2. The Aranmula Boat Race the oldest river boat fiesta in Kerala, the south
western State of India is held during Onam (New paddy harvest -AugustSeptember).
 A snake boat (or chundan vallam) is actually a long traditional canoe
style boat used by the people of the Kuttanadu region, in south India's
state of Kerala. Typical snake boats are 100 to 120 feet long, and hold
around 100 rowers.
What's the History Behind the Snake Boat Races:
 The battling snake boats of Kerala have over 400 years of history
associated with them. Their story can be traced back to the kings of
Alleppey (Alappuzha) and the surrounding areas, who used to fight with
each other in boats along the canals. One king, who suffered heavy
losses, got boat architects to build him a better vessel and the snake
boat was born, with much success. An opposing king sent a spy to learn
the secret of how to make theses boats but was unsuccessful as the
subtleties of the design are very hard to pick up. These days boat races
are held with much excitement during various festivals.
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3. Where are the Snake Boat Races Held:
 The Aranmula Boat Race is held along the Pampa River at Aranmula,
near Chengannur, around 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Alleppey.
 When are the Snake Boat Races Held:
 Snake boat races are mostly held from July to September, with the
exact dates varying each year depending on the phase of the moon.
Snake boat races are the highlight of the Onam Festival in
August/September, particularly the Aranmula Boat Race, which takes
place mid way through the 10 day celebrations.
More About the Aranmula Snake Boat Race:
 The Aranmula Boat Race is a two day, predominantly religious,
occasion. Rather than being a contest, it's more about retracing the
time offerings were carried on snake boats to the Aranmula
Parthasarthy Temple. This was done to protect the offerings from rivals
from another village. The whole occasion is a celebration of the day
Lord Krishna crossed the river. Position yourself on the banks of the
Pampa River near the temple in Aranmula to witness the spectacular
event. Traditionally dressed rowers, accompanied by groups of 25
singers, are cheered on by an exuberant crowd.
Travel to the Snake Boat Races:
 The closest airport to Alleppey is in Kochi, 85 kilometers (53 miles) away.
Alleppey has its own railway station, located a short distance south west
of the town center, and is readily accessible from Ernakulum (neach
Kochi).

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The International Mango Festival, held annually
in Delhi during early summer, is a twoday festival showcasing mangoes. It has been held
since 1987
It is organised by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation
Development Corporation (DTTDC).
More than 550 varieties and cultivars of mango are
featured in the festival for visitors to view and taste

6. 
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Notablechefs from five star hotels like the Maurya
Sheraton, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Inter-Continental
Hotel, Marriott India, Qutub Hotel and Claridges around
India demonstrate the preparation of
assorted recipes made with mango.
The festival is also an opportunity for agro-industries and
food industries processing mangoes into jams, pickles, fruit
juice and canned fruit to display their products.

7. For the mango judging competition, there are various categories
and a minimum of seven ripe mangoes are required for
competing in each. There is also a prize given for biggest
mango.
 Activities in the festival include cultural programmes and
recreational events like a mango eating competition for women,
mango slogan writing, a demonstration of mango carving, a
magic show, and a quiz about mangoes.
 More than 50 mango growers from across the country, mainly
from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Delhi, were given an
interactive platform to present the 'king of fruits'
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8. 
A spectacular flower show held in Delhi, every February, where
varieties of flowers and exotic plants are on display. Organised
by Delhi Tourism, DTTDC, in Garden of Five senses, Saidulajab,
Saket this annual event showcases thousands of varieties of
flowers. Flower enthusiasts and horticulturists find have a field
day. Apart from this, painting competitions for children, art
camp for budding artists and thematic cultural shows to
entertain the visitors are also held.

9. 
Sikkim is home to around 5,000 species of
flowering plants, 515 rare orchids, 60 primula
species, 36 rhododendron species, 11 oak
varieties, 23 bamboo varieties, 16 conifer
species, 362 types of ferns and ferns allies, 8
tree ferns, and over 424 medicinal plants. The
Government of Sikkim has decided to organize
the 2nd International Flower show from 23-27
February 2013. The Horticulture & Cash Crops
Development Department will be the Nodal
Department for organizing the event.
The main objectives of organizing the show are:
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To showcase the floral potential of Sikkim.
To promote Floriculture Industry in Sikkim.
To provide Flower growers of Sikkim an
International Exposition for understanding the
Global trend of Floriculture Development and
Flori-business.
To keep pace with the advancement of World
Floriculture.
To highlight Sikkim as a Floriculture State /
destination.
To promote Tourism in Sikkim.

