November is a wonderful month to plan a holiday in India as there are various festivals falls at almost every other day. Also, cool and dry weather add an extra dose of charm to festive vibe. Continuing from the fervour of festivals in October, the spirits remain high as there are many cultural and religious festivals in November. India is the breeding ground of numerous religions and cultures. Each of these brings myriad celebrations in the form of cultural events and religious festivals spread across the year. The grand celebrations of some of the festivals in November are not to be missed. This quick list of festivals in November in India, includes some of the most exciting festivals and events. Have a look!
Festivals In November In India Dates And Key Attractions (Updated)
India is a country famous for its rich cultural diversity. There are a lot of festivals that are celebrated here throughout the year. Some festivals in November 2024 in India are listed below. Have a look.
| Festivals | Date | Where | Key attractions |
| Bhai Dooj | 3rd November, 2024 | Throughout India | Sisters put vermilion, dahi, and rice on the forehead of their brothers during the tika ceremony. |
| Chhath Puja | 7th November, 2024 | Eastern India Eastern UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, Eastern India Eastern UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal | Women march up to the river or pond together to offer Usha Arghyaa or morning offerings to the rising sun and perform nahan khana or the holy dip. |
| Ganga Mahotsav and Dev Deepavali | 15th November, 2024 | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | During Ganga Mahotsav, one can experience enchanting shows by Birju Maharaj, Girija Devi, Sujat Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Amjad Ali Khan, Zila Khan, and Zakir Hussein. Dev Deepawali is famous for Deep Daan, Kartik Snan, chanting of Vedic mantras, Akhand Ramayan path, and bhoj. |
| Kartik Purnima Festival | 15th November, 2024 | All over India, predominantly by the banks of the Ganges and in Odisha | Boitha Bandana, where people sail boats made of colourful papers or barks of banyan tree |
| Wangala Festival | 8th November, 2024 | Garo Region of Meghalaya and Assam | Instruments like large drums, flutes, and gongs that are played along with traditional folk dance form |
| Ka Pomblang Nongkrem | 2nd or 3rd week of November | Smit, the capital of the Khyriem Syiemship, Shillong | Nongkrem dance, goat sacrifice, and Ceremony of Tangmuri (pipes) as the queen of musical equipment |
| Rann Utsav | 1st November 2024 to 20th February 2025 | Rann of Kutch, Gujarat | Horse rides, camel safaris for bird watching, ATV riding, paramotoring, and archery |
| Pushkar Camel Fair | 9th November to 15th November, 2024 | Pushkar, Rajasthan | Horse shows, camel and cow beauty contests, camel races and safaris, and acrobatics |
| Bundi Utsav | 30th November to 2nd December, 2024 | Bundi, Rajasthan | Competitions in bridal makeup, moustache, turban tying, kabaddi, horse riding, and camel race |
| Hamir Utsav | 11th November to 13th November, 2024 | Hamirpur District, HP | Jatras and Jheras |
| Majuli Festival | 22nd November to 24th November, 2024 | Majuli River Island, Assam | Food stalls with authentic Assamese cuisine |
| Puri Beach Festival | 23rd November to 29th November, 2024 | Puri, Odisha | Display of Rock and Sand Art, Odissi dance performances, Regatta (boat races), and Mallakhamb (pole gymnastics) |
| Matsya Festival | 25th and 26th November | Alwar, Rajasthan | Hot air ballooning, parasailing, zorbing, yoga camp, and stunning adventure-filled army exhibition |
Religious Festivals In India In November 2024
Here are some of the famous festivals in India celebrated during November with much grandeur.
1. Bhai Dooj – Celebrating The Brother-Sister Bond
Bhai Dooj is one of the oldest festivals in India. It is celebrated in different parts of the country under different names. It is known as Bhau Beej in Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, Bhai Phota in Bengal, and Ningol Chakuba in Manipur. It falls in either October or November, but in 2022, Bhai Dooj is included in the list of festivals in November. The celebration comprises a puja and tika ceremony performed by sisters, followed by a gift exchange and feast. Sisters wish their brothers prosperous and healthy lives.
Highlights: Sisters put vermilion, dahi, and rice on their brothers’ foreheads during the tika ceremony.
