The city of Agra, the erstwhile bastion of the Mughals in India, has achieved world fame for its fabulous monument to love—the Taj Mahal. The wonderments of this stunning edifice in white marble, nestled by the waters of the holy Yamuna River, have inspired the Taj Mahotsav, an annual festival that spotlights the sheen of multiple charms of India’s cultural heritage.
From art and architecture to crafts and cuisine, the city of Agra embodies some of the finest components of this ancient legacy. Celebrating this astonishing cultural diversity the Taj Mahotsav 2025 is set to provide visitors a banquet of many delights from 18 February - 02 March 2025, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. Appropriately enough the venue of the event is Shilpgram, the unique crafts village located near the Eastern Gate of the Taj Mahal. Shilpgram has provisions for differently-abled visitors, including wheelchair access.
The theme for Taj Mahotsav 2025 is “Dharohar,” or heritage. Not only does it aim to celebrate India’s rich and varied cultural legacy, from folk traditions to classical arts, but it also serves as a conservation platform for these unique cultural treasures to be carried on by future generations.
The vibrant extravaganza is packed with exciting things for all age groups. Visitors get to sample the fantastic medley of cultural diversions from different parts of India. The festival is a wonderful platform highlighting the country’s incredible unity in diversity in the arts, crafts, regional cultures, cuisine, dance and music.
A major thrust of the festivities is to showcase the works of India’s artisans and the preservation of their ancestral arts and crafts. About 400 legendary artisans from different parts of the country get an opportunity to put on display their arts and crafts. Visitors will get ample opportunities to watch these artisans at work at the fairgrounds and even take-home souvenirs for friends and family.
The choice of products on display serves as an excellent window to the country’s artisanal wealth. There are wood/stone carvings from Tamil Nadu, bamboo/cane work from North East India, paper mâché items from Kashmir and South India, marble and zardozi work from Agra, wood carving from Saharanpur, brassware from Moradabad, handmade carpets from Bhadohi, pottery from Khurja, Chikan embroidered work from Lucknow, silk and zari work from Varanasi, shawls and carpets from Kashmir and Gujarat, block printing from Farrukhabad, Kantha stitch works from West Bengal— and lots more.
Buying directly from the craftsmen can be very satisfying as it serves as your own little contribution to enhancing the community economy of these artisans.
An important part of the fiesta is the number of interactive workshops and demos with the artisans. These range from crafts such as pottery making, hand-weaving, and marble inlay work to regional culinary traditions.
Another alluring aspect of the festivities is the line-up of live performances of folk and classical dance and music from different regions in the country. Visitors will get to see some of the country’s top-notch artists perform.
A culinary bonanza of regional fare awaits visitors at the Taj Mahotsav. A special treat is getting to sample the traditional dishes from the interiors of Uttar Pradesh state.
The big draw for kids at the festival is the Fun Fair. In fact, with the line-up of fun activities, it’s a big hit with teenagers and adults as well. There are all kinds of rides in this amusement park section including the dizzy roller coaster, a merry-go-round, toy train rides, a Ferris Wheel etc
The year 2025 celebrates 34 years of the Taj Mahotsav, which also features in the calendar of events of the Department of Tourism, Government of India. The Taj Mahotsav is organised by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department.