India GOIndia GO · 41
Festivals of India
Each festival page has the next dates, what happens, where it is biggest and how to plan around it.
October
DussehraDussehra 2026 is on 20 October. Ravan Dahan in Delhi, Mysuru Dasara, Kullu's week of village gods: what you see, where to go and how to handle the…
Kartik MonthKartik: 27 October – 24 November 2026 (expected). What the month means and how to keep it in Vrindavan.
November
DiwaliDiwali 2026 is on 8 November, the five days run 6–11 November. What the festival looks like from the street, the best cities for it, and what to book.
Chhath PujaChhath Puja: 13–16 November 2026, with the sunset offering on day three. Where to watch (Patna, Varanasi, Delhi, Kolkata), etiquette, trains.
Guru Nanak JayantiGuru Nanak Jayanti falls on the full moon of Kartik. Where to see Gurpurab (Golden Temple, Delhi gurdwaras), Nagar Kirtan, langar etiquette, booking.
December
January
PongalPongal: 14–17 January 2027, from Bhogi through Thai, Mattu and Kaanum Pongal. What happens each day, sweet and ven pongal, where to see it.
Makar SankrantiMakar Sankranti 2027: 15 January 2027. Why both 14 and 15 January are used, and where to see the kites and the dips.
Republic DayRepublic Day falls on 26 January every year. The Kartavya Path parade, official tickets and free passes, Beating Retreat, state parades and the…
February
March
Maha ShivaratriMaha Shivaratri: 6 March 2027. The story, the night vigil, where to spend it: Varanasi, Ujjain, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Isha and Murudeshwar.
Eid al-FitrEid al-Fitr: 10 March 2027, by moon sighting. Where to spend the last nights of Ramadan and Eid: Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai. Etiquette, booking.
HoliHoli 2027 is on 23 March (22 March in Rajasthan). Where to spend it, from Braj's ten-day Holi to Varanasi and Pushkar, plus etiquette and booking.
April
VaisakhiVaisakhi: 14 April 2027. Why Sikhs and Punjab celebrate it, what happens at the Golden Temple and gurdwaras, langar etiquette, where to go.
Ram NavamiRam Navami 2027: 15 April 2027. Why it is kept at noon, temple rituals, food, and where to go: Ayodhya, Bhadrachalam, Varanasi, Haridwar.
Hanuman JayantiHanuman Jayanti in north India: 20 April 2027; the south keeps other dates. Why the dates differ, and Varanasi, Hyderabad, Hampi and Delhi.
May
Eid al-AdhaEid al-Adha: 17 May 2027, a day later if the moon is late. What the day looks like, where to see the prayers in Delhi and Hyderabad, etiquette.
Buddha PurnimaBuddha Purnima: 20 May 2027. What the day means, how it is kept, and where to see it: Sarnath's relic darshan, Delhi's Buddha Jayanti Park.
July
August
Nashik Kumbh (Simhastha)Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha: three Amrit Snan, 2 August – 12 September 2027. Ramkund or Trimbakeshwar, when to arrive, booking and crowd safety.
Independence DayIndia's Independence Day is 15 August. How to attend the Red Fort ceremony, where kites fill the sky, and what Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata do.
Raksha BandhanRaksha Bandhan 2027 is on 17 August. What the rakhi thread means, why the day happens at home, and where to see the rakhi bazaars and coconut rites.
JanmashtamiJanmashtami: 25 August 2027, with the birth at midnight and Dahi Handi the next day. Mathura, Vrindavan, Mayapur, etiquette and booking.
September
OnamOnam 2027: Thiruvonam is on 12 September, the ten days start on 3 September. Where to see the processions, tiger dancers and snake boats.
Ganesh ChaturthiGanesh Chaturthi: 4–14 September 2027, ending with the visarjan. Where to go (Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Goa), queues, safety and booking.
NavratriNavratri 2026 runs 11–19 October, Dussehra on the 20th. Garba in Ahmedabad, Durga Puja in Kolkata, Delhi's temples: what you see and how to plan.
Dates to be announced
Bengaluru Karaga (Karaga Shaktyotsava)Bengaluru Karaga: 12–20 April 2027 (expected), with the all-night procession on the Chaitra full moon. Where to stand, how the night runs, where to…
BonderamBonderam, the flag festival of Divar Island in Goa, falls on the fourth Saturday of August. What happens, the ferry, what to bring and where to stay.
Feast of St Francis XavierThe Feast of St Francis Xavier is on 3 December, after a novena from 24 November. What happens in Old Goa, getting there, etiquette, booking.
Govardhan PujaGovardhan Puja falls the day after Diwali, by the almanac sometimes two. Where to see the Annakut in Govardhan and Mathura, parikrama, booking.
Lathmar Holi of BrajLathmar Holi in Barsana: 16 March 2027 (expected), Nandgaon the next day. What happens, where to stand, crowd safety and booking.
LohriLohri falls on 13 January 2027 (expected) in Punjab. What happens at the bonfire, Lohri vs Makar Sankranti, and where in Chandigarh and Delhi to see…
Kumbh MelaHaridwar's Ardh Kumbh: 14 January – 20 April 2027, with three Amrit Snan royal baths. Bathing days, crowds, booking.
Vairamudi Brahmotsavam, MelukoteVairamudi at Melukote: one night in a 13-day Brahmotsavam, 13–25 March 2027 (expected). What happens that night, getting there from Mysuru, etiquette.
Mudiya Purnima and the Govardhan ParikramaMudiya Purnima is on Guru Purnima, 18 July 2027 (expected), with a week-long Govardhan mela. The 21 km parikrama, the Mudiya procession, crowds,…
Mysuru Dasara (Nadahabba)Mysuru Dasara: 11–21 October 2026. Jamboo Savari, torchlight parade, official tickets and where to stay.
Sao JoaoSao Joao in Goa is on 24 June every year. Why villagers jump into wells, the kopel crowns, the Siolim boat parade and how to join in politely.
Serendipity Arts FestivalSerendipity Arts Festival 2026 runs 13–20 December in Panaji, Goa. Mostly free after online registration: venues, tickets, where to stay and what to…
ShigmoShigmo is Goa’s Hindu spring festival after Holi: village drum parties, then float parades town by town. How the schedule works, when to go, where to…
Mahamastakabhisheka, ShravanabelagolaThe Mahamastakabhisheka of the 57-foot Bahubali at Shravanabelagola comes every twelve years; the last was in 2018. What happens, how to plan.
Ujjain SimhasthaUjjain Simhastha: 27 March – 27 May 2028 (expected), main bath on Vaishakha Purnima. Shahi snan, Mahakal, where to stay (Indore), heat and crowd…