10. 
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Date of Show-23rd to 1st March, 2013 .Duration of the Show -7 days
Venue-Saramsa, East Sikkim
Expected No. of participants-Flower show - 50
Materials - 100 Conference - 500
Expected No. of Visitors-2,00,000Source of funding-Govt. of Sikkim, Govt. of India.
The International Flower show 2013 will be a mega show, where participants from
different states as well as from International are expected in a huge number. The
targeted visitors to the show is around 1 Lakh, for which massive advertisements has
been given in the local, national and International papers and magazines.
SPONSORS For organizing this mega event requires huge financial involvement, which
can be pooled from different sources like, Government of Sikkim, Ministry of Agriculture
(GoI), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER), APEDA, NHB etc.

12. India's Assam Tea Festival attracts tea enthusiasts and
professionals from around the world to celebrate the tradition,
history and varieties of Assam teas, and to some extent, teas
from elsewhere in the world.
 The largest tea-producing state in the largest tea-producing
country in the world, Assam has a rich tea tradition in a country
with a distinctive, thriving tea culture.
 Tea producers from all over Assam are invited to bring their
wares to the festival. Vendors set up stalls at and offer tastings of
their latest harvest. Teas can be purchased at tea tastings.
 Perhaps the biggest activity apart from the tea tastings are
performances by the Jhumer, Assam's regional dance. Jhumer
consists of a group of brightly dressed people dancing around a
drummer, waving their arms.
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The Tea Festival is held in the district of Jorhat in the northeastern state of
Assam in India. Jorhat is well-known for its extensive tea gardens, and is
the nerve centre of the tea industry.
Jorhat has the world famous Teklai Experimental Centre. In this place
research work is carried out to find new varieties of tea and also the
curative effects of green tea.
The island of Majuli, the largest island on the Brahmaputra, and the
Nambar Forest Reserve can be visited from Jorhat. In Majuli there are
numerous monasteries and the Nambar Forest Reserve is famous for
being a regenerating hot spring.
Description of Tea Festival:
The Tea Festival of Jorhat in Assam is celebrated in various parts of the
state. The Tea Festival in Jorhat is all about tea, music and gaiety.
The celebrations of the Festival of Tea in Jorhat include visit to the tea
gardens, playing golf, safaris into the jungles, tasting delicious food
items, shopping and cultural entertainment. The adventure sports on
offer include angling and rafting in turbulent rivers.
The Tea Festival of Jorhat in Assam is a pleasant blend of a business trip
and a pleasure trip. Along with the beauty and cultural diversity of
Assam, tourists can also meet the warm hearted people of Assam.

15. The International Kite Festival (Uttarayan) is
regarded as one of the biggest festivals
celebrated.
 The festival of Uttarayan marks the day
when winter begins to turn into summer,
according to the Indian calendar.
 It is the sign for farmers that the sun is back
and that harvest season is approaching
which is called Makar Sankranti.
 Many cities in Gujarat organize kite
competition between their citizens where
the people all compete with each other.
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16. 
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During the festival, local food such as Undhiyu (a
mixed vegetable including yam and beans), sesame
seed brittle and Jalebi is served to the crowds.
In 2012, the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat
mentioned that the International Kite Festival in
Gujarat was attempting to enter the Guinness World
Records book due to the participation of 42 countries
in it that year.
The festival is celebrated in many cities of Gujarat like
Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Nadiad.
However, the International Kite Event takes place
in Ahmedabad (Kite capital of Gujarat) which
accommodates visitors from many international
destinations.

17. The best place to enjoy this festival is the Sardar Patel
Stadium (the cricket stadium with capacity of over 54,000
people)] or the Ahmedabad Police Stadium, where
people lay down to see the sky filled with thousands of
kites.
 In the heart of Ahmedabad, there is one of the most
famous Kite market- Patang Bazaar, which during the
festive week opens 24 hours a day with buyers and sellers
negotiating and buying in bulk.
 There is also a Kite Museum, which is located at Sanskar
Kendra in Paldi area of Ahmedabad. It was established in
1985, which has a numerous collection of unique kites.
 The festival takes place on 14 January of each year during
the Makar Sankranti and continues until the 15th of
January.
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18. 
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The symbolism of this festival is to show the
awakening of the Gods from their deep sleep.
Through India's history, it is said that India created the
tradition of kite flying due to the kings and Royalties
later followed by Nawabs who found the sport
entertaining and as a way to display their skills and
power.
Kite flying has been a regional event in Gujarat for
several years. However the first International Festival
was celebrated in 1989 when people from all across
the globe participated and showcased their
innovative kites.

