Indian fairs and festivals always capture the centre stage when it comes to tourism. Even the tourists coincide their trip to India with the popular Indian fairs and festivals. The Indian culture's festive foundation lingers on till date due to deep-rooted traditions and customs in the country.

Karaga festival
It is celebrated in March and April.Karaga, an earthen pot embodying Shakti is taken out in a night procession for more than 12miles before being immersed in the Sampangi tank. Devotees balance pots on their heads to test the strength of their character. A priest attired as a woman also does the same thing in the main temple procession.

Kadalekaye Parishe
It is celebrated in November. It is also called Peanut festival as the farmers celebrate the first groundnut crop of the year. The local farmers worship at the Bull temple and seek blessings.

Makara Sankranthi or Pongal

It is known in the South, is celebrated to mark the beginning of the harvest season. People believe that the first rays of the sun on Sankranthi will bring them a good harvest. It is also celebrated to mark the change of seasons from winter to spring.

Ganesh Chaturthi
It is celebrated in September all over the world, the day before Swarna Gowri.

Dussehra
The pride of Karnataka's festivals is Dussehra. It is a celebration that lasts for ten days. The rulers of Vijayanagara Empire used to celebrate Dussehra with remarkable brilliance. The rulers of Mysore continued the tradition. The Maharaja of Mysore used to hold a Durbar for 9 days and on the 10th day went in a procession on a caparisoned elephant. With the ending of the royal rule, a picture of Bhuvaneshwari, the patron goddess of Karnataka, is taken out in procession. It is a unique and significant festival of the Hindus.

Yugadi
The Kannadiga New Year day of Yugadi falls on the second half of March or early April is celebrated with devotion and delight. This day is considered very auspicious to start new ventures. The festival begins with ritual bath and prayers and continues till late night. It is generally held that Brahma created the world on this day. Also Lord Vishnu is said to incarnate himself, as Matsya.Brahma is the chief deity worshipped this day. Ugadi also signifies the advent of spring with colorful blossoms, green fields all heralding a new beginning. The vibrancy of life signifying growth, prosperity and well-being filling the hearts of people with joy and contentment. On Ugadi the predictions are made for the New Year among the chanting of mantras. The preparations are made a week ahead with houses given a thorough wash and shopping for new clothes. People also decorate the entrance of their houses with fresh mango leaves and draw colorful floral designs in front of the houses. The women prepare special dishes to mark the occasion.

Varamahalakshmi

The annual Lakshmi Pooja is celebrated all over Karnataka in August. The origin of this puja lies in the Vedic age. On this auspicious day married women make offerings to Mother Lakshmi in the form of garlands of cash, jewellary and other valuables. They pray for prosperity, peace and happiness for their families and husbands. All financial problems are said to be solved after performing this puja. People meet each other and women perform puja together. It is also customary to offer vermilion or kum-kum to at least five married ladies.