November Indian Festival Calendar

Colors can reflect your mood for the occasion...

The Indian winter palette is far from dullness.
November can be a festive month if you socialize and have friends from multiple communities however, it can be a dress up frenzy.
This November you won't need to obsess too much.
This post will give you an overview of what lies ahead, what kind of colors are traditional to the season.
You may not celebrate these festivals but urban indian divas can use a touch of tradition to their festive wardrobe. It gives you a BMS ( Body Mind Soul) boost !

A quick look at festivals
(start from the top left corner and go clock wise with me)

Kolayat fair

• Where - Kolayat lake @ Bikaner in Rajasthan 
• When - typically the first week of November on Kartik purnima
• Concept - the place is named after the sage "Kapil Muni" who is believed to have meditated at the Kolayat lake for the salvation of mankind. A puja is conducted and pilgrims take a dip in the lake to purify their soul. Stuck in an urban location that's far away from the Koalayat lake? You can celebrate by dressing up ! Okay, we won't go over the top ( OTT from now on) I've prepared a special look for you and I would like to call it " Say Thanks to the Sages" look. 
• Colors - the "Kolayat color pallete" - brilliant rose, bright crimson - crimson is a "sumangli"  favorite , bitter lemon and saffron (saffron is an auspiciousness favorite)

Chath Puja

• Where - North India (Bihar typically)
• When - First week of November 
• Concept - the 4 day long puja asks you to worship the Sun God to promote well being, progress and longevity. It is believed that arduous observers of the rigorous rituals ( including a 36 hour fast) can cure themselves of any disease. I'm here to help you overcome the " I'm confused about what to wear syndrome". 
• For chath puja I believe in the Yoga philosophy, though my community doesn't celebrate the puja,  I'm an Indian and I must participate. 
• I've put together a "4 day winter yoga" look for your body, mind and soul. 
• Colors - "Here comes the Sun Chath Puja Palette"-  A festival dedicated to the Sun God - splash yourself in buttercup yellows I've picked from the shades of the sun (Don't worry, we will borrow from Kolayat color palette over the 4 days)

Bali Yatra 

• Where - Mahanadi river @ Cuttack in Orissa
• When - First week  of November, at the end of Kartik purnima
• Concept - an annual traditional maritime festival which marks the end of Kartik Purnima and goes on for 7 days after the full moon. Early sailors would take advantage of the winds blown at this time to sail out to Bali , Java, Sumatra etc for cultural expansion and trade. Over time this festival has been named "the festival of boats" and during this grand fair children set hand made toy boats carrying oil lamps assail after sun set.  
• I've put together a "Indo Balinese beauty" look for your Bali Yatra 
• Colors - Its time to sing a song to fare the maritime folk well, try out the buoyant matisse and biscay blues. Don't forget to carry some wild strawberries and some Christine oranges - some eye catching colors for the sailors eyes. 

Ganga Mahotsav

• Where - Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
• When - from prabhodhani ekadasi to kartik purnima ( typically first week of  November )
• Concept - It is believed that around prabhodhani ekadasi , the God's celebrate their Diwali ( Dev Diwali). It is believed that the Dev lok descend on earth to have a bath in the river Ganga. At this time of the year, the Ganga is lit up with earthen lamps and a huge cultural performance arts festival marks the height of celebration for the home coming of the Devas. 
• I've put together a "Gorgeous for Ganga" look for this festival 
• Colors - flaunt your femininity with violet eggplants, cerise red and a fiery jaffa orange for this festival

Karthik Puja

• Where - Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
• When -  celebrated on prabodhani ekadasi during the karthik month ( typically first week of November)
• Concept - This month marks the celestial marriage of Lord Vishnu to Tulsi. On this day, women perform a specific set of rituals to seek Godess Tulsis blessings for the well being of their marital life. The festival is actually an epic romantic journey between heaven and earth
• I've put together a "Celebrating a celestial marriage" look for this festival
• Colors - since this is the focal point of most of the festivals, we will borrow from the other color palettes and especially from Ganga Mahotsav.

Bundi Utsav

• Where - Bundi @ Hadoti district in Rajasthan
• When - After Karthik Purnima ( November) 
• Concept - It is a celebration of culture, art, tradition, music and rural sports. The festival involves a procession, a turban competition, fireworks and a cultural extravaganza. 
• It might be boring if you aren't actually visiting Rajasthan, but that shouldn't stop you from soaking into the November festivities. 
• I've put together a "Winter festivities look" inspired by the cultural heritage of Bundi. 
• Colors - has to be golden dreams for a rich occasion like this 

Guru Nanak Jayanti 

• Where - Originally in Punjab, especially @ the Golden Temple in Amritsar, also at Guru Dwaras all over the country 
• When - November 10
• Concept - Celebration of Guru Nanakji's birthday ( the saint who founded the Sikh religion). On this day, the Holy Book of the Sikhs " Guru Granth Sahib" is taken out of the temple to the people in a procession accompanied by music and keertan ( devotional songs). It is a trend to deck up the Guru Dwara ( Sikh temple) and the nearby locality with lights and colors. Typically people host large community keertans.
• I've put together a "Peace and pious" look for this day 
• Colors - Tropical green and curious blue , there aren't any prescribed colors as such so I recommend sticking to easy on the eye and peaceful elemental colors. 

Pushkar Festival 

Where - Pushkar @ Rajasthan 

When - Karthik ekadashi to kartik purnima (Almost first 2 weeks of November)

Concept - This is a 5 day camel and livestock fair peppered with a lot of contests and shopping opportunities which act as a major tourist attraction. Thousands of pilgrims visit the Pushkar lake where the fair takes place. On the full moon day it is believed that the Hindu God Brahma created the lake.

I've put together a "Lake Pushkar" look for this festival

Colors - Merino linen, jewel green and Monza red. We will use the linen to create a sober look 

(PS: For the montage above I've used a mix of images I have sourced from the internet, these are not from websites where you can buy these clothes )