India is the land of festivals and each festival is related to different occasions like welcoming the seasons, full moon, rains, and harvest. Some of the festivals are common in different parts of India but known with different names. Apart from summer holidays in schools and colleges when people travel the most, we recommend people to book their India tour packages during festive season to enjoy the city to its fullest. Most of the festivals in India are during winters another reason for travelling during this time is weather will be cool and pleasant. It might be a little expensive compared to off-season rates but you won’t be able to see those special events being held which we feel are worth experiencing. Below we advise you some of the must visit winter festivals in India.
1. RannUtsav in Kutch, Gujarat
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One of the most popular tourist destinations in India in winters is Rann Utsav where visitors from within India and foreign countries visit annually. This festival is held in the Kutch region of Gujarat between November and February where this carnival includes music, dance, camel shows, hot air ballooning, adventure activities, shopping, and many more events. One of the largest salt deserts, this white sand desert is very beautiful and very scenic to watch which should be in your India tours list if planning to travel in winters. You can get accommodation here in different types of tent options all in total 400 tents with delicious local cuisines in rann utsav packages of 1 night, 2 nights or 3 nights. Apart from the local culture and hospitality, you can also get a chance to see the full moon on a salt desert that should be experienced once in a lifetime. There are many other places to visit nearby like beaches, Kala Dungar (Black Hill), handicraft village “Gandhi Nu Gaam”, Vijay Vilas Palace, and much more so visiting during Rann Utsav can be a complete itinerary for you.
2. Goa carnival:
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Goa carnival which is the largest carnival in India is the perfect place to be if you love partying, dancing to live music in a way that will remind you of the world-famous Rio carnival. Organized in February, the weather in this period is pleasant with mild humidity. This street festival goes on for 3-4 days where you can see troupes of colorful participants everywhere with masks on. Parades and events in this festival will keep your enthusiasm going with highlights of the parade being decorated carriages and bullock arts, elaborate floats, and balloons. If you are planning a Goa holiday tour package during the carnival season then it is recommended to book accommodations early as the best properties get full very soon.
3. Hornbill Festival in Kohima, Nagaland
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Northeast India is India’s one of the best destinations to visit with spectacular scenic places and lovely smiling faces of local people and one such state is Nagaland. The Hornbill festival also called a “festival of festivals” held in December every year for 10 days, reflects the rich and diverse culture of the state. It is one of the must-visit places in the winter season where you can witness different dance forms, handicrafts, etc from different parts of Nagaland in one place. We are sure if you look at them dancing even you will feel like dancing with them as it is so beautiful and synchronized. The motive of this festival by the state government is to preserve the Naga tradition and heritage and also try to showcase it to everyone to understand Naga culture. Apart from local programs and games, paintings, wood carvings, and sculptures are also on display where you can buy local stuff.
4. Onam festival in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
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Although this festival doesn’t fall in the winter season, it is one of the most celebrated festivals in India which is why we wanted to mention it on this list. Celebrated by Malayalis in August or September, this is the harvest festival which is also New Year for Malayalis that goes on for 10 days. The celebration includes Vallam Kali (boat races), Pulikal (tiger dance), Onathallu (martial arts), Onam Kali (tug of war), and many more. Onam Sadya is a feast made with seasonal vegetables consisting of 9 courses served on plantain leaves is a delicious local meal to have in Kerala. The most well-known event of this festival is the Snake boat race where a group of men gets on the boat and paddles simultaneously for the race. Many men and women who visit this event alongside the river cheer the racers. This traditional race is similar to the race held in Singapore by the Malyali community there during Onam.
5. Sunburn festival in Vagator, Goa
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This is the electronic dance music festival held in Vagator, Goa every December end for 3 days making your New Year experience even more special particularly for a party and dance lovers. This is Asia’s largest music festival combining entertainment, music, food, and shopping. Music is played in loud noise and glowing lights making it the biggest and most vibrant celebration of electronic dance music with artists and DJs from around the world participating in this festival.
6. International sand art festival at Konark, Odisha
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Sand art festivals are celebrated all over the world where the artists produce the best arts with just sand and one of those places is Konark in Odisha that happens between 1st and 5th December every year. You might have seen these artists on tv shows but imagine how exciting it will be to see them right in front of you creating some of the exceptional and eye-catching sculptures. Odisha Tourism takes great pride in organizing this festival and you should consider having a trip to Konark in your domestic tour package as there are lots of other places you can visit in and near Konark two of them being the famous Konark Sun temple and Chandrabhaga beach. Artists from countries like France, Mexico, the USA, Norway, Spain, Germany, Netherland, Singapore, and the remaining artists from different states in India take part.
