It is natural to assume that with the onset of the monsoon season, festivities would come to a standstill and people would take to spending more time indoors. That’s not necessarily true! The monsoon months in India actually offer a lot to see and enjoy outdoors.
In addition to providing much-needed relief from the oppressive summer heat, the rains also serve as the catalyst for numerous religious and traditional celebrations throughout India. Furthermore, because there has been a lot written and spoken about well-known monsoon fairs and festivals in the country, let’s take this opportunity to explore and discover a few lesser-known, but fascinating and culturally-rich events.
Behdienkhlam Festival, Meghalaya
This monsoon festival is celebrated in the Northeastern state of Meghalaya by the Pnar Tribe, for three days after the agricultural sowing. The term ‘behndien’ means ‘to drive away with sticks’ while ‘khlam’ denotes an epidemic. Therefore, ‘Behdienkhlam’ literally means ‘driving away the negative forces that may affect the crops.’ A large chariot parade is yet another highlight of the Behdienkhlam festival. In an attempt to liven up the celebration, a football game is organised and the winners receive the bountiful harvest.
Dree Festival, Arunachal Pradesh
The Apatani Tribe celebrates the Dree Festival, an agricultural celebration in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The god of agriculture is honoured with prayers and sacrifices. In addition, one can witness folk songs, traditional dances, and other cultural events during the Dree festival celebration.
Njangattiri Aanayoottu
It is a grand ceremony observed in the state of Kerala that goes beyond being a festival. An exclusive feast is prepared for elephants during the celebration. The Njangattiri Bhagavathi Temple in Pattambi, in the district of Palakkad, is the site of this rite. Elephant feeding is the literal meaning of the term Aanayoottu. These enormous figures are lined up in a row inside the temple grounds and are exquisitely adorned. The purpose of the entire ceremony is to appease Lord Ganesha and elephant feeding is considered auspicious in Hindu mythology.
Minjar Fair, Himachal Pradesh
The Minjar Fair, held in the district of Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, is an enjoyable event where both the locals and tourists swarm the area in August to be a part of this event. The Minjar Fair is also credited with enhancing the region’s ethnic spirit. The maize flower is the source of the name Minjar. In Chowgan, the Minjar flag hosting kicks off this week-long fair. To add to the excitement, people dress in colourful clothes, bringing the landscape to life, and a number of sports and cultural events are also planned.
Karsha Gustor Festival, Ladakh
Every year, the Karsha Monastery, the biggest and most significant monastery in Zanskar, celebrates this festival to mark the triumph of good over evil. It’s a unique festival with mask dances and black hat dance performances by the monks. The spiritual chanting, and mysterious customs of this celebration are further guaranteed to fascinate you. The dancer’s exquisite movements are accompanied by the rhythmic chanting of the monks, creating an environment of contrasts, combining both liveliness and spirituality.