Nakkatyya in Varanasi

There are many colourful festivals celebrated in Varanasi other than Holi and Diwali. These festivals give a new lease of life to this holy city. The festivals are celebrated with pomp and joy. The ceremonies and rituals are kept in mind. The festivals draw many tourists not only across the country but around the world. These festivals keep the age old customs and traditions alive. Nakkatyya in Varanasi is one of them.

Nakkatyya festival is based on the famous Indian epic Ramayana. The play is taken from the episode in the epic where the sister of Ravana tries to influence Lakshmana to marry her but instead Lakshmana chops off her nose and she goes back to her brother crying. On hearing this Ravana vows revenge against the brothers. This incidence in the epic is one of the reasons why Sita was abducted by Ravana and Ram goes to rescue her with his army. This episode is performed annually. The Nakkatyya festival is held in Chetganj with much fan fair. The festival is generally celebrated in October.

There are many other festivals which are celebrated in Varanasi like Shivratri, Dussehra, Ganga Festival, Bharat Milap, Dhrupad Mela, Hanuman Jayanti and Nag Nathaiya Panch Kroshi Parikrama.

Apart from the wide range of festivals and events celebrated in Varanasi there are many sightseeing spots here. The land of Varanasi has been the famous pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. The holy city is situated on the banks of the river Ganges in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. The art and culture of Varanasi is exceptional. To every visitor, Varanasi offers a breathtaking experience. It is the rich cultural tradition of Varanasi that makes it the cultural capital of India.