Festival Calendar
Festivals in March
36 festivals happening across India in March
Attukal Pongala
The world's largest gathering of women. Over 3 million women cook payasam (rice pudding) simultaneously on portable hearths lining the streets around Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. Guinness World Record holder.
Barmer Thar Festival
Desert cultural festival featuring folk music, Kalbelia and Ghoomar dances, turban-tying competitions, and camel polo on the sand dunes near Barmer.
Brij Festival
Three-day pre-Holi celebration in the Brij region with Raslila performances, folk dances, and cultural programs near the Bharatpur bird sanctuary.
Chapchar Kut
Mizo spring festival celebrating the end of jhum (slash-and-burn) cultivation. The iconic Cheraw bamboo dance, traditional Mizo costumes, rice wine, and community feasting.
Coffee Blossom Festival
Celebrating the coffee blossom season when plantations turn white with flowers. Plantation walks, cupping sessions, folk music, local Malnad cuisine stalls.
Corbett Holi with Elephants
Unique celebration where forest department elephants are decorated and visitors play Holi in the buffer zone, combined with nature walks and wildlife talks.
Dhauli Shanti Utsav
Peace festival at the Kalinga War site. Classical dance performances at Dhauli Peace Pagoda. Celebrates Ashoka's transformation.
Elephant Festival
Decorated elephants parade, play polo, and race through Jaipur. Holi celebrations follow.
Gangaur Festival
Women worship Goddess Gauri (Parvati) for 18 days, carrying decorated clay idols in processions through the old city streets of Bikaner.
Hola Mohalla
Three-day Sikh martial arts festival founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1701 at Anandpur Sahib, with Nihang warriors performing horseback stunts, gatka, and mock battles.
Hyderabadi Haleem Season
During Ramadan, 600+ haleem outlets open across Old City. GI-tagged Hyderabadi haleem becomes the city obsession.
International Yoga Festival
Hundreds of yoga teachers from 100+ countries at Parmarth Niketan. Free sessions, Ganga aarti.
Jauhar Mela
Annual fair at Chittorgarh Fort commemorating the three historic jauhars (mass self-immolation) performed by Rajput women to protect honor during sieges.
Lathmar Holi
Women from Barsana beat men from Nandgaon with sticks. The most chaotic, colorful Holi celebration in India.
Maha Shivaratri
All-night vigil at Ramanathaswamy Temple. Devotees bathe in all 22 sacred wells inside the temple complex. Massive crowds. The island comes alive with processions and pujas through the night.
Maha Shivaratri
Grand night-long celebrations at this Pancha Bhuta Shiva temple. Thousands of devotees fast and pray through the night.
Maha Shivaratri
Kashi Vishwanath Temple sees a million devotees. Processions through the narrow galis. Night-long worship.
Maha Shivaratri at Kandariya Mahadeva
Grand worship at the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, the largest in the Khajuraho complex, with night-long vigils and Shiva abhishekam.
Maha Shivaratri at Mallikarjuna
Massive celebrations at the Jyotirlinga. Night-long puja with special abhishekam. One of 12 Jyotirlinga celebrations.
Maha Shivaratri at Somnath
Night-long Shiva worship at the eternally rebuilt Jyotirlinga. Thousands of devotees gather for the all-night vigil.
Maha Shivaratri at Tungnath
Devotees make the high-altitude trek to worship at the ancient shrine on Shivaratri, one of the Panch Kedar temples.
Maha Shivratri at Murudeshwar
Massive celebration at the 123-foot Shiva statue. Night-long rituals, beach processions, illuminated temple gopuram visible from the sea.
Mallinath Cattle Fair
One of Rajasthan's largest cattle fairs held at Tilwara near Barmer over two weeks, with livestock trading, folk performances, and rural sports.
Mandi Nalwari Cattle Fair
Himachal's biggest cattle trading fair held alongside the Shivaratri festivities, with thousands of livestock and agricultural implements traded.
Mewar Festival
Women carry brass pots in procession. Boat procession on Lake Pichola. Cultural performances at City Palace.
Morni Mango Blossom Festival
Spring festival in Haryana's only hill station with nature walks through mango orchards, bird-watching at Tikkar Taal lake, and Haryanvi folk performances.
Orchha Festival
Annual cultural festival featuring classical music, folk dance, light-and-sound shows at the historic palaces and cenotaphs.
Parab Tribal Festival
Dongria Kondh harvest celebration in Niyamgiri Hills. Traditional dance, music, community feasting. Sacred Niyam Raja worship.
Phool Dei
Children go door-to-door placing flower patterns on thresholds with rice paste, singing Phool Dei songs to welcome spring in the Garhwal hills around Dhanaulti.
Sauji Fair
A major regional fair at the Bundla Devi Temple with folk dances, local handicraft stalls, and Gaddi tribal celebrations.
Shigmo (Goan Holi)
Goa's version of Holi — massive street parades with traditional folk dances (fugdi, dhalo, goff), elaborate floats, and colour play. Bigger in Panaji and Margao.
Shivratri at Mahabaleshwar Temple
All-night vigil at the ancient Mahabaleshwar Temple housing the Atmalinga. Beach bonfires, temple rituals, pilgrims from across Karnataka.
Sravasti International Buddhist Festival
Buddhist gathering at Jetavana Monastery ruins where Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons, with meditation retreats, Dharma talks, and archaeological tours.
Tehri Lake Festival
Adventure sports festival on Tehri Dam reservoir featuring kayaking, jet skiing, paragliding, and cultural performances on Asia's highest dam lake.
Tirthan Trout Season Opening
Official opening of the catch-and-release trout fishing season in the Tirthan River within the Great Himalayan National Park buffer zone.
Uttarkashi Mahadev Temple Festival (Maha Shivaratri)
Grand Shivaratri celebrations at the ancient Vishwanath Temple with night-long vigils, abhishekam, and devotional singing.