Festival Calendar
Festivals in December
31 festivals happening across India in December
Chettinad Heritage Walk Festival
Heritage walks through Chettinad mansions, Athangudi tile workshops, cooking demonstrations of Chettinad cuisine, and cultural performances. Organized by heritage hotels and Tamil Nadu Tourism.
Christmas at Medak Cathedral
Grand Christmas celebrations at one of Asia largest churches. Midnight mass with thousands. Stained glass windows illuminated.
Christmas Carnival
Multi-faith Christmas. Church services, Marina Park carnival, community feasts, cultural shows.
Cochin Carnival
Fort Kochi's Christmas-New Year festival. Beach sports, music, food stalls, art exhibitions, and the famous burning of Pappanji (old year effigy) on New Year's Eve. Colonial-era tradition.
Dandari / Gusadi Dance Festival
Gond tribal dance festival. Dancers wear elaborate grass and feather costumes, perform rhythmic dances around bonfires.
Feast of St Francis Xavier
Annual feast at Basilica of Bom Jesus honoring St Francis Xavier. Once every 10 years, the saint's body is displayed (last 2014). The December 3 feast draws hundreds of thousands.
Full Moon Rann Walk
Guided moonlit walks on the white salt desert. The Great Rann glows white under moonlight — surreal experience.
Gir Jungle Trail Festival
Wildlife festival at Gir celebrating the Asiatic lion. Nature walks, photography workshops, conservation education.
Gita Jayanti
Anniversary of when Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita. Week-long celebrations at Brahma Sarovar.
Hornbill Festival
All 16 Naga tribes converge at Kisama Heritage Village for warrior dances, tribal food, traditional crafts, and Naga wrestling. The largest cultural showcase in Northeast India.
Kambala (Buffalo Race)
Traditional buffalo race in waterlogged paddy fields. Jockeys sprint behind pairs of buffaloes at incredible speed. Now has a professional circuit with prizes.
Kochi-Muziris Biennale
Asia's largest contemporary art exhibition. Fort Kochi transforms into an open-air gallery — warehouses, heritage buildings, and public spaces become art venues. International and Indian artists.
Konark Dance Festival
5-day classical dance festival held against the backdrop of the Sun Temple. Leading Odissi and other classical dancers perform at the open-air auditorium.
Kovalam Literary Festival
Beach-side literary festival featuring Indian and international authors, discussions, music, and culture. Held at the beachfront hotels. Intimate compared to Jaipur Lit Fest.
Margazhi Music Season
The world's largest classical music festival. 3,000+ Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam performances across 50+ sabhas (auditoriums) in Chennai. Over a million attendees. Runs from mid-December to mid-January.
Marine Heritage Festival
Water sports competitions, traditional boat races, marine conservation events.
Meditation Retreat Season
International meditation retreats at monasteries around Mahabodhi Temple. Zen, Vipassana, Tibetan traditions all represented.
Mussoorie Winterline Carnival
Festival celebrating the rare Winterline phenomenon visible from Mussoorie where the horizon glows at sunset, with heritage walks, food festivals, and literary readings.
Osian Camel Safari Festival
Desert festival at the ancient Jain and Hindu temple town of Osian with camel safaris to sand dunes, temple tours, and folk music under the stars.
Pinjore Heritage Festival
Festival at the 17th-century Mughal-style Yadavindra Gardens with light-and-sound shows, classical dance performances, and garden heritage walks.
Raghurajpur Art Festival
Village-wide art exhibition and live demonstrations. Pattachitra, palm leaf engraving, stone carving showcased. Award-winning heritage village opens all workshops.
Rann Utsav
4-month desert festival at the Great Rann of Kutch. White salt desert under full moon. Cultural performances, handicraft exhibitions, tent city accommodation.
Siddheshwara Jatre
Massive religious fair at the Siddheshwara Temple. One of the largest jatres in North Karnataka. Ferris wheels, folk theatre, Lingayat devotional gatherings.
Sunburn Festival
Asia's largest electronic dance music festival. International DJs, multiple stages, held in North Goa. Tickets sell out months ahead.
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The most important day at Srirangam — the Paramapada Vasal (gateway to heaven) is opened. Devotees queue through the night. The 21-day Vaikunta Uthsavam festival surrounds it. Lakhs of visitors.
Vaikuntha Ekadasi
Devotees believe the gates of Vaikuntha (heaven) open on this day. 100,000+ pilgrims queue for darshan through the special Vaikuntha Dwaram.
Vaikuntha Ekadasi at Bhadrachalam
100,000+ pilgrims queue for darshan through the special Vaikuntha Dwaram entrance. Second only to Tirupati for this festival.
Varkala Sivagiri Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage to the Sivagiri Mutt of Sree Narayana Guru, Kerala's greatest social reformer. Thousands of followers march to the hilltop in white. Discussions on social reform, education, and equality.
Vizag Utsav / Deccan Festival
Cultural festival with music, dance, art exhibitions, and food stalls on the beach. Celebrates Vizag diverse cultural heritage.
Wayanad Food Festival
Celebration of Malabar and tribal cuisine. Bamboo rice dishes, wild honey tastings, tribal cooking demonstrations, spice garden tours, and cook-offs.
Winter Festival Mount Abu
Rajasthan's only hill station hosts a winter carnival with folk dances, boat races on Nakki Lake, fireworks, and cultural performances by tribal artists.