There is a popular saying that India has more festivals than days in the year. From the lamps of Diwali to the colours of Holi and the great fairs of Rajasthan, a festival can be the highlight of your trip, the moment you stop being a visitor and share in India’s living traditions.
Festival Highlights
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Diwali29 October 2027
The Festival of Lights: homes, temples and streets glow with oil lamps, fireworks and rangoli, and families share sweets.
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Holi23 March 2027
The joyful Festival of Colours welcomes spring. Mathura, Vrindavan and Jaipur celebrate it with special flair.
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Pushkar Camel Fair17–24 Nov 2026
Thousands of camels and traders gather by the holy lake, with folk music, competitions and the full-moon dip.
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Durga Puja & Dussehra6–9 October 2027
Kolkata's grandest festival, with spectacular pandals; elsewhere Dussehra marks the victory of good over evil.
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Kumbh Mela, Nashik2 Aug – 12 Sep 2027
Held only once every 12 years: millions of pilgrims gather for the holy baths in the Godavari at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.
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Desert Festival, Jaisalmer18–20 February 2027
Folk music, camel races and turban-tying contests below the Golden Fort and on the Sam dunes.
Festival Calendar, November 2026 – December 2027
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November 2026
17–24 Nov
Pushkar Camel FairCamel fair, folk events and the holy dip on Kartik Purnima
Pushkar, Rajasthan
24 Nov
Guru Nanak JayantiBirthday of the founder of Sikhism; gurdwaras lit up
Amritsar, Delhi and across India
December 2026
1–10 Dec
Hornbill FestivalMusic, dance and crafts of the Naga tribes
Kisama, Nagaland
25 Dec
ChristmasMidnight masses and decorated churches
Goa, Kerala, Kolkata and across India
January 2027
14 Jan
Makar Sankranti & Kite FestivalSkies fill with kites; harvest festival
Jaipur, Ahmedabad and across India
14–18 Jan
Jaipur Literature FestivalOne of the world's largest literary festivals
Jaipur, Rajasthan
15 Jan
PongalTamil harvest festival, with sweet rice cooked outdoors
Tamil Nadu
26 Jan
Republic DayGrand parade on Kartavya Path
New Delhi
February 2027
11 Feb
Basant PanchamiSpring festival honouring Saraswati, goddess of learning
North and East India
18–20 Feb
Desert FestivalCamel races, folk music and dance on the dunes
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
March 2027
6 Mar
Maha ShivaratriNight-long worship of Lord Shiva
Varanasi, Khajuraho and across India
10 Mar
Eid-ul-FitrEnd of Ramadan; feasts and prayers
Across India (date depends on the moon)
22–23 Mar
Holika Dahan & HoliBonfires, then the Festival of Colours
Mathura, Vrindavan, Jaipur and across India
April 2027
7 Apr
Gudi Padwa / UgadiNew Year in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Western and Southern India
14 Apr
Baisakhi / VishuHarvest and New Year festivals
Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
15 Apr
Ram NavamiBirthday of Lord Rama
Ayodhya and across India
19 Apr
Mahavir JayantiBirthday of Mahavira, founder of Jainism
Jain temples across India
May 2027
17 May
Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid)Festival of sacrifice and sharing
Across India (date depends on the moon)
20 May
Buddha PurnimaBirth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha
Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Ladakh
June–July 2027
16 Jun
MuharramMourning processions
Lucknow, Hyderabad and other cities
June/July
Hemis FestivalMasked monastic dances (date set by the Tibetan calendar)
Hemis Monastery, Ladakh
5 Jul
Rath YatraGiant temple chariots pulled through the streets
Puri, Odisha
August 2027
2 Aug
Kumbh Mela: first holy bathHeld once every 12 years
Nashik & Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra
15 Aug
Independence DayFlag hoisting at the Red Fort
Delhi and across India
17 Aug
Raksha BandhanSisters tie protective threads on brothers' wrists
Across North India
25 Aug
JanmashtamiBirthday of Lord Krishna
Mathura, Vrindavan and Mumbai
31 Aug
Kumbh Mela: main holy bathThe most important bathing day
Nashik & Trimbakeshwar
September 2027
4 Sep
Ganesh ChaturthiTen days of celebrations for Lord Ganesha
Mumbai, Pune and Maharashtra
11–12 Sep
Kumbh Mela: final holy baths
Nashik & Trimbakeshwar
12 Sep
OnamKerala's harvest festival: flower carpets, feasts and snake-boat races
Kerala
October 2027
6–8 Oct
Durga Puja & NavratriDazzling pandals and nights of garba dancing
Kolkata, Gujarat and across India
9 Oct
DussehraVictory of good over evil; effigies of Ravana burnt
Across India; famous in Mysore and Kullu
29 Oct
DiwaliThe Festival of Lights
Across India
November 2027
4 Nov
Chhath PujaOfferings to the setting and rising sun on the riverbanks
Bihar, Varanasi and Delhi
Early Nov
Pushkar Camel FairEnds on the Kartik Purnima full moon, 14 Nov (exact dates to be announced)
Pushkar, Rajasthan
14 Nov
Guru Nanak JayantiBirthday of the founder of Sikhism
Amritsar and across India
December 2027
1–10 Dec
Hornbill FestivalMusic, dance and crafts of the Naga tribes
Kisama, Nagaland
25 Dec
ChristmasMidnight masses and decorated churches
Goa, Kerala, Kolkata and across India
Most Indian festivals follow the lunar calendar, so dates can shift by a day locally, and Islamic festivals depend on the sighting of the moon. Fair dates are set by the organisers and may change. We always confirm the exact dates when planning your tour.
Plan your tour around a festival Tell us which celebration you would love to see, and we will build a private tour around it, with the best hotels booked well in advance.
