India's festivals are some of the most memorable reasons to travel. Many follow lunar calendars, so dates shift each year; always check the current year's dates before booking.
January
- Pongal and Makar Sankranti across South India mid-month, with kolams, cattle festivals and feasts.
- Kite festival (Uttarayan) in Ahmedabad in mid-January.
- Jaipur Literature Festival.
February and March
- Desert Festival in Jaisalmer (usually February).
- Holi, the festival of colours, celebrated most famously in Mathura & Vrindavan and Barsana.
- Maha Shivaratri at Shiva temples across India.
April and May
- Thrissur Pooram in Kerala, with caparisoned elephants and fireworks.
- Bihu in Assam (April).
June and July
- Hemis Festival in Ladakh, with masked dances.
- Rath Yatra in Puri.
August and September
- Onam in Kerala, with sadhya feasts and snake-boat races.
- Ganesh Chaturthi, especially grand in Mumbai and Pune.
- Janmashtami in Mathura and Vrindavan.
September and October
- Durga Puja in Kolkata, with spectacular pandals.
- Mysuru Dasara, with the illuminated palace and procession.
- Navratri garba in Gujarat.
October and November
- Diwali, celebrated everywhere; Varanasi's Dev Deepawali follows about two weeks later.
- Pushkar Camel Fair at Pushkar.
- Chhath Puja in Bihar.
December
- Hornbill Festival near Kohima, early December.
- Christmas in Goa and Kerala.
- Rann Utsav in Kutch through the winter.
Planning tips
- Hotels near major festivals sell out months ahead; book early.
- Expect higher prices and crowds.
- Respect rituals and ask before photographing people.
See Festival and seasonal trips for itineraries.
When to go
When to go
When to go
When to go