This is what this May is going to be for you, unlike the regular frenzy you’re a part of evading the heat once the exams are over. While this month’s temperatures keep many festivities off the calendar, there are sure to be a few, to keep you busy. It will offer the best of music, dance, and culture, bringing out glimpses of the uniqueness of this world.
Here we are this May, with some of the best options available:
1. Moatsü Festival
This festival is celebrated exclusively by the Ao tribe in the village of Chuchuyimlang in Nagaland. The festival signals the end of the season of planting. It’s time for the locals to rejoice at the harvest and so the festival’s attention is on making and sharing merriness.
A lot of dance and music events can be found here. The celebration’s principal event is Sangpagtu. The locals dress up in their best local clothing, sit down around a fire, and enjoy wine and meat.
This festival is celebrated in the first week of May in the Mokokchung of Nagaland.
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2. International Flower Festival
This festival puts together several fun-filled events, the beauty of flowers, and some good plantation awareness. During the display, several varieties of orchids, gladioli, cactus, roses, trees, ferns, alpine plants, creepers, and climbers are shown.
There is also a selection of ethnic delicacies for your taste buds. River rafting is for those who enjoy the adventure. A further interesting feature of Sikkim’s Flower Festival is the Yak Safari. Besides this, there are also lectures and workshops on indigenous plants.
It is celebrated the whole month of May in the Governor’s residence, Gangtok.
Read Also:
- 10 Best Places to Visit in Sikkim
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3. Buddha Purnima
Being an important landmark of the Indian Buddhist Circuit, Sarnath hosts an elaborate fair and is home to a Buddhist relics procession.
A huge number of Buddhists are seen arriving for the occasion in Sarnath. Nearly every other Buddhist state, apart from Sarnath, celebrates the Buddh Poornima with great fervor.
It is celebrated in May. This year it will be held on Mon, 12 May, 2025
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4. Thrissur Pooram
This is the largest of all festivals in Kerala. The main attraction of this festival is the grand procession featuring 30 elephants, more than 250 musicians, locals, and more. You can also enjoy other cultural events, such as a show of ornamental parasols, drum concerts, dance, and music celebrations.
Fireworks mark the festival’s ending. There are many different viewing places you can find to watch the fireworks. Click here to get all information about this popular Kerala Thrissur Pooram festival.
It is celebrated on 07 May 2025 in the Vadakkumnathan Temple of Thrissur in Kerala.
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5. Madurai Meenakshi Kalyanam
Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple is among Southern India’s iconic religious sites. This festival is marking Meenakshi Amman’s celestial wedding with Lord Sundareswarar. This festival takes place in two phases, the first is the marriage of the two celestials and the second is the Lord Alazhagar procession.
During this celebration special ceremonies, car festivals, processions, and other cultural activities are held. During this festival, several stalls will be erected around the temple for souvenir shopping.
It is celebrated in May. This year it will be held on 7th of May 2025 in Madurai.
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6. Mount Abu Summer Festival
Mount Abu hill station is well known in the desert state. The festival marks the end of the mountain tourism season. The summer festival begins with folk dances and ballad singing.
Boat races, roller skating, fireworks display, and the famous Sham-e-Qawwali music show are other common events in the celebration.
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Mount Abu festival will be held on 09 May 2025 (Friday) – 11 May 2025 (Sunday) in Mount Abu of Rajasthan.
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7. Ganga Dussehra
According to the legends, during this time the descent of Ganga happened, and it came down with reluctance. So, Lord Shiva took her on his matted locks to avoid her fury, and in seven streams from those matted locks, Ganga descended to the Earth.
It is considered a truly auspicious day, and devotees flock to cities such as Varanasi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh to bathe in the holy waters. Artis is performed in Haridwar at twilight, and a large number of people meditate on the banks of this river. A great opportunity to experience the sanctity of nature. This festival can be witnessed in any place on the banks of the Ganges.
Ganga Dussehra festival will be held on Thursday, 5th of June 2025 in India
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8. Igitun Chalne
Translated from Konkani, Igitun Chalne means to walk through flames. It is celebrated in May every year, in the temple of Sirigao, about 30 km from the capital, Panjim. Visitors as well as locals, swarm around the temple to observe the rituals.
This is accompanied by walks on the flames, only done by a few brave people, while inspiring other people. These are goddess Lairaya devotees, who believe in passing through the trial by fire and submitting their feet and faith. Of course, it is one hell of a festival.
While in Goa, also stay till the Beach Bonanza which sees several cultural dances and other festivities around Goa’s beaches.
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9. Yercaud Summer Festival
This is a week-long festival which is held in this hill station to promote tourism. This festival includes boat races, flower shows, cultural programs, trips to the village, dog contests, and so on. At this festival, the flower show has a lot of large displays made of flowers.
In 2019 many large displays were created using more than one lakh flowers. The Summer Festival 2024 Information Agenda is yet to be announced. During this festival, you can enjoy many activities such as boat riding, horse riding, watching dance competitions, etc. Read Also: 20 Best Places to See in Tamil Nadu.
It is held in the second week of May every year in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu.
Suggestion Itinerary:
- 7 days Darjeeling and Gangtok Tour Package
- 7 Days North East Tour Itinerary
- South India Religious Tour from Mumbai
- 15 Days- South India Culture & Heritage
- Rajasthan Tour Package from Mumbai
- Golden Triangle and Rajasthan Tour Itinerary Packages
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