Date for Bhai Dooj 2024: 3rd November, 2024
Location: Throughout India
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2. Chhath Puja – Prayers to the sun God
Image Credit: Steffen Gauger for Wikimedia Commons
Dedicated to Sun God, Chhath Puja is celebrated on the 6th day after Diwali by the local people of Bihar, Jharkhand, and UP. The festival is celebrated in the month of Chaitra and Kartika and hence fall twice in a year. One of the festivals in November in India is a 4-day affair that comprises a holy dip in the Ganges, offering prayers to the Sun God before sunrise, and preparation of prasad – sweet thekua, liiti, and chokha. This is an auspicious festival when the community come together and celebrate this festival with full zest.
Highlights: Women march to the river or pond together to offer ‘Usha Arghya’, or morning offerings to the rising sun, and perform ‘nahan khan’, or the holy dip.
Date for Chatt Puja 2024: 7th November, 2024
Location: Eastern India – Eastern UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal
3. Ganga Mahotsav and Dev Deepavali – A cultural delight
Image Credit: Pritiwary for Wikimedia Commons
To pay tribute to Ganga, the people of Varanasi celebrate Ganga Mahotsav – one of the most popular festivals in November in India. Enriching musical performances by eminent personalities are organized during Ganga Mahotsav, and the last day coincides with Dev Deepawali – the exquisite festival of lights. Dev Deepawali is celebrated on Kartik Purnima with Ganesh Vandana. People offer clay lamps, candles, and lights to their idols. This is one of the auspicious religious festivals in November in India when the ghats and the entire city are decorated especially with lights.
Highlights: During Ganga Mahotsav, one can experience enchanting shows by Birju Maharaj, Girija Devi, Sujat Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Amjad Ali Khan, Zila Khan, and Zakir Hussein. Dev Deepawali is famous for Deep Daan, Kartik Snan, chanting of Vedic mantras, Akhand Ramayan path, and bhoj.
Dates for Ganga Mahotsav 2024: 15th November, 2024
Location: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
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4. Kartik Purnima Festival – As Gods descend by the Ganges
Image Credit: Buiobuione for Wikimedia Commons
Kartik Purnima Festival is one of November’s most important religious festivals. It is observed on the full moon day of the Kartik month. Mythological belief says that gods and goddesses descend from heaven and reside by the Ganges on this auspicious day. People celebrate with prayers, offerings to God, and a holy bath in the Ganges. The festival is celebrated to remember the victory of Lord Shiva’s over demon Tripurasura. In southern India, this festival is celebrated as the Kartikey’s birthday which was the son of Lord Shiva.
Highlights: Boitha Bandana, where people sail boats made of colourful papers or barks of banyan tree
Date for Kartik Purnima Festival 2024: 15th November, 2024
Location: All over India – especially by the banks of Ganges and in Odisha
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5. Wangala Festival – The festival of 100 drums
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Another of the most popular festivals in November in India, Wangala is a harvest festival of the northeast that also marks the beginning of winter. The local people dress up in vibrant outfits and pray to the Sun God by playing an orchestra and dancing to the beats. Wangala is also known as the festival of 100 drums. This festival is celebrated to pay a thank gesture to Misi Saljong which is the sun god of fertility. The festival is also known as the 100 Drums festival and celebrated in Meghalaya.
Highlights: Instruments like large drums, flutes, and gongs that are played along with traditional folk dance form
Dates for Wangala Festival 2024: 8th November 2024
Location: Garo Region of Meghalaya and Assam
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6. Ka Pomblang Nongkrem – Thanksgiving with some music and dance
Also known as Shad Nongkrem, this harvest festival of the Meghalaya tribes is celebrated with vigour and passion. It comprises an elaborate and grand thanksgiving ceremony where all folks pay homage and respect to Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a plush and bountiful harvest. Further, Ka Pomblang Nongkrem is celebrated with vibrancy, along with the display of traditional music and dance forms. The festival is also called the Nongkrem Dance and visitors can have a delightful retreat of traditional dance of the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya.
