to be missed!
- Desert Festival, Rajasthan – The Sam Sand Dunes, located 42 kilometers from Jaisalmer, provide a gorgeous backdrop for this incredible festival held every year in February. There are camel races, food stalls, music and dance, performances by folk artists, turban tying competitions and more.
- Goa Carnival, Goa – With float parades, traditional dances, live bands, night markets as well as delicious food and drink, this merry and colorful carnival is a real treat. It takes place at the end of February right before Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and abstinence for Christians.
- Rural Olympics, Punjab – The sports festival takes place during early February in Kila Raipur, 20 kilometers from Ludhiana. Locals compete in aerobatics, bullock cart and horse racing, and other rural sports, as well as unusual activities like using their hair to pull vehicles and mouth to lift plows!
- Rann Utsav, Gujarat – This festival celebrates the unique beauty and culture of the Kutch region. Along with beachside or lakeside fairs, there’s bird watching, horse riding, camel safaris, ATV riding, para motoring, archery, giant chess and more. It takes place between October and February every year.
- Hornbill Festival, Nagaland – The annual ’Festival of Festivals’ takes place at Kisama Heritage Village during the first week of December. It’s best known for live rock music performances by local and international bands, but check out the displays of local food, customs, songs and dancing while you’re there.
- Strawberry Festival, Panchgani – This festival takes place annually either in March or April. Set against the backdrop of lush hills, it celebrates strawberries in all their glory, from fruit picking tours at strawberry farms to stalls where you can sample and buy candied fruit, jams, preserves and pickles.
If you’re a travel enthusiast, visiting the country’s most unusual festivals should definitely be on your bucket list. There’s no experience as unique and fulfilling as taking part in one of these, especially if you like to soak in the local culture and connect with people wherever you go!
Author bio
Shiv Nanda is a financial analyst who currently lives in Bangalore (refusing to acknowledge the name change) and works with MoneyTap. Shiv is a true finance geek, and his friends love that. They always rely on him for advice on their investment choices, budgeting skills, personal financial matters and when they want to get a loan. He has made it his life’s mission to help and educate people on various financial topics, so email him your questions at shiv@moneytap.com.
