It’s January. Let's get festive!

India never stops celebrating and the land is filled with festivals. While some are cultural, others are purely religious and yet they all contain the very essence of Indian festivals – colour and energy. If you plan to travel in January, here are some festivals to look out for.

The Hampi Festival, Karnataka
The Vijayanagar capital is all dressed up for the festival. Starting January 10, the festival goes on for three days and Hampi hosts a carnival. When I visited the festival several years ago, it was filled with puppet shows, music and dance extravaganza, local folk performances and processions. All kinds of eateries were available there. I had seen a board announcing “African thali” as well. The events now include a bit of adventure activities as well. If you are planning to hit the festival at the last minute, brace yourself for crowds.

See more: Magical Hampi

Goa Heritage Festival and Grape Escapade
Goa is not always partying. A heritage festival showcasing folk dances and traditional performances is on the cards this month. There are stalls selling everything Goan from sausages to cashews to feni to local art forms . This festival is between January 7 – 11, but fret not if you have missed it, because at the end of the month, Goa is celebrating again with a Grape Escapade. No, not feni. This is all about red red wine.

See more:

Goa's second heritage festival is bigger and better

Goa's Shigmo Festival

The International Kite Festival in Gujarat
All roads lead to Gujarat as Uttarayan or the International Kite Festival kicks off in Ahmedabad from January 9 to January 15. The sky is filled with kites of all colours and shapes.  Some are like animals, some like dancers. The kite fliers come from all over the world to showcase their skills. This is one colourful festival you would not want to miss. While you are in Gujarat, visit Bhuj as well as the Kutch festival ends by mid-January.

See more: When the sky filled up with kites

Pongal and Mammalapuram Dance Festival
Pongal is a festival and Pongal is also a dish savoured by Tamilians all over the world. The harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu coincides with Makara Sankranti on January 14. Pongal is best celebrated in villages where locals cook the dish made of rice, lentils, milk, water and spices in a pot out in the open, while farmers celebrate everything from their cattle to the farm, offering their gratitude to the sun god, nature and their cattle. The celebrations last for a week. If you visit Madurai, you can see Jallikattu, where the bulls are being tamed. If you are in Tamil Nadu this January, then do visit Mahabalipuram or Mammallapuram for their annual dance festival that continues till end of the month.

See more:

Raging bulls on the run

Jaipur Literary Festival
For four days every year, the Pink City turns pages feverishly as internationally and nationally renowned authors share a common platform. There are several sessions, book readings, discussions, musical evenings and you get a chance to meet the writers and listen to them speak. The festival is between January 17-21. Book your dates now.

Besides these, every state in India is celebrating. Makara Sankranti is celebrated in every state , while music and dance shows are celebrated in Orissa and West Bengal. Theyyam performances are on in Malabar Kerala and coastal Karnataka.

Have we missed any festivals and celebrations this month? Leave a comment