Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
October
Although the southeast coast (and southern Kerala) can still be rainy, this is when In-
dia starts to get its travel mojo on. October (shoulder season) brings festivals, reason-
ably comfy temperatures, and post-rain lushness.
Gandhi's Birthday
The national holiday of Gandhi Jayanti is a solemn celebration of Mohandas Gandhi's
birth, on 2 October, with prayer meetings at his cremation site in Delhi, Raj Ghat.
Navratri
The Hindu 'Festival of Nine Nights' leading up to Dussehra celebrates the goddess Durga
in all her incarnations. Festivities, in September or October, are particularly vibrant in Ma-
harashtra.
Dussehra
Colourful Dussehra celebrates the victory of the Hindu god Rama over the demon-king
Ravana and the triumph of good over evil. Dussehra is big in Mysore (
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)
, which
hosts one of India's grandest parades. Falls around 4 October 2014, 22 October 2015 and
11 October 2016.
Festival of Lights
In the lunar month of Kartika, Hindus celebrate Diwali (Deepavali) for five days, giving
gifts, lighting fireworks, and burning butter and oil lamps (or hanging lanterns) to lead
Lord Rama home from exile. One of India's prettiest festivals. Begins around 23 October
2014, 11 November 2015 and 30 October 2016.