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Visit India in October and Indulge in the Festival Mood

When’s the most wonderful time of the year to visit India? Right now! The period from October-March is when India cools down – literally. Most of the country experiences mild and dry weather at this time of year. Although the Northern and Eastern parts of the country can see some intense cold and fog in December and January, the South and the West enjoy warm days and pleasant evenings. Between October and February, India celebrates one festival after another. October begins with a national holiday – Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, on the 2nd of the month. RamleelaThe festive season proper begins with the Ramleela – the story of Lord Ram, which is enacted by local performers all over India from mid-September till mid-October. One of the oldest and most well-known Ramleelas has been running near the city of Varanasi for centuries – in Ramnagar, on the banks of the River Ganges. Make a plan to immerse yourself in the magic of the Ramleela right HERE. Navratri & DussehraNavratri, is a nine-day festival that celebrates the Mother Goddess in all her avatars and manifestations, in the form of Ma Durga, Ma Lakshmi and Ma Saraswati. The festival is observed by devout Hindus all over India, who abstain from alcohol and avoid non-vegetarian food during this period. Some people fast during the daytime and then feast after sunset. On the tenth day, the festival ends with Dussehra – a day which celebrates the victory of good over evil. On this day, Lord Ram is said to have slain the evil demon king Ravana. Giant effigies of Ravana and his brothers are burnt, and firecrackers are burst.