North India · Union territory
Delhi (NCT)
Eight cities layered on the Yamuna's west bank — Sultanate tombs, a Mughal fort, Lutyens' avenues and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites inside one territory.
- Capital
- New Delhi — The National Capital Territory of Delhi; New Delhi is also the capital of India.
- Languages
- Hindi (official); English; Punjabi, Urdu — major and official languages, not an exclusive list.
Cultural traditions, arts & crafts
- • Qawwali at Nizamuddin Dargah on Thursday evenings
- • Mughlai and Punjabi street-food traditions of Old Delhi
- • Zardozi embroidery and meenakari workshops in the walled city
- • Hindustani classical music circuits and the winter culture season
Major festivals
- Diwali — October–November (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Republic Day — 26 January
- Phool Walon Ki Sair — September–October (dates vary — verify current dates)
Traditional dress & textiles
Dress varies by community, district, occasion and generation; everyday clothing today is often contemporary. These are representative traditions rather than a single state costume.
- • Delhi's dress reflects migration from across India — Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil and other traditions coexist
- • Zardozi and chikankari garments are made and sold in the old-city bazaars
- • Sherwani and lehenga remain standard wedding wear across communities
Where to go
Show Delhi (NCT) on the explore mapSources & verify
- Delhi Tourism (official)
- Know India — States & UTs (Government of India)
- Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Last reviewed: August 2026. Cultural traditions in India vary by community, district, occasion and generation. The notes below are representative examples reviewed against government sources, not exhaustive or official definitions. Festival timings follow lunar or locally announced calendars — verify current dates with the relevant state tourism department before travelling.