Fair in Andaman Islands

The volcanic islands of Andaman & Nicobar are renowned for their mesmeric beauty. A & N islands are blessed with luxuriant evergreen tropical rainforests and crystal clear waters. The native population of Andaman & Nicobar islands comprises mainly of tribals. Tourism is the major source of income in Andaman & Nicobar. A number of fairs & festivals are celebrated in Andaman & Nicobar. Read about major fairs & festivals of Andaman & Nicobar.

Island Tourism Festival (December - January)

A fortnight long festival organized by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration every year gives a festive look to the Islands. Govt. agencies and private entrepreneurs from the islands and Mainland India also attend the exhibition organized during the festival. The exhibition highlights the developmental aspects of these islands. Cultural troupes and artistes of national and international fame are invited to perform during the festival apart from performances by the talents of these islands including tribals. Water sports competitions like Nicobari Hodi race are organized. Other attractions are Magic show, Puppet show, Floating restaurant, Baby show, Dog show, Canoe Race, Scuba Diving etc. The festival projects the image of the islands as an eco-friendly tourist destination.

Subhash Mela (January every year)

Organised in Havelock every year on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. A week long festival filled with cultural programmes.

Vivekanada Mela (January every year)

Organised at Neil Island to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanada.

Block Mela (January/February every year)

Held at Diglipur, this highlights the developments that have taken place in the rural areas and displays the typical rural life of these islands.

Land & People

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were shrouded in mystery for centuries because of their inaccessibility. These are the paragon of beauty and present a landscape full with scenic and picturesque extravaganza. The Andaman & Nicobar are a group of picturesque Islands, big and small, inhabited and uninhabited, a total of 572 islands, islets and rocks lying in the Southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal. They lie along an arc in long and narrow broken chain, approximately North-South over a distance nearly 800 kms. The People of Andaman can be broadly categorized into two groups viz. Indigenous or Aborigines and Immigrants or Settlers. Prior to 1858, the Andaman Islands were inhabited by Autochthons only and with the founding of Penal Settlement at Port Blair after Indian Mutiny, Non-autochthons came to inhabit these Islands. The population of the Andaman Islands has increased rapidly, from roughly 2000 in 1901 to 157,821 in 1981, 241,453 in 1991, and 314,239 in 2001. These increases are mostly attributable to migration from the Indian mainland. It is estimated that less than ten percent of the population of the Andaman Islands is indigenous Andamanese including in 2005, only 99 Onge, 250 Sentinelese, 39 Andamanese and 350 Jarawas.