19. 
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The idea of flying kites to celebrate Uttrayan was
introduced by Muslims from Persia.
In major cities of Gujarat, kite flying starts as early as 5 am
and goes until late night where approximately 8-10 million
people participate in the whole festival.
However, many visitors are international who come from
around the world, such as Japan, Italy, UK, Canada, Brazil,
Indonesia, Australia, the USA, Malaysia, Singapore, France,
China, and many more to take part in the celebration.
During the night, on the second day of the festival,
illuminated kites filled with lights and candles known as
tukals or tukkals are launched creating a spectacle in the
dark sky.
During the event, kite markets are set up alongside food
stalls and performers.

21. 
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Elephants are also an important part of the wildlife
safaris of Kerala as people also have a royal feeling
while traveling on an elephant.
In Kerala The great Elephant March is no less than
festival as it is celebrated in the famous city of Trichur.
The great elephant march begins on the grounds
of Trichur and ends at Thiruvananthapuram which is
the capital city of Kerala and this is a three day long
festival.
The march begins with the glorious group of elegantly
decorated and beautifully ornamented 101
elephants standing tall with their mahouts and the
beats of Chenda (a musical instrument).

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You can feed the elephants while the traditional Melam a kind of
Kerala ensemble play the traditional pieces. It is time to be a part of this
fun filled festival and enjoy luxurious traditional lunch of Kerala.
There is arrangement of Karagam and Kaavadi, traditional folkdances.
After the appetizing lunch visitors can enjoy an exciting elephant ride at
Thekkinkadu grounds.
The inaugural day comes to end with splendid elephant safaris.
The next destination on the great elephant march is Alleppey which is
an important place to visit in Kerala. This place is famous for backwaters.
Visitors can enjoy the narrow artificial canals on local country boats or
rice boats. Tourists should not miss the coir industry and see how rope is
churned out or coir. They can also purchase show pieces made of coir
for home.
There are also Kathakali dance performances.
It is a brain child of KTDC.

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Jaisalmer ,nicknamed "The Golden city", is a town
in Rajasthan. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish
sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the
palace and several ornate Jain temples.
It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert (great Indian
desert.
The Desert Festival is a three-day extravaganza of
colour, music and festivity, held at the golden city of
Jaisalmer. Gair and Fire dancers swaying to
traditional tunes, camel polo and camel dance,
display of the most glorious moustaches, a turban
tying competition and a Mr. Desert Contest are the
highlights of the fun and frolic. Folk performers such as
snake charmers, puppeteers and acrobats add to
the vibrancy of the occasion.

24. 
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Location: Sam Sand Dunes 42 K.M. from Jaisalmer
How to reach: SUV or Camel safari
Timing: In the month of February
Attractions: Cultural showcase
The desert festival in Jaisalmer was started to attract foreign tourists, who always wanted
to explore as many facets of Rajasthan as they could in the possible crunch of time.
Presented by some of the best professionals of the art.
'The moustache competition' is very popular among foreigners. This is simply because of
the surprise value attached to this event. Foreigners can be seen posing for pictures with
the winners. This is truly a moment worth preserving.
You will never forget marvels like the famous Gair and Fire dancers that are the major
attraction of the desert festival celebrations. I
nteresting contests including Mr. Desert contest further enhance the fun of the
occasion.
A trip to the Sam sand dunes marks the grand finale, where you will enjoy camel rides
and brilliant performance by the folk artist under the full moon against the backdrop of
picturesque dunes.
The Rajasthan tourism organizes the Jaisalmer Desert fair/festival. There is tourist help cell
to deal specially with the problems faced by foreign tourists. The arrangements are
monitored by local administration and state of the art Medical vans, equipped with the
best of medical amenities, are kept on alert. If you want to buy gifts or souvenirs for your
dear ones, this is the place to be. For this place not only have items from and around
Jaisalmer but of the whole Rajasthan. Mobile money exchangers are there in case you
need to exchange currencies. And if you run out of cash, Guess what! Nearly all the
kiosks have the facility to accept credit card.