India’s festive calendar is a vibrant reflection of its cultural diversity, with the season bringing together traditions, rituals, food, music and community celebrations across the country. Durga Puja, Navratri and Dussehra may have different expressions across regions, but the spirit remains universal – the celebration of faith, togetherness and the triumph of good over evil. For travellers, the festive season offers an opportunity to experience destinations beyond their usual sightseeing attractions – through neighbourhood celebrations, traditional rituals, elaborate pandals, cultural performances, festive cuisine and centuries-old customs.
This festive season, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel spotlight 11 destinations where travellers can experience the country’s diverse festive traditions while discovering the culture, cuisine and character of each region.
- Kolkata, West Bengal
Few cities embrace Durga Puja with the scale, artistry and emotion of Kolkata. As the festival approaches, neighbourhoods across the city come alive with elaborate pandals, artistic installations, magnificent idols of Goddess Durga and illuminated streets. For many Bengali families, the festival is also a deeply emotional homecoming, reflecting the traditional belief that Goddess Durga returns to her paternal home during these days. Travellers can spend their evenings pandal hopping, witnessing traditional rituals and immersing themselves in the city’s festive atmosphere, while sampling bhog and Bengali delicacies. Some of the city’s well-known traditional pujas include Sovabazar Raja Barir Puja, Rani Rashmoni Durga Puja, Harinath Mookerjee Family Durga Puja, Bholanath Mallick Barir Puja and Chhatu Babu Latu Babu Family’s Durga Puja.
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat
In Ahmedabad, the festive season takes on a distinctly Gujarati rhythm, with Navratri transforming the city into a celebration of music, dance and community. As the sun sets, people dressed in colourful traditional attire gather for Garba and Dandiya, with celebrations continuing late into the night. Venues such as GMDC Ground, Mirchi Rock & Dhol, YMCA Club, CEPT University and Rajpath Club are among the places associated with the city’s festive celebrations. The wider festive period also brings Dussehra traditions, adding another dimension to the celebrations.
- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mumbai’s multicultural character comes alive during the festive season, with Bengali communities across the city coming together to celebrate Durga Puja through traditional rituals, beautifully decorated pandals, cultural programmes and festive food. From intimate community celebrations to larger gatherings, the city’s Durga Puja celebrations offer travellers an opportunity to experience Bengali traditions within Mumbai’s unmistakably cosmopolitan setting. The festive atmosphere extends beyond the pandals, with music, food and community events bringing neighbourhoods together.
- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi offers a festive experience rooted in spirituality, tradition and mythology. During Dussehra, Ramlila performances depicting episodes from the Ramayana bring communities together, with performers taking on the roles of Lord Rama, Lakshman, Sita and Hanuman. Fairs, food stalls and community gatherings add to the atmosphere, culminating in the symbolic burning of Ravana effigies. The celebrations take on a distinctive character against the backdrop of Varanasi’s ancient ghats and temples.
- Delhi
Delhi brings together several strands of India’s festive traditions, with Durga Puja celebrations taking place alongside large-scale Dussehra festivities across the capital. CR Park is particularly well known for its Durga Puja celebrations, with pandals, rituals, cultural programmes and Bengali food attracting both residents and visitors. Other locations associated with the celebrations include Durgotsav GK 2, Matri Mandir in Safdarjung Enclave, Minto Road and Kashmiri Gate. On the Dussehra side, Ramleela Maidan is known for its large-scale celebrations and Ravana effigy burning.
- Guwahati, Assam
Guwahati celebrates Durga Puja with a strong community spirit, with neighbourhoods coming alive with colourful pandals, elaborately decorated idols, cultural programmes, fairs and exhibitions. Among the city’s longstanding celebrations is the Latasil Durga Puja, while several community pandals across areas such as Bishnupur and Krishna Mandir add to the festive landscape. The result is a celebration that combines devotion with Assam’s distinctive community culture.
- Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
Kullu offers a very different festive experience through its celebrated Kullu Dussehra. Rather than focusing on the conventional Ravana effigy-burning tradition, the festival brings together local deities and communities from across the valley in a grand celebration centred around Lord Raghunath. Dhalpur Maidan becomes the focal point, with colourful processions of deities, traditional ceremonies, music and gatherings filling the valley. Set against the Himalayan landscape, Kullu Dussehra offers travellers an opportunity to experience a living tradition deeply connected to the region’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
- Pune, Maharashtra
Pune’s Durga Puja celebrations bring the city’s Bengali community together through traditional rituals, decorated pandals, cultural programmes, music and festive gatherings. The celebrations offer an intimate glimpse into Bengali traditions, with beautifully decorated idols, community meals and cultural events creating a strong sense of togetherness. Congress Bhavan Durga Puja is among the city’s longstanding celebrations.
- South India
Across South India, the festive season takes on a distinctive character, with Navratri traditions often placing a strong emphasis on knowledge, learning, creativity and devotion. In Kerala, Vidyarambham marks the ceremonial beginning of a child’s journey into education, while across parts of South India, books, musical instruments and tools are traditionally placed before the deity for worship. The popular Golu tradition in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring regions sees homes transformed with elaborate displays of dolls and figurines depicting gods, goddesses, mythological stories and everyday life. For travellers, these traditions offer a more intimate way to experience the festive season – through homes, temples, cultural spaces and local communities rather than large-scale public celebrations alone.
- Hyderabad, Telangana
Hyderabad’s Bengali community brings the traditions of Durga Puja to life through beautifully designed pandals, cultural programmes, food festivals and community gatherings. The celebrations reflect the city’s multicultural character while retaining the distinctive rituals, food and cultural traditions associated with Bengali festivities. Among the associations and locations known for Durga Puja celebrations are Utsab Cultural Association, Nabarun Sangha in Balanagar, Attapur Bengali Association and Oikotan Hyderabad, each contributing to the city’s festive landscape.
- Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands offer a distinctive festive experience, shaped in part by the region’s strong Bengali cultural influence. Bengalis form one of the largest settler communities in the islands, and Durga Puja is celebrated with considerable enthusiasm across the community, with pandals, traditional rituals, cultural programmes and festive gatherings bringing people together. For travellers, the festive period also offers an opportunity to combine the celebrations with a tropical holiday, making the Andamans a popular destination during Durga Puja. The islands’ beaches, marine experiences and laid-back pace provide a natural complement to the cultural festivities.
