India's best-known festival of lights, marked by lamps, sweets, family gatherings, temple visits, markets, fireworks, and regional traditions.
November 6, 2026 — November 11, 2026
Pushkar, Ajmer district, Rajasthan
Dashashwamedh Ghat and the ghats of Varanasi
Kisama Naga Heritage Village, near Kohima, Nagaland
Punjab and North India
Kerala's major harvest and cultural festival, marked by pookalam flower designs, sadya feasts, boat races, Pulikali, and family celebrations.
Puri's famous chariot festival, when Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are drawn through the city on massive wooden raths.
Varanasi's festival of a million lamps on Kartik Purnima, when the ghats of the Ganga are lit with earthen diyas and the grandest Ganga aarti of the year is performed.
Rajasthan's famous livestock fair and pilgrimage mela at Pushkar, where thousands of camels gather beside the sacred lake and pilgrims bathe on Kartik Purnima.
Ladakh's grandest monastery festival, when Hemis monks perform masked cham dances to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava.
The spring festival of colors, celebrated with colored powder, water, music, sweets, bonfires, and especially famous events in the Braj region.
Kolkata's UNESCO-listed public festival of goddess Durga, known for pandals, art installations, drumming, food, and city-wide night crowds.
The enormous river pilgrimage gathering that rotates among Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik, centered on ritual bathing dates.
Mumbai's most energetic public festival celebrating Lord Ganesha, marked by large clay idols, public pavilions (pandals), and massive immersion processions.
The 'Festival of Breaking the Fast,' marking the end of Ramadan with communal prayers, festive meals, and vibrant market life.
Nagaland's ten-day cultural festival at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima, bringing the Naga tribes together each 1–10 December for dance, crafts, food, sports and music.
The Punjabi winter harvest festival, celebrated with bonfires, traditional songs, dance, and seasonal sweets.
Use the India guides to pair festivals, temple visits, treks, and regional travel timing.
Read guides →Temples, shrines, gurdwaras, and pilgrimage places that frame many of India's festival traditions.
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