We are open today until 4:00 pm. Call 020 7590 0610

India’s Best Festivals

From the bizarre to the breathtaking

Article content

12 May 2023 by Krishna Ghosh

Exciting, enchanting and exotic, India is a land of vivid colours and cultural contrasts, where an unparalleled diversity of religious traditions and customs play an integral role in the lives of its 1.2 billion inhabitants. Holidays and festivals – religious or otherwise – are a vital part of life in India, and are celebrated with an intense fervour rarely seen anywhere else on Earth. From the bizarre to the breathtaking, we take a closer look at five of India's best-known festivals - a diverse and dazzling selection of the country's most spectacular celebrations.

Nagaur Cattle Fair – January to February

Nagaur in Rajasthan bustles with life during the annual cattle fair. Considered one of the largest in the country, the fair is usually held right at the end of January and into February. The Nagaur bulls are renowned for their fleet footedness and attract buyers from all over. In addition to the bulls, livestock such as camels, goats and cows are also on display and traded. Highlights of the fair include performances by folk dancers and musicians, while there are also camel races, horse races and events such as tug of war to watch.

Nagaur Cattle Fair

Kerala's Temple festivals – February to April

As exotic and engaging as the state itself, Kerala's temple festivals are a colourful and chaotic reflection of one India's most popular destinations. Held throughout the months of February, March and April, and forming an important part of each temple's unique annual rituals, the temple festivals are a cacophony of colour and noise with elephants, musicians and excited crowds of revellers all adding to the mayhem.

A visit to one of these festivals is a great opportunity to experience something uniquely Keralan. Expect lavish costumes, traditional dancing, colourful floats, plenty of fireworks and impressive processions of garlanded elephants.

Kerala's Temple Festivals

Holi Festival – March

There's a good chance you'll have seen photographs of Holi Festival. A firm favourite with travellers, India's 'Festival of Colours' is a spectacular affair celebrating the victory of good over evil and the burning of the demoness Holika, as well as signifying the end of winter and the nearing of the spring harvest.

Most recognisable for the throwing of vast quantities of powdered paint and water, Holi is celebrated with more than a little enthusiasm throughout the country, although the best places to witness the festival at its most colourful and riotous are generally in the north, especially in the towns of Mathura and Vrindavan, four hours from the capital Delhi, where celebrations can last for upwards of 40 days.  However, if you're a little reluctant to venture too far from the tourist trail there's spectacular Holi celebrations to be found in both Delhi itself and the Rajasthan capital Jaipur - both part of the well trodden route through India's Golden Triangle.   

Holi Festival, India

Ganesh Chaturthi – September

The important Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of the elephant-headed Lord Ganesh, son of Shiva and Parvati and one of the most revered gods in the Hindu religion.

Mostly celebrated in the southern states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, the best place to see this spectacular ten-day celebration is in the city of Mumbai, making it one of the most accessible festivals in the Hindu calendar.  Make your way to the vast temple of Siddhivinayak in the Mumbai suburb of Prabhadevi where thousands of devotees offer prayers to Lord Ganesh before heading to one of the flamboyant street parties that take place throughout the city, where local communities compete against each other to see who can come up with the most spectacular displays.

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival, India

Diwali – November

Diwali, also known as "The Festival of Lights", is possibly India's best-known festival and is celebrated by Hindu's throughout the country with the lighting of clay lamps, known as diyas and some of the most impressive fireworks displays imaginable.

The five-day festival signifies the start of winter and the Hindu New Year, and celebrates the return of Lord Rama and his wife Sita's to their kingdom in Ayodhya after 14 years in exile, while diyas and candles are lit to guide Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, into the family home. Diwali is also the time for the cleaning and decorating of houses with traditional Hindu art, exchanging gifts and sweets and enjoying festive meals in the company of family and friends.

There are plenty of options for travellers wanting to experience Diwali, with celebrations taking place across almost the whole of India, perhaps with the exception of Kerala.

One of the best places to spend Diwali is the riverside town of Varanasi, where huge firework displays light up the temples along the sacred River Ganges and the ceremonial ghats are illuminated with thousands of oil lamps, creating a truly magical sight.

The holy town of Amritsar in the state of Punjab, while having a mainly Sikh population, is another spectacular spot to enjoy the Diwali celebrations. Join tens of thousands of Sikhs and Hindus at the famous Golden Temple, covered in what seems like a million lights, and marvel at one of the most impressive fireworks displays around.

For a different take on the Diwali experience, head to the southern state of Goa, known for its beautiful palm-fringed beaches and delicious seafood curries. Here the celebrations take on a different slant with the burning of the evil demon Narakasura, the wayward son of Lord Vishnu and Bhu Devi the earth goddess. Villages, towns and cities across the state try and outdo each other by constructing the biggest and most frightening Narakasura effigy possible, before setting fire to them at dawn on the main day of the festival amidst lavish celebrations.