Highlights: Nongkrem dance, goat sacrifice, and Ceremony of Tangmuri (pipes) as the queen of musical equipment
Dates for Ka Pomblang Nongkrem 2024: 2nd or 3rd week of November
Location: Smit, the capital of the Khyriem Syiemship, Shillong
Cultural Events In November 2024
Here are some of the best cultural events in November, which boast the country’s culture and heritage.
7. International Yoga and Music Festival – One of the most fabulous Yoga festivals
Image Credit: Srihari Thalla for Wikimedia Commons
Organized by the Nad Yoga Trust, the International Yoga & Music Festival has been regularly organized since 2008. This festival is celebrated in the Yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh. This is one of the state-of-the-art festivals in November in India, celebrated for 17 days, and multiple yoga forms are displayed. The festival also features concerts, live music performances, and lectures. This festival is a great occasion to bring together Yoga enthusiasts worldwide and promote the well-being of body and soul.
Highlights: Seminars and conferences on the all-inclusive approach of Ayurveda, tantric and yogic philosophy, and music concerts
Dates for International Yoga & Music Festival 2024: 8th March – 15th March, 2024
Location: Rishikesh
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8. Rann Utsav – A folk extravaganza
Rann Utsav – a celebration of Gujarati culture and traditions – is one of the legendary festivals in November in India. Ornamented with elegance and grace, this 2-months-long festival is complete bliss with warm hospitality, folk performances, adventure sports, and ethnic demonstrations. Most popular among the events in November, the festival is over sprawling and sparkling 7,000 sq miles of white sand. If Gujarat is on the cards, here is all you need to know about Rann Utsav.
Highlights: Horse rides, camel safaris for bird watching, ATV riding, paramotoring, and archery
Dates for Rann Utsav 2024-25: 1st November 2024 to 20th February 2025
Location: Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
9. Pushkar Camel Fair – One of its kind
Pushkar Camel Fair is one of the most celebrated Indian festivals in November, attracting travellers worldwide. Here, villagers trade camels, horses, and cows, and many folk events, including traditional dances and songs, are also performed. The festival flaunts its cultural events and many sacred towns of Pushkar and captures the attention of tourists from all over the world. Along with enjoying a thrilling camel ride, you can also explore a wide variety of products from local farmers and other vendors. If cultural events excites you then this fair is no less than a paradise for you.
Highlights: Horse shows, camel and cow beauty contests, camel races and safaris, and acrobatics
Dates for Pushkar Camel Fair 2024: 9th November to 15th November 2024
Location: Pushkar, Rajasthan
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10. Bundi Utsav – Traditional sports, folk dances, and fireworks
Bundi Utsav is a three-day cultural affair that makes the historic town of Bundi lively and cheerful. During the Bundi Utsav, RTDC organizes a gala fair, along with a royal Shobha yatra (rally), ethnic sports, folk dance performances, and many cultural events and competitions. The sparkling fireworks exhibited in the evening are the most alluring attraction of the Utsav. The festival is a huge crowd-puller and represents the best works of the region in the field of arts and crafts. For this cultural fest, people from different community gather together in traditional attire ar Garh Palace and contributes in the market.
Highlights: Competitions of bridal makeup, moustache, turban tying, kabaddi, horse riding, and camel race
Dates for Bundi Utsav 2024: 30th November to 2nd December
Location: Bundi, Rajasthan
11. Hamir Utsav – Celebrating the spirit of the mountain life
One of the major fairs and festivals in India in November, the Hamir Utsav, is held in the Hamirpur district of Himachal. The festival honours the existence of the Hamirpur region and is more than just a fun and entertaining event. It also affects the people’s lives in this place in a cultural, economic, and social sense. The festival highlights the district’s artistic legacy through various presentations on regional folk arts, including gidhas, chanderwalis, jatras, and jheras. This cultural feast includes Punjabi songs and dancing as well. Artists from all over the district participate in this event in addition to local talent. People travel from far-off regions to attend these shows and have fun.
