Indian Festivals 2026-2027: Dates, Places and How to Join In

The main Indian festivals are Holi in March, Diwali in autumn, Durga Puja in autumn, Pongal in January, Onam in late summer and the Rajasthan fairs in winter. Next on the list: Diwali on 8 November 2026, the Pushkar fair on 17-24 November 2026, Holi on 22-23 March 2027 and Onam on 3-12 September 2027.

Hindu festivals share the year with Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist and Christian celebrations, and almost every region adds its own. This guide lists the festivals in India worth planning a trip around between October 2026 and October 2027, with dates, places and what to expect. For the religious background, start with religions in India.

Indian festivals at a glance: October 2026 to October 2027

Many festivals follow a lunar or lunisolar calendar, so dates move every year. The dates below are for the years stated.

Which are the main Indian festivals? Holi in March, Diwali in October or November, Durga Puja in autumn, Pongal in January and Onam in late summer are the best known. In 2026 and 2027, Diwali falls on 8 November 2026 and 29 October 2027.

The festival season also overlaps with the India Art, Architecture & Design Biennale in Delhi, which runs from 4 December 2026 to 21 March 2027 in monuments and institutions across the capital.

Practical tips for joining Indian festivals

Book early

The most popular festivals mean large crowds and higher prices for rooms. For Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja or the Pushkar fair, book transport and stays well ahead. Our India travel guide covers the rest of the planning.

Dress appropriately

Wear modest, covering clothes at religious ceremonies. Shoes come off in temples and some sacred places, and you may be asked to cover your shoulders or legs.

Stay alert in crowds

Processions and gatherings get very crowded. Keep valuables within reach and carry enough water. Some festivals bring temporary traffic restrictions, so leave extra time to get anywhere.

Respect local traditions

Ask before photographing a ceremony, a worshipper or a ritual. Joining a festival is a rewarding experience as long as you respect the customs and the spaces kept for local people.

Not sure which festival fits your dates? Our local experts can tell you which events are worth planning around.

Festivals in North and East India

The north and east cover Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Nagaland, and hold most of the big dates, from the autumn fairs to Holi.

Dussehra Fair Kota, Meera Mahotsav and Ayodhya Deepotsav, autumn 2026

Three events fall before the end of the year, according to the Incredible India events listing. The Dussehra Fair in Kota runs from 20 October to 6 November 2026. Meera Mahotsav takes place in Chittorgarh on 25-26 October, and Deepotsav in Ayodhya on 6 November.

Diwali: 8 November 2026 and 29 October 2027

Diwali is the festival of lights in India, and the best known of all Hindu festivals. Homes glow with small oil lamps, families gather, and prayers go above all to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.

The main day falls on 8 November 2026 and 29 October 2027. It sits inside a stretch of several days that includes Dhanteras and Naraka Chaturdashi. Big cities see strong demand for trains, flights and rooms, so reserve early. It is still one of the richest times to see local customs up close.

Pushkar Camel Fair: 17-24 November 2026

When is the Pushkar Camel Fair? The 2026 fair runs 17-24 November, according to the Ministry of Tourism's Incredible India site. In 2027 it is around 6-14 November.

The Pushkar fair is an animal fair, a rural gathering, a cultural show and a pilgrimage at once. Breeders arrive from across Rajasthan with their camels, which makes it a window on desert life that few tourist sights offer. Book rooms early: the town is small and fills fast.

Hornbill Festival and Konark Festival, December 2026

The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland runs from 1 to 10 December 2026 at Kisama Heritage Village. The Konark Festival in Odisha takes place on 1-5 December 2026, and the Ranakpur festival in Rajasthan closes the month on 21-22 December.

Bikaner Camel Festival: 9-10 January 2027

The Bikaner Camel Festival honours the dromedary, nicknamed the "ship of the desert". Races, competitions, folk shows and decorated camels fill two days. Rajasthan Tourism's calendar gives 9 and 10 January 2027.

Makar Sankranti kite festival, Jaipur: 14 January 2027

Makar Sankranti is tied to kites in Jaipur and several parts of northern and western India. The sky fills with colour while competitions and entertainment run below. Rajasthan Tourism sets the Jaipur kite festival for 14 January 2027.

