Delhi

Fairs and Festivals of Delhi:

Delhi, as a miniature India, celebrates a variety of religious festivals during the year. All of these events put the citizens of Delhi together on one stage. The people of Delhi celebrate the festivals with vigour and excitement. Here are some of the major ones:

• Diwali: This event is also known as the "festival of lights," and it takes place in October or November. It commemorates Lord Rama's return to his homeland after fourteen years of exile. People decorate their homes with lights and flowers, make rangolis, and light firecrackers, diyas (earthen lamps), and candles, as this is the most important Hindu festival.

• Chhath Festival: The Chhath Festival is primarily a Bihar celebration, but it is also celebrated with zeal in Delhi. This festival celebrates the Sun God and takes place six days after the Diwali festival. The Chhath puja celebrations do not contain much fanfare; instead, it is a solemn festival of prayer and intercessory prayers.

• Guru Nanak Jayanti: Guru Nanak Jayanti is a grand event that commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the father of the Sikh faith. It's similar to Hindus' Diwali, in that the festival and decorations speak for themselves. Lights are strung in the houses and Gurudwaras.

• Lohri: Every year on the 13th of January, the Lohri festival is one of the most important Hindu festivals. The end of the cold winter season is marked by this festival. The Lohri festival is a Punjabi harvest festival that coincides with the start of the summer season. People sing and dance around bonfires and perform traditional rituals during this festival.

• Durga Puja: Bengalis celebrate the Durga Puja festival, which is one of their most important festivals. The festival honours Maa Durga, also known as Shakti, the Goddess of Strength. The goddess Durga is said to have defeated the demon Mahishasura during the Durga Puja festival.

• Holi: Holi, or the festival of colours, is one of the most well-known celebrations. It is one of those festivals where people, regardless of their culture or religion, add colours to each other, bringing the festival's warmth to life. 

• Eid: Eid, also known as Eid-Ul-Zuha and Eid-Ul-Fitr, is the most important Muslim holiday, celebrated twice a year. For Muslims, Eid-Ul-Zuha, also known as Bakrid, is a very important religious holiday. Eid-Ul-Fitr, on the other hand, is observed during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan. During this month, they observe strict fasts, and on the last day, Eid, special prayers are given, gifts are exchanged, and a dessert known as "Sewaiyan" is prepared.

• Makar Sankranti: In Delhi, this festival is also known as the Kite Flying Festival. This festival brings together both children and kite enthusiasts to fly kites in open spaces and terraces. The entire sky is covered in various colours, sizes, and shapes of kites during this festival, which represents the tremendous happiness and joy of the Kite festival.

• Christmas: Every year on December 25th, Christmas is celebrated. It commemorates the birth anniversary of Christianity's founder, Jesus Christ. It is customary to decorate a fir tree, sing Christmas carols, and exchange gifts with family and friends. The biggest Christmas celebrations take place on Christmas Eve, which is December 24.

• International Mango Festival: The Talkatora stadium in Delhi hosts this international mango festival. This festival is for mango lovers, who can purchase mangoes from over 1200 different varieties grown throughout the region. People enjoy sampling the various mango varieties available.

• Muharram: The Muharram festival commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the Holy Prophet's grandson. The festival starts on the first day of Muharram, the Islamic calendar's first month, and lasts for ten days.

• Book Fair: This is one of the best festivals in Delhi to attend, organised by the National Book Trust of India! This fair has something for everyone, from kids to housewives, with a hall full of new books, scent, and awareness. You must go here at least once in your life, whether you are a book lover or not. It is the most important festival in Delhi for all book lovers in the National Capital Region.

• Qutub Festival: This festival is a three-day event held in Delhi's beautiful Qutub Minar. This festival resurrects the glorious Qutub Minar's past glory. This event also features Indian cultural art performances. This three-day event features dance, music, and lighting to resurrect the historic structure. This occurrence usually takes place in the months of October or November.

