Indian Festival Calendars
Plan your journey around India's most vibrant cultural celebrations.
Guided by Govt. Approved IITG Guide Since 1996
Featured Festival Journeys
A Year of Celebrations
India is a land of festivals. From the tribal heartlands of Bastar and Nagaland to the deserts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, timing your tour with a local festival offers an unparalleled window into the soul of the country.
Festivals of Gujarat
Best for desert culture, Garba, tribal fairs and Rann Utsav.
Rann Utsav
A vibrant cultural festival held in the white salt desert of Kutch, featuring folk dances, music, and crafts.
Navratri
Nine nights of energetic Garba and Dandiya Raas dancing, celebrating the divine feminine.
International Kite Festival (Uttarayan)
The skies over Ahmedabad fill with thousands of colorful kites to mark the end of winter.
Festivals of Rajasthan
Best for camel fairs, desert festivals, and royal heritage celebrations.
Pushkar Camel Fair
One of the world's largest camel fairs, blending livestock trading with vibrant cultural performances.
Desert Festival Jaisalmer
A celebration of desert culture amidst the sand dunes, featuring camel races and folk music.
Mewar Festival
Welcoming the arrival of spring in Udaipur with traditional dances, songs, and colorful processions.
Festivals of Madhya Pradesh
Best for classical dance, tribal culture, and heritage temple festivals.
Khajuraho Dance Festival
A mesmerizing showcase of Indian classical dance forms set against the backdrop of the iconic temples.
Bhagoria Haat Festival
A vibrant tribal festival of the Bhil and Bhilala tribes, celebrating love and the onset of spring.
Tansen Samaroh
A prestigious Indian classical music festival held in Gwalior to honor the legendary musician Tansen.
Festivals of Bastar
Best for 75-day tribal Dussehra, Madai fairs, and Goncha rath.
Bastar Dussehra
A unique 75-day tribal festival honoring Goddess Danteshwari, very different from the rest of India.
Madai Festival
A traveling tribal festival featuring local deities, vibrant processions, and traditional tribal markets.
Goncha Festival
A local tribal variation of the Rath Yatra featuring unique tribal rituals and the use of 'Tupki' (bamboo guns).
Festivals of Chhattisgarh
Best for tribal harvest festivals, Kumbh Mela, and classical arts.
Rajim Kumbh Mela
A major religious gathering at the confluence of three holy rivers, drawing thousands of devotees.
Chakradhar Samaroh
A renowned classical music and dance festival held in Raigarh, honoring King Chakradhar Singh.
Hareli Festival
An agricultural festival celebrating the monsoon, marked by worship of farm equipment and traditional games.
Festivals of Odisha
Best for Rath Yatra, Konark dance festival, and maritime heritage.
Rath Yatra (Puri)
The grand chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, drawing millions of devotees from around the world.
Konark Dance Festival
A magnificent classical dance festival held at the open-air auditorium of the Sun Temple.
Bali Jatra
Asia's largest open-air trade fair in Cuttack, celebrating Odisha's ancient maritime history.
Festivals of Jharkhand
Best for Sal tree worship, Chhau dance, and tribal spring celebrations.
Sarhul
A major tribal festival worshiping nature, particularly the Sal tree, marking the tribal New Year.
Karam Festival
A festival celebrating youth and nature, featuring the planting of the Karam tree branch and traditional dances.
Chhau Mahotsav
A celebration of the vibrant and martial Chhau dance, deeply rooted in the state's tribal traditions.
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Festivals of Bihar
Best for Chhath Puja, cattle fairs, and ancient harvest rituals.
Chhath Puja
An ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God, involving strict fasting and holy bathing rituals.
Sonepur Cattle Fair
Asia's largest cattle fair, steeped in history and featuring trading of elephants, horses, and cultural shows.
Makar Sankranti Mela (Rajgir)
Devotees gather for holy dips in the warm springs of Rajgir to mark the harvest season.
Festivals of Northeast India
Best for Bihu dance, tribal harvest festivals, and valley music gatherings.
Bihu (Assam)
The vibrant Assamese New Year and spring festival, featuring the energetic Bihu dance.
Ziro Music Festival (Arunachal Pradesh)
An outdoor independent music festival set in the picturesque Ziro Valley.
Wangala Festival (Meghalaya)
The '100 Drums Festival' of the Garo tribe, celebrating the post-harvest season.
Festivals of Nagaland
Best for Hornbill Festival, Konyak warrior celebrations, and Angami purification.
Hornbill Festival
The 'Festival of Festivals', showcasing the rich cultural heritage and traditions of all Naga tribes.
Aoling Festival
The premier festival of the Konyak Nagas, celebrating the arrival of spring and seeking a good harvest.
Sekrenyi
A major purification festival of the Angami Nagas, featuring traditional feasts and rituals.
Festivals of Bengal
Best for Durga Puja pandals, Baul music, and Gangasagar pilgrimage.
Durga Puja
The grandest festival of Bengal, transforming Kolkata into an open-air art gallery of magnificent pandals.
Poush Mela
An annual fair and festival in Santiniketan, famous for Baul music and showcasing rural crafts.
Gangasagar Mela
A massive pilgrimage gathering where the Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal on Makar Sankranti.
Festivals of Maharashtra
Best for Ganesh Chaturthi processions, rangoli traditions, and cave festivals.
Ganesh Chaturthi
A spectacular 10-day festival celebrating Lord Ganesha, culminating in grand immersion processions.
Gudi Padwa
The Maharashtrian New Year, marked by hoisting the 'Gudi' and creating vibrant rangolis.
Elephanta Festival
A cultural festival of classical music and dance held against the backdrop of the ancient Elephanta Caves.
Festivals of North India
Best for Kumbh Mela, Holi in Vrindavan, and Diwali on the Ghats.
Kumbh Mela (Haridwar/Prayagraj)
The largest peaceful gathering of pilgrims on earth, bathing in sacred rivers.
Holi (Vrindavan/Mathura)
The legendary and exuberant festival of colors, celebrated with unmatched fervor in the land of Krishna.
Diwali (Ayodhya/Varanasi)
The festival of lights, featuring millions of diyas illuminating the ghats and temples.
Festivals of South India
Best for Pongal harvest, Onam boat races, and Mysuru Dasara processions.
Pongal (Tamil Nadu)
A four-day harvest festival giving thanks to nature, featuring traditional cooking and cattle worship.
Onam (Kerala)
Kerala's biggest cultural festival, famous for snake boat races, tiger dances, and elaborate floral carpets.
Mysuru Dasara (Karnataka)
A grand 10-day Royal festival featuring magnificent elephant processions and a fully illuminated palace.
Festivals of Leh-Ladakh
Best for masked Cham dances, monastery festivals, and Ladakhi New Year.
Hemis Festival
A vibrant two-day festival featuring spectacular Cham (mask) dances by monks at the Hemis Monastery.
Losar (Ladakhi New Year)
A major socio-religious festival marked by illuminations, cultural events, and traditional rituals.
Ladakh Festival
A grand showcase of Ladakhi culture including archery, polo, and traditional masked dances in Leh.
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Govt. Approved IITG Guide · 30+ Years · PAN India