Trip Planner

14 January – 17 January 2026

Fixed to the solar calendar (Thai 1).

Tamil Nadu's four-day harvest thanksgiving to the sun, cattle and land — one of the few Indian festivals on a fixed solar date.

Etiquette: Jallikattu events draw crowds; watch only from designated stands. Greet with 'Iniya Pongal Nalvazhthukal'.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Dates announced annually

Runs across the winter (roughly November to March). Gujarat Tourism publishes exact opening dates each year.

A state-run winter season on the white salt desert of Kutch, combining craft villages, folk music and full-moon nights.

Etiquette: Buy crafts directly from artisan villages where you can; bargain politely, not aggressively.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

14 January 2026

Makar Sankranti falls on a fixed solar date.

Makar Sankranti in Gujarat: rooftops fill and the sky over Ahmedabad fills with kites on a fixed solar date.

Etiquette: Manja kite string injures birds and people — use cotton line, and support the bird-rescue helplines active during the festival.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

18 February – 20 February 2026 (estimated)

Set by the Tibetan lunar calendar.

The Tibetan and Ladakhi new year, with butter-lamp offerings, masked dances and family visits.

Etiquette: Walk clockwise around monastery interiors and shrines; ask before entering prayer halls.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Dates announced annually

Runs across the winter (roughly November to March). Gujarat Tourism publishes exact opening dates each year.

A state-run winter season on the white salt desert of Kutch, combining craft villages, folk music and full-moon nights.

Etiquette: Buy crafts directly from artisan villages where you can; bargain politely, not aggressively.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

14 February – 17 February 2026 (estimated)

Tied to the date of Lent.

A pre-Lenten Portuguese-era carnival with float parades led by the figure of King Momo.

Etiquette: Parades are family events; drink responsibly and respect church timings during Lent.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Dates announced annually

Madhya Pradesh's culture department announces the February dates each year.

A week of classical Indian dance staged in front of the Chandela temples.

Etiquette: Seating is open; arrive early and keep phones silent during performances.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

3 March – 4 March 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Marks the arrival of spring and the burning of Holika the previous evening; socially it is a day when hierarchies are briefly set aside.

Etiquette: Ask before applying colour to anyone, especially women and elders. Wear clothes you will throw away and use natural powders.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

18 February – 20 February 2026 (estimated)

Set by the Tibetan lunar calendar.

The Tibetan and Ladakhi new year, with butter-lamp offerings, masked dances and family visits.

Etiquette: Walk clockwise around monastery interiors and shrines; ask before entering prayer halls.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

14 April – 16 April 2026

Fixed to the solar Assamese new year.

Rongali Bihu is the Assamese new year and spring festival, with husori singing, bihu dance and cattle bathing.

Etiquette: Accept the gamosa (woven towel) with both hands if offered — it is a mark of respect.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

27 April 2026 (estimated)

Set by the Malayalam calendar.

Kerala's grandest temple festival: caparisoned elephants, panchavadyam percussion and a celebrated parasol exchange.

Etiquette: Stand well back from the elephants and follow the marshals; the percussion is extremely loud.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

14 April 2026 (estimated)

Falls on 13 or 14 April depending on the solar reckoning used.

Punjab's harvest festival and the founding day of the Khalsa in 1699.

Etiquette: Cover your head in gurdwaras; join langar rather than skipping the queue.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

27 April 2026 (estimated)

Set by the Malayalam calendar.

Kerala's grandest temple festival: caparisoned elephants, panchavadyam percussion and a celebrated parasol exchange.

Etiquette: Stand well back from the elephants and follow the marshals; the percussion is extremely loud.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

16 July 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are pulled through Puri on three enormous timber chariots rebuilt each year.

Etiquette: Crowds are immense — follow police routing. Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple; the procession itself is open to all.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

24 June – 25 June 2026 (estimated)

Set by the Tibetan lunar calendar — confirm with the monastery.

Ladakh's largest monastic festival, honouring Padmasambhava with cham masked dances in the Hemis courtyard.

Etiquette: Sit where monks direct, do not walk through the dance ground, and dress warmly and modestly. Flash photography is discouraged.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

16 July 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are pulled through Puri on three enormous timber chariots rebuilt each year.

Etiquette: Crowds are immense — follow police routing. Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple; the procession itself is open to all.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

24 June – 25 June 2026 (estimated)

Set by the Tibetan lunar calendar — confirm with the monastery.

Ladakh's largest monastic festival, honouring Padmasambhava with cham masked dances in the Hemis courtyard.

Etiquette: Sit where monks direct, do not walk through the dance ground, and dress warmly and modestly. Flash photography is discouraged.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

26 August 2026 (estimated)

Thiruvonam day follows the Malayalam calendar.

Kerala's harvest festival, welcoming the mythical king Mahabali; centred on the sadya feast, flower carpets and boat races.

