Travel Experiences

Celebrations of India
COLOUR & LIGHT

From hand-woven saris to plumes of vibrant chalkdust and bustling markets filled with crafts and fragrant spices, the celebrations of India are a sensory extravaganza at every turn. Despite widely being considered a Third-World nation, this exultation of simple joys and religious influences creates a joie de vie in life’s daily observances and activities. On any given day, a stroll through Jodhpur’s blue streets or game drive through the golden forests of Ranthambore will present a celebration of India’s sights, sounds, aromas and infectious fervour. This is never more evident than in the annual celebrations of India. Flower mandala doe Diwali in India

While Hindus believe that there are numerous deities – some accounts suggesting as many as 33 million, though this is regarded as a mistranslation – there are only a handful of primary gods, and many Hindus believe there is only one ‘true’ god. The wondrously fantastical tales of the Veda, enhanced by the Mahabharata, give rise to numerous festivities throughout the Indian calendar. On any given day, ceremonies can be witnessed, from simple family affairs to nationwide revelry. For visitors, even the most humble ceremonies are culturally captivating, the Hindu faith permeating every aspect of daily life. However, to witness the wonder and extravagance of India’s iconic festivals is to immerse oneself in the vibrancy India’s celebrations.

The Annual Celebrations of India

These are six of the most intriguing and exhilarating celebrations of India:

Holi, the Festival of Colour
Hemis Buddhist Festival
Janmashtami
Onam Harvest Festival

Diwali Festival of Light
Pushkar Camel Fair
Kumbh Mela
Holi – 2025

Holi, the Festival of Colour – Mar 14, 2025 / Mar 4, 2026

Where some festivals are more sedate, Holi is a jubilant cacophony of colour. Perhaps the most globally venerated of India’s celebrations, it combines the coming of spring, new life and love with the triumph of good over evil. Legend tells of an evil king sentencing his son, who chose to worship Vishnu over him, to death by fire. The king employed his sister Holika as executioner, instructing her to cast his son into a fire. But the protective cloak he bestowed upon her flew from her shoulders, protecting the son and banishing Holika to the flames. Western women enjoying the colourful Holi Celebrations of India

Western women enjoying the colourful Holi Celebrations of India

Marking this triumph, bonfires are lit across the country. However, the most distinctive aspect of Holi is the casting of coloured chalk. Locals fill the streets, clouds of chalkdust filling the air and coating revelers in a spectrum of vibrant hues. Hindus and visitors alike are embraced in this joyous activity, and tourists are encouraged to adorn white attire to accentuate the colours (and save their personal wardrobes!) Best Destination: Jaipur

Hemis – Jul 5, 2025 / Jun 24, 2026

In the Himalayan foothills, Ladakh is often referred to as Little Tibet. A bastion of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, it contradicts the predominant prevalence of Hinduism throughout India. Throughout the year, monks can be observed in their monasteries or throughout the streets of Ladakh in ritual and meditation. During the annual Hemis festival, they take to the city square in ornate dress and fearsome masks to perform dances in honour of Padmasambhava, the spiritual founder of Tibetan Buddhism. With trumpets blaring and cymbals clashing, monks exhibit an elaborate and stylised dance, almost more akin to tai chi than a waltz or ballet. Witnessing this somewhat rowdy performance, the devout significance of every move and rite is palpable. Best Destination: Leh, Ladakh Buddhist Mask Dance in the Tibetan Hemis monastery in Leh, Ladakh, India

Buddhist Mask Dance in the Tibetan Hemis monastery in Leh, Ladakh, India

Janmashtami – Aug 15, 2025 / Sep 4, 2026

As Christmas is to Christians, so Janmashtami marks the birth of one of their leading deities, Lord Krishna, interestingly also born of a virgin. This day of worship is marked with song and dance in recognition of Krishna, and temples overflow with attendees paying tribute to this somewhat secular avatar of the ‘supreme’ god Vishnu. Youngsters parade the streets, dressed as the blue, flute-playing iteration of their god, and in Mumbai, people form precarious human pyramids reaching over 15 metres (55 feet) skywards in a bid to break a suspended, yoghurt-filled earthenware pot. While other Indian festivals are a more universal celebration of life regardless of belief, Janmashtami is somewhat more devout, though no less enchanting to observe. Best Destination: Mumbai Girl dressed in blue face paint in honour of Vishnu for the Janmashtami festival, Celebrations of India

Girl dressed in blue face paint in honour of Vishnu for the Janmashtami festival, Celebrations of India

Onam – Sep 5, 2025 / Aug 26, 2026

Though Kerala’s Onam Festival acknowledges the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali, it also marks the harvest. The southern city is adorned with flower mandalas to welcome the king, and a host of activities at place, including the Kaikottikali dance, elephant processions, feasts and games. In a region already renowned for its cuisine, the festival is particularly appealing to gastronomists, and is a wonderful time to enjoy a wide variety of Southern Indian delicacies. The iconic waterways of the region also host celebrations, with snake boat races taking place for the canals in one of the most energetic and diverse celebrations of India. Best Destination: Kerala Snake boats racing for the festival of Onam in Kerala, India

