Ours is a country that celebrates every little moment with full zeal. If anyone wishes to witness the rich diversity or the brimming enthusiasm, the festivals in January in India offer the perfect show. Bringing the folk music, dance, and traditions in the spotlight, these create an alluring opportunity for witnessing the vibrant beauty of the country at its best. So, if you wish to kick-start your year on a celebratory note, make sure you attend all of these 13 festivals at least once in your life!
January Festivals and Important Dates in India (2025)
| Festival Name | Date | Day | Holiday Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti | January 6, 2025 | Monday | Gazetted Holiday |
| Lohri | January 13, 2025 | Sunday | State Holiday (Punjab) |
| Makar Sankranti | January 14, 2025 | Tuesday | Gazetted Holiday (various states) |
| Pongal | January 14-17, 2025 | Tuesday-Fri | Gazetted Holiday (Tamil Nadu) |
| Bhogali Bihu | January 15, 2025 | Wednesday | State Holiday (Assam) |
| Kenduli Mela | January 14, 2025 | Tuesday | Local Festival (West Bengal) |
| International Kite Festival | January 14, 2025 | Tuesday | Local Festival (Gujarat) |
| Bikaner Camel Festival | January 11-12, 2025 | Saturday-Sun | Local Festival (Rajasthan) |
| Modhera Dance Festival | January 18-19, 2025 | Friday-Sat | Local Festival (Gujarat) |
| Republic Day | January 26, 2025 | Sunday | National Holiday |
14 Festivals in January 2025 (Updated List)
Festivals are always known to be the vibrant windows that showcase the chapters of the past days. India being a colourful country, never leaves a reason not to celebrate their roots. The country is famous throughout the world for its unique and beautiful festivals. As the world gets ready to walk out of their houses and explore the colours of life, January festivals are indeed a perfect reason to escape the mundane!
Here is the list of best festivals in January 2025 that you must attend in January in India. Scroll down to know what to expect this month in the country that has it all!
- Lohri – Bonfires, Music, And Good Food
- Republic Day – The Constitution Day
- Vasant Panchami – The Day To Celebrate Goddess Saraswati
- Pongal – Indian-style Thanksgiving
- Makara Sankranti – The Day For Sun & Makar
- Rann Utsav – The Beautiful Desert Festival
- Jaipur Literature Festival – India’s Biggest Celebration Of Literature
- International Kite Festival – The Kite Flying Day
- Bikaner Camel Festival – The Colors Of Rajasthan
- Chennai Music Festival – Melodious Encounters
- The Nagaur Fair – The Second Largest Cattle Fair
- Modhera Dance Festival – Cultural Interactions And More
- Kenduli Mela – Captivating Notes Of Bengali Folk
- Bhogali Bihu – Delicious Food And Fun Sports
1. Lohri – Bonfires, Music, And Good Food
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Known by different names, this is one of the most celebrated festivals in January in India. It signifies the end of the cold winter and arrival of warmer days along with the onset of harvest season. Bonfires, music, and good food are the major highlights of this festivity. So, while you’re planning your next visit to India, make sure you get to try all the good food in this festival! This surely comes on the top of January festivals list.
When: 13th January, 2025
Where: All of North India
What’s Special: People wear new clothes and welcome the warmer days by lighting up the bonfire and taking rounds around it. Popcorn, gajak, and Verdi are savoured with loved ones over the Dhol beats.
Also Read: Winter Festivals In India
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2. Republic Day – The Constitution Day
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One of the major national festivals of India, Republic Day is celebrated every year to acknowledge the Constitution of India, founded in 1950. The spectacular Republic Day parade that marches down to the central Rajpath avenue and features the three divisions of the armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) is a sight worth witnessing.
When: 26th January every year
Where: New Delhi
What’s Special: The Republic Day parade, traditional dance troupes, and helicopters flying in the sky are the festival’s main attractions.
