Are you familiar with the Green Day song, ‘Wake me up when September Ends’? I always used to think,’ why September?’ Now, I believe the singer wanted to sleep away his Septembers because Octobers are when the official Great Indian Festival period commences (not the Amazon one)! What begins with October’s Navratri lasts well till the Holi bash in March. Now, the question arises, where to celebrate festivals in India?

Recommended Watch: Official Video to Green Day’s phenomenal song!

Since almost all the biggest festivals in India are celebrated state-wise, there is so much to experience during these 7 months. The start of every day brings the feeling of merriment with it. 

In this blog, we will learn about the destinations to celebrate Indian festivals that are most vibrant and where we can experience their essence.

Festival #1 – Navratri

When to celebrate: 6th October – 14th October 2021

Indian destinations to celebrate Navratri: Baroda, Surat, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Rajkot.

Do you like to dance? Are you a foodie? Do you love to dress up? Then Navratri is for you! One of the must-visit festivals in India, Navratri is a 9-day revelry filled with delicious dishes, dazzling dress-ups and dancing till the dawn-break – a perfect festival for people of all ages and all types of dance skills 😉

Recommended Watch: Check out our own gujju grandma outperforming the youngsters in Garba!

Watch the mesmerizing aartis, shlokas and traditional chants carried out by the elder women of the community.  

Things to do:

• Watching the evening aarti and puja followed by a spirited evening of Garba and Dandiya dance, making it one of the most famous festivals to experience in India 

• Street shopping in local fairs and exploring the festive-special markets. For venues in each of these cities, click here.

Festival #2 – Durga Puja

When to celebrate: 6th October 2021

Indian destinations to celebrate Durga Puja: Bengal

Durga Puja is not considered to be just a festival but an emotion. What makes it one of the most popular festivals in India is its magnificent displays of beautifully adorned idols. There is an other-worldly feeling in the environment, which makes Durga Puja a must-have experience. 

Things to do:

Go pandal hopping and explore the goddess’ idols with different themes, costumes and decor. 

When & Where in 2021: 

Sadly, the state govt of Bengal has restricted celebrations of Durga Puja 2021. Nonetheless, check out this article that lists the top 10 places for you to go pandal hopping in Durga Puja.

Festival #3 – Dusshera

When to celebrate: 14th-15th October 2021

Indian destinations to celebrate Dusshera: Ayodhya, Delhi and Varanasi

One of the must-visit festivals in India, Dusshera is the landmark festival for the Hindu faith populace and amongst the popular festivals in India for foreigners. There is a feeling of excitement in the air, almost as if you could taste it when surrounded by the season chill beginning to settle in. A must visit!

Things to do: Experience the Ram Leela acts, the hustle & bustle, local markets at their best, the mouth-watering delicacies & mandir explorations.

Recommended Watch: The Story of Dusshera

Festival #4 – Diwali

When to celebrate: 4th November 2021

Indian destinations to celebrate Diwali: Ayodhya, Lucknow, Jaipur, Mumbai

Hands down, one of the most famous festivals to experience in India is Diwali. There’s no denying it. People decorate their houses with earthen diyas, fairy lights, candles, and fresh leaves from the Ashok plant. They don new clothes, do a traditional puja with family, burst crackers, gorge on rich delicacies and have fun!

Things to do

The best thing about Diwali is to just wander down the brightly lit streets and absorbing the ambience. Every shop, front garden, showroom, window are lit up brightly! There are sounds of bursting crackers, the smell of rich food wafting in the streets, just the hustle-bustle of the crowd somehow electrifies the air. 

Festival #5 – Hornbill Festival

When to celebrate: The first week of December

Indian destinations to celebrate Hornbill Festival: Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, 12 km from Kohima, Nagaland

Synchronised by the Government of Nagaland, the Hornbill festival is the congregation of various tribes of Nagaland to celebrate their cultural diversity and harmony. In short, you can experience the native folk dances, performance arts, fairs, inter-cultural exchanges and lots and lots of merriment.

Recommended Read: Significance/Legend behind the Hornbill Festival

Things to do: Learn about the various tribes, the story behind their existence. Observe and partake in the local traditions and rituals.

Festival #6 – Christmas

When to celebrate: 25th December

Indian destinations to celebrate Christmas: Pondicherry, Bangalore, Goa

One of the most popular festivals in India for foreigners, Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ and Christians celebrate this joyous occasion on 25th December, every year. It has become secular over time with people from all religions celebrating Christmas fervently.

Things to do: Listen to Christmas carols in churches and public fairs, shop Christmas presents for your loved ones.

When & Where in 2021: Literally any church in Goa, St Johns Church in Bangalore and Pondicherry’s ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus’ church.

Bonus Festival – The New Year Bash

When to celebrate: Globally 31st December

Indian destinations to celebrate New Year’s: Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa

A global festival that has become one of the most celebrated nights in India. The new year bash celebration in India is now becoming widely popular. If you’re in northern India, then you can go to Manali, Kasol. Udaipur and Jaipur for the westerners; Goa, Gokarna and Bangalore for the southerners.

If you’re in Bengaluru, don’t miss out on the countdown at Commercial Street in Bangalore and the party that ensues after it. 

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Conclusion:

Doesn’t matter if you’re an extrovert or introvert, India has a festival for it and the perfect place to celebrate it. Hope this blog helped you decide where to celebrate festivals in India. Let’s block our calendars, book the dates and get ready for the exciting times ahead.

Also read about : Rann Utsav: A Vibrant Tradition of Gujarat

Also follow India Chalk on Instagram for more amazing travel content. You can share your travel story with us. Reach out to us on email at contact[at]ndiachalk[dot]com. This blog is curated by India Chalk and written by Aishwarya D.