Festival Calendar
Festivals in Uttarakhand
46 festivals across Uttarakhand — organized by month
January
Magh Mela
Uttarkashi
A week-long fair on the banks of the Bhagirathi with ritual bathing, folk performances, and a vibrant local market — one of Uttarkashi's biggest gatherings.
Uttarayani Mela
Ranikhet
Harvest festival celebrated with local fairs, traditional food, folk songs, and community bonfire gatherings.
Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri (Kumbh legacy)
Haridwar
The spectacular daily Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri draws massive crowds; during Kumbh Mela years the gathering swells to tens of millions.
Uttarayani Fair
Mukteshwar
Makar Sankranti celebrations in the Kumaon hills with community bonfires, traditional Aipan art displays, and local markets selling woolen handicrafts.
Magh Mela (Jaunsar)
Chakrata
Local winter harvest fair with bonfires, folk songs, and traditional Jaunsar food celebrations in the hill villages around Chakrata.
Binsar Makar Sankranti
Binsar
Hill communities around Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary celebrate with bonfires, traditional Kumaoni folk songs, and exchange of khichari (lentil-rice dish) at dawn.
Auli Winter Carnival
Auli
Skiing competitions and snow sports festival at Auli's slopes at 2,500m, featuring national-level ski races, snowboarding, and après-ski cultural programs.
February
Gopeshwar Shivratri Mela
Gopeshwar
Grand fair at the ancient Gopinath Temple where a trident stands exposed to all weather without rusting; thousands gather for night-long Shiva worship.
March
Maha Shivaratri at Tungnath
Tungnath
Devotees make the high-altitude trek to worship at the ancient shrine on Shivaratri, one of the Panch Kedar temples.
Uttarkashi Mahadev Temple Festival (Maha Shivaratri)
Uttarkashi
Grand Shivaratri celebrations at the ancient Vishwanath Temple with night-long vigils, abhishekam, and devotional singing.
Corbett Holi with Elephants
Jim Corbett National Park
Unique celebration where forest department elephants are decorated and visitors play Holi in the buffer zone, combined with nature walks and wildlife talks.
International Yoga Festival
Rishikesh
Hundreds of yoga teachers from 100+ countries at Parmarth Niketan. Free sessions, Ganga aarti.
Tehri Lake Festival
Tehri Lake
Adventure sports festival on Tehri Dam reservoir featuring kayaking, jet skiing, paragliding, and cultural performances on Asia's highest dam lake.
Phool Dei
Dhanaulti
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.
April
Bissu Mela (Jaunsar-Bawar New Year)
Chakrata
The Jaunsar-Bawar tribal New Year celebration with traditional Harul dance, animal sacrifice rituals, and community feasting — a unique Uttarakhand festival.
Yamuna Chhath
Yamunotri
Devoted worship of the river Yamuna on her sacred day with offerings, aarti, and ritual bathing at the source.
Pithoragarh Hilljatra
Pithoragarh
Kumaoni spring festival at Pithoragarh's Rai ground with masked dances, agricultural rituals, and a unique ritual ploughing ceremony symbolizing the farming season start.
May
Tungnath Temple Opening
Chopta
The kapaat (doors) of the world's highest Shiva temple at 3,680m open with Vedic rituals,ثم the deity is carried in a palanquin procession from Makkumath winter seat.
Kedarnath Opening
Kedarnath
Temple doors open after 6 months of winter. First darshan of the season. Deity carried back from Ukhimath.
Badri-Kedar Festival
Joshimath
Festivities marking the annual opening of both Badrinath and Kedarnath temple doors, with the doli (palanquin) procession departing Joshimath for Badrinath.
Chaukori Tea Festival
Chaukori
Festival at the Chaukori tea gardens — among India's highest at 2,010m — with tea-tasting sessions, plantation tours, and Kumaoni cultural performances against Panchachuli peaks.
Guptkashi Vishwanath Temple Festival
Guptkashi
Celebrations at the ancient Vishwanath Temple when the Kedarnath pilgrimage season opens, with the deity's winter-seat rituals and devotional gatherings.
Badrinath Temple Opening (Kapaat Kholna)
Badrinath
The sacred temple doors open for the season after winter closure, marked by elaborate Vedic rituals and the arrival of the deity's idol from Joshimath.
