Indian Festivals in the Month of October

October is the month when most of the cities in India comes back to life. During this time, India in different lengths and breadths gets splurge into the happiness of festivity. The people of all sects decorate their homes with various types of accessories. From Southern India to Northern India, all festivals are celebrated in a different way. Details about different festivals of India are as follows:

Mysore Dussehra: Dussehra in celebrated all over India. By burning the effigies of the demon Raavana, people celebrate this festivity as the triumph of good over evil. But Mysore Dusshera holds a great significance in Southern India. Mysore is beautiful city dotted in Karnataka, South India. In most parts of India, Dussehra is celebrated for one day and but in Mysore Dussehra is celebrated for 10 days. In the year 2011, the celebrations for Dussehra will start from 28th September 2011 to 6th October 2011.

However, the main attraction takes place on the last day of the festival. A traditional Dussehra procession (known as Jumboo Savari) winds its way through the streets of Mysore, starting from Mysore Palace and ending in Bannimantap. It features an idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari, carried atop a lavishly decorated elephant. In the evening, there's a torch-light parade at the Bannimantap grounds on the outskirts of the city. Highlights include fireworks, daredevil stunts on motorcycles, and a laser show.

Mysore Dussehra: When and Where?

The Mysore Dussehra Festival is celebrated from 7:00 Pm to 10:00 Pm. The Mysore Palace is illuminated with 100,000 lights. The venue for Dussehra celebrations are auditorium, grounds, Maharaj’s Chamundi ground and Chamundi hill. During this time various exhibitions, stalls, and contests are also placed in which the locales as well the leisure travelers can participate. The main attraction of this festival is during the last day when a traditional Dussehra procession(known as Jumboo Savari follows the way through streets of Mysore, starting from Mysore Palace and ending in Bannimantap. It features an idol of goddess Chamundeshwari, carried a top a lavishly decorated caparisoned elephant. During the evening time, the torch light parade is also carried in the evening. Apart from the processions, the main highlights of includes fireworks, daredevil stunts on motorcycles and a laser show.

Soorya Dance Festival, Thiruvananathapuram, Kerala: The Soorya dance festival is celebrated in the month of October. It starts from 1st October and ends on 10th October every year. It is celebrated for 10 days. The festival is organized by the Soorya stage and film society. In this festival various dance forms, various sound and light shows, paintings, film festivals, photography and lectures are organized. The travellers who want to get the glimpse of the real Indian culture at the Soorya dance festival.
Venue: Tagore Theatre

Navarathri: Navrathri festival is another festival which is celebrated in every corner of India. This festival is celebrated to offer prayers to the nine goddesses. It is believed that by performing the various holy ablutions according to the Vedic texts could relinquish the devotees from all sins. During this time special pujas, and mythological storey sessions are organized all over India. In Gujarat special Dandiya sessions are organized, in Kerala-the devotees of the goddess organize religious get together, in Kolkota Durga Puja festivity are organized with great interest and devotion. The temples over India are illuminated with colourful lights. During all these nine days special fasts are observed by the people all over India. These fasts are kept to purify the senses and get connected directly with the almighty goddess. On the ninth day, special pujas as well as prayers are performed. In the states like Punjab and Rajasthan, big carnivals are organized in the month of October.

Festival Date of Navrathri: 8 October 2011 to 16 October 2011

Diwali: Diwali this time will be celebrated on 26th October 2011. People on this day burn oil lamps with the aim to create enlightenment and vanish out darkness from their lives. In Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, this festivity lasts for 5 days. In some parts of Uttar Pardesh like Ayodhaya, the preparation for this festivity from 1 month ahead. The people during this eve, ornament their houses with the colourful lights and flowers. The tapestry of colourful lights can be seen all over homes and temples. The temples echo with the voice of Vedic chants. Carnivals, processions and get together are also organized at the regional levels. Prayers being the indispensable part of this festvity, are offered to the Lord Rama duirng the evenings. As Lord Rama returned with his consort Sita after the exile of 14 years, the memoir for that event is kept in the mind and Diwali is celebrated in full swing.