Festivals in India: How These 5 Cities Celebrate Like Nowhere Else
Ever watched a city switch identity overnight? Roads that once echoed with honking now pulse with dhol beats. Alleyways glow in marigold hues. Food stalls multiply. Locals slow down to celebrate, tourists rush in to belong, and suddenly, the city isn’t just a place; it’s a feeling. During festivals in India, this transformation is nothing short of magical, where culture takes over concrete, and every street tells a story.
In India, festivals celebrated are not mere dates on a calendar they’re emotional resets, artistic explosions, and full-blown cultural rewrites. Especially in a few cities where the celebration spills beyond homes and temples, painting the entire landscape in festivity.
This isn’t a list of the five festivals of India or a rundown of all important festivals of India — it’s about cities that transform. These 5 destinations don’t just host celebrations, they become them.
Let’s take you to 5 cities that, during their iconic festivals, become unrecognisable in the most breathtaking way.
| City | Festival | Tentative Dates (2025) | Why Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | Ganesh Chaturthi | August 26 – September 5, 2025 | Immersive street processions, artistic idols, cultural unity |
| Kolkata | Durga Puja | September 30 – October 4, 2025 | Iconic pandals, rituals, and Bengali festive spirit |
| Varanasi | Dev Deepawali | November 9, 2025 | Ghats lit with millions of diyas, spiritual atmosphere |
| Jaipur | Teej | August 5, 2025 (Shravani Teej) | Traditional processions, folk culture, monsoon beauty |
| Mysore | Dussehra (Dasara) | September 26 – October 6, 2025 | Royal parades, illuminated palaces, cultural events |
| Goa | Christmas | December 24–25, 2025 | Midnight masses, street lights, festive food & music |
In this Blog
Mumbai – Ganesh Chaturthi
Overview of Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi
Mumbai, the city of dreams, is known for its relentless energy, cinematic skyline, and an unmatched spirit of community. But during Ganesh Chaturthi, this bustling metro trades its corporate rush for rhythmic chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya, turning into a living, breathing temple of devotion and celebration.
Transformation of Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi
As one of the most famous festivals in India, Ganesh Chaturthi transforms Mumbai in ways that feel almost magical. Streets are decked with colourful lights and grand pandals that range from traditional to wildly creative. Local attire shifts from casual to festive, and neighbourhoods unite in joyous preparation weeks before the first idol arrives. There’s music on every corner from dhol-tasha troops to devotional bhajans, and the scent of incense and modaks fills the air.
Things to experience during Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai
Witnessing the arrival of Lalbaugcha Raja, the city’s most revered Ganpati idol, is an experience unlike any other. The visarjan (immersion) procession, especially at Girgaum Chowpatty, is a euphoric blend of music, dance, emotion, and community. Local delicacies like steamed modaks, puran poli, and sabudana vada are festival staples. It’s also a time when artisans from across Maharashtra come to the city, offering a glimpse into regional traditions and craftsmanship, making it a melting pot of different festivals of India all in one city.
Insider Tip or Hidden Gem
While the major pandals attract massive crowds, consider visiting neighbourhood setups in areas like Khetwadi or Dadar for a more intimate experience with equally intricate idols. And if you’re up for something truly special, try catching the early morning visarjan at Juhu Beach.
Kolkata – Durga Puja
Overview of Kolkata during Durga Puja
Kolkata, the cultural capital of India, is a city where art, intellect, and tradition flow through its veins. But come Durga Puja, one of India’s five major festivals that captures the nation’s spirit, Kolkata shifts into a parallel universe. It’s not just a festival here; it’s an identity, a heartbeat, a homecoming.
Transformation of Kolkata during Durga Puja
As Mahalaya marks the beginning, the entire city starts to buzz. By the time Saptami arrives, Kolkata is a dreamscape. Giant pandals, designed to resemble palaces, temples, spacecraft, or abstract art pieces, take over streets and parks. Locals dress in new clothes every day, from crisp cotton sarees to designer fusion wear, and hop from one pandal to another in what can only be described as an artistic pilgrimage. Fairy lights wrap trees, footpaths turn into food stalls, dhak beats fill the air, and time seems to slow down so the city can simply bask in the joy of Ma Durga’s arrival.
Things to experience during Durga Puja in Kolkata
Witness the Kumartuli artisans bring goddesses to life from clay. Walk through iconic pandals like Bagbazar, College Square, or Deshapriya Park, each with its theme, story, and local legend. Don’t miss the Sindoor Khela on Dashami, when women drape themselves in red and white sarees, smearing vermilion in a powerful farewell ritual. Meanwhile, the aroma of khichuri, labra, shorshe ilish, and rasgulla lingers across every street. This is not just a festival celebrated in India; it’s a 10-day cultural explosion.