• Horn Ok Please Street Food Festival: For the past two years, Horn Ok Please has brought the city's foodies together. It's one of Delhi's most popular festivals, with the yought putting on a large-scale event to enable famous food trucks from all over the city to showcase their talent on one large stage. For some, it's a great chance to eat all of their favourite desserts and dishes in one place, along with some drinks.

• International Trade Fair: This is the most anticipated occurrence at Delhi's Pragati Maidan. This fair is held to encourage young entrepreneurs to start new businesses and initiatives. This International Trade Fair attracts tourists and businesspeople from all over the world. Every year on November 14th, this fair takes place. Every year, the fair's theme varies.

Must Visiting Places in Delhi:

There are many things to see and do in Delhi and New Delhi, including its diverse arts and crafts industry, numerous magnificent monuments, countless performing arts venues, and excellent cuisine, which includes delicacies from all over India. These top tourist attractions in Delhi are not to be missed:

1. India Gate- India Gate was originally known as the All India War Memorial, and it was designed to honour the 82,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in the First World War, which lasted from 1914 to 1921, as well as the Third Anglo-Afghan War. located on Rajpath, it resembles the Arch of Constantine and also compared to the Arc de Triomphe and the Gateway of India in Mumbai.
2. Red Fort- The Mughals built Red Fort in 1639, and it gets its name from its huge red-colored sandstone walls. The fort is a fusion of Mughal, Persian, Hindu, and Timurid traditions and is located in Old Delhi. The peacock throne, step well, imperial bath, Moti Masjid, and Hira Mahal are some of the architectural highlights. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Qutub Minar- The construction, with its 73-meter tall brick minaret, was designed by Qutub-ud-din Aibak and has five stories of chiselled carvings and scriptures. The Qutub Minar, which is part of the Qutub Complex, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This red stone tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a stunning example of Iranian architecture, with Parso-Arabic and Nagari detai.
4. Jama Masjid- Pinjore Garden, a lively, beautiful Mughal garden built in the 17th century that spans 100 acres and is a great place to get close to nature, is a must-see during your visit to Chandigarh. These internationally renowned gardens are recognised for their lush greenery and captivating fountains, and they are certainly a sight to behold.
5. Humayun’s Tomb- The tomb, which was built in the mid-16th century by Haji Begum as a memorial to her husband by Humayun's senior wife, is surrounded by lush formal gardens and other tombs, including Humayun's barber and the Tomb of Isa Khan (the architect of the Taj Mahal), which is a fine example of Lodi architecture and octagonal in shape. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fine example of Mughal architecture.
6. Lotus Temple- The Lotus Temple is open to all, regardless of caste or area. The structure is made up of 27 free-standing marble clad petals that are arranged in three-petal clusters to form nine sides. The temple has a strong link to the Bahai Faith, which encourages people to live in peace by providing a shared place to worship.
7. Rashtrapati Bhawan- This massive presidential palace, the official residence of the President of India, is the largest home of any head of state in the world and is truly an architectural marvel. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. This vast 330-acre estate is bordered on the western end of Rajpath by the Main Building (Circuit 1), the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex (Circuit 2), and the Mughal Gardens (Circuit 3).
8. Jantar Mantar- Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur in 1724, is one of the most interesting tourist attractions in Delhi. The instruments at Jantar Mantar are fascinating for their creativity, but they can no longer be used reliably due to the surrounding tall buildings.
9. Akshardham Temple- This huge temple complex, which was designed by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha spiritual organisation and opened in 2005, is a relatively new attraction. It's all about promoting Indian culture. The complex features a lush garden, sculptures, and a boat ride, in addition to the stunning architecture of the pink stone and white marble shrine.
