The month of April marks many religious and fun festivals in India. Besides the famous April fool’s day, this month also witnesses a complete mixture of festivals from different religions and cultures.
Over the years, traveling for religious purposes, popularly known as spiritual tourism, has spread its roots worldwide. Although initially practiced as a way to attain liberation, religious tourism has now tilted a significant shift towards tourism and fun.
Religious festivals are usually seen occurring with regional recreational festivals throughout the country. Thus, this is often seen in tourism packages of different service providers like Donna Wanderer.
As April is on the go, the pleasant breeze of summer festivals has already set in the mood. Depending on your location in the country, our female travelers can find several festivals and places to travel to in this list by Donna Wanderer. The type of celebration and crowd varies from city to city. Our female travelers must read through the list and find the festival that suits them.
Let’s go!
North India:
Tulip Festival, Kashmir
Celebrated to illustrate the wide range of beautiful tulips in the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden. The tulip festival is one of the bucket list summer festivals of North India.
It is the largest in Asia, with an area of 30 ha. The festival begins as soon as spring sets in the Kashmir region. The nonchalant atmosphere of flowers, accompanied by dal lake, attracts several tourists every year. The garden festival remains open for two weeks, from 4th to 12th of April (except Sundays).
It is a suitable option for our female travelers looking for some hustle and bustle with a calm and beautiful environment and mild temperatures.
Baisakhi, Panjab
Just next in line to Lohri, Baisakhi is the most enthusiastically celebrated festival in Panjab. It is celebrated as the beginning of the Sikh new year in the current scenario.
It marks the birth of Sikhism as a collective faith. Along with this, it is also celebrated to mark the harvest season.
The festival witnesses colossal pomp and show with dancing, singing, cultural and craft fests, exhibitions on Punjabi culture, and FOOD!
Although what might seem like a festival of Punjab, there are numerous counterparts to this festival in different parts of the country.
So, our female travelers and Donna wanderers need not worry. There could be a similar festival near you if you can’t visit Punjab 😉.
Kumbh Mela, Allahabad
There shouldn’t be any Indian who isn’t familiar with hearing the incidence of two brothers getting lost in the Kumbha Mela and reuniting after years.
What might seem like an exaggeration is an actual truth given the large scale of this festival. The festival is celebrated after 12 years as the Maha Kumbh (Lucky of you to have the Maha Kumbh this year).
The festival is celebrated in 4 parts of the country, consecutively. The Allahabad region is the first to witness the festival in chronology (from January to April). However, a crowded festival, proper sanitation, and resting arrangements consider females. So, our female travelers don’t need to shy away from the crowd and witness this opportunity.
Mahavir Jayanti, Uttar Pradesh
Mahavir Jayanti is an actively celebrated Jain festival in Uttar Pradesh. It is celebrated as the birthday of Mahavir, the last Jain Tirthankara. The celebrations include ‘abhisheka,’ chanting of Mantras, and massive rallies across all the Jain temples.
The festival is not just limited to Uttar Pradesh; Thus, you can find the celebrations taking place in any place of the country with Jain temples.
Urs Festival, Rajasthan
The Ajmer Sharif of Rajasthan is widely acknowledged for its beauty and Islamic importance worldwide. The beauty of the place is enhanced in April with the 6-day festival. Urs is celebrated at the Dargah.
This festival commemorates the Chishti Saint Khawaja Moinuddin. Large processions (only for males) are seen across the town’s streets. The culture of the Sufi community is well reflected in the entire festival. The female travelers can visit the Dargah, take place in the prayers and celebration (except procession).
Dada Saheb Phalke film festival, Delhi
The festival marks the birth anniversary of the father of Indian cinema, Dhundiraj Govind Saheb Phalke. The festival witnesses many film industry celebrities are coming over to pay tribute to him.
The Indian cinema, to which most of our female travelers owe the concept of their prince charming, is on a creative display during the festival. Films, posters, acts, plays, and young artists displaying their interests and talents fill up the entire space of the festival.
Flamenco and Gypsy Festival, Jodhpur
Rajasthan and festivals always go hand in hand. Already known for its rich heritage and monuments, Rajasthan is also a popular option for travel because of its vibrant cultural life and festivals. The Flamenco and Gypsy festival is one of those festivals.
The festival represents the art and culture of Spain and Rajasthan through their dances and music. It is done to reflect the happy relations between the two places. The festival is known for its lively atmosphere. Jodhpur festival, a women traveler safe site, is a great option to visit this April.
