Popular Winter Fairs & Festivals of India You Must Witness

We have often heard that India is a land of culture and traditions. But it is also a land of festivals. Being scenic like most parts of the world, what adds to its beauty is India’s fairs and festivals. In this blog, we will let you know the list of the famous winter fairs and festivals of India that you must witness. Plan your India tour during the winter season and add any of the given destinations to your India tour itinerary to witness the magic of the festivals of the region.

Explore India’s Vibrant Winter Festivals

India is one of the popular tourist destinations in the world, and winter is the best time to explore most of its attractions and tourist spots due to the pleasant weather it offers. But the season is also special to experience India’s most popular fairs and festivals. This is just as beautiful as the other parts of the world. But what adds to its charm lies in its fairs and festivals. Winter fairs and festivals in India are something that no one should ever miss. Be it a tourist or an Indian themselves, get yourself indulged in the spirit and enthusiasm of Indian culture and festivals.

Top Winter Fairs and Festivals in India

Rich in cultural diversity, every state and corner of the country celebrates every festival with great fervor throughout the year. But the winter season is truly magical in India, celebrating festivals back-to-back. It brings out the colors of celebration in the country from every region. From North to South and East to West, every region is occupied with festivals. The festivals in India are beyond the greatest festivals of Holi and Diwali. Here are the top winter fairs and festivals of India:

Lohri, Punjab

Predominantly celebrated in the Indian state of Punjab, Lohri is one of the most popular harvest festivals of India, which is also known as “Gurmukhi” and “Sanmukhi”.  People celebrate this festival with great zest and zeal by gathering, dancing, and singing around a bonfire. This festival falls in the month of January, most probably a day before the second most popular winter festival of Makar Sankranti.

Magh Bihu, Assam

A vibrant harvest festival of India, celebrated predominantly in Assam, North-East India, Magh Bihu is one of the popular winter festivals in India. It is one of the major festivals in Assam that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the new cycle. It is also called Bhogali Bihu. Folks celebrate it with great enthusiasm by preparing traditional feasts, lighting bonfires, and enjoying community gatherings. The night before Magh Bihu, called Uruka, is filled with laughter, music, and delicious food made from rice and sesame. Villagers build temporary huts called “Mejis,” where they cook and later burn them the next morning as a symbol of new beginnings. Magh Bihu beautifully celebrates Assam’s rich culture, unity, and the happiness of a good harvest.

Makar Sankranti

Similar to Lohri, Makar Sankranti is also a harvest festival celebrated in India. Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into the Capricorn Zodiac. So, the Hindu farmers in the central and western parts of India celebrate the changes in Solar movements. This day marks the end of the winter season and the beginning of longer days. In many parts of India, especially in Gujarat, it is celebrated as the Kite Festival. There is a kite-flying tradition on this day. You will see the sky full of beautiful, big, bright, and colorful kites that welcome the upcoming season of Spring in India.

Pongal, Tamil Nadu

The popular harvest festivals are celebrated all over India. The Bihu in East, Lohri in North, Makar Sankranti in West and Central India, and Pongal in South India. This festival is celebrated predominantly in Tamil Nadu. It takes place in mid-January, usually from 114-17 January, marking the beginning of the sun’s journey northward. Farmers thank the Sun God and their cattle for a good harvest. People decorate their homes, make colorful kolams, and cook a special sweet dish called Pongal made of rice, milk, and jaggery. It’s a time of joy, feasting, and family gatherings, making it a prominent addition to your India tour itinerary.

Diwali

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of India, celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. Also known as the “Festival of Lights”, Diwali falls in the winter season during October or November.  Although it is a Hindu festival, people from all religions join in to celebrate it with great fervor. It is a five-day-long celebration, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. People deep-clean their homes and offices and decorate them with decorative items, earthen lamps, lights, and candles. There is a ritual to worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on this auspicious day to bring prosperity, wealth, and wisdom into the home. This festival of Diwali is all about light, love, and new beginnings. You will see every street and corner of the country illuminated with decorative lighting and diyas. This is the best time to plan your India tour to see the country in its most vibrant Avatar.

Pushkar Fair

The Pushkar Fair is one of the world’s largest camel, horse, and cattle fairs. This is a week-long event celebrated in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India. It is one of India’s popular winter fairs that takes place in November in the holy town of Pushkar. Traders and villagers from across Rajasthan gather here for livestock trading. Beyond the buying and selling of livestock, the fair features traditional rituals at the Pushkar Lake. Besides, it also includes cultural performances, like folk dance, camel races, rural games, and other competitions for animals and humans. During the fair, you will see camels adorned in traditional dresses and accessories, colorful stalls, and handicraft items. Rajasthani folks also participate in unique competitions, like the longest Mustache. Attending the Pushkar Fair in the winter season provides you with the true essence of the Rajasthani culture and makes your Rajasthan tour unforgettable.

