Fairs & Festivals in India in May 2012

India celebrates quite a few festivals in May and that may sound a little daring to some, especially keeping in view the weather as it becomes hot in most parts of the country. Nonetheless, the country does not shy away from celebrations.  One can look forward to various events, fairs and festivals in May in India. From North to South and West to East, there is always one festival or the other taking place in some nook and corner of India.

Here is a list of fairs & festivals in May in India:

Thrissur Pooram – Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur (1st May, 2012)
Thrissur Pooram is one of the grandest elephant festivals of Kerala. Besides other attractions, the procession of 30 caparisoned elephants is the main attraction of the festival.

Kochi, 85 km from Thrissur is the nearest airport. Thrissur has a railway station and it is well connected by major railway stations in the country.

Moatsu Festival – Chuchuyimlang Village, Mokokchung, Nagaland (1-3 May, 2012)
Moatsu Festival in Nagaland is celebrated by the Ao tribe of Nagaland at the end of the sowing season. During the festival, the Aos seek the blessings of God for a good harvest. Moatsu Festival is celebrated for three days and each day a different event takes place. The celebrations begin on the third day when various activities such as repair and construction of houses by elder members of putu menden (village council), cleaning of tsubü (wells) and marriages in the spring season are completed.

Chuchuyimlang village, 15 km from Mokokchung, is the main venue of Moatsu Festival. The village has been identified by the state government as a destination for the Moatsu festival.

Guwahati, 276 km from Mokokchung is the nearest airport and railway station. You can hire a taxi or take a bus to Mokokchung from Guwahati.

Mt. Abu Summer Festival – Mount Abu (4-6 May, 2012)
The only hill station in Rajasthan – Mount Abu – celebrates Mt. Abu Summer Festival with pomp and show. The festival begins with music and dance. During the festival boat race takes place on Nakki Lake. Sham-e-Qawwali musical show remains the highlight of the festival. The festival concludes with a fireworks display.

Udaipur, 185 km away and Ahmedabad, 221 km are two nearest airports to Mount Abu. The nearest railway station is Abu Road, 28 km from the main city. State transport buses (usually every hour) and taxis on both sharing and private basis are available from Abu Road railway station to Mount Abu city.

Buddha Purnima & Buddha Jayanti – Bodhgaya (6 May, 2012)
Buddha Purnima is among the very few festivals in India that can be considered sublime and spiritual. Bodhgaya in Bihar is the place to go to celebrate Buddha Purnima and Buddha Jayanti. Prayer meets, religious discourses, group meditation and recitation of Buddhist scriptures mark the day at Bodhi Temple in Bodhgaya.

Gaya, 14 km from Bodhgaya is the nearest airport. Gaya Junction, 15 km from Bodhgaya is the nearest railway station.

Ooty Summer Festival – Ooty or Udhagamandalam (18, 19, 20 May)
A popular hill station in Tamil Nadu, Ooty or Udhagamandalam as it is known today comes alive with various events and shows during Ooty Summer Festival. Flower and fruit shows are the highlight of Ooty Summer Festival. Flower show in particular at the Botanical Gardens is a brilliant event that one should not miss.

Coimbatore is the nearest airport, 105 km away from Ooty. Mettupalayam, which is 47 km away from Ooty, is the nearest major railway station.