3. Vasant Panchami – The day to celebrate Goddess Saraswati
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Among the list of festivals in January 2025 is Basant Panchami. This festival is one of the best ways to welcome the spring season in North India. Everything about Vasant Panchami is worth witnessing, from worshipping Goddess Saraswati to wearing colourful clothes like a shade of bright yellow. When a joyous dancing vibe fills the air in the northern region, why would you want to miss out on all the fun that follows in one of the best January festivals, 2025?
When:2nd February, 2025
Where: Punjab
What’s Special: On the fifth day of spring, everyone in Punjab celebrates the day as the festival of kites, wears yellow, and cooks delicious meethe chawal and boondi laddoo at home.
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4. Pongal – Indian-style Thanksgiving
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Celebrated down south, Pongal is one of the significant January festivals in India, equivalent to Thanksgiving. Making rangolis (kolam), cooking the Pongal dish, which is made out of boiled milk and rice, family get-together, and dancing are reasons you must become a part of this festive occasion. So, even though you might not belong to this part of India, the locals will make you feel at home all the more!
When: 14 Jan 2025 – Fri, 17 Jan 2025
Where: Tamil Nadu
What’s Special: From decorating houses and making colourful kolams in the streets to bull and bird fighting like Jallikattu in Madurai, everything about Pongal is unique and special.
5. Makara Sankranti – The Day For Sun & Makar
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Makara Sankranti is a festival based on the Hindu calendar and is dedicated to Sun God. It is observed on the first day of the end of winter soclicite. It marks the transit of the Sun into Makara. This festival is celebrated like Pongal in Tamil Nadu. Temples have special prayer ceremonies on the day of Makara Sankranti.
When: 14th January 2025
Where: Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India (predominantly south India)
What’s Special: Kite flying, fairs, feasts, puja
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6. Rann Utsav – The Beautiful Desert Festival
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If there is one thing that multiplies the beauty of Rann of Kutch, it is this desert festival. It reflects the culture and heritage of the region at its best through folk dances, music, adventure sports, handicrafts, and food stalls, which makes it worth experiencing first-hand. While you’re here, you can enjoy luxury and comfort by staying in the tents set up on the fringe for tourists.
When: Nov 11, 2024 to Mar 15, 2025
Where: Great Rann of Kutch salt desert, Dhordo, Gujarat
What’s Special: During the celebration, one gets to witness the beauty of the white Rann at its best and also savour the delectable local cuisines.
7. Jaipur Literature Festival – India’s Biggest Celebration Of Literature
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If you love literature, this popular annual festival is meant just for you. It not only celebrates the work of great writers but also them. Also called JLF or Jaipur Lit Fest, it is one of the top festivals in January in India, which also an essential literature event in Asia. So, get ready to witness some of the authors’ most interesting pieces ever written or illustrated. Is it crazy much?
When: 30th January to 3rd February, 2025
Where: Diggi Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan
What’s Special: It offers the perfect opportunity to meet renowned national and international authors listen to them, all for free.
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8. International Kite Festival – The Kite Flying Day
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To mark the celebration of Makar Sankranti, this festival in January welcomes innumerable people from different states and countries. A million brightly coloured kites can be seen all over the sky from the moment the sun rises till it sets. Even if you do not wish to take part in the fun competitions, make sure you still attend one of the most happening January festivals, 2025, as it is a joy in itself.
When: 14th January, 2025
Where: Sabarmati River Front, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and in Jaipur, Rajasthan
What’s Special: Kite flying, aerial acrobats, kite painting and making competitions that match the zeal and fun aura of the occasion.
9. Bikaner Camel Festival – The Colors Of Rajasthan
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One of the most famous festivals in January in India, this fair celebrates and salutes the animal without whom the desert wouldn’t have been what it is today. From decorating innumerable camels in their finest attire to fun activities like camel beauty pageants, camel races, and camel dancing, there’s much to keep you entertained here.
When:11th and 12th January, 2025
Where: Bikaner, Rajasthan
What’s Special: Of all the fantastic competitions and performances, the camel dance is the major highlight of this festival.
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10. Chennai Music Festival – Melodious Encounters
The Chennai Music Festival is a popular and month-long festival, also described as the world’s largest cultural event since it stages and highlights the traditional South Indian Carnatic music, dance, and other arts. During the month, more than 1,000 performances take place along with music-related seminars, discussions, and demonstrations.
