Events and Festivals in Delhi

Delhi being the capital of India is home to people of all religions and communities that come from different parts of India and settle down here. Thus, the religious and state festivals have all found their way to Delhi and are especially with pomp and show, wherever there is concentration of population from same community and state. Besides the festivals such as Durga Puja, Diwali and Holi celebrated by Hindus and the Muslim festivals of Eid and Bakrid, there are National events such as the Republic Day, when the Republic Day Parade is organized on the Rajpath, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti, celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm in Delhi. Besides these, there are secular festivals specific to Delhi that we are discussing here.

Lohri, celebrated annually on 13th January, is basically a festival of Punjabis. It marks the end of winter and people arrange grand bonfire parties on this day and dance and sing all night. On the very next day, Hindus celebrate Makar Sankranti. A Kite Flying Festival is arranged every year in Delhi on this day on the green lawns above Palika Bazaar at Connaught Place.

The colorful kites of all shapes and sizes are beautiful to look at as national as well as international participants display their skills and fly their kites with dexterous movements. Basant Panchami or the Spring Festival of Hindus is celebrated usually at the end of January or early February. At Delhi, it is in this season that Moghul gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan are in full bloom and are opened to public for a month.