Fairs and Festivals in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

A union territory of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is located in the Indian Ocean and comprises two islands, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands. The islands separate the Andaman Sea from the Indian Ocean.

The names of the two islands are derived from the local language Malay. Andaman is believed to be derived from the Hanuman which in the local language signifies the Hindu God, Hanuman. Nicobar in Malay means ‘the land of the naked people’.

The Fairs and Festivals in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are very interesting and attract a number of tourists from all across the globe.

Fairs and Festivals in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Though the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have evolved a culture unique to them, their fairs and festivals are those that are celebrated in the mainland. True to the multi-cultural nature of India, the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands or ‘mini India’ celebrate these fairs and festivals with great zeal.

While the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands welcome and worship the Goddess Durga in the Durga Puja, they usher in the festival of lights – Diwali – with equal cheer and dive into the play of colors on Holi with as much thrill. Among the other fairs and festivals of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are Onam, Pongal, Christmas and the Janmashtami Festival.

Besides these, the festival which attracts a lot of foreign interest is the fortnight-long Island Tourism Festival. This festival is a gateway to the heart of the culture of the Islands. This festival, which is held tentatively in the months of December and January, draws the Islands’ Govt. agencies and entrepreneurs. It is a gala event of cultural performances by artistes of local and international fame; various exhibitions like the Dog Show, Puppet Show, and the Baby Show; and other aquatic festivities like the Floating Restaurant, the Canoe Race and scuba diving.