India is famous for its deep cultural, philosophical, and traditional values. Being a secular nation, Indians enjoy every festival with full pomp and show. Each festival in India is celebrated with the same delight and fervor as with what it is preached. December being the last month of the year, brings a cheerful time for merrymaking and excitement. This month marks the closure of the festival list for the given year giving way to a new set of celebrations waiting to be unveiled.
Though very famous for the chill and the cold, December is also the time for Santa to come down and spread the magic of
Christmas (
क्रिसमस) all over the world. Apart from this, December is also the time for the much-awaited
Hornbill Festival (
हॉर्नबिल महोत्सव). Held in the first week of December, Hornbill is a great opportunity to explore the rich traditions and beauty of Nagaland. The three-day-long festival of Andhra Pradesh, Lumbini is a huge platform to witness Buddhist traditions and related events, where thousands of tourists gather and celebrate the 2000-year-old tradition.
Melas and fairs have always been close to the hearts of the Indians. In Goa, the
Saint Francis Xavier Feast (
संत फ्रांसिस जेवियर उत्सव) will keep the citizens busy with its largely organized food fair and processions. Hundreds of tourists visit the Bom Jesus Basilica for its morning mass. A cultural event including beach sports, fireworks, races, and fun is lined up for the people of Kochi. The
Cochin Carnival (
कोचीन कार्निवल) will be celebrated at the Kochi Fort in the last week of December. The only hill station of Rajasthan is also set to celebrate their favorite
Mount Abu Winter Festival this month (
माउंट आबू शीतकालीन महोत्सव). It is known to capture the Rajasthani tribal culture and life with fireworks, races, and processions.
The Hindu festivals and vrats continue to bloom in December with Utpanna Ekadashi, Vivaha Panchami, Dhanu Sankranti, and
Geeta Jayanti (
गीता जयंती).
Kisan Diwas (
चौधरी चरण सिंह जयंती किसान दिवस) or Farmer's Day is commemorated on the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh and is widely celebrated on the 23rd of December each year in the nation.
December also hosts some of the significant UN days such as the
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (
विश्व विकलांग दिवस),
World AIDS Day (
विश्व एड्स दिवस), and
Human Rights Day (
मानवाधिकार दिवस).
And hold on, the splendor and grandeur don’t end here. The much-awaited celebrations and parties on
New Year's Eve (
नववर्ष की पूर्व संध्या) welcome the upcoming New Year and bid farewell to the one that gave us a lot to Cheer for!
Explore and enjoy the panorama of Festivals / Fairs / Melas celebrated in India.