When: 15 Dec 2024 – Wed, 1 Jan 2025
Where: Music-halls all over Chennai, Tamil Nadu
What’s Special: This festival offers a stage to innumerable artists and appreciates the traditional music and dance at its best.
11. The Nagaur Fair – The Second Largest Cattle Fair
Located some 150 kilometres from Jodhpur, the rural town of Nagaur in Rajasthan comes to life with this festival. Being India’s second largest cattle fair, it is the trading ground of around 70,000 bullocks, camels, and horses. It offers great entertainment through folk dances, tug of war competitions, camel races, and more. Are you ready to discover what this fest has in store for you?
When: 3-6 February, 2025
Where: Nagaur, Rajasthan
What’s Special: Apart from animal trading and competitions, you can shop your heart out at traditional handicraft stalls.
Related Posts: Harvest Festivals Of India
12. Modhera Dance Festival – Cultural Interactions And More
An annual classical dance festival, Modhera is a must-attend for everyone. The ancient 11th century Sun Temple, dedicated to the Sun God, acts as a breathtaking backdrop for the occasion. Innumerable artists come forward from various states in the country and make it a memorable evening for everyone. To witness the country’s immense talent in store, this is surely the place to be!
When: 18 Jan 2025 – 19 Jan, 2025
Where: Modhera, Gujarat
What’s Special: The whole temple is illuminated and acts as a gorgeous backdrop for the performances throughout the evening.
13. Kenduli Mela – Captivating Notes Of Bengali Folk
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Situated around 30 kilometres from Shantiniketan in West Bengal, this fair is amongst the many January festivals in India that one must attend once in his or her life. It offers a captivating dose of Bengal’s folk music, where the wandering Baul musicians gather to perform. So, a peek into the rich Bengali culture is surely possible at this festival, and we bet you will not want to miss it!
When: 14th January, 2025
Where: Kenduli village, West Bengal
What’s Special: Dressed in saffron robes, the Baul musicians playing the distinctive instrument – Ektara, and singing about life’s philosophy is very heartwarming.
14. Bhogali Bihu – Delicious Food And Fun Sports
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Also known as Magh Bihu, this is one of the second major Bihu festivals celebrated in Assam. The celebrations start a day before the last day of the month of ‘Puh’ when all the cultivation work has been completed and the locals have enough time to treat themselves with delicious food and fun sports. Various snacks and sweets are prepared at home and an endless number of games involving pets and eggs are organized. If you wish to see a lesser-known side of the northeast, this is one of the festivals in January 2025 in India that you shouldn’t miss.
When: 15th January, 2025
Where: Assam
What’s Special: On this eve, the locals build Meji, a structure made of wood and leaves guarded for a night and then lit up by the fire with the belief that it’ll burn the winter out.
You May Also Like To Read: Festivals In December In India
There is no doubt that all of these top festivals in January in India put a celebratory start to the year and even bring diverse cultures together. So, what are you waiting for? Start packing and plan your trip to India for a charming experience!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Festivals In January In India
Which are the top Indian festivals?
Lohri, Republic Day, Vaisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Eid-Al-Fitr, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Dussehra are the top festivals celebrated in India.
Which are the most famous festivals in South India?
Onam, Pongal, Mysore Dussehra, Nehru Trophy Boat Race, and Hampi Festival are some of the most famous festivals in South India.
Which are the major cultural festivals in January in India?
Jaipur Literature Festival, Modhera Dance Festival, Jaisalmer Desert Festival, Bikaner Camel Fair, Rann Utsav, Swathi Sangeetholsavam, Mamallapuram Dance Festival, Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam, and Mukteshwar Dance Festival are the major festivals that take place every January in India.
Which festivals are celebrated in the winter season?
Lohri and Pongal are some of the festivals that are celebrated in the winter season.
What festivals are in March?
Holi is one of the festivals that are celebrated in March.
Which national holidays are in January?
Republic Day is a national holiday which is celebrated in January.
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