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International Mango Festival (July)
The Talkatora stadium is often a host to a peculiar event, where over five hundred different types of mango are on show, Tourists can enjoy the taste for free and view a cultural programmes .
Phoolkwalon-ki-Sair (October)
In early October, a festival specific to Mehrauli, in Delhi, takes place. This is the Phulwalon-ki-Sair or the Flower Sellers Procession, which originated in the 16th century.
The highlight is a procession of people carrying decorated floral fans, which are blessed at the shrine of the 13th century Sufi saint, Khwaja Utb-ud-din Bakhtyar Kaki and at the Hindu temple of Jogmaya, both in Mehrauli. The procession ends with a formal ceremony at the Jahaz Mahal, a 16th century pleasure resort by the side of a lake.
Janmashtami
Janmashtami is celebration of bith of Lord Krishna on the eight day of krishnapaksh (waning moon) in Sravana. Temples across the city are decorated with fairy lights and colorful exhibits on Krishna's life. Laxmi Narayan Mandir (Birla Mandir) has a special display which attracts huge crowds.
Buddha Jayanti
The first full moon night in May i.e the month of Vaisakha is celebrated as Buddha Purnima, not just to commemorates Lord Buddha's birth, but also his 'Enlightenment' and gaining 'Nirvana'. . Prayer meetings are held at Buddha Vihar, Ring Road and Buddha Vihar, Mandir Marg.
Mahavir Jayanti
The birth of Lord Mahavira, who founded Jainism, is celebrated around this time of the year with prayers and processions.
Ramnavami
Ram, the Hindu religion's most popular god, is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver in the Hindu pantheon. Ram Navmi celebrates the birth of Ram on this day in March - April and the event is traditionally celebrated in temples. People observe this day by fasting.
Amir Khusrau's Anniversary
Amir Khusrau's anniversary is celebrated in April, with a fair in Nizamuddin , prayers and 'qawwali' singing. The event also observed as the National Drama Festival, staged mostly at the Rabindra Bhawan.
Guru Purab
Guru Purab is the celebration of the birth of first of the ten Sikh gurus, Guru Nanak. 'Nagar Kirtans' are taken out through the streets and in the Gurdwaras, 'Granthees' recite verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs.
Diwali
Diwali, or Deepavali, perhaps the best-known Hindu festival, marks the end of the season that opens with Dussehra. Diwali is celebrated throughout India, as well as in Indian communities throughout the diaspora. It usually takes place eighteen days after Dusshera in October/November. Diwali is called the "festival of lights", and the name itself means an array of lamps (Deep = Lamp, Vali =Array). Indeed, illumination is characteristic of Diwali. The array of lamps are symbolic of welcoming Lord Rama back to Ayodhya after his 14 years of exile, and the common practice is to light small oil lamps, diyas, and place them around the house.
Christmas (25th December)
On 25th of December all major hotels and restaurants in the capital host special Christmas eve entertainments, while the midnight mass and other services are organized by the churches.
Id-ul-fitr is most often celebrated in this season. It marks the end of Ramzan, the month of fasting for Muslims. This day is also called Meethi Id (sweet id), because of a special sweet called sevaiyyan ( a kind of vermicelli) which is cooked on this day.
New Year's Eve (31st December)
The culmination of the Indian festive spirit is celebrated on the 31st of December, with most hotels and restaurants offering special food and entertainment packages.
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