Insider Tip or Hidden Gem
Skip the main streets on Ashtami night and head to North Kolkata’s Bonedi Bari Pujas — age-old aristocratic households that celebrate Durga Puja with antique charm, intimate rituals, and zero crowds. It’s a peek into how Kolkata celebrated before pandal culture took over. For a magical visual, stand on the Howrah Bridge at night — watching the entire city glitter under lights as dhak rhythms echo in the distance is pure enchantment.
Varanasi – Dev Deepawali
Overview of the City
Varanasi — one of the oldest living cities in the world — is deeply spiritual, humming with chants, temple bells, and centuries of devotion. Known for its ghats and sacred connection to the Ganga. But during Dev Deepawali, it feels less like a place on Earth and more like a heavenly realm lit by a thousand hopes.
The Transformation
If Diwali lights up homes, Dev Deepawali sets the entire river ablaze with devotion. Celebrated fifteen days after Diwali, this festival, celebrated in India, marks the day when the gods are believed to descend to Earth to bathe in the Ganga. The entire stretch of ghats — over 80 of them — glows with millions of diyas, reflected in the tranquil water like liquid gold. Locals and pilgrims alike dress in ethnic attire, devotional music floats from temples, and a meditative silence envelops the chaos of daily life. The transformation is so surreal that even the most seasoned travellers pause in awe.
Signature Experiences
Start with the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat — a breathtaking synchrony of flames, chants, and river breeze. The spectacle of the ghats, all illuminated with earthen lamps, is best experienced on a boat ride during twilight. This is when Varanasi transcends — the very soul of the city glows. Local legends say that Lord Shiva himself is present on this night, making it one of the most sacred observances among the five festivals of India for devotees. Food stalls spring up selling kachaudi-sabzi, jalebi, and malaiyyo — a winter-exclusive Varanasi dessert that melts like sweet air.
Insider Tip or Hidden Gem
Instead of jostling through the crowds at Dashashwamedh, head to Assi Ghat or Rajendra Prasad Ghat for a quieter, yet equally stunning experience. Book a sunrise or post-sunset boat ride with a local rower — they often share untold stories of the ghats that you won’t hear in guidebooks. For an intimate glimpse into how locals celebrate, visit a small family-run temple or stay in an old haveli by the river for an authentic view of this divine transformation.
Mysore – When Dussehra Turns the City into a Living Epic
Overview of Mysore during Dussehra
For most of the year, Mysore is measured and graceful — a city draped in silk and sandalwood, holding its regal past with quiet pride. But when Dussehra arrives, Mysore stops being a city and becomes a story. One that’s written in golden light, echoed in drumbeats, and walked by kings and goddesses. Here, Dussehra isn’t a festival — it’s a carefully choreographed memory passed down through generations.
Transformation of Mysore during Dussehra
You don’t notice the change all at once. It builds. Slowly. A light here, a flag there, a whisper of flute from a distance. Then suddenly, the Mysore Palace bursts into a thousand golden bulbs, and the city exhales centuries of tradition in one collective celebration. Every corner is dressed for the occasion — roads bloom with marigolds, markets hum with anticipation, and the air carries the scent of sandalwood and spice. The ordinary gives way to the epic.
Things to experience during Dussehra in Mysore
The Jumbo Savari isn’t just a parade; it’s the climax of a myth retold through elephants, dancers, drummers, and divine symbolism. The idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari rides high in a golden howdah — not as a relic, but as a living protector of the city. At night, the Dasara Exhibition buzzes with storytelling, local crafts, food stalls, and nostalgia. Try a bite of warm Mysore Pak, still wrapped in buttered memory, or watch classical dance unfold in the palace courtyard — an art form offered in devotion, not just display.
Insider Tip or Hidden Gem
Want to witness the festival the way locals do? Skip the crowded front seats and climb Chamundi Hill at dusk, where the city lights stretch like constellations below. Or stay for the lesser-known Torchlight Parade on the final night — an electrifying spectacle of horsemen, fire shows, and laser lights that feels like a royal finale under open skies. Sometimes, the best parts of a story are found in its afterglow.
Goa – Christmas
Overview of Goa during Christmas
Goa, India’s sunshine state, is usually known for its palm-lined beaches, vibrant nightlife, and susegad (laid-back) way of life. But when December rolls in, Goa sheds its beach-party identity and embraces something far softer, deeper, and more soulful. Christmas in Goa isn’t just a festival; it’s a feeling that settles over the land like a warm, cinnamon-scented breeze.
