Local traditions and culture in State of Uttar Pradesh

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At the occasion of Kartik Poornima the ghats of Varanasi come alive with thousands of diyas (earthen lamps) lit together. This spectacular event famous as the Dev-Deepawali is celebrated on the 15th day after Diwali, as a tribute to river Ganga by the people of Varanasi.

Janmashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great devotion in the August/September months, on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksh or the 8th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadon, in the whole of north India.
Temples and homes are beautifully decorated and lit. An attractive feature of the celebrations are cribs & other decorations depicting stories of Lord Krishna's childhood. There are five main "jhankis" of Janmashtami which depict the entire sequence of events from Lord Krishna's birth to his being discovered in Gokul. The "jhankis" include the birth of Krishna in jail, Vasudev carrying Krishna to safety across the river Yamuna amidst thunder and lightning, Vasudev's return to the jail, Kansa killing Yashoda's daughter and finally the little Krishna in the cradle in Gokul. "Jhankis" are created out of dolls dressed up as kids, men and women with lehangas, chunnis, dhotis & kurtas.
Raslila of every type are also performed - Janmalila, Shankarlila, Putnalila and Naglila. In the evening bhajans are sung which end at midnight, the auspicious moment when Lord Krishna was born. Thereafter arti is done, prasad distributed and flowers showered on the idol.

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Holi heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India. According to a legend, Hiranya Kashyap, the demon who ruled over 'Sapta Deep' believed himself to be more powerful than God. He contemplated killing his youngest son Prahlad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu after he refused to worship him as God.
Holika, the demon's sister who possessed a divine, garment to protect her from fire, agreed to enter the burning pyre with Prahlad in her lap but got burnt herself.
Holi thus signifies the triumph of good over evil and is marked by grand festivities all over India and particularly in the Braj area where it is celebrated with great gaiety and fervour.
It is believed that Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, in human form played holi with the Gopi's (cowherd maids) in the ancient past. Keeping this tradition alive in Braj, Holi celebrations last for more than a week and are marked by people sprinkling colored water & smearing colored powder on each other.
The playful teasing of the Gopis by the Gopas (cowherd boys) is enacted by groups of men and women through special Holi songs and dances, called Rasiya.

Lathmaar Holi is the most colourful and exuberant form of traditional Holi festival celebrated at Barsana, 48 km. from Mathura and at Nandgaon 7 km. ahead, women folk here beat the men with (Lathis) or Bamboo poles while showering coloured water on them with great rejoice and merriment.
Celebrations start a week earlier than rest of India. Men of Nandagaon (place where Lord Krishna grew up) raid Barsana (place where Radha grew up) with hopes of raising their flag over Shri Radhikaji's temple. They receive a thunderous welcome as the women of Barsana greet them with long wooden sticks. The men are soundly beaten as they attempt to rush through town to reach the relative safety of Shri Radhikaji's temple. Men are well padded as they are not allowed to retaliate. In this mock battle the men try their best not to be captured. Unlucky captives can be forcefully lead away, thrashed and dressed in female attire before being made to dance.
In short the celebration of Holi bears witness to a feeling of oneness and sense of brother-hood and creates a colourful atmosphere .

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The Department of Tourism Govt. of U.P. organizes Yoga week in the holy city of Allahabad every year. These yoga weeks provide the participants opportunity to learn, discuss, absorb and practice Yoga amidst cultural and natural heritage of U.P.

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Awadh is famous for its Kababs- one of the traditional Awadhi cuisine, made with rare spices and cooked on slow charcoal fire in earthen vessels. The Kabab festival attempts to provide several vanishing varieties not heard of now a days. The Department aims to promote cuisine as a tourism product for the Awadh circuit.

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The Taj Mahotsav at Agra is a colorful display of the Arts, crafts, culture and cuisine of the Braj area. Organized by U.P. Tourism and held as an annual event at the Shilpgram, Taj Mahotsav is a fitting tribute to the legendary skills of master craftsmen of Agra and adjoining regions.

Water sports festival Allahabad is an event packed with adventure thrills of kayaking, canoeing and other water sport activities. Organised at Allahabad every year, the event is an opportunity to indulge in water sport activities of varied nature.