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Experience India Through Its FestivalsIndia is a land of festivals, colours, traditions and celebrations. Throughout the year, different regions of the country come alive with religious ceremonies, cultural events, music, dance, traditional food, decorated streets and spectacular processions.The India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 helps travellers identify some of the most important celebrations taking place across the country and plan their journey around experiences that reflect India's extraordinary cultural diversity.For travellers, experiencing an Indian festival can add a completely different dimension to a holiday — from the colours of Holi in North India and the lights of Diwali across the country, to the magnificent Durga Puja in Kolkata, Onam in Kerala, Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai and Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan.Use our India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 to discover major festivals, important dates and some of the best destinations for experiencing each celebration.India Festival Calendar 2026The 2026 section of our India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 highlights major celebrations throughout the year and some of the best destinations where travellers can experience them.January 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 14 January Makar Sankranti North & West India Kite flying, rituals and colourful celebrations 14 January Pongal Tamil Nadu A major harvest festival with decorated homes, traditional food and cultural celebrations 23 January Vasant Panchami North India A festival celebrating spring, knowledge and Goddess SaraswatiBest for travellers: Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu offer particularly interesting cultural experiences around January's harvest and seasonal festivals.The India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 makes it easier to compare major celebrations across different regions and choose travel dates that match your interests.February 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 15 February Maha Shivaratri Varanasi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh & across India Temple ceremonies, prayers and night-long celebrationsTravel highlight: Varanasi is one of India's most atmospheric destinations for experiencing Hindu religious traditions.March 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 4 March Holi Delhi, Mathura, Vrindavan, Jaipur, Rajasthan Colours, music, dancing and street celebrations 19 March Ugadi / Gudi Padwa Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra Traditional New Year celebrations 21 March Gangaur Rajasthan Traditional processions and celebrations dedicated to Gauri 26 March Rama Navami Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh & across India Religious ceremonies and temple celebrations 31 March Mahavir Jayanti Rajasthan, Gujarat & Jain centres Jain religious celebrations Festival Highlight – HoliHoli is one of India's most famous festivals. The festival of colours fills streets and public spaces with music, dancing, sweets, coloured powder and water.For international travellers, Holi can be one of the most memorable experiences featured in the India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027.Best places: Mathura & Vrindavan, Jaipur, Delhi and Rajasthan.April 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 3 April Good Friday Goa, Kerala & Christian communities across India Religious ceremonies and processions 5 April Easter Goa, Kerala & Christian communities Church services and traditional celebrations 14 April Baisakhi Punjab, Amritsar Harvest celebrations, music, dancing and visits to the Golden Temple 14 April Tamil New Year Tamil Nadu Traditional celebrations and festive meals Festival Highlight – BaisakhiBaisakhi is particularly significant in Punjab and is an excellent time to combine a visit to Amritsar and the Golden Temple with a vibrant cultural experience.May 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 1 May Buddha Purnima Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar Buddhist prayers, ceremonies and pilgrimages Festival Highlight – Buddha PurnimaFor travellers interested in Buddhism and Indian spirituality, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath are particularly meaningful destinations around Buddha Purnima.June 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 17 June Maharana Pratap Jayanti Rajasthan Cultural programmes and celebrations 21 June International Yoga Day Rishikesh, Haridwar & across India Yoga sessions, meditation and wellness activities 26 June Muharram Across India Religious observances and processions July 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 16 July Jagannath Rath Yatra Puri, Odisha One of India's largest religious processions 29 July Guru Purnima Varanasi, Rishikesh & spiritual centres Spiritual ceremonies and traditions Festival Highlight – Rath YatraThe Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri is one of India's most spectacular religious celebrations, featuring enormous decorated chariots carrying the deities through the streets.August 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 15 August Independence Day Delhi & across India National celebrations and cultural