India's 7 Most Unique Cultural Festivals

There are many more cultural fests like the Kumbh. Mayur Sanap gives you a peek into India's lesser-known fiestas, that will surprise you with their deeply-rooted traditions and rituals.

Pic: Munish Sharma/Reuters

Marbat Festival, Nagpur

A social festival very specific to Maharashtra’s Nagpur, the 136-old Marbat celebrations involve two huge effigies being taken through the lanes of Nagpur in a long procession. These effigies are then burnt with the chants: ‘Ida, pida gheun jaa ge Marbat (Take away evils and miseries with you Marbat)'.

Pic: Kind courtesy V.narsikar/Wikimedia Commons

Ratha Yatra, Puri

Celebrated with much pomp and fervour during the rainy season, Ratha Yatra or The Festival of Chariots, is an annual cultural extravaganza devoted to Lord Jagannath in Puri, Orissa. This vibrant festival sees gorgeously-decorated wooden chariots carrying the murthis of the deities being hand-pulled along amidst massive crowds of devotees.

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Meenam Bharani Festival, Kodungallur

Every years, thousands of faithfuls gather, dressed in red, carrying traditional weapons at the Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy temple in the town of Kodungallur, Kerala. The festival is a wonderful display of various rituals and practices, one of which involves the butchering of hens near the temple as divine offerings to the goddess.

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Bhasm Holi, Varanasi

One of the most popular festivals of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is Bhasm Holi or Masan Holi or the Holi of Ashes. It involves devotees gathering in large numbers, running around Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat, and throwing burning pyre ashes at each other and amounts to quite a unique cultural phenomenon.

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Losar Festival, Ladakh

Losar, also known as Tibetan New Year, is celebrated with great zeal by Tibetan Buddhist community. The festive enthusiasm amounts to a display of indigenous Ladakhi culture via processions of music, dance, pretty garments and ornaments.

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Hornbill Festival, Kisama

Held annually during the first week of December in the Kisama heritage village of Nagaland, the Hornbill Festival is a culturally significant celebration of all Naga tribes. Music, dance, food, arts and crafts -- there’s a lot to explore here for cultural aficionados.

Pic: Kind courtesy Vikramjit Kakati/Wikimedia Commons

Dasara Festival, Hampi

The Mysore Dasara is undoubtedly huge, but legend has it that Hampi in Karnataka, was the place where Dasara celebrations began centuries ago during the rule of Vijayanagar empire. Today it is celebrated near the Virupaksha temple in Hampi with loads of excitement. The drummers, dancers, chants, ornamented elephants fill the main street during the evening and it makes for a very colourful affair.

Pic: Mayur Sanap/Rediff.com
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