Diwali, India

Pushkar Camel Fair – November

Each year, the small lakeside town of Pushkar in the desert state of Rajasthan, plays host to the world's largest camel fair - a five-day extravaganza of camel trading and religious ritual, attracting 200,000 traders, pilgrims and tourists from across the region and beyond, along with an astonishing 50,000 camels.

Located on the edge of the Thar Desert and surrounded by vast sand dunes and arid desert plains, the town itself is one of the oldest in India and is home to a large number of temples, many of which can be found on the tranquil shores of Pushkar Lake, which forms the centerpiece for the festival's religious activities. As the fair gets underway, thousands of pilgrims come to bathe on the day of the full moon, an auspicious event that dictates the dates of the fair each year.

Meanwhile, just outside of town, on the huge expanse of the desert plains, a huge carnival featuring a dizzying array of musicians, magicians, snake charmers and acrobats gets into full swing as camels are dressed, paraded, raced, traded and even entered into beauty contests. It's as wild and wacky as it sounds, but is without doubt one of the most incredible sights to be found anywhere on the Indian Subcontinent.

Pushkar Camel Fair, India

 

Related offers

Amber Fort, Jaipur

India’s Golden Triangle

8-day tailor-made holiday from £1,925 pp incl. flights

The Golden Triangle, made up of the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, is classic India at its very best. This tantalising triumvirate serves up everything you'd expect from a country with such a rich and varied history and a reputation for chaos and conformity in equal measure.

Royal Bengal tiger in Ranthambore National Park

Rajasthan, Taj Mahal & the tigers of Ranthambore

11-day tailor-made holiday from £4,080 pp incl. flights

This curated journey takes in many of northern India's most iconic sights, from Agra's Taj Mahal to the 'pink city' of Jaipur, followed by a tiger safari in Ranthambore National Park.

Houseboat backwaters cruise

Keralan Spice Coast

13-day tailor-made holiday from £2,790 pp incl. flights

Special
offer

Choose between a free cultural, dining or spa experience
Book by: 31 March 2024

Put simply, this is the best of Kerala, knitted together by stays in boutique lodges and explored on included private tours, with the services of a private driver throughout.

Jama Masjid, Old Delhi, India

The Maharajas' Express & Treasures of India: Delhi to Mumbai

11-day tailor-made rail holiday from £8,615 pp incl. flights

The Maharajas' Express is the latest word in luxury train travel in India. In a country renowned for its majestic opulence, this palace on wheels is the perfect way to experience the many sights and sounds of India in total comfort and style.

Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Royal Rajasthan & Agra with Taj Hotels

12-day tailor-made holiday from £4,365 pp incl. flights

Special
offer

Choose between a free cultural, dining or spa experience
Book by: 31 March 2024

Explore India's princely state, staying at Taj hotels throughout. Witness Delhi's big-city bustle and the Taj Mahal's white-marble glow before delving into the glittering palaces and towering forts of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur.

Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India

Indian river cruise: the Brahmaputra

11-day luxury river cruise from £2,915 pp incl. flights

Head off the beaten track with a luxury, small-ship cruise through India’s northeast, taking in unique wildlife, stilted villages and ancient island cities with a range of included excursions, from elephant-backed safaris to cooking courses.

Taj Mahal, India

The Essence of Rajasthan

12-day tailor-made holiday from £3,135 pp incl. flights

Special
offer

Choose between a free cultural, dining or spa experience
Book by: 31 March 2024

This luxury India holiday is a showcase for the best of Rajasthan, from its warm and welcoming people, to its bustling cities, antiquated villages, and regal heritage.

Jaisalmer Fort, Rajasthan

Rajasthan with Heritage Hotels

15-day tailor-made holiday from £3,795 pp incl. flights

Rajasthan is the epitome of romantic India. Explore it all on this tailor-made tour, which includes stays at some of the region's most characterful luxury hotels.

Why book with Wexas Travel?

At Wexas, we specialise in bespoke travel experiences. Our itineraries are just samples of what we can arrange, and can be changed depending on your precise needs, finances and ideas by our experienced destination specialists.

Contact one of our consultants on 020 7590 0610 to discuss how we can tailor your holiday.

Learn why Wexas is the leader in creating luxury holidays. What is tailor-made travel?

Expert advice & support

Visit us in our London office

Let our travel specialists curate the perfect holiday:

  • Inspirational ideas based on experience
  • Established for over 50 years
  • Tailor a holiday to your precise requirements
  • Personalised quotes and documentation

Every step of the way

Every step of the way

Our services are with you from start to finish:

  • Dedicated personal consultants
  • Free airport lounges on qualifying bookings
  • Care and guidance pre, post and during holiday
  • Full financial security: ABTA & ATOL protected