When the air turns sharp and the nights get longer, India doesn’t retreat indoors, it bursts into celebration. From poetry in Jaipur to drumming in Nagaland, from wine fields in Nashik to moonlit deserts in Kutch, winter here is a collage of sights, sounds, and stories. Each festival carries a pulse of art, identity, and togetherness. Here are twelve winter festivals in India that deserve a spot on every traveller’s winter calendar.
12 Winter Festivals In India That Celebrate The Soul Of The Season
1. Jaipur Literature Festival, Rajasthan
Every January, Jaipur’s historic Diggi Palace transforms into a buzzing literary fairground. The Jaipur Literature Festival, often called the “greatest literary show on Earth,” brings together Nobel laureates, debut authors, journalists, musicians, and thousands of readers. One minute you’re listening to Margaret Atwood or Arundhati Subramaniam discuss feminism, and the next you’re sipping kulhad chai while a ghazal performance plays in the courtyard. The mix of conversation, creativity, and chaos is pure India.
Where: Hotel Clarks Amer, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Durgapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan
When: 15–19 January 2026 | Sessions all day from 9 AM onwards
Cost: Free entry for general sessions; ₹300–₹2,000 for premium events and workshops
Also Read: 10 Best Homestays In Jaipur That Make You Feel Like A Local Royal
2. Rann Utsav, Gujarat
In winter, the white salt desert of Kutch turns otherworldly. The Rann Utsav captures this surreal beauty with a month-long celebration of Gujarati folk music, Kutchi embroidery, mirror-work crafts, and moonlit desert camping. As you walk through Dhordo village, you’ll find stalls of colourful shawls, families dancing garba barefoot on salt, and camel carts gliding against the silver horizon. Nights here feel cinematic with a desert breeze, a bonfire, and a sky spilling with stars.
Where: The Tent City, Dhordo Village, Kutch, Gujarat
When: 23 October 2025 to 4 March 2026
Cost: ₹6,000
3. Surajkund International Crafts Mela, Haryana
Out of all the winter festivals in India, Surajkund Mela is a love letter to Indian craftsmanship. Artisans from every state and several countries. set up stalls that look like miniature villages. You’ll see Kashmiri pashminas next to Madhubani paintings and Rajasthan’s lac bangles beside Naga shawls. The fairground hums with dhol beats, puppet shows, and the scent of jalebis. Every year, a “theme state” curates décor and performances, so there’s always something new to discover.
Where: Surajkund, Lakewood City, Faridabad, Haryana
When: 1 to 15 February 2026 | 10 AM to 8:30 PM daily
Cost: ₹120
4. Hornbill Festival, Nagaland
Set against the forested hills of Kisama, the Hornbill Festival celebrates Nagaland’s tribal heritage in its full colour and fire. Each of the state’s 16 major tribes performs their dances, mock battles, and bamboo games while local brewers pour rice beer in bamboo cups. The air smells of smoked pork and pinewood. Beyond the cultural showcase, Hornbill now includes rock concerts, adventure sports, and a vibrant night bazaar, a rare chance to feel Nagaland’s beating heart.
Where: Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, near Kohima, Nagaland
When: 1 to 10 December 2025
Cost: ₹50 to ₹100 per day
5. Pushkar Camel Fair, Rajasthan
Pushkar’s fairground looks like a dream painted in gold dust. Thousands of camels, groomed, traded, and paraded, stand beside nomadic tents, fortune-tellers, and street performers. Beyond the livestock spectacle lies the human drama: locals competing in moustache contests, tourists riding Ferris wheels, and pilgrims gathering by the Pushkar Lake for sacred dips. The town becomes a stage where tradition and tourism dance together.
Where: Pushkar Mela Ground, Brahma Temple Road, Badi Basti, Pushkar, Rajasthan
When: 30 October to 5 November 2025
Cost: Free entry
6. Chennai Music Season, Tamil Nadu
Between mid-December and early January, Chennai turns into a stage. Carnatic vocalists, violinists, and dancers fill the city’s sabhas with classical melodies that echo through heritage halls. The audiences are devoted, you’ll spot music students taking notes between ragas. Outside, filter coffee vendors keep everyone fuelled. The Chennai Music Season isn’t a single festival but a cultural rhythm that moves through the city’s very soul.