Goa Carnival

India is not only about the traditional festivals related to Puja and Mantras, but there is something more to it. During your Goa tour in the winter season, you can indulge in the Goa carnival, where you will see revellers taking part from all castes, creeds, and communities. This festival has been celebrated for over 300 years and got its modern version in 1961. It was initially celebrated by the Portuguese; later, everyone in Goa started celebrating it, and now the Goa Carnival is one of the best winter festivals in Goa. It is a non-stop festival of 72 hours, which includes singing, dancing, feasting, guitar strumming, acrobatic performances, clowns, and fire performers.

Kutch Rann Mahotsav

There is a famous tagline of Rann Mahotsav in Kutch, “Kutch Nahin Dekha to Kuch Nahi Dekha”.  And this is legit true. It is something that you won’t see anywhere else in the world. The blend of vibrant Rajasthani culture and the scenic view of the white Desert of Kutch gives a unique experience. Rann Mahotsav is celebrated in the White Desert of Kutch, Gujarat, from November to February. This festival showcases the region’s culture, crafts, and cuisine. Tourists stay in beautiful tents, enjoy folk music, dance performances, camel rides, and local food under the moonlit desert sky. The sight of the white salt desert glowing in the moonlight is simply magical.

Desert Festival, Jaisalmer

One of the best things to experience during your Rajasthan holiday tours is the Desert Festival in Jaisalmer, a prominent name in the list of the winter fairs and festivals of India. It is held every February, just before the full moon. It’s a three-day event that celebrates the rich culture of Rajasthan. Locals dress in bright clothes, perform folk dances, play traditional music, and take part in fun competitions like turban tying and camel races. The Sand Dune comes alive with color and laughter during this festival.

Camel Festival, Bikaner

Rajasthan Tourism organizes the Bikaner Camel Festival every year in January. This is one of the most popular festivals of the Indian state of Rajasthan. This festival celebrates “The Ship of Desert” adorned with vibrant accessories and colorful ornaments. Every camel owner brings their camel to the fair to participate in different competitions, like races, dances, and beauty contests for camels. All tourists can enjoy the folk performances and watch camels taking and winning the competitions. They can also try delicious cuisine and buy souvenirs from the stalls at the fair for their friends and families.

Khajuraho Dance Festival

Imagine how fascinating it could be watching a classical dance with a backdrop of the ancient structures from the 10^th and 11^th Centuries. This is exactly what you can witness at Khajuraho. With the backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, watching the classical dance performance of professionals is a sight to behold. This festival is held every February in the temple town of Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. It celebrates India’s classical dance forms like Kathak, Odissi, Bharatnatyam, and Kuchipudi. Dancers perform in front of the beautifully lit temples, creating a magical setting that blends art, history, and spirituality. It’s a treat for anyone who loves culture and performing arts.

Nagaur Fair

Nagaur is a small historical town in Rajasthan, famous for its cattle fair that is held annually in January or February. This cattle fair is known as the Nagaur Festival and the Ramdeoji Festival. It is the second-largest cattle fair in India after the Pushkar Fair. If, for some reason, you miss attending Pushkar Fair, you should come to Nagaur to experience this vibrant, largest festival of the state. Along with the cattle fair, it is also a cultural event. People trade camels, horses, and oxen while enjoying folk songs, puppet shows, and local delicacies. The fairground turns into a colorful celebration of Rajasthani village life.

Mount Abu Winter Festival

Mount Abu is the only hill station of Rajasthan and a popular tourist destination to include in Rajasthan tour itineraries. Every year, in December, Mount Abu hosts a famous cultural and tourism event called the Winter Festival. This is a three-day carnival that encompasses India’s cultural diversity with traditional dances, folk music, concerts, fireworks displays, fairs, and much more from different states of India. The weather during this period adds to the fun. Visiting Mount Abu during the winter season will let you experience the magic of the winter festival as well as explore this beautiful hill station in a perfect environment. Besides, the most popular honeymoon destination in India, Udaipur, is located only a few kilometres from Mount Abu. So, you can also add this to your tour itinerary.

In a Nutshell

Winter in India is not just about cozy sweaters and misty mornings — it’s about colors, culture, and celebration. Every state, every region, comes alive with music, dance, and the spirit of togetherness. From the bonfires of Lohri in Punjab to the moonlit sands of Rann of Kutch, each winter fair and festival tells a story of India’s rich traditions and vibrant energy. Hence, while planning your holiday trip to India with family or friends, you should consider the best time to visit India so that you can make the best of your trip. Visiting India in the winter season is not good for sightseeing and outdoor activities, but it is also the best time to witness the popular fairs and festivals of India to know the true essence of the country.

If you are looking for experts to help you design the best fairs and festival tour packages during the winter fairs and festivals season at reasonable prices, then contact us. We offer a wide range of tour packages that are easily customizable to your needs, pace, and budget.