Etiquette: Eat the sadya with your right hand from the banana leaf. Remove footwear before entering homes.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

14 September – 24 September 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Ten days of public and household worship of Ganesha, ending in immersion processions; a Maharashtra civic institution since the 1890s.

Etiquette: Remove shoes at pandals. Immersion crowds are dense and loud; keep clear of the chariot ropes.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

26 August 2026 (estimated)

Thiruvonam day follows the Malayalam calendar.

Kerala's harvest festival, welcoming the mythical king Mahabali; centred on the sadya feast, flower carpets and boat races.

Etiquette: Eat the sadya with your right hand from the banana leaf. Remove footwear before entering homes.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

16 October – 20 October 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Bengal's biggest festival, honouring Durga's victory over Mahishasura. Inscribed on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in 2021.

Etiquette: Pandals are places of worship as well as art — queue patiently, do not touch the idols, and ask before photographing worshippers.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

11 October – 19 October 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Nine nights devoted to the goddess, expressed in Gujarat through all-night garba and dandiya circles.

Etiquette: Many participants fast — avoid offering food. Join the outer garba circle rather than the centre if you are learning.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

14 September – 24 September 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Ten days of public and household worship of Ganesha, ending in immersion processions; a Maharashtra civic institution since the 1890s.

Etiquette: Remove shoes at pandals. Immersion crowds are dense and loud; keep clear of the chariot ropes.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Dates announced annually

Organisers announce dates (usually late September) a few months ahead; Arunachal Pradesh also requires an entry permit.

An independent-music festival held in the Ziro valley among Apatani rice-fields.

Etiquette: Camp only in designated areas and carry your waste out; the valley is farmland and a heritage landscape.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

8 November 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

A five-day festival of lights celebrated across faiths — Rama's return, Lakshmi's blessing, and for Jains Mahavira's liberation.

Etiquette: Accept sweets when offered. Fireworks are restricted in many cities; follow local rules and keep noise away from animals.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

16 October – 20 October 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Bengal's biggest festival, honouring Durga's victory over Mahishasura. Inscribed on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in 2021.

Etiquette: Pandals are places of worship as well as art — queue patiently, do not touch the idols, and ask before photographing worshippers.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

11 October – 19 October 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Nine nights devoted to the goddess, expressed in Gujarat through all-night garba and dandiya circles.

Etiquette: Many participants fast — avoid offering food. Join the outer garba circle rather than the centre if you are learning.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

15 November – 18 November 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Four days of fasting and river worship of the sun god Surya, led largely by women in Bihar and eastern UP.

Etiquette: Riverbanks become ritual space — keep off the ghat steps used by fasting devotees and never photograph close-up without consent.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

8 November 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

A five-day festival of lights celebrated across faiths — Rama's return, Lakshmi's blessing, and for Jains Mahavira's liberation.

Etiquette: Accept sweets when offered. Fireworks are restricted in many cities; follow local rules and keep noise away from animals.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

20 November – 24 November 2026 (estimated)

Timed to Kartik Purnima; the state tourism board confirms dates each year.

A livestock fair around Kartik Purnima that has become one of the largest camel and cattle gatherings in the world, alongside pilgrimage to the Brahma temple.

Etiquette: The lake ghats are sacred: remove shoes, no alcohol or leather, and photographing bathers is intrusive.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

24 November 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Marks the birth of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism, with continuous scripture readings and processions.

Etiquette: Cover your head and remove shoes in the gurdwara. Langar is free and open to everyone; sit on the floor in line.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Dates announced annually

Runs across the winter (roughly November to March). Gujarat Tourism publishes exact opening dates each year.

A state-run winter season on the white salt desert of Kutch, combining craft villages, folk music and full-moon nights.

Etiquette: Buy crafts directly from artisan villages where you can; bargain politely, not aggressively.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

15 November – 18 November 2026 (estimated)

Set by the lunar calendar — confirm nearer the time.

Four days of fasting and river worship of the sun god Surya, led largely by women in Bihar and eastern UP.

Etiquette: Riverbanks become ritual space — keep off the ghat steps used by fasting devotees and never photograph close-up without consent.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

1 December – 10 December 2026

Held 1–10 December every year.

Nagaland's state-organised gathering of its Naga tribes — morungs, log drums, wrestling, crafts and music at Kisama Heritage Village.

Etiquette: Ask before photographing people in traditional dress; many performers are community elders, not entertainers.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Dates announced annually

Runs across the winter (roughly November to March). Gujarat Tourism publishes exact opening dates each year.

A state-run winter season on the white salt desert of Kutch, combining craft villages, folk music and full-moon nights.

Etiquette: Buy crafts directly from artisan villages where you can; bargain politely, not aggressively.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Dates announced annually

Odisha Tourism announces the early-December dates each year.

Classical dance performed on an open-air stage beside the 13th-century Sun Temple.

Etiquette: The temple closes before the evening programme; buy tickets in advance in season.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01