Gujarati Festivals & Culture

Nine-night Hindu festival honouring goddess Durga, celebrated across Gujarat with Garba and Dandiya Raas dancing; falls in Ashwin (September/October)

Religious · Statewide

Makar Sankranti kite-flying festival marking the sun's transit into Capricorn, celebrated on 14 January, with the International Kite Festival held in Ahmedabad

Seasonal · Ahmedabad

Winter tourism and cultural festival held in the white salt desert of the Great Rann of Kutch, running from roughly November to February

Cultural · Kutch

Festival of lights (Diwali) followed by the Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas / Nutan Varsh) on the first day of Kartik

Religious · Statewide

Celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna at the Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, held on the eighth day of Bhadrapada (August/September)

Religious · Devbhumi Dwarka

Three-day tribal fair around the Trinetreshwar Mahadev Temple at Tarnetar, Surendranagar district, held during Bhadrapada (August/September)

Fair · Surendranagar

Five-day fair at the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple at the foot of Girnar in Junagadh, held around Maha Shivratri (February/March)

Religious · Junagadh

Classical dance festival held in the courtyard of the Sun Temple at Modhera, Mehsana district, generally in January after Uttarayan

Cultural · Mehsana

Large tribal and religious fair at the Shamlaji Vishnu temple in Aravalli district, held around Kartik Purnima (November)

Fair · Aravalli

Animal-trading fair held at Vautha, the confluence of the Sabarmati and Vatrak rivers in Ahmedabad district, around Kartik Purnima (November)

Fair · Ahmedabad

Cultural festival of the Kutch region celebrating its folk arts, crafts and heritage, held in the winter tourist season

Cultural · Kutch

Fair marking the mythological wedding of Lord Krishna and Rukmini at Madhavpur Ghed, Porbandar district, held on Ram Navami in Chaitra (March/April)

Fair · Porbandar

Tribal fair held at Ahwa in the Dang district just before Holi (February/March), rooted in the colonial-era gathering of local rulers

Fair · Dang

Tribal fair held at Gunbhakhari village near Poshina in Sabarkantha district, a fortnight after Holi (March)

Fair · Sabarkantha

Massive pilgrimage fair at the Ambaji Shakti Peeth temple in Banaskantha district, held on the full-moon day of Bhadrapada (August/September)

Religious · Banaskantha

Annual chariot procession of Lord Jagannath from the Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur, Ahmedabad, held on Ashadhi Beej (June/July)

Religious · Ahmedabad

Festival of colours celebrated across Gujarat on Phalguna Purnima with a bonfire (Holika Dahan) followed by Dhuleti, the day of coloured powder and water

Seasonal · Statewide

Fair and worship at the Somnath Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, on Maha Shivratri (February/March), on the coast of Gir Somnath district

Religious · Gir Somnath

Jain pilgrimage observances at the Shatrunjaya hill temples near Palitana in Bhavnagar district, including Kartik Purnima and the winter pilgrimage season

Religious · Bhavnagar

Spring festival dedicated to goddess Saraswati, celebrated in Magha (late January/February) and marking the onset of spring

Seasonal · Statewide

Full-moon harvest festival of the month of Ashwin (September/October), celebrated the night the moon is considered brightest

Seasonal · Statewide

Colourful tribal Holi fair held at Kavant in Chhota Udaipur district a few days after Holi (March)

Fair · Chhota Udaipur

Mahashivratri fair at Girnar

Religious · Junagadh

Krishna-Rukmini marriage fair

Cultural · Porbandar

Fair honouring Mekran Dada

Fair · Kutch

Sufi dargah urs

Religious · Mehsana

Kutch temple fair

Religious · Kutch

Kartik Purnima temple fair

Religious · Aravalli

White Desert festival

Cultural · Kutch

Navratri night fair at Rupal village near Gandhinagar where a wooden Palli chariot of Vardayini Mata is bathed in tonnes of pure ghee

Fair · Gandhinagar

Five-day fair at the Bahuchara Mata Shakti Peeth temple in Becharaji, Mehsana district, held on Chaitri Purnima

Religious · Mehsana

Five-day circumambulation of the Girnar mountain near Junagadh, beginning on Kartik Sud Ekadashi and ending on Kartik Purnima

Religious · Junagadh

Full-moon pilgrimage fair at the Ranchhodraiji (Krishna) temple in Dakor, Kheda district, largest on Falgun Purnima

Religious · Kheda

Rathwa tribal fair held the day after Dhuleti at Rumadiya village, Chhota Udaipur district, featuring fire-walking over hot embers

Fair · Chhota Udaipur

Rathwa Holi fair at Rumadiya, Chhota Udaipur district, famed for its hand-turned wooden merry-go-round (Gol Feriyo Chakdol)

Fair · Chhota Udaipur

Monsoon tourism festival at Saputara, Gujarat's only hill station in the Dang district, held roughly July to August

Cultural · Dang

Coastal tourism festival on Mandvi beach in Kutch, typically held in December with stage shows, beach games and food stalls

Cultural · Kutch

Cultural and devotional festival at the Somnath Jyotirlinga temple during Mahashivratri, on the coast of Gir Somnath district

