Delhi Events

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Garden Tourism Festival

Delhi, always a colourful city, blooms with the rich hues of hundreds of flowers in February each year when the Garden Tourism Festival gets underway, providing a visual feast for visitors and an extravaganza for the horticulturally inclined. Delhi tourism also provides a full programme of cultural performances and entertainment alongside the flower fest. For more information contact the India Tourist Office on (11) 371 8379.

Venue: Talkatora Gardens; Date: 8 February 2008

Festival of Holi

Festival of Holi

Delhi puts on a colourful face in March for the light-hearted Festival of Holi, celebrating the triumph of good over evil. The exuberant spring festival starts on the night of full moon when bonfires are lit on street corners to clear the air of evil spirits. The next morning sees the streets full of people of all ages chasing each other and throwing pots of bright coloured powder pigment over each other in uninhibited mischief. The fun ends at noon when everyone retires to wash off the paint and finish the day relaxing.

Venue: Throughout the city and northern India; Date: 22 March 2008; Website: www.holifestival.org

Diwali © Sangeeth Govindan

Diwali (Festival of Lights)

India's most popular traditional festival, with its origins in Hindu mythology, turns the streets of Delhi, and in fact all major cities in India, into a carnival each year. Traditionally all houses are decorated with earthenware lamps and candles for the occasion, and the letting off of firecrackers can reach deafening proportions. There have been complaints that so many fireworks are used in the city that pollution levels on Diwali nights rise dramatically. Neighbourhoods generally bristle with fun rides, food stalls and curio sellers during the festival. At this time of year, it is customary for people to buy new clothes and household utensils, and exchange sweet gifts.

Venue: Throughout Delhi; Date: 28 October 2008

Republic Day Parade

The impressive Republic Day Parade is held every year on the anniversary of the formation of the Indian Republic and serves to showcase the country's military might. Marching columns represent the armed forces accompanied by armoured vehicles, military bands, decorated floats and folk dancers. A highlight is an air display presented by the Indian Air Force.

Venue: The parade starts at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, winds through the city and ends at the Red Fort in Old Delhi; Date: 26 January 2009