Nagaur Fair: 12-15 February 2027

One of Rajasthan's great rural fairs, Nagaur brings breeders, traders and visitors together around cattle, horses and camels. Competitions, races and folk shows come alongside the trading. It is scheduled for 12-15 February 2027.

Jaisalmer Desert Festival: 18-20 February 2027

For three days, Jaisalmer celebrates the culture of the Thar Desert. Rajasthani music and dance, camel races, traditional costumes and folk competitions make up the programme, organised by Rajasthan Tourism. The 2027 edition is announced for 18-20 February.

Rajasthan Festival: around 17-19 March 2027

In Jaipur and cities across the state, the Rajasthan Festival marks the creation of the state with cultural shows, music, dance and entertainment. It is set for around 17-19 March 2027.

Holi: 22-23 March 2027

When is Holi in 2027? Holi is on 22-23 March 2027: Holika Dahan bonfires the evening before, then the coloured-powder day. Rajasthan Tourism gives 22 March for the Dhulandi event in Jaipur.

Streets turn red, pink, yellow and green under clouds of coloured powder, and families gather for rituals rooted in Hinduism. Wear clothes you're happy to ruin, and expect to be a target.

Kumbh Mela: from around March 2027

The Haridwar Ardh Kumbh starts around March 2027, and the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh follows around July-August 2027.

Durga Puja in Kolkata: 6-10 October 2027

Durga Puja transforms Kolkata for several days. Huge statues of the goddess Durga stand in decorated pandals, and residents walk from neighbourhood to neighbourhood to admire them.

In 2027 the main celebrations run from 6 to 10 October: Maha Shashti on 6 October, Maha Ashtami on 8 October and Vijayadashami on 10 October. Durga Puja is among the most searched Indian festivals for good reason, and the city books out fast.

Festivals in South India

The south has its own rhythm, built around harvests, temples and the monsoon calendar.

Feast of the Three Kings, Goa: 6 January 2027

Goa marks the Epiphany at Reis Magos, Cansaulim and Chandor on 6 January 2027. Processions and ceremonies reflect the Catholic heritage of this former Portuguese territory.

Pongal, Tamil Nadu: 15-18 January 2027

Pongal is the great harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. For four days, families honour the Sun, the earth and livestock. Houses are decorated with kolams, patterns drawn at the doorstep, and the new rice is cooked in the traditional Pongal dish. The main day, Thai Pongal, falls on 15 January 2027, and the festival runs through 18 January.

Attukal Pongala, Kerala: 22 February 2027

Not to be confused with Pongal, Attukal Pongala is a major religious celebration in Thiruvananthapuram, traditionally for women. Thousands gather in the streets around the Attukal Bhagavathy temple to prepare food offerings. Kerala Tourism gives 22 February 2027.

Mamallapuram Dance Festival and Hampi Utsav

The Mamallapuram Dance Festival in Tamil Nadu takes place in winter 2026-2027, facing the monuments of Mahabalipuram. Hampi Utsav in Karnataka celebrates the heritage of the Vijayanagara capital through music, dance and shows. State tourism bodies usually announce the exact days each year.

Onam, Kerala: 3-12 September 2027

When is Onam in 2027? Onam runs 3-12 September 2027, from Atham to the main day, Thiruvonam on 12 September.

This ten-day celebration is tied to the return of King Mahabali, a king of Hindu legend. Pookalams, floral designs laid out in front of homes, set the mood, along with vegetarian feasts and cultural events across Kerala.

Planning a trip around Indian festivals

Season by season, the picture is simple. Winter is the time of Rajasthan's fairs: Bikaner, Nagaur and Jaisalmer sit close enough to fit one itinerary. Spring belongs to Holi. Late summer brings Onam to Kerala, and autumn has Durga Puja and Diwali.

Combining north and south takes more time and several transfers, so pick one region per trip unless you have two weeks or more. A trip to India built around a single festival, with the rest of the route fitted to it, usually works best.

Tell us when you travel and what you'd like to see, and a local expert will build the route around the festival: Create your trip.