South India:
Ugadi
Also known as Samvatsaradi, the festival of Ugadi marks the celebration of the Hindu new year in South India. It is celebrated in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana.
It is similar to the Gudi Padwa of Maharashtra and begins with ‘Abhyanga,’ the oil bath. A special dish, believed to represent all feelings of life, called “Ugadi Pacchadi,” is served. It comprises Jaggery, salt, Chili, Neem, and Tamarind, indicating all the five flavors one can taste.
The local priests make predictions about the following year. Despite the Hindu new year being actively celebrated in all parts of the country, the Donna Wanderer community members are advised to witness the celebration in different states. It will give our travelers a mix of celebration, religion, travel, and fun.
Thrissur Pooram Elephant Festival, Kerala
According to the Malayalam calendar, when the moon rises with the Pooram star in medam month, the festival of Thrissur Pooram is celebrated. It is the biggest and the most famous Pooram in the country.
Many priests, people, and elephants are gathered at the Vadakkunnathan temple, Kerala. The week-long festival begins with flag hosting and is followed by extensive fireworks.
The elephants push open the temple’s main entrance, and the festival officially begins. The decorated elephants and cultural performances are one of an experience for all travelers.
Painkuni Festival, Kerala
The Painkuni festival is celebrated at a Vishnu temple called Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. One of the most celebrated festivals of Kerala, the festival aims at propitiating Lord Indra. The 10-day festival begins with flag hoisting. Giant fiber effigies of the Pandavas are placed in the temple premises. On the 9th day of the festival, a royal hunt takes place.
North-East:
Bihu, Assam
April is the month of harvesting in the Indian subcontinent. Like the rest of the country, Assam also celebrates harvesting its crops.
Being one of the most important and popular festivals celebrated in April, Bihu is contemporary to Baisakhi.
It is characterized by celebrations that include many folk songs and dances, enormous feasts, and other events. Assam, famous for its tourist activity and safety of women travelers, is also an agriculture-dependent state which adds to the extent of the celebration of this festival. It also witnesses bull-fights, birds fighting, and setting fire to Mijas.
Shad Suk Mynsiem, Meghalaya
Another famous festival of North-East India is the Shad Suk Mynsiem, celebrated every year in Meghalaya. It is a characteristic festival of the Khasi tribe.
Thus, a travel plan to this festival is not only a recreational activity but also a cultural influx of tribal values. The Khasi men and women celebrate it in a very traditional manner.
Also known as the ‘Thanksgiving Dance’ in this part of northeast India, a substantial cultural dance and music program takes place at the Wiking ground. Khasi women are decorated in silk dresses and gold ornaments.
At the same time, the Khasi men show up in silk dhotis, waistcoats, plumed turbans, and traditional ornaments to perform various rites and dance together.
This festival will be an overwhelming experience for the members of our Donna Wanderer community and other female travelers.
Aoling Festival, Nagaland
Aoling is the festival of the ferocious Konyak Tribes (also known as the head hunter tribes of Nagaland). It is celebrated in the Mon district of Nagaland.
The members of the tribal community spend most of their time doing agriculture activities, drinking alcohol, smoking opium, and hunting.
The festival is celebrated to mark the beginning of spring every year and is characterized by colors, vibrant dances and songs, traditional food, costumes, and plays.
Various traveler campaigns are organized by the local authorities, illustrating the celebrations’ best. The festival is full of Other April festivals all over India:
Jamaat-Ul-Vida
Jamaat-Ul-Vida, meaning “the Friday of Farewell,” is the last Friday of the month of Ramadan. It is believed to be the day when Hazrat Suleiman established the city of Jerusalem and Masjid-al-Aqsa.
Islamic communities celebrate it by reading Quran, praying, and conducting charity. Although not a popular holiday in India, the festival is celebrated enthusiastically in all the Dargah or mausoleums.
Easter
Easter is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is believed that Jesus returned to life three days after his burial.
To celebrate this, activities like special church services, music, candlelight, flowers, and church bells ringing occur. It is prominently experienced in Goa and south Indian states.
Ram Navmi and Chaitra Navratri
Chaitra, the Hindu calendar’s first month, is celebrated with a nine-night festival known as the Chaitra Navratri. The nine nights are dedicated to worshiping Goddess Durga and her nine forms through the nine days to seek her blessings for protection from evil and seek happiness.
The first day of the Chaitra is the first day of the Hindu calendar. Thus, the benefits of Goddess Durga play an auspicious role. The Navratri functions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, central and North India are top-rated tourist attractions. The Garba and Dandiya of Gujarat can be a significant attraction for female travelers.
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