Religious · Gir Somnath

Rathwa Ger dance fair at Kawant, Chhota Udaipur district, held a few days after Holi

Fair · Chhota Udaipur

Kartik Purnima and Dev Diwali fair at the Bhathiji Maharaj temple in Fagvel village, Kheda district

Fair · Kheda

Navratri pilgrimage to the Ashapura Mata temple at Mata no Madh in Lakhpat taluka, Kutch district

Religious · Kutch

Temple fair held in the Wondh area of eastern Kutch during August or September

Fair · Kutch

Late-monsoon fair of East Kutch, held around August or September

Fair · Kutch

Annual urs at the Haji Pir dargah in Nara village, western Kutch, drawing pilgrims of all faiths

Religious · Kutch

Amavasya fair at the sea-submerged Nishkalank Mahadev temple at Koliyak near Bhavnagar

Religious · Bhavnagar

Shivratri and Shravan Amavasya fair at the ancient Bileshwar Mahadev temple near Porbandar

Religious · Porbandar

Festival of the sibling bond, observed on the full moon of Shravan (August), when sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers

Seasonal · Statewide

Festival honouring serpent deities, observed in the month of Shravan (July/August)

Religious · Statewide

Celebration of Lord Krishna's birth on the eighth day of Bhadrapada (August/September), marked statewide with fasting and midnight worship

Religious · Statewide

Ten-day festival of Lord Ganesha beginning on the fourth day of Bhadrapada (August/September)

Religious · Statewide

Ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant to Vishnu, held on the eleventh or twelfth day of Kartik (November)

Religious · Statewide

Festival of brothers and sisters on the second day of the bright fortnight of Kartik, just after Diwali

Seasonal · Statewide

Auspicious fifth day of the Gujarati New Year in Kartik, when businesses formally reopen after Diwali

Seasonal · Statewide

Festival of lights for the gods on Kartik Purnima, fifteen days after Diwali (November)

Religious · Statewide

Two-day harvest and kite festival on 14-15 January marking the sun's northward journey

Seasonal · Statewide

Hilltop worship and fair at the Kalika Mata Shakti Peeth on Pavagadh hill, Panchmahal district, especially during Navratri and Chaitra

Religious · Panchmahal

The most important Jain festival, an eight or ten-day period of fasting, prayer and reflection in Bhadrapada (August/September)

Religious · Statewide

Celebration of the birth of Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara, on the thirteenth day of Chaitra (March/April)

Religious · Statewide

Jain pilgrimage observances at the 900-year-old Taranga temple complex near Kheralu, Mehsana district

Religious · Mehsana

Reopening of the Shatrunjaya pilgrimage route at Palitana on Kartik Purnima after the monsoon closure

Religious · Bhavnagar

Afro-Indian Sufi music and dance tradition of the Siddi community around Jambur and Ratanpur near Gir, Junagadh district

Cultural · Junagadh

Gujarat Tourism cultural festival held at heritage monuments such as Rani ki Vav Patan, Adalaj stepwell and Modhera Sun Temple

Cultural · Patan

Annual mango showcase in Gandhinagar during the summer harvest, celebrating Gujarat's Kesar and other varieties

Cultural · Gandhinagar

Fairs and cultural events at the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Panchmahal district

Cultural · Panchmahal

World Tribal Day celebrations across eastern Gujarat's tribal belt on 9 August

Cultural · Dahod

Full-moon Raas festival at the Dwarkadhish temple in Dwarka on Sharad Purnima (September/October)

Religious · Devbhumi Dwarka

Three-day fair at the Ravechi Mata temple in Rapar taluka, Kutch, held on Bhadarva Sud Aatham

Fair · Kutch

Pilgrimage fair at the Koteshwar Mahadev temple near Narayan Sarovar at the western tip of Kutch

Religious · Kutch

Kartik Purnima pilgrimage at the sacred Narayan Sarovar lake in Lakhpat taluka, Kutch

Religious · Kutch

Wildlife and cultural festival in the Sasan Gir area of Junagadh, home of the Asiatic lion

Cultural · Junagadh

Folk fair held in Jamnagar showcasing Saurashtra's crafts, food and folk performance

Fair · Jamnagar

Full-moon folk festival of the month of Chaitra (March/April) marked at temple towns across Gujarat

Fair · Statewide

Hilltop worship and fairs at the Chamunda Mata temple on Chotila hill, Surendranagar district

Religious · Surendranagar

Anniversary and worship festivals at the Khodaldham temple of Khodiyar Mata at Kagvad, Rajkot district

Religious · Rajkot

Fairs at the Khodiyar Mata temple at Rajpara near Bhavnagar, especially on Maha Sud Aatham

Religious · Bhavnagar

Kartik Purnima ritual bath at the Saptasangam of seven rivers at Vautha, Ahmedabad district

Fair · Ahmedabad

Mahadev worship at the Trinetreshwar temple at Tarnetar, Surendranagar district, alongside the famous fair

Religious · Surendranagar

River festival at the Narmada confluence town of Chandod (Chanod) in Vadodara district

Religious · Vadodara

Kartik Purnima fair at the Shuklatirth temple town on the Narmada in Bharuch district, near the ancient Kabirvad

