9 festivals to explore across India
Kerala's major harvest and cultural festival, marked by pookalam flower designs, sadya feasts, boat races, Pulikali, and family celebrations.
August 26, 2026
India's best-known festival of lights, marked by lamps, sweets, family gatherings, temple visits, markets, fireworks, and regional traditions.
Kolkata's UNESCO-listed public festival of goddess Durga, known for pandals, art installations, drumming, food, and city-wide night crowds.
The 'Festival of Breaking the Fast,' marking the end of Ramadan with communal prayers, festive meals, and vibrant market life.
Mumbai's most energetic public festival celebrating Lord Ganesha, marked by large clay idols, public pavilions (pandals), and massive immersion processions.
The spring festival of colors, celebrated with colored powder, water, music, sweets, bonfires, and especially famous events in the Braj region.
The enormous river pilgrimage gathering that rotates among Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik, centered on ritual bathing dates.
The Punjabi winter harvest festival, celebrated with bonfires, traditional songs, dance, and seasonal sweets.
Puri's famous chariot festival, when Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are drawn through the city on massive wooden raths.
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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