Chandigarh

Festive Celebrations

Baisakhi is the annual celebration for the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new harvesting season, celebrated in mid-April. This festival is marked by Bhangra dancers performing the traditional Bhangra dance. An interesting watch-out for would be the innovative Maha Moorkh Sammelan held on every 1st of April. This is a humorous and random poem recitation competition, in which the person, who wins, is declared the biggest fool among the lot. The proud winner of the competition then enjoys a donkey ride! Known for its exquisite flowers, the Festival of Gardens is a three day festival held in the Rose Garden of Chandigarh in the last week of February. Visit this to catch a glimpse of exotic flowering buds and roses. Other attractions of the festival include classical dances, folk dances, flower shows, and other performances and competitions. The Mango Festival is held in June at Pinjore Garden. This is where you would get a wide variety of mangoes on display. You can also purchase various mango products like juices, squashes, jams, pickles and aam papad. Teej is held in August and celebrated by the women folk. The Rock Garden becomes the centre of activity during the festival as women dress in colourful attire and celebrate it with much enthusiasm. The Plaza Carnival is held for 3 hours every Saturday at the piazza in Sector-17. The carnival is free for all, and intends to promote local artists from every field. The attractions vary every Saturday and it could be anything from dance, music, and magic show to painting display, sculpture display, acrobatics, or mimicry. An exciting and innovative carnival is Chandigarh Carnival held in November to encourage students and children who participate in various types of talent competitions. The Chrysanthemum Show is held every year in December at the Flower Garden in Sector-33. A particularly enthralling festival is the Indo-Pak Mushaira in December, where poets from India and Pakistan arrive to perform together.