Paise toh aate-jaate rahenge, pehle ghoom lo ✈️no payment until your trip is confirmed

Festivals worth travelling for

Soonest first. Where exact dates are announced they're shown; otherwise we confirm them with you when you plan.

October

21–27 Oct 2026Kullu DussehraManali · A week at Dhalpur maidan in Kullu, 40 km from Manali: Raghunath ji's chariot is pulled across the ground and hundreds of village deities arrive in palanquins. No effigies are burnt here — it ends by the Beas.
Plan a trip
29 Oct – 1 Nov 2026Dharamshala International Film FestivalDharamshala · Four days of independent Indian and world cinema at the Tibetan Children's Village in Upper Dharamshala, with talks by filmmakers.
Plan a trip
October full moonSharad Purnima at BhedaghatJabalpur · The marble gorge by moonlight — Bhedaghat is at its most famous on full-moon nights, with the Sharad Purnima mela on the ghats.
Plan a trip

August

31 Oct 2026 – 24 Jul 2028Simhastha Kumbh MelaNashik · Nashik–Trimbakeshwar's Kumbh, once in 12 years. It opens with flag hoisting on 31 October 2026; the Amrit Snans are on 2 August, 31 August and 11 September 2027 (12 September at Trimbakeshwar).
Plan a trip

November

6–11 Nov 2026Diwali in UdaipurUdaipur · The old city and the lake palaces lit with diyas and lamps, with fireworks over Lake Pichola on Diwali night (8 November).
Plan a trip
6–11 Nov 2026Diwali on the GangaDehradun · Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj in Rishikesh and Haridwar — ghats lit with diyas, a special Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri, and lamps floated on the river. Lakshmi Puja falls on 8 November.
Plan a trip
20–28 Nov 2026IFFI — International Film Festival of IndiaGoa · India's biggest film festival, in Panaji: screenings, premieres and masterclasses, with the riverside promenade turned into a film town.
Plan a trip

December

3 Dec 2026Feast of St Francis XavierGoa · Old Goa's biggest feast at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, with a novena in the days before, masses through the day and a large fair.
Plan a trip
21–30 Dec 2026Shilpgram UtsavUdaipur · Ten days of crafts and folk performance at the Shilpgram village outside Udaipur, with artisans from across western India.
Plan a trip
24 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027Christmas & New Year in GoaGoa · Midnight mass in lit-up village churches, star lanterns on every house, and New Year's Eve on the beaches — book early, it's Goa's busiest week.
Plan a trip
Mid-December (usually the second weekend)Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen MahotsavPune · One of India's great Hindustani classical music festivals, running late into the night over several days.
Plan a trip
DecemberTansen Music FestivalGwalior · Hindustani classical concerts held near Tansen's tomb in Gwalior — one of India's oldest music festivals.
Plan a trip

February

6–9 Feb 2027Goa CarnivalGoa · Four days of floats, music and street parties led by King Momo, moving between Panaji, Margao, Vasco and Mapusa.
Plan a trip
7–9 Feb 2027Losar — Tibetan New YearDharamshala · New Year in McLeodganj: prayers and ritual dances at the Tsuglagkhang complex, fresh prayer flags, khapse biscuits and family visits.
Plan a trip
13 Feb 2027Narmada JayantiJabalpur · The Narmada's birthday: aartis at Gwarighat and Bhedaghat, thousands of lamps floated on the river, and a mela along the ghats.
Plan a trip
Early 2027 (dates to be announced)SulaFest wine festivalNashik · A two-day music and wine festival at Sula Vineyards, with an amphitheatre stage among the vines.
Plan a trip

January

From 26 January (five days)LokrangBhopal · The state's folk and tribal arts festival at Ravindra Bhawan — dance, music, crafts and food from across Madhya Pradesh and beyond.
Plan a trip
Late January (dates announced in December)Manali Winter CarnivalManali · Five days of folk dance, Kullu nati, a pageant, food stalls and snow sports on the Mall and at Solang — the valley's big winter get-together.
Plan a trip

March

1–7 Mar 2027International Yoga FestivalDehradun · A week of classes, talks and evening aartis in Rishikesh, with teachers from India and abroad.
Plan a trip
Late March, five days after HoliJhanda MelaDehradun · Dehradun's oldest fair, at the Darbar Sahib: a giant new flag is raised on its pole, with sangats from Punjab and a month-long fair around it.
Plan a trip
March, after HoliShigmoGoa · Goa's spring festival: parades of folk dancers, drummers and giant floats through Panaji, Margao and Vasco.
Plan a trip

April

9–10 Apr 2027Mewar FestivalUdaipur · Women carry decorated idols of Gauri to Gangaur Ghat on Lake Pichola, followed by a boat procession, folk music and fireworks.
Plan a trip

May

Mid-May (three days)Hadimba Devi Mela (Dhungri Mela)Manali · The birthday fair of Hadimba Devi at her cedar-forest temple in Old Manali, with village deities, nati dances and a small fair ground.
Plan a trip

June

24 Jun 2027Sao JoaoGoa · The monsoon feast of St John the Baptist — flower crowns, boat parades and young men leaping into wells and streams, best seen at Siolim.
Plan a trip

July

6 Jul 2027His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthdayDharamshala · Celebrations at the Tsuglagkhang and across McLeodganj, with Tibetan music, dance performances and community gatherings.
Plan a trip

September

This month

4–14 Sept 2027GaneshotsavPune · Pune's ten days for Ganpati: the five 'manache' Ganpatis, Dagdusheth Halwai's pandal and the huge immersion procession on the last day.
Plan a trip