Music

Sound, dance, and open-air stages

26 festivals

Techno-cultural & student festival

Anwesha

IIT Patna, Bihar, India · Jan–Feb

IIT Patna’s annual techno-cultural-management festival brings together competitions, performances and student creativity

Seasonal

Bhadu

West Bengal, especially Rarh Bengal · Bhadra (Aug–Sep)

A folk festival of rural Bengal centered on Bhadu songs, women-led worship, and community celebration.

Bhil community youth and women in traditional attire at a gathering in Jhabua

Seasonal

Bhagoria Festival

Western Madhya Pradesh, India · Feb–Mar (7 days before Holi; lunar)

A springtime tribal festival of music, dance, color, markets and community gatherings.

Cultural & arts

Bihar Utsav

Bihar, India · March (typically around Bihar Day)

A cultural celebration showcasing Bihar’s heritage, arts, crafts, food, music, and traditions.

Seasonal

Bihu

Assam, India & diaspora · Jan, Apr & Oct (seasonal)

Assam's three seasonal festivals celebrate agriculture, community, music, dance, and harvest traditions.

Bihu dancers performing in traditional Assamese attire during Rongali Bihu

Seasonal

Bohag Bihu

Assam, India & Assamese diaspora · Mid-April

Assam’s spring New Year festival of music, dance, renewal and agricultural beginnings.

Cultural & folk

Bundi Utsav

Bundi, Rajasthan, India · Oct–Nov (Kartik; after Kartik Purnima)

A three-day celebration of Bundi’s folk culture, crafts, music, dance and heritage.

Seasonal

Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India · December (Margazhi)

An annual Chennai festival bringing Carnatic music, classical arts and the spirit of Thiruvaiyaru to the city.

Hindu temple & folk festival

Chinakkathoor Pooram

Palappuram, Palakkad, Kerala, India · Feb–Mar (Malayalam Kumbham; Makam)

A temple pooram in Palappuram known for elephant processions, percussion and traditional folk arts.

Media & cultural festival

Cutting Chai Festival

Bandra, Mumbai, India · February

A Mumbai college media festival where students explore journalism, film, advertising, performance and creativity.

International arts festival

Delhi International Arts Festival

Delhi, India · Oct–Dec (varies by edition)

A multi-arts festival bringing Indian and international artists to stages and cultural spaces across Delhi.

Religious & cultural

Durga Puja

India, Bangladesh & diaspora · Sep–Oct (lunar)

A major Hindu festival of worship, art, community gatherings, music and the homecoming of Goddess Durga.