India Events

Usually held over the month of May when the gardens are in full bloom, visitors are invited to the Gardens of Gangtok to enjoy the visual feast of flowers and plants. The gardens are famed throughout India for their beauty and attract thousands of visitors from across the neighbouring states. At this time of the year the gardens explode into a riot of colour and smells as the many plants and flowers enter full bloom including vibrant orchids, gladioli, roses, cacti, herbs, creepers and ferns. A popular food festival also promises visitors many delectable treats.

GoMissing Expeditions invites you to visit the Valley of Flowers in Uttaranchal! See millions of rare flowers including the Blue Poppy and Cobra Lily bloom amongst thousands of herbs and plants endemic to the area. Our ace naturalist who will be accompanying you on the trip will point these flowers out to you and explain their characteristics & significance in this incredible ecosystem. Valley of flowers was declared a national park in 1982 and is now a world heritage site. Every few days, in the months of July and August, the valley changes color. It takes after the predominant color of the flowers growing in the valley. The legend goes that the valley is inhabited by fairies, and why not, a place of such astounding beauty has to be the abode of fairies! Join us as we seek out the elusive fairies and endangered species through the forested slopes, wander amongst the snow covered mountains and drink nectar off numerous waterfalls in the valley.

This festival celebrates the mighty Sindhu River or Indus River which gives India its name. The event attracts devotees from miles around, many of whom bring water from their own local river to tip into the Sindhu River. The festival is a lively affair that includes live music, dancing, street theatre and craft fairs. One of the purposes of the event is to promote cultural understanding amongst the different people of India.

Two-day festival celebrating the ubiquitous Indian mango fruit with quizzes, competitions, mango tasting and over 400 varieties of the fruit on display. India is one of the world's biggest producers of mangoes, and during this event in Delhi, the Dilli Haat, which is constructed in the form of a traditional market place with a host of people selling arts, crafts and speciality foodstuffs, is turned over almost exclusively to the humble fruit, in its many shapes and forms.

Another important Hindu festival, Krishna Janmashtami, to give it its full name, marks the birth of Krishna, avatar of the deity Vishnu. At the beginning of the day, the people of Delhi take ritual baths at dawn, then make their way to the brightly decorated temples dotted around the city. Mass visits to the major temples, particularly the ISKCON temple on Hare Krishna Hill and Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, are the focal point of the festival.

This national holiday celebrates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, known as the ‘Father of the Nation’. A quiet affair celebrated with prayer meetings and commemorative ceremonies, it is designated a ‘dry’ day when alcohol cannot be purchased. The United Nations General Assembly has declared the date as the ‘International Day of Non-Violence’.

Camels, decorated cattle, unusual competitions, meditating saints, colourfull stalls and more with the stunning backdrop of the deserts of Rajasthan in Pushkar.

The Bikaner Festival is held annually in celebration of the ‘ship of the desert’, the camel. Colourful processions, camel races, camel milking, fur cutting design, the best breed competition, camel acrobatics and camel bands entertain the crowds. Music and fire-dancing combine with dazzling fireworks to light up the fortified Desert City.

January 14th is known as Makara Sankranti, the day of the equinox. Hindus believe that those who die on this day escape from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Thousands of kites fill the sky, some with flickering lanterns. Local cuisine, folk art and handicrafts add to the cultural experience.

The Jaisalmer Desert Festival showcases the stunning culture of the region and is held against the striking backdrop of the Jaisalmer fort. Snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats, musicians, dancers, camel races and turban tying competitions all vie for your attention and the festival closes with a light and sound display set against the moonlit sky.

The Blue Lotus Festival is an event focused on presenting the richness of genres and styles of best of Indian Sufi, Folk, Traditional, Gypsy, Tribal, Devotional, Spiritual and Indigenous music. The festival will be celebrated in Pushkar – an ancient town of great cultural and historical importance in Rajasthan, India. In addition to the music, night-time showcases, camel safaris, and film screenings will take place at the festival.

This three day festival is an extravaganza of colour, noise and excitement held annually in the state of Goa. With a distinct Portuguese flavour the streets are filled with music, dancing, food, drink, theatre, floats and processions.

Hindu festival of harvest and fertility when the streets of Delhi are overrun with people bombarding each other (and stray tourists) with brightly coloured powder and water. The event begins the previous night, when bonfires (holikas) are lit all over the city to symbolise the victory of good over evil – and on these effigies of the demon Holika are burned. The day itself is marked with general feasting and celebration.

This hindu festival celebrates the birth of Lord Rama with processions, music, readings, and re-enactments of scenes from the Ramayana. Less exuberant than Holi, it's nevertheless a significant event in the Hindu year, and there is plenty for the observer to see, including the parades with effigies of Rama, who is supposedly the seventh incarnation of Visnhu.

Dubbed the 'festival of all festivals', the annual Thrissur Pooram is a spectacular event that attracts revellers from miles around. The event dates back to the reign of Sakthan Thampuran (1775-1790) and was a means for the two main geographical regions of the town - Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi - to display their strength. To this day, the festival still includes two teams of richly-adorned elephants, live music, processions, lots of food and drink and huge fireworks display. Celebrated during the Malayalam month of Medam (April/May), visitors will need plenty of energy to keep up with proceedings which begin at about 0600 and continue through the night and finish about midday the following day.

Also known as Vesak Day, this day celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. Events and celebrations take place in Buddhist temples all over India but none so big as the celebrations at Bodh Gaya near Varanasi. Pilgrims travel from miles around to pay homage to Lord Buddha in a day of celebrations that is marked with prayer meetings, religious services, group meditation sessions and a huge procession.