Punjab is one of the religious states and a pristine land which is situated in the northern part of India. The citizen who live in this state belongs to Sikh religion and there are various other attractions that attract the tourists. All over the state you can see striking Gurudwaras that are placed here. Gurudwaras are known as the holy place of Sikhs where they worship their deity Guru Nanak Gobind Singh. In this state, there are several sites for visitors to explore like the Wildlife, forts and palaces, and fairs and festivals.

All around the year, it hosts a wide range of amazing fairs and festivals that are celebrated by every individual. The people who live in Punjab are known as Punjabis. The Punjabis celebrate these occasions with full enthusiasm and fun where they spend memorable moments with their relatives and friends. For every individual, fairs and festivals are their main occasions where they wear new attire and enjoy several interesting features like folk instrument playing, acrobatics, wrestling bouts, singing, races, and a lot more.

The festivals that are celebrated here are the most significant feature of this state in India. The most common but yet famous festivals of Punjab are Deepawali, Dusshera, Baisakhi, Holla Mohalla, Holi, Lohri, and many more. While on the other hand, there are also some of the popular fairs such as Haribhallabh Sangeet Mela, Baba Sodal fair, chhapar fair, rural sports, Muktsar fair, and many more.

Holla Mohalla :

During the spring season that is from the month of February and March, the Holla Mohalla festival is introduced at the Anandpur Sahib. It is the most famous festival which has great historical importance as it monitors the mobilization of Sikh supporters. It was held according to the Nihangs i.e. (warriors) by great Guru Gobind in Anandpur Sahib. This festival is celebrated a day after the Holi festival; it gives a thrilling spectacle for Punjab is and even the tourists who hail here are from far away places. The main highlight of Holla Mohalla is the performance of martial arts, where all the participants perform some or the other features that are worth watching. In martial arts, they perform shows like tent-pegging, adroit horse-riding; sword fencing, archery, and also some of the skillful treatment of martial devices that are exhibited by Nihangs (warriors). The art forms that are displayed here draw the attention of the holiday seekers that come here.

This festival is the only significance to express joy in this place and also to restore the belief in Khalsa Panth. While some of them even devote themselves to the services of this community. Everybody, no matter of their social status, involves themselves in the ‘kar seva - manual labor’, like serving in langars, or simply known as public kitchens, cleaning up the beautiful gurudwaras, and also washing dishes after the meal, etc. The Holla Mohalla festival is ended with a traditional parade taken all around the township and concludes in langar. It is a common kitchen where huge amount of food is cooked and served for the participants and audiences.

This enchanting festival is notable magnificently at the Anandpur Sahib. Around thousands of pilgrims and tourist visit this holy shrine during the occasions to participate in religious prayers. The main symbol of the Holla Mohalla festival is to realize the responsibility of a person with duties towards the society.

Holi :

Holi is the most vibrant and hilarious festival among all the others. This festival is celebrated by all Punjabis during the full new moon day of the Phagun month. Holi is the most common festival which is celebrated all around the world by every individual belonging to different religion. It is known as the rich colorful festive season celebrated annually throughout the year. During the spring season in India, the atmosphere is filled with joy and happiness that appeals the people to rejoice with full enthusiasm. The fields and vivid flowers are in bloom where Punjabis go wild and run on the streets to smear each other in gulal and other colored water.

Originally, the main significance to celebrate this festival is for good harvests and also for the fertility of the soil. According to Hindu mythology, Holi festival today is the symbolic tribute of a myth. This legend story is based on an egotistical king who disliked his own son revering Lord Vishnu. Therefore, the king attempts many times to kill him but each time he ends with a failure. At last, the king's sister named Holika who is believed to be resistant to burning; sits down with the boy (King’s son) in an enormous fire. However, the King’s son prince Prahlad comes out of the fire unscathed, while aunt Holika blazes to death. Therefore, Holi festival memorializes this legend event from Hindu mythology, and so vast bonfires are burnt especially on the eve of Holi. As it is the symbol of this mythological story.

This enthusiastic festival is also connected with the eternal love of Lord Krishna and his love Radha. Hence, Holi festival is covered for sixteen days in Mathura and Vrindavan cities. These are the two cities where Lord Krishna has collectively shared a deep relationship with Radha. Besides, the common fun with vivid colored water and powder, Holi is noted by energetic parades which are along with folk dances, songs, and general feel of deserted vitality.

Maghi Mela :

Maghi Mela (fair) is arranged beforehand to celebrate the conflict between Guru Gobind Singh and the Mughals that continued in the year 1705 to 1706. This fair lasts for around three days, especially on the occasion of Makar Sankrnati on January. On the first day of the fair, all the devotees take a dip in the holy water of Muktsar Tank which is believed to be a mixture of clay and sand of recovery. On the second day start of the sacred procession is carried out from all three holy mounds, named as the Tibbi Sahib, Mukhwanjana Sahib Rikab Sahib, and the Rikab Sahib. These are the same places where great Guru’s Gobind Singh’s stirrup had collapsed. During the Maghi Mela, various prayers are offered to Guru Gobing Singh and his forty warriors who lost their life in this battle. So if you want to be a part of this fair, make sure you witness during the month of January.

Patiala Festival :

The Patiala festival is organized by the heritage society of Patiala during the month of February throughout the year. This wonderful festival was recently started in the year 2003 under the sponsorship of the Heritage Society of Patiala. The Punjabis celebrate this festival with full joy and enthusiasm every year and the beautiful city is also decorated with charm and delight that attracts the tourists. The Patiala festival offers the uplifting for every person who is a lover of art and music of the township. During this fiesta various art and cultural shows are held that seeks the attention of visitors from all around the world.

There are several things to do in this festival that you should hear, enjoy, and understand. It also includes crafts mela (fair) which is usually held in the Art Gallery of the Sheesh Mahal. If you are passionate about art and music then this is the perfect place for you to visit in Punjab.It is the biggest art mela that is held here annually. More than 150 artisans participate in this unique art festival which lasts for around 15 days. The Patiala festival is not only famous for architectural art forms but is also renowned for its different dance forms.

Punjab Heritage Vintage and Car Festival :

The Punjab Heritage Punjab Vintage and Car festival is most famous and is a classic fiesta which is celebrated annually during the month of February. It was started by the “Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board” in Punjab state of India. In this festival, classic and vintage cars are projected to endorse the rich heritage sites that are located all across Punjab . It is held in the month of February where the sun is drenched in the frost weekends that create a scenic atmosphere. The Punjab Heritage Vintage and Car festival has commenced recently from the year 2009 with the back up of ‘PHTPB.’ This event is held once in a year where the heritage monuments and buildings are more highlighted that gives an option to revitalize the vibrant era of the earlier period of time. Visitors who are aficionado towards historical and architectural site for them it is an idyllic time to visit Punjab state in India. You can get a glimpse of both the festival and the heritage monuments that are preserved here from previous era. It marks this state with glory and pride of this state among other parts of India.

These were some of the famous fairs and festivals of Punjab that are celebrated with enthusiasm and joy keeping in mind the tradition and religions. The Sikhs or the Punjabis rejoice their entire fiesta with zest and delight that appeals to myriads of holiday seekers to visit this place every year. There are some more fairs and festival which are also celebrated in same way like they do it in the Gurudwara by the Punjabis and Sikhs. Therefore, if you are planning to tour Punjab in your next trip make sure you explore this place in the right time, especially during the festive seasons. Definitely, you will experience one of your alluring and remarkable vacations of your lifetime.