Where: The Music Academy, 168 TTK Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
When: 16 December 2025 to 1 January 2026
Cost: ₹100 to ₹2,000
Also Read: Flamingos Arrive In Large Numbers At Thoothukudi Coast In Tamil Nadu
7. Kolkata International Film Festival, West Bengal
Out of all the winter festivals in India, Kolkata becomes the Cannes of the East. Film buffs hop from Nandan to Rabindra Sadan to watch world cinema, retrospectives, and indie premieres. It’s the perfect city for such a festival: passionate, talkative, and culturally obsessed. Expect long queues, impromptu debates about auteurs, and screenings that end with applause. KIFF is where Bengal’s storytelling heritage meets global cinema.
Where: HQ at Nandan Complex, 1/1 A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata
When: 10 to 17 December 2025
Cost: ₹600–₹1,000
8. Jaisalmer Desert Festival, Rajasthan
As winter dips into the Thar, Jaisalmer’s dunes come alive with song, race, and laughter. Camels sprint across the sands in friendly rivalry, while Kalbeliya dancers spin like windstorms. Locals compete in turban-tying and moustache championships, and nights end with fires, drums, and starlight. Against the honey-gold walls of Jaisalmer Fort, it all feels timeless.
Where: Sam Sand Dunes, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
When: 2 to 4 February 2026
Cost: Free entry
9. Goa Carnival, Goa
Before Lent arrives, Goa explodes into colour. Floats roll down Panaji’s streets, samba bands pulse through Old Goa, and costumed dancers toss confetti over cheering crowds. It’s a fusion of Catholic legacy and coastal joy, where locals celebrate “King Momo” proclaiming three days of fun. Add seafood grills, feni stalls, and late-night beach music, and you’ve got India’s happiest street party.
Where: Patto Bridge to Municipal Garden route, Panaji & across major Goan towns
When: 13 to 16 February 2026
Cost: Varies
Also Read: Ganga Aarti In Goa? Beach Destination To Have ₹10.5 Cr Varanasi-Style Ghat And Shiv Idol
10. SulaFest, Maharashtra
Inside Nashik’s rolling vineyards, SulaFest merges indie music with open-air luxury. Think of hammocks between grapevines, international food stalls, and eco-friendly décor glowing under fairy lights. The lineup swings from electronic DJs to jazz collectives, creating India’s most stylish vineyard party. It’s where festival-goers dance barefoot on grass with a glass of rosé in hand.
Where: Sula Vineyards, Gat 36/2, Govardhan Village, Gangapur-Savargaon Road, Nashik, Maharashtra
When: 1 to 2 February 2026
Cost: ₹2,500 per day
Also Read: What Is Special About Maharashtra’s 51-Foot-Tall Lord Vitthal Idol At Upvan Ghat, Thane?
11. Taj Mahotsav, Uttar Pradesh
Few fairs can match the drama of the Taj Mahotsav, held just a few hundred metres from the Taj Mahal itself. It’s ten days of Indian heritage in one place: artisans carving wood and marble, folk dancers performing kathak and kalbelia, and food stalls serving kebabs, chaat, and rabri. As the monument glows at sunset, the festival feels almost poetic.
Where: Shilpgram, Eastern Gate Road, near Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
When: 18 February to 2 March 2026 | 10 AM to 10 PM
Cost: ₹50
12. Shimla Winter Carnival, Himachal Pradesh
Snowflakes, pine trees, and a ridge filled with laughter – that’s the Shimla Winter Carnival. Ice-skating championships, Himachali folk dances, fashion parades, and live music fill the hill town with energy. The evenings are made for strolling through the Ridge, wrapped in scarves, with stalls serving steaming momos and chai. It’s a festival that warms even the coldest day.
Where: Mall Road, The Ridge & Ice-Skating Rink, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
When: 1–7 January 2026 | 10 AM onwards
Cost: Free entry
Also Read: From Kahwa To Bajre Ki Raab, 5 Indian Winter Drinks To Keep You Warm This Season
India doesn’t wait for summer to shine. In winter, its spirit is louder, warmer, and more generous. Each of these festivals, from desert fairs to mountain carnivals, reveals a piece of what makes this country endlessly fascinating: its ability to celebrate everything, everywhere, together. When the temperature drops, the festivals rise.
Cover Image Courtesy: rannutsav/X and kaushikmishra/WikimediaCommons
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