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Haryana has a proud history going back to vedic age. The state was the home of the legendry Bharata dynasty, which has give the name Bharat to India. Haryana is immortalized in the great epic Mahabharata. Kurukshetra, the scene of the epic battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas is situated in Haryana.
The state continues to play a leading part in the history of India till the advent of Muslims and the rise of Delhi as the imperial capital of India.
The modern state of Haryana came into being on Nov 1st 1966 as a result of the re-organization of the old Punjab state in to two separate states.
General information
Population:
21,082, 989
Area:
44, 212 Sq. km.
Capital:
Chandigarh
Languages:
Hindi and Haryanvi (a dialect of Hindi)
District:
19
People:
Per Sq. km 477
Literacy:
68.59 %
Festivals
Festival of Garden (Rose Festival)
A three-days celebration, which is organized in the last week of February, is also on the national calendar of festivals. Earlier, it was known as Rose Festival and intended to encourage people to walk through the Rose Garden and enjoy the beauty of roses. Celebrated at Rose Garden in the month of February end or beginning of March. It is known as the 'Festival Of Gardens' since 1997.
The festival includes performances of music and dance, both classical and folk, flower shows, events for children, exhibitions by local artists, photographers and craftsman and a wide range of amusements. The various competitions such as children competition, dog shows, flower decoration competitions etc are organized.
Mango Festival
This festival is organized in the months of June or July, the Mango Festival held at Yadavindra Gardens in Pinjore is a feast for the lovers of the king of fruits, mango.
Hundreds of species of mangoes from as far as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh as also from Haryana, Himachal and Punjab arrive, delighting everyone with their hybrid shapes and quality. Competitions of preserved goods made of the fruit are held along with a splash of festivities and colors of cultural extravaganza at Yadavindra Gardens.
Teej
Teej is celebrated on 'Sawan Sudi' - 3 (Jul-Aug). It is celebrated to welcome 'Sawan' or the rainy season. After first showers of Sawan, a small red insect called 'Teej' in Haryana comes out from soil.
Swings are set up in the open courtyards. Girls apply henna on their hands and feet and are excused from household chores on this day.
On Teej, girls receive new clothes from their parents and the mother sends a 'baya' or gift. Puja is performed in the morning. The 'baya' consisting of a variety of foodstuff, is placed on a 'thali' at the place of worship where a 'chowk' (square) has been decorated, an idol or a picture of Parvati is installed. The evenings are set aside for singing and dancing.
 Suraj Kund Crafts Mela
The Crafts Mela celebrates the finest handlooms and handicrafts traditions of country. Held in the month of February from 1st-15th, the fair embodies the spirit that runs through the people of India and its rich culture. The Suraj Kund Crafts Mela is held just 8 km from South Delhi, at Suraj Kund.
Beneath thatched roof platforms, master craftsperson carefully displays the finest of handlooms and handicrafts from all over the country. The event is so colorful and rich in experience that many a tourist has returned to visit it again and again. The prices are relatively low compared to emporia, and some of the stuff can be amazing.
Shops at the Mela bustle with the brilliance of mirror encasing embroidery, delicate lace work, folk motifs on terracotta forms, metal and cane-ware, the tinkle of bangles, shimmer of iridescent silks and the jingle of toys and trinkets. The Suraj Kund Crafts Mela is more than a celebration of crafts. At the fan shaped open-air-theatre name 'Natyashala' rich folk dances and musical evenings are held throughout the fortnight.
In and around
Suraj Kund
Just 30 minutes drive from connaught place (New Delhi), lies the lovely and serene lake resort of Suraj Kund. It has an excellent motel on the shore of the lake, in the shape of the sun, amidst rugged beauty of the rocky terrain.
Badkhal Lake
At distance of 9 km from Suraj Kund, lies the sprawling Badkhal Lake, nestled within the boulder strewn Aravalli hills. Its changing glories can make you stay by its side for long and long hours.
Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
The Rosy Pelican, bird sanctuary at Sultanpur, 46 km away from Delhi, is a quite place where you are face to face with a host of your feathery friends like mallard, pochard, shoveller, teal, gadwell, greylag, barheaded, geese, flamingo, pelican cranes, ruddy shelduck, painted stock spoonbill etc. The lake stretched in about 400 acres of land virtually becomes a bird-watchers paradise in October - February when migratory birds from as far as Europe and Siberia visit the lake.
Pinjore Gardens
The pleasure gardens of Pinjore, now renamed as Yadavindra Gardens is at the foothills of Shivalik hills. The superb scenic beauty of the place has been a center of great attraction for Maharajas, saints and the common folk alike. In ancient times the pandavas came and stayed here during their exile. The garden contains seven descending terraces, with an ornamental waterway flowing down the center, and flanked by well laid out lawns and gardens
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