Snake boats racing for the festival of Onam in Kerala, India

**Diwali (*Deepavali***) – Oct 20, 2025 / Nov 8, 2026

Diwali, the Indian festival of light, is possibly the most significant festivity of the calendar. It commemorates the victory of Lord Rama, cast into exile by his father before defeating the demon king Ravana, rescuing his wife, Sita, and returning to his home city of Ayodhya. Though an enchantingly romantic tale, Diwali ultimately recognises the triumph of good over evil, light over dark, and is marked by lighting candles, releasing fireworks and casting illuminated offerings adrift on the Ganges. It is a time of kindred gratitude and tranquil reverence, and even for non-Hindus, this deeply moving ceremony is a poignant celebration of life. Best Destination: Varanasi Candles lit for the celebration of Diwali (Deepvali) in India

Candles lit for the celebration of Diwali (Deepvali) in India

Pushkar Camel Fair – Oct 30, 2025 / Nov 1, 2026

Like the cattle auctions of outback pastoral towns, Pushkar Camel Fair is a gathering of livestock traders. However, as with so many of the celebrations of India, it is a vivid, frenetic affair with much more on offer than the trading of camels. Each animal is heavily adorned with beads, decorations and make-up and paraded through the streets of the diminutive desert town of Pushkar in the hope of being the accolade of the festival’s most beautiful camel. They are also raced and displayed for admiring onlookers and prospective buyers searching for healthy and handsome breeding stock. Though not a religious festival, Pushkar Camel Fair maintains a certain sense of ceremony, and the spectacular effort taken to beautify each animal creates a wonderful sight. A camel painted for the Pushkar Camel Fair with its owner

A camel painted for the Pushkar Camel Fair with its owner

Best Destination: Pushkar, Rajasthan

Kumbh Mela – From Oct, 2026

Kumbh Mela isn’t a festival in the most conventional sense, nor is its location clearly defined. One of the world’s largest pilgrimages, Kumbh Mela is a period of purification and liberation. Primarily Hindu, visitors in the hundreds of thousands attend the ceremony, plunging into the Ganges for absolution and the cessation of the reincarnate cycle of birth and death. While the true Kumbh Mela is held once every 12 years, iterations of the festival are scattered across the calendar, seemingly arbitrarily, though adhering to the astral motions of the sun, moon and Jupiter. While the true locations of Kumbh Mela rotate every four years between Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik-Trimbak and Ujjain, other festivals are held at Varanasi, Tirumakudal Narsipur, Kumbhakonam and several other locations.

An elderly man performs his morning rituals at the riverside steps in Varanasi

Enjoying the Celebrations of India

Stepping into any foreign culture, one should always be considerate of tradition and etiquette. Modest attire is always advised, with clothing reaching below the knee and below the elbow. Though not enforced as in some Arab nations, a lack of respect is distinctly frowned upon. Before entering any religious site or building, one should consult a guide or staff member regarding protocol. Invariably, Indians are wonderfully hospitable and welcome visitors to share in their exuberant celebrations. Western women celebrating the colourful festival of Holi on a luxury safari in India

Western women celebrating the colourful festival of Holi on a luxury safari in India

For more reserved Westerners, this can all become a little overwhelming, particularly in the melee and dust clouds of Holi. At street level, spectating is not an option, and locals and visitors alike will be genially assaulted with chalkdust and coloured water, and this might not be particularly appealling. However, the one-day festival can be observed from afar, such as in a car or on the high balconies of accommodation. Conversing with your guide will allow you to experience the celebrations of India however you wish, though even at a distance they might not be everyone’s cup of Darjeeling. In these instances, there are numerous alternatives available. Private guides and hotel staff will provide a gamut of tours and excursions to distract you from frenetic festivals. The vast and diverse nation has a plethora of remote, tranquil and intimate destinations and experiences for those seeking luxury and solitude.

Holi 2025 – by Journeys for Women

Taking in the festival of Holi in the Pink City of Jaipur, this wonderful and captivating ladies-only itinerary embraces numerous diverse aspects of India; its ceremonies, culture, cuisine and architecture. From the regal elegance of the Taj Mahal, viewed from the more exclusive Mehtab Bagh gardens on the adjacent riverbank, the stunning journey ventures west into Rajasthan and the Blue City, Jodhpur, overlooked by the dramatic edifice of Mehrangarh Fort. Sailing upon the mirrorlike Lake Pichola with the striking Lake Palaace at its heart, exploring ancient forts and palaces, plunging into Rajasthan’s desert regions, and finding connection with locals through crafts and cuisine, this immersive 18-day journey offers a consummate insight into the celebrations of India. Though the festivities are highly recommended, there is also the opportunity to take a private excursion for those wishing to avoid the joyous, polychromatic pandemonium of Holi.