On the 14 night of the dark half of the month of Magh, the festival of Mahashivaratri is celebrated, the great night of Lord Shiva. The devotees stay awake throughout the night and offer their prayers to Lord Shiva. They offer special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables and coconuts to Lord Shiva. The devotees fast for the whole day and in the night ate the Prasad offered to Shiva. Special celebrations are held in some of the major Shiv temples at Varanasi, Kalahasti (Andhra Pradesh) and Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu).

The Desert Festival is held in Jaisalmer in the month of February. It is a three day festival of colour, music and festivity. Some of the major attractions of this festival are the Gair and fire dances, a turban–tying competition and Mr. Desert contest. On the last day a trip to the Sam sand dunes is organized where one can enjoy the pleasure of a camel ride and even view the folk dancers and musicians performance at the sand dunes.

Vasant Panchami is celebrated to welcome the spring season on the fifth day of the waxing moon of Magh or February. On this day, the goddess Saraswati, Durga and Lakshmi are worshipped. People wear colourful dress, especially in bright shades of yellow and participate in dance, music and merriment. In West Bengal and northern parts of India, the goddess Saraswati-the goddess of learning is worshipped by placing ‘instruments of learning’ at her shrine. The festival is celebrated with great fervor in the university town of Shantiniketan in West Bengal.

The Goa Carnival is celebrated for about one week in the month of March just before the Lent. During the carnival, the legendary king Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with colour. During the carnival there is an extravagant parade.

Nagaur is known for its annual cattle fair which is held in the month of February. This cattle fair is one of the largest cattle fair in the country. The Nagaur bulls are renowned for their fleet-footedness and attract buyers from all over the country. The day starts with the earnest bargaining between the buyers and the sellers. Once the price of a horse, bullock or camel has been settled, the day draws to a close followed by exciting games, tug of war, camel races and strains of ballads which create a joyful atmosphere.

During the International Yoga Week, various Yoga sessions are held along the banks of the Ganga at Rishikesh in February. This Yoga week is organized by the U.P. Tourism. Different lectures and Yoga Asanas are demonstrated by the prominent Yoga experts throughout the week. One other attraction of this week is the fascinating water sports on the Ganga.

The Deccan Festival is celebrated in Hyderabad in the month of February. Cultural programmes with ghazal nights, qawwalis and mushairas are held during this festival. A pearl and bangle fair displays creation in lustrous pearls and multi-hued bangles that are the local specialities. A food festival serves the best of Hyderabad’s famous cuisine to its visitors.

Chapchar Kut is a lively festival which is celebrated in the month of February in Mizoram. This festival is celebrated on the occasion of the arrival of spring. It is an occasion for dance, music and feasting. This festival has its own glory and history.

The Taj Mahotsav is celebrated in Agra for almost ten days. This festival brings together the finest Indian crafts and cultural nuances at one place. It is a festive introduction to India and Uttar Pradesh. Folk music, Shayari (Poetry), classical dance performances, elephant and camel rides, games and food festival are the part of the festival.

Surajkund Crafts Mela is a delightful handloom and handicrafts fair which is held annually at Surajkund in Delhi. This fair is celebrated in order to promote the traditional Indian handicrafts. Skilled artisans and craftsmen display their skills and crafts in a rural setting. Cultural programmes and rural cuisine are also a part of this colourful fair.

Insland Tourism Festival is a ten-day long festival celebrated in the month of February in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Port Blair. During this festival various exhibitions are held which display various arts and crafts, flora and fauna and marine life. Aqua sports, tele-games, parasailing, dance, drama and music are the major attractions of this festival.

The Elephant festival is celebrated annually in Jaipur. This festival is celebrated one day before the Holi festival. In this festival, the beautifully dressed elephants walk in a row and do a catwalk before the audience. The elephants move with poise in pageant, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi.
The elephants put up a beautiful cultural programme which is made alive with vibrant music and dances of Rajasthan. Foreign and local tourists equally participate in this festival with lots of fun, frolic and enthusiasm.