Gangotri Temple Opening (Akshaya Tritiya)
Gangotri
The temple doors open for the pilgrimage season on Akshaya Tritiya with chanting, pujas, and the return of the sacred idol from Mukhba village.
Tungnath Temple Opening
Tungnath
The world's highest Shiva temple opens after winter with ritثals and the return of the deity's idol from Makkumath village.
Yamunotri Temple Opening (Akshaya Tritiya)
Yamunotri
The temple doors open for the Char Dham season with rituals at the hot springs and the sacred Divya Shila; pilgrims cook rice in the thermal water as prasad.
June
Ganga Dussehra
Haridwar
Celebrates the descent of the Ganges to Earth. Thousands gather at Har Ki Pauri for ritual bathing, lamp floating, and evening aarti.
Devprayag Ganga Dussehra
Devprayag
Festival at the sacred confluence where Alaknanda and Bhagirathi merge to form the Ganga, with ritual bathing, deepdan (lamp floating), and Sanskrit recitations.
Badri-Kedar Festival
Badrinath
A cultural festival celebrating the twin shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath through classical dance, music, and devotional performances.
Valley of Flowers Opening Season
Valley of Flowers
UNESCO World Heritage site opens to trekkers; peak bloom in July-August features 600+ flowering species including Brahma Kamal, blue poppy, and cobra lily.
Kanatal Surkanda Devi Mela
Kanatal
Fair at Surkanda Devi Temple (3,030m) near Kanatal with devotees trekking 2 km to the summit temple, offering bells and red cloth to the goddess.
July
Kanwar Yatra
Haridwar
Millions of Shiva devotees (Kanwariyas) carry holy Ganga water from Haridwar to their local Shiva temples, one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world.
Harela Festival
Kausani
Agricultural festival where saplings are planted and small herb gardens are sown 10 days before; on Harela day, green shoots are placed behind ears and on caps.
Jageshwar Monsoon Mela
Almora
Month-long fair at the 9th-century Jageshwar Dham temple complex of 124 Shiva temples in a deodar forest, with special Shravan Monday worship.
August
Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra
Munsiyari
Epic 280-km pilgrimage from Nauti village to Roopkund and Homkund, escorting a four-horned ram representing Nanda Devi across high Himalayan passes.
Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra
Roopkund
An epic Himalayan pilgrimage passing through Roopkund where a four-horned ram leads the procession carrying Goddess Nanda Devi's symbolic journey to her husband's home.
September
Nanda Ashtami Trek Gathering
Roopkund
Trekkers and pilgrims gather at Bedni Bugyal (en route to Roopkund) for Nanda Ashtami prayers at the high-altitude meadow shrine.
Nanda Devi Mela
Ranikhet
A vibrant fair dedicated to Goddess Nanda Devi with colourful processions, folk music, and traditional Kumaoni dance.
Nanda Devi Mahotsav
Nainital
Grand procession carrying the idol of Nanda Devi through Nainital's Mall Road with folk music, Chholia dance, and decorated floats.
Champawat Nanda Devi Fair
Champawat
Fair at the Baleshwar Temple complex and Nanda Devi Temple in Champawat — the ancient capital of the Chand dynasty — with Chholia war dance and folk processions.
Mata Murti Ka Mela
Badrinath
Annual fair honouring Mata Murti, mother of Nar and Narayan, held on the banks of the Alaknanda River with rituals and local festivities.
October
Gangotri Diwali (Temple Closing)
Gangotri
The temple closes for winter on Diwali day with grand celebrations; the deity is carried in a palanquin procession to Mukhba for the winter.
Nainital Autumn Festival
Nainital
Week-long cultural extravaganza at Nainital's Flats ground with boat races on Naini Lake, flower shows, music performances, and heritage walks.
Lansdowne Autumn Festival
Lansdowne
Garhwal Rifles regimental town hosts a cultural festival with military band performances, nature trails, and heritage walks through this quiet cantonment.
November
Rudraprayag Kartik Purnima Mela
Rudraprayag
Fair at the Rudranath and Chamunda Devi temples at the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers, with oil lamp floats on the river and Garhwali folk performances.
December
Mussoorie Winterline Carnival
Mussoorie
Festival celebrating the rare Winterline phenomenon visible from Mussoorie where the horizon glows at sunset, with heritage walks, food festivals, and literary readings.