7. Konark festival
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Another much-awaited festival in Konark is the Konark festival which is a dance festival that is held mostly from 1st to 5th December every year. So if anyone is planning for a holiday package for Odisha then this can be the perfect time to visit as you can see different dance forms like Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, and many more on the backdrop of Konark Sun temple along with the International Sand Art festival organized during the same period and also enjoy at the Chandrabhaga beach so it can be an all in one destination for a perfect holiday. To complement the dance and music in the air, a Crafts Mela displaying and selling beautiful sculptures and souvenirs made by the local expert craftsmen is also held at Urban Haat, Konark.
8. Makar Sankranti in Gujarat
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One of the most enjoyable winter festivals in the western region of India is Makar Sankranti. This festival is held every year on 14th and 15th January that is dedicated to God Surya. This festival is observed according to solar cycles in India and Nepal while most other festivals are set according to lunar cycles. It is known by various names like Magh Bihu in Assam, Lohri in Punjab, Thai Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Ghughuti in Uttarakhand, and Maghe Sankranti in Nepal. In Gujarat, this festival is known as Uttarayan that lasts for 2 days. Nearly a month before this festival you will start seeing locals preparing Manjha (a strong thread tied to the patang or kite) on the street and people visit these kite markets and collect their favorite ones and wait eagerly for the festival to start so that they can fly kites. It is so exciting to see their enthusiasm while flying kites and try to cut other kites in the air with loud music going on and people enjoying to their fullest. It’s not only about flying kites but also about delicacies which are specially made during this festival period. One such delicacy is Undhiyu (a spicy mix of winter vegetables) with fafda and jalebi.
9. Nagaur fest in Rajasthan
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Rajasthan is not only famous for its forts, palaces, wildlife, and desert but also famous for fairs and festivals. One such festival is the Nagaur Fest in Nagaur where many tourists witness the charisma of this festival during January or February for 4 days. This is a cattle fair where around 70,000 or even more animals like horses, bullocks, cows, and camels are gathered for trade purposes. Each dealer has their shed where they keep their animals and the buyers visit these sheds to bargain. For entertainment, part locals take part in a tug of war, bullock and camel races, cockfights, gymnast stunts, and puppet shows while in the evening cultural events like folk dance and music are arranged. You get to see the colorful Rajasthan culture as the locals and performers are dressed up in colorful costumes especially women.
10. Jaisalmer desert festival
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If you want to know the traditional culture of Rajasthan then head to Jaisalmer during the desert festival that lasts for 3 days in February every year. The Fire and Gair dancers are one of the main attractions and in addition to these events like camel race, mustache competition, turban tying, and folk performances under the sky make it a remarkable cultural extravaganza. If you have not experienced the desert in Rajasthan then this can be the perfect time to visit the desert city to have a unique experience with an additional touch of Rajasthani culture. The joy of dancing to the Rajasthani folk music under the starry night in pleasant weather is an opportunity not to be missed and on top of that lip-smacking Rajasthani cuisine.
11. Manali winter carnival
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It will be one of the best holiday experiences if you can enjoy New Year in a scenic destination like Manali and also able to attend their winter festival which is held at the start of January around 2nd that goes on for 5 days. In this carnival, you get to see the local culture and cuisine of Himachal state, folk dances, winter sports, western dance, magic shows, fashion shows, and many more. Winter sports are organized in Solang valley and more than 4000 locals participate in this event to give the tourists the best hospitality with a local touch. Also, during this festival, traditional Pahari cuisines like siddu, aksadu, salty tea, femda, and many more are served to people which otherwise would not be served commercially.
12. Mount Abu winter festival
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Many of you know Mount Abu as a tourist destination but only a few people know about the winter festival held here that is jointly organized by Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Municipal Board of Mount Abu. It could be possible because during the year-end people either travel to foreign destinations or more well known holiday places in India. The winter festival in the attractive hill station of Mount Abu is held from 29th to 31st December every year. The festival starts with a parade to the Nakki Lake and then events like traditional dance like ghoomar, fireworks, hot-air ballooning, music performances, etc are continued in this 3 days festival. It is one of the few festivals where cricket is organized.