Highlights: Jatras and Jheras
Dates for Hamir Utsav 2024: 11th November to 13th November, 2024
Location: Hamirpur District, HP
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12. Majuli Festival – A showcase of Assam’s cultural heritage
The Majuli Festival is celebrated on the banks of the River Luit in Assam. It is one of the most colourful festivals in November in India, including carnivals, seminars, performances, and exhibitions showcasing Assam handicrafts, tradition, folk culture, and cultural heritage. Flaunting a rich heritage of Assam, this festival also features Raas Leela and many activities that will surely add an extra dose of charm to your trip. Also, don’t forget to attend food festival where you can have delicious Assamese cuisine in your plate.
Highlights: Food stalls with authentic Assamese cuisine
Dates for Majuli Festival 2024: 22nd November to 24th November, 2024
Location: Majuli River Island, Assam
13. Puri Beach Festival – A gala beach carnival
Image Credit: Government of Odisha for Wikimedia Commons
The Swargadwar Beach of Puri celebrates a colourful beach fest in Odisha. A five-day affair, the Puri Beach Festival is known for demonstrating Odisha’s outstanding art and craft forms. Other cultural and ethnic elements—cuisine, handicrafts, handlooms, traditions, and heritage—are also showcased. Beach volleyball, kabaddi tournaments, and other adventure sports are a part of the Puri beach carnival. Other attractions of the festival includes Food festival, rock concerts, fashion shows and Beach parties.
Highlights: Display of Rock and Sand Art, Odissi dance performances, Regatta (boat races), and Mallakhamb (pole gymnastics)
Dates for Puri Beach Festival 2024: 23rd November to 29th November, 2024
Location: Puri, Odisha
14. Matsya Festival – When Alwar gets all decked up
The Matsya Festival is one of Rajasthan’s significant festivals and also among the most noteworthy Indian festivals in November. It is held in Alwar and is popular for displaying the town’s diverse societal and ethnic legacy. The two-day festival, celebrated in November, presents an array of competitions, shows, activities, songs, dances, and much more. Here, visitors can also explore art exhibition featuring the region’s amazing artistic talents.
Highlights: Hot air ballooning, parasailing, zorbing, yoga camp, and stunning adventure-filled army exhibition
Date for Matsya Festival 2024: 25th to 26th November, 2024
Location: Alwar, Rajasthan
You May Also Like To Read: Famous Festivals In October In India
India is a diverse country which celebrates all festivals with enthusiasm. Explore these spectacular festivals in November, and book your incredible trip to India to relish the grandeur and grace. Block these important days in November for utmost enjoyment and delight.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Festivals In November In India
What do Indians celebrate in November?
One of the festivals that is celebrated widely in India in October-November is Diwali. The festival of lights is celebrated with full vigor. This festival has some prominent mythological significance. There are many other festivals celebrated in November in different states of India.
How many festivals are celebrated in India?
Since there are numerous religions in the country of India, the number of festivals has to be huge. In general, there are 20 to 30 festivals celebrated in the country; some are celebrated by the whole nation while others are enjoyed in different states of India.
Why is India called the land of festivals?
As the country is home to numerous religions as well as cultures, there’s a great number of festivals celebrated in the country. Each festival here is celebrated with ultimate enthusiasm. This is why the country is known to be the land of festivals.
Which is the best place to visit in winter in India?
If you are looking for some of the places to go on a vacay in India during the winter season, then you can plan a visit to the places like – Nainital, Auli, Manali, Goa, Kerala, Great Rann of Kutch, Shimla, Binsar, to name a few.
Is 14th November a holiday in India?
No, Children’s Day, which is celebrated on Jawahar Lal Nehru’s birthday is not considered to be a national holiday in India.
Which city in India has the best weather?
There are a number of places in India that are known for their great weather. Some of them are – Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Chennai to name a few.
What is Goa like in November?
The temperature begins to drop in Goa with the arrival of November. The lowest temperature during this time stays at around 24°C, while the highest reaches 34°C. There are many happening spots open during this month, as November is one of the best months to visit Goa.
Can we visit Kashmir in November?
If you want to witness the autumn season in Kashmir, then planning a vacay in the month of November can be a great idea.
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As a Travel Content Writer, I live to conquer the world of globetrotting with words. With my unquenchable thirst for storytelling, I believe that my words will inspire you to travel around the world’s breathtaking landscapes. As for me, I am an unapologetic selenophile, who loves to wander around in a starry night!