Transformation of Goa during Christmas
As the air turns crisp and the calendar nears the 25th, Goa begins to glow in a way that’s quietly magical. From Portuguese-era churches to fishing villages, every corner is lit with fairy lights, stars, and handmade cribs. Locals’ vibrant red and white, choirs rehearse carols, and bakeries overflow with the scent of bebinca, dodol, and freshly baked plum cakes. Nights stretch longer as streets fill with music, laughter, and late-night Christmas markets. There’s no rush, no chaos — just the slow unfolding of joy, warmth, and community.
Things to experience in Goa during Christmas
Attend midnight Mass at the Basilica of Bom Jesus or Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, where centuries-old rituals still feel intimate. Wander through the Christmas Eve fairs in Mapusa or Panjim, or explore quaint villages like Saligao and Loutolim, where families craft intricate cribs using hay, lights, and local flair. Don’t miss traditional sweets like neureos, kulkuls, and rose cookies, all part of what locals call the “kuswar” platter — a Goan Christmas essential. While Christmas is celebrated across India, in Goa it merges colonial charm, coastal culture, and deep-rooted faith, making it one of the most unique festivals celebrated in India.
Insider Tip or Hidden Gem
Skip the packed beaches and take a night walk through Fontainhas, Goa’s Latin Quarter. With its Portuguese architecture lit up in fairy lights, it feels like a European Christmas village tucked away in the tropics. For a truly local experience, ask a Goan family if you can join them for their Crib hopping or carol rounds — a tradition that’s heartfelt, musical, and deeply communal. Also, if you can, stay until New Year’s — because once Christmas ends, Goa’s second act begins.
Quick Travel Tips for Festival-Goers
- Book Early: Reserve flights and stays at least 6–8 weeks in advance—festive seasons get packed fast!
- Respect Local Customs: Dress modestly at religious events, follow local rituals respectfully, and always ask before clicking pictures.
- Pack Smart: Carry comfortable footwear, festive-appropriate attire, earplugs (for loud celebrations), and a small day bag for long outings.
Festivals in India don’t just add colour to life, they redefine the very character of cities. Streets turn into stage sets, everyday spaces transform into sacred grounds, and locals open their homes and hearts to celebration. Whether it’s the glowing ghats of Varanasi during Dev Deepawali or the regal processions of Mysore’s Dussehra, each city morphs into something extraordinary, alive, immersive, and unforgettable.
These aren’t just festivals celebrated in India; they are lived, breathed, and passed on as cherished traditions. Experiencing them in their true hometown setting is like stepping into a cultural fairy tale, where every detail from food to music to mood tells a story.
Where to stay during the festive season
If you’re travelling to experience these festivals and need a relaxing getaway to unwind afterwards, these villa stays offer the perfect retreat, serene, private, and just what you need to recharge.
Grey Mosaics- Vasai
Just an hour away from Mumbai, Grey Mosaics is a peaceful getaway amidst greenery, perfect for a quick staycation with family and friends. With a sprawling 40,000 sq. ft. lawn, indoor games like foosball and pool, a serene gazebo, and a private swimming pool, this modern villa promises a relaxing and memorable experience. Surrounded by beaches, forts, and water parks like the Great Escape, it’s the ideal destination to unwind, celebrate, or simply reconnect with nature.
The Ganga House-Varanasi
The Ganga House in Varanasi is a three-storey retreat offering panoramic views of the Ganges and timeless city charm. Arrive by a scenic boat ride, unwind in elegant interiors, and explore iconic spots like Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Namo Ghat. Whether it’s relaxing on the terrace, enjoying indoor games, or sharing BBQ evenings by the bonfire, every moment here is steeped in beauty and culture.
Casa De Fiesta-Goa
Just minutes from the beach, Casa De Fiesta is a luxurious 4300 sq. ft. villa featuring elegant modern interiors, two private pools, and breathtaking sea views. With a lush lawn, scenic sit-out, and access to a clubhouse, it’s the perfect retreat for families, friends, and even pets. Whether you’re unwinding by the pool, enjoying indoor games, or savouring a BBQ by the beach, every moment here promises relaxation and joy.
Ishva Bungalow- Kolkata
Ishva Bungalow blends old-world charm with modern luxury, offering a lush, flower-lined entrance, cosy interiors, and a serene centennial tree. With a grand swimming pool, balcony views of the vibrant skyline, and spacious lawns for yoga or games, every corner invites relaxation. Whether you’re enjoying a dip, a bonfire evening, or exploring the city, this villa is your perfect urban escape.
White Meadows-Mysore
White Meadows feels less like a villa and more like a slow-living dream. Wake up to sweeping savannah views, spend your day between sun-drenched lawns, gazebo chats, and soulful swims in the private pool. As dusk settles, gather by the crackling bonfire or indulge in a barbecue under a sky full of stars, where every moment lingers a little longer.
Image banner credits: Khokarahman via Wikimedia Commons
Written by: Elita Almeida
