Around India in five major festivals

Where: All around India and parts of Nepal

When: Typically falling in March, but sometimes February

Holi, India's biggest carnival, celebrates the victory of good over evil – and it's best known for its massive paint-throwing parties. People get together to dance, eat, sing and make merry – often by drinking bhang, a cannabis-infused concoction.

Festivities can last from two days up to an entire month, depending on the region. Each area also has its own customs tied to the event – in Gujarat, an earthenware pot is filled with buttermilk and hung high above the streets, where young boys form a human pyramid, attempting to break the pot. This is done to honour Lord Krishna, who as a youth used to steal butter when his mother wasn't around.

Read next: Everything to know about Holi

Where: Kerala, Southern India

When: August and September 

Onam is the national festival of Kerala, and it takes place over ten days during August and September. Feasts are held to welcome the spirit of King Mahabali from exile, as well as to celebrate the harvest – a nine-course vegetarian meal of curries, pickles, and chutneys, which is traditionally served on banana leaves.

Homes are also decorated with pookalam, colourful elaborate geometric designs made from flower petals. The highlight of the festival is the Vallamkali snake boat race, where a hundred and fifty rowers compete over a 40km course, chanting along the way.

Where: All around India, particularly New Delhi

When: October and November 

Taking place between October and November, Diwali or Deepavali is known as the 'festival of lights', as over one million clay lamps called diyyas light up the streets, houses, and temples around India.

Celebrated by 900 million people worldwide, Diwali is held over five days and is celebrated by Sikhs as well as Hindus. Women and girls traditionally decorate their palms, arms, and legs with intricate mehndi patterns, and its a time for gift-giving, hospitality and sharing of food. Prayers are also offered to the goddess Lakshmi, the bestower of beauty, wealth and prosperity.

Where: Gujarat, West India

When: January

The sport of kite flying was originally enjoyed by royals, but the masses soon caught on. The first International Kite Festival was held in 1989, and now roughly 10 million people attend the event every year.

The hundreds of thousands of vividly-hued kites dancing in the sky is meant to awaken the gods from their deep sleep after winter. Travellers are welcome to join in the kite fighting, as well as sample the celebratory cuisine – particularly a delicious fried spinach bhajiyah, or the sweet spiced beverage known as masala milk.

Where: Across India, particularly in Mumbai

When: August and September

This 10-day festival is celebrated across the Indian subcontinent either in August or September, and marks the birth of one of the most beloved Hindu gods, Ganesha. Perhaps best known for having the head of an elephant, Ganesha is the god of new beginnings, wisdom and success. 

During the celebration, idols and displays dedicated to Ganesha are erected in both private homes and public spaces for worshipping. The festival culminates on the final day where processions carry idols through the streets to be submerged in river or sea water. As with most parades, there's plenty of dancing, singing and drumming to accompany the celebrations. 

This article was first published in 2015 and updated in 2024 by Jessica Reid

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