Religious · Bharuch

Peak Bhadrapada full-moon rituals at Ambaji including the Diwal Ghata and Bhadarvi Poonam padyatra, Banaskantha district

Religious · Banaskantha

Festivals at the Swaminarayan temple in Gadhada, Botad district, closely linked with Swaminarayan's life

Religious · Botad

Worship and fairs at the Kashtabhanjan Hanuman temple in Salangpur, Botad district, especially on Kali Chaudas and Hanuman Jayanti

Religious · Botad

Celebration of the birth of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima (April), marked at temples across Gujarat

Religious · Statewide

Celebration of the birth of Lord Rama on the ninth day of Chaitra (March/April)

Religious · Statewide

Festival marking the end of Ramadan, celebrated by Gujarat's Muslim communities with prayer and feasting

Religious · Statewide

Islamic month of mourning observed with tazia processions in Gujarat's older cities

Religious · Statewide

Annual urs at the Sayyed Ali Mira Datar dargah in Unava, Mehsana district, sought for healing

Religious · Mehsana

Sufi urs at the Sarkhej Roza complex on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, a landmark of Indo-Islamic architecture

Religious · Ahmedabad

Classical dance festival in the courtyard of the Sun Temple at Modhera, Mehsana district, held in January

Cultural · Mehsana

Single-day tribal fair at Gunbhakhari near Poshina, Sabarkantha district, a fortnight after Holi

Fair · Sabarkantha

Jain and coastal pilgrimage fairs at Bhadreshwar (Vasai) in Kutch, home to an ancient Jain tirth

Religious · Kutch

Full-moon viewing events on the White Rann near Dhordo and around the Harappan site of Dholavira, Kutch

Cultural · Kutch

Festival of the goddess Shitala observed in Shravan (July/August), preceded by Randhan Chhath

Religious · Statewide

Worship of Govardhan hill and offering of an Annakut mountain of food, on the first day after Diwali

Religious · Statewide

Kutchi New Year on the second day of Ashadha (June/July), coinciding with the onset of the monsoon

Seasonal · Kutch

Craft and cultural fairs in Bhuj, headquarters of Kutch, showcasing the district's embroidery and handicrafts

Cultural · Kutch

National Unity Day observed on 31 October at the Statue of Unity, Kevadia, Narmada district

Cultural · Narmada

Week-long cultural carnival around Kankaria lake in Ahmedabad, held in late December

Cultural · Ahmedabad

Sharad Purnima night festival in Surat centred on ghari sweets and moonlit gatherings

Cultural · Surat

River festival honouring the Tapti (Tapi) river, observed in Surat on the river's traditional appearance day

Religious · Surat

Festival honouring the Narmada river on the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Magha (February)

Religious · Bharuch

Tribal gatherings and Holi-season fairs among the Bhil, Kunbi and Gamit communities of the Dang district

Fair · Dang

Bhil tribal Holi fairs and dances in Dahod district in eastern Gujarat

Fair · Dahod

Regional folk fairs across the Saurashtra region featuring dayro, bhajan and folk music nights

Fair · Saurashtra

Navratri Garba and worship at the Chachar Chowk of the Ambaji temple, Banaskantha district

Religious · Banaskantha

Monsoon-welcoming fairs across Kutch on Ashadhi Beej, the Kutchi New Year

Fair · Kutch

Two-day fair honouring the saint Mekan Dada at Dhrang village, Bhuj taluka, Kutch, with camel and bullock-cart races

Fair · Kutch

Heritage celebrations in Ahmedabad, India's first UNESCO World Heritage City, including walks and cultural events

Cultural · Ahmedabad

Tana Riri classical music festival at Vadnagar, Mehsana district, honouring the singer sisters Tana and Riri

Cultural · Mehsana

Second night of kite-flying with illuminated tukkals (paper lanterns on kites) over Gujarat cities on 15 January

Seasonal · Statewide

Pilgrimage fairs at Beyt Dwarka island off the Devbhumi Dwarka coast on Janmashtami and other Krishna dates

Religious · Devbhumi Dwarka

Annual international flower show on the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad, held in the winter season

Cultural · Ahmedabad

Sindhi New Year and festival of Jhulelal, observed by Gujarat's Sindhi communities in Chaitra (March/April)

Cultural · Kutch

Parsi and Zoroastrian New Year observed by the Parsi communities of Navsari, Surat and Udvada

Cultural · Navsari

Christmas celebrations among Christian communities in Gujarat's cities and along the southern coast

Religious · Statewide

Ritual river bathing at the Vautha sangam during the Kartik Purnima fair, Ahmedabad district

Religious · Ahmedabad

Tribal Holi ritual in which a man is lowered from a greased pole to reach sweets and a waiting bride, in the Chhota Udaipur belt

Fair · Chhota Udaipur

Mahashivratri fair at the Bhavnath Mahadev temple at the foot of Girnar, Junagadh, listed on the national Utsav portal

Religious · Junagadh

Cluster of Bhadrapada bright-fortnight temple fairs across north Gujarat including Ambaji and Shamlaji

Fair · Banaskantha