Top Ten Festivals in India You Should Not Miss Out On
Do you feel a great interest in exploring the different cultures of the world? Are you looking to travel to a place that has the perfect blend of different ethnicities? Then, you should get a visa to India and start your exploration process. This country is a huge melting pot of different cultures, ultimately creating a great environment to live in.
Well, when it comes to experiencing the culture of a place, the best time of the year is during the festivals. So, if you want to feel the real magic of the Indian culture then you have to travel during the time of the top festivals that we are talking about.
What Do You Need to Visit India During the Festivals?
Visiting India during the festivals or at any time of the year requires you to meet a few requirements. The Immigration Department of India sets these things to ascertain your eligibility for crossing the borders of the country. Some of these requirements are:
Passport
Having a passport is a must for anyone who is traveling beyond the borders of their country. So, this document stays a constant even on this list. This works like your biggest identity proof when you are in a foreign land. You are required to have a passport that has a minimum validity of 6 months starting from the day you are entering the country.
But that is not enough for your passport to pass the check of being an appropriate document. You will also need to have 2 blank pages minimum in it for getting stamped at the airport. Most important of all, the passport should also be in machine-readable condition so that your name and other details are pretty clear. Visa:
Visa
Traveling to a foreign country requires you to get a travel permit. This is the best possible way you can prove you are allowed to enter the beautiful country of India. So, make sure you apply for an entry visa for India the moment after you book flight tickets. The online application process for a visa to India is really simple and it just involves a few simple steps that can be completed from the comfort of your home. Some of the steps that you will have to follow to get an Indian eVisa look like:
Visit the Portal
Start your process by reaching our Indian eVisa portal to get your visa to India. However, you should remember to check your country’s eligibility before you start applying for your travel permit.
Form Fill-up
The next task for you is to fill out the Indian visa application form carefully. This form plays an important role in the entire process, so make sure you make absolutely zero mistakes in this step. Moreover, you should also carefully look through the website to find out the right visa for your travel purposes. On top of that, you should check the form a few times after filling it out to find out any mistakes.
Add Your Documents
The application process for an Indian visa requires you to provide a few different documents. Just add a few scanned copies of your valid passport, a passport-sized photo, and anything else that the authority will ask you to provide. Please, keep in mind that you will have to add scanned copies of all the documents and the size should match the requirements. For instance, you will have to stick to the passport requirements and photograph requirements when attaching the documents.
Pay Your Application Fee
This is the final step before you get to submit your application form. Here, you will have to use an authorized payment method to pay the fee. So, a debit card or credit card will be more than enough for the visa application fee. You can quickly move on to submit the form after you paid the fee for the application.
The application form takes around a few minutes to days to get properly processed. After that, you will be able to receive the approval letter on the email ID that you have provided on the application form. However, if you still face some delay in the process then you can always get some help from the Helpdesk.
Indian Festivals That You Cannot Miss
India is one of those countries that celebrates different types of festivals throughout the year. From Holi to Diwali, there are more Indian festivals than you can ever think of. Most importantly, missing out on the following Indian festivals will definitely be a huge mistake.
Holi
Famously known as one of the most vibrant festivals in India or the world, this one is a must-visit. This is celebrated during March and it signifies the importance of victory over anything evil. Holi is celebrated in different parts of India and during this time people use powder colours and water balloons to have fun with friends and families. This makes the streets of India look like a big canvas which is painted by hundreds and thousands of people. So, you should get a visa to India to celebrate this festival with the locals or just witness its fun.
Durga Puja
This September or October festival is one of the biggest attractions in the country. This is celebrated mainly in the regions of Bengal and Bihar and deals with worshipping Devi Durga. However, other states also take part in this 10-day celebration. Many people travel from all parts of the world and visit the city of Kolkata to take part in this celebration.
This is all about exploring different pandals and diving into the delicious Bengali cuisines. However, the best part about this festival is that the city gets decked up with thousands of lights during this time, offering a sight that you will remember forever. However, this time of the year experiences a lot of rush so it is important to get the tickets and apply for the visa a little early.
Ganesh Chaturthi
This festival revolves around celebrating and worshiping Lord Ganesh. You will have to travel to the country with an entry visa of India during August or September if you want to be a part of this. This is about celebrating prosperity and wisdom, thus it holds a lot of importance in the Hindu culture.
This too is a 10-day festival that revolves around regular puja and aarti of the idol. The streets get filled with pandals and lights, thus offering the true sense of a festival. You can get an entry visa for India and come to Mumbai during this time to experience the beauty of this festival.
Onam
This harvest festival is hugely celebrated in Kerala. Celebrated during the months of August to September, this honors Mahabali who is said to be the legendary king of India. The people of this Indian southern coast state believe that Mahabali visits Kerala during this time, which is why people celebrate this festival. During the 10 days of the festival, people go on to decorate their houses and take part in fun activities. The festival ends with every household preparing a meal comprising 13 dishes, served on banana leaves.
Diwali
This one holds an important place in the culture and heritage of the country. This is all about decorating the house with beautiful lights and clay lanterns, commonly called “Diyas”. Indians celebrate this with lights in all corners to support the win of good over bad. Some of the places that celebrate Diwali in the best way are Delhi, Amritsar, and others. Moreover, you can also get a visa to India to visit Varanasi, which celebrates Dev Deepabali.
Pushkar Camel Fair
Rajasthan is always on the list of most people who get an entry visa to India. Well, one of the reasons is to experience the largest fair in the world held in the Pushkar region of Rajasthan. Held around the months of November, this 5-day celebration includes camel races, carnival rides, and many other things. Moreover, many locals set up their shops at this fair to sell different kinds of things. So, you can buy some jewelry and clothes when you visit this fair.
Hemis Festival
This multi-colored festival is celebrated in the northern region of India, more specifically in Ladakh. This is celebrated by people to honor the Lord Buddha and their own Buddhist roots. Every July, people around this area wear traditional clothes and bring out huge silk flags and paintings for the celebrations. During these two days, people recite verses from the Buddhist holy scripts and celebrate through dances. Moreover, if you visit during this time, then you will also see how they take part in different games and fun activities to make the festival even more exciting.
Goa Carnival
Many foreigners get a visa to India to experience the lively atmosphere of Goa. However, it will be best if you get the Indian visa for February or even March if you want to see the real fun of this celebration. The Goa Carnival is a festival filled with joy and vibrant colors and just celebrates life as a whole. This festival was brought in by the Portuguese people, but somehow it stayed consistent over the years. People come out in the streets with fun parades when they dance and blast some lively music.
Jagannath Rath Yatra
This one takes place in Odisha during the month of July. This celebrates Lord Jagannath who is said to visit this place during this time with his siblings on a grand chariot. The entire atmosphere of the space is filled with traditional dance, music, and religious enthusiasm, making it a perfect experience. So, one can easily get an entry visa for India.
Taj Mahotsav
Although this is a less popular festival, still it comes with colors and flavors of its own. The festival is held for 10 days near one of the wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. This festival features traditional music and dance from different parts of the country, thus creating a beautiful mix of all. However, the best part is that you also get to enjoy the delicious cuisines from the region. All of this as a whole will make it worth it for you to get the Indian visa.
Ready to Get a Visa to India to Experience the Different Festivals of India?
Visiting India during the times of the festival will give you the perfect chance to make lifelong memories. All that you will need to experience this is to visit the country at the right time with a visa to India. Moreover, you should also remember to visit all the festivals that we talked about to experience the culture in the best way.
However, if you face any issues while applying for the visa then you can simply get some help from the Helpdesk. On the other hand, if you face any difficulty during your stay then you can contact the emergency number on 112.