10. Purana Qila- Purana Qila (Old Fort) is well worth squeezing into your Delhi travel itinerary, despite the fact that most visitors head straight for the more popular Red Fort. With a 2,500-year history, much of the present impressive structure dates from the 1500s, though evidence of earlier structures dating back to the third century has been uncovered.
11. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib- Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi is a well-known Sikh Gurudwara in India, known for its link to Guru Har Kishan, the eighth Sikh Guru. In 1783, Sikh General Sardar Bhagel Singh, who was supervising the construction of nine other Sikh shrines in Delhi at the time, built it as a small shrine. It was once a place of worship for followers of the Sikh faith, but it is now a primary pilgrimage site and tourist attraction.
12. Gandhi Smriti & Raj Ghat- Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, and a visit to Gandhi Smriti will show you the exact location. He stayed in the house for 144 days before succumbing to his illness. There are also several photographs, sculptures, drawings, and inscriptions on display. At Raj Ghat, you can also pay a visit to his memorial.
13. Agrasen ki Baoli- The Agrasen ki Baoli, located near Connaught Place, is a protected monument. This 108-step deep stepwell is said to have been constructed by the Agrawal group in the 14th century. You can easily spend an hour admiring the architectural brilliance here.
14. Lodhi Gardens- Sayyidis and Lodhis built the park. The Yamuna River and the Tomb of Sikandar Lodi are linked by an old waterway. The park has traces of the 15th century and therefore serves as the epitome of magnificent architecture. Lady Willington Park was the park's previous name before becoming Lodhi Garden. Mohammed Sha's Tomb, Sikandar Lodhi’s, Shisha Gumbad and Bara Gumbad’s tombs are located in the park.
15. Shankar’s International Dolls Museum- Shankar's International Dolls Museum in New Delhi is a must-see for anyone visiting Delhi. K Shankar Pillai, a well-known cartoonist, envisioned the doll museum. The museum houses exclusive costume dolls from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. The number of dolls collected has risen from 3000 to 6500 from over 85 countries.
16. National Museum- One of Delhi's biggest museums is the National Museum of India. The vibrant collections of Indian and international art are the museum's main exhibits. Manuscripts, archaeology, drawings, weapons and armour, and several other departments are available.
17. Crafts Museum- The Crafts Museum in New Delhi, formally known as the National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, exhibits a wide range of traditional Indian crafts. The opportunity to see highly skilled craftspeople show their centuries-old skills, as well as see vast collections of textiles, woodwork, and ceramics, is one of the museum's many fascinating features.
18. Birla Temple- The Birla Mandir in Delhi, which was completed in 1939, is dedicated to Laxminarayan, also known as Lord Vishnu. There are temples dedicated to Shiva, Krishna, and Buddha on the outskirts of the city. The temple is 7.5 acres in size and is surrounded by several shrines, fountains, a vast garden with Hindu and nationalistic sculptures, and a Geeta Bhavan for discourses.
19. Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah- Hazrat Nizamudin Dargah, also known as Nizamuddin Dargah, is a popular tourist attraction in Delhi. It is the mausoleum of Hazrat Khwaja Syed Nizamuddin Auliya, a prominent Sufi saint who lived from 1238 to 1325. The complex includes the tombs of poet Hazrat Amir Khusro and Mughal princess Jehan Ara Begum, as well as Inayat Khan's tomb, which is located in the corner.
20. Okhla Bird Sanctuary- It's one of the most tranquil spots near Delhi, and it's even more beautiful during the rainy season. It's located in the Okhla barrage, which spans the Yamuna River, and is one of the best places in Delhi for birdwatchers and nature lovers, especially during the monsoon season.
21. National Gallery of Modern Art- The National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi, maintains paintings and other artistic works dating back to the 1850s, as part of its mission to provide an excellent world of art to its tourists. It houses a collection of more than 14,000 works of art, including those that are over 150 years old.
22. Sheeshganj Gurudwara- Another notable site of Sikh worship, located in the midst of the hustle-bustle of Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk market, it is an oasis. Throbbing all day with devotees and visitors, like any other gurudwara, this too provides free meals to one and all.