programmes 15 August Hariyali Teej Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana Traditional dress, songs and women's celebrations 26 August Onam Kerala Floral decorations, traditional meals, dances and cultural events 28 August Raksha Bandhan North & Central India Family celebrations symbolising the bond between brothers and sisters Festival Highlight – OnamOnam is Kerala's major annual festival. Travellers can experience traditional Pookalam floral decorations, Onam Sadya meals, cultural performances and the festive atmosphere of Kerala.September 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 4 September Janmashtami Mathura & Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh Temple celebrations, music and performances 14 September Ganesh Chaturthi Mumbai, Pune & Maharashtra Huge Ganesh idols, processions and immersion ceremonies 25 September Ganesh Visarjan Mumbai & Maharashtra Grand processions and immersion celebrations Festival Highlight – Ganesh ChaturthiMumbai becomes especially vibrant during Ganesh Chaturthi, when magnificent Ganesha idols are installed in homes and public pandals before being taken in procession for immersion.October 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 11 October Navratri Begins Gujarat, Rajasthan & North India Nine nights of worship, music and dance 19 October Durga Ashtami Kolkata, West Bengal Durga Puja ceremonies and magnificent decorations 20 October Dussehra / Vijayadashami Delhi, Mysore, Varanasi & across India Processions, performances and symbolic victory of good over evil 29 October Karwa Chauth North India Traditional women's festival and evening rituals Festival Highlight – Navratri & DussehraNavratri is celebrated throughout India but takes very different forms in different regions.Gujarat: Garba and Dandiya dancing West Bengal: Durga Puja Delhi & North India: Ramlila and Dussehra celebrations Mysore: Royal Dasara celebrationsNovember 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 8 November Diwali / Deepavali Across India Lamps, decorations, fireworks, sweets and family celebrations 10 November Govardhan Puja North India Traditional religious celebrations 11 November Bhai Dooj North & Central India Family celebrations 15 November Chhath Puja Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Jharkhand Beautiful riverside rituals at sunrise and sunset 24 November Guru Nanak Jayanti Amritsar, Punjab & Sikh centres Processions, prayers and celebrations Festival Highlight – DiwaliDiwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important celebrations in India.Homes, streets and monuments are decorated with lamps and lights, families exchange sweets and gifts, and temples and markets become especially vibrant.Travellers using the India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 to plan a Diwali journey should consider booking hotels, guides and transport well in advance, particularly in popular destinations.Recommended destinations: Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Amritsar, Udaipur and Mumbai.December 2026 Date Festival Where to Experience It What to Expect 25 December Christmas Goa, Kerala, Mumbai & Christian communities Church services, decorations, markets and celebrations Festival Highlight – Christmas in GoaGoa is one of India's most popular destinations for Christmas, with beautifully decorated churches, midnight masses, music and festive celebrations.By using the India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027, travellers can plan ahead for popular festival periods when hotels, guides and transport may be in high demand.India Festival Calendar 2027The 2027 section of the India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 helps travellers look further ahead and plan journeys around India's major religious, cultural and national celebrations.January 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 14 January Lohri Punjab, Haryana & North India 15 January Makar Sankranti Rajasthan, Gujarat & North India 15 January Pongal Tamil Nadu 15 January Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Punjab & Sikh communities 26 January Republic Day Delhi & across India Republic Day – DelhiRepublic Day celebrations in New Delhi feature a spectacular parade, military displays and cultural performances.Travellers interested in experiencing Republic Day should plan accommodation and sightseeing well in advance.February 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 11 February Vasant Panchami North India 19 February Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Maharashtra 20 February Guru Ravidas Jayanti North India March 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 6 March Maha Shivaratri Varanasi, Uttarakhand & across India 21 March Holika Dahan North India 22 March Holi Mathura, Vrindavan, Jaipur, Delhi & Rajasthan 26 March Good Friday Goa, Kerala & Christian communities 28 March Easter Goa, Kerala & Christian communities Best Festival Experience – HoliFor first-time visitors to India, Mathura and Vrindavan offer one of the country's most memorable Holi experiences.April 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 7 April Ugadi / Gudi Padwa Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana & Maharashtra 14 April Baisakhi Punjab & Amritsar 14 April Tamil New Year Tamil Nadu 15 April Rama Navami Ayodhya & North India 19 April Mahavir Jayanti Rajasthan, Gujarat & Jain centres May 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 17 May Eid al-Adha / Bakrid* Across India 20 May Buddha Purnima Bodh Gaya, Sarnath & Buddhist centres June 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 7 June Maharana Pratap Jayanti Rajasthan 15 June Muharram* Across India 21 June International Yoga Day Rishikesh, Haridwar & across India July 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 5 July Jagannath Rath Yatra Puri, Odisha 18 July Guru Purnima Varanasi, Rishikesh & spiritual centres August 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 15 August Independence Day Delhi & across India 17 August Raksha Bandhan North & Central India 25 August Janmashtami Mathura & Vrindavan 15 August* Eid-e-Milad Across India September 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 4 September Ganesh Chaturthi Mumbai, Pune & Maharashtra 12 September Onam Kerala Onam in KeralaA Kerala holiday during Onam can combine cultural experiences with the state's beautiful backwaters, beaches, hill stations and traditional cuisine.October 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 7 October Durga Ashtami Kolkata & West Bengal 8 October Maha Navami West Bengal & across India 9 October Dussehra / Vijayadashami Delhi, Mysore, Varanasi & across India 18 October Karwa Chauth North India 29 October Diwali Across India 30 October Govardhan Puja North India 31 October Bhai Dooj North & Central India Festival Highlight – Diwali 2027Diwali falls on 29 October 2027, making late October an excellent period for travellers wanting to experience India's Festival of Lights.This is one of the major celebrations international visitors may wish to consider when using the India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 for travel planning.November 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 4 November Chhath Puja Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Jharkhand 14 November Guru Nanak Jayanti Amritsar & Sikh centres December 2027 Date Festival Where to Experience It 25 December Christmas Goa, Kerala, Mumbai & Christian communities India's Most Popular Festivals for International TravellersIf you are visiting India for the first time and want to experience a major Indian festival, the India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 can help you identify celebrations that best suit your travel dates and preferred destinations.The India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 is especially useful for first-time visitors who want to combine sightseeing with authentic cultural experiences.HoliBest time: March Best places: Mathura, Vrindavan, Jaipur, DelhiDiwaliBest time: October–November Best places: Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Amritsar, UdaipurDurga PujaBest time: September–October Best place: KolkataGanesh ChaturthiBest time: August–September Best places: Mumbai, PuneOnamBest time: August–September Best place: KeralaNavratriBest time: September–October Best place: GujaratJagannath Rath YatraBest time: June–July Best place: Puri, OdishaBuddha PurnimaBest time: April–May Best places: Bodh Gaya, SarnathGuru Nanak JayantiBest time: November Best place: AmritsarBaisakhiBest time: April Best place: Amritsar & PunjabPlan Your India Holiday Around a FestivalFestival travel can be an unforgettable way to experience India's culture, traditions and living heritage.The India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 can help you choose when and where to travel, but experiencing a major celebration requires careful planning. Popular hotels, transport services and guides can become heavily booked around important festival periods.Using the India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 while planning your holiday also makes it easier to coordinate sightseeing with festivals that are particularly significant in each destination.If you would like to visit India during a particular festival, Limitless India Vacations can design a tailor-made itinerary around the celebration.We can arrange:✓ Private tours ✓ Hotels and accommodation ✓ Airport transfers ✓ English-speaking guides ✓ Festival experiences ✓ Cultural activities ✓ Domestic transportation ✓ Train journeys ✓ India visa assistance ✓ Tailor-made India holidaysTell Us Which Festival You Want to ExperienceChoose your festival. Choose your dates. Let us plan the journey.Whether you wish to experience Holi, Diwali, Onam, Durga Puja or another celebration, the India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 can help you choose the right time and destination for your journey.[PLAN MY INDIA HOLIDAY]Important Note About Festival DatesMany Indian festivals follow lunar or regional calendars, so their dates can vary from year to year and sometimes from region to region.The dates shown in this India Festival Calendar 2026 & 2027 are intended as a travel-planning guide and should be reconfirmed before finalising your itinerary. Festival schedules, processions and local celebrations may also be announced or changed by local authorities.Dates for Islamic festivals are particularly subject to moon sightings and may vary.For official information on major cultural events, tourism initiatives and celebrations across India, travellers can also refer to the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.Last reviewed: August 2026