List of Fairs and Festivals in November in India
In India, you will rarely come across a time or month when it isn’t alive with festivals. India can be called a land of joyous festivals, giving everyone time and reason to celebrate. Marked with colours, lights, and traditions, the festivals of India are bound to leave you to spellbound.
While October brought Navratri and Diwali, the month of November too has loads of festivals waiting to liven up your visit.
Read below the festivals in November, just so that you can plan your holiday in time to witness the revelry.
Rann Utsav
Date: October 2019 to February 2020 (Visit on full moon nights- November 12, December 12, January 11 and February 9)
The lovely Rann Utsav is truly an art in itself. Set against the pristine white salt desert of Kutch, there is something so serene about it.
The otherwise quiet sandy region of Kutch is transformed into a magical fiesta filled with colours, lights and events. There is never a silent moment when you are here at the Rann Utsav. From folk dances to music, from lip-smackingly delicious food stalls to ATV rides- you will never find a dull moment here.
The best part- you get to stay in a luxury tent located right amid the desert and under the starry sky. You can also embark on camel rides, practice some meditation or do some Yoga to alleviate the soul.
This is also a great place to buy some of the most amazing handcrafted items that are native to the region. The products are complete locally produced. Rann Utsav is the kind of festival that will take you through a journey and you will enjoy every moment of it.
Chhat Puja
Date: 2nd Nov 2019
Chhat Puja is an ancient and traditional festival celebrated in most of the North Indian states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, and others.
If you want to witness this event with your own eyes then head over to the banks of River Ganga in any of these states and see the grandeur.
The festival will take place on 2nd November, as the sun starts to set.
It is a highly religious affair, and you will find people flocking the banks of the river in colourful sarees with trays filled with flowers, incense sticks and other religious products. At the river, people then chant hymns and prayers and unison, and the entire area reverberates with a kind of holy energy. The hymns are dedicated to the Sun God, and many other fascinating rituals are also performed.
Women with trays in colour sarees near the holy river as the Sun goes down is a sight to behold! The golden hue covers the entire area and makes it look so pious and holy. It is every photographer’s dream to capture this moment.
Pushkar Camel Fair
Date: 4th Nov – 12th Nov 2019
If you are planning to visit Rajasthan in November, then definitely witness this unique and interesting festival. The Pushkar Camel Fair is essentially exactly what it says in its name. More than 3000 camels are displayed for trading. It is truly fascinating to see these well-bred and beautifully adorned camels just standing there in hordes.
There are many different events that you can be privy to if you visit this festival like Camel racing, camel parade and many more. However, on the top of the list has to be the Camel Beauty Contest. There is nothing more charming and quirky that this event.
The festival takes a wonderful turn in the evening when it starts to awaken even more. Visitors and locals gather around a well-lit bonfire and dance their heart away to folk songs. The atmosphere is just electrifying.
The festival is also covered with shops selling some typical Rajasthani handicrafts.
The highlight of the Pushkar Camel Fair is usually the balloon festival. Several tourists from all over the globe overcome to the desert to witness thousands of colourful balloons being released into the sky.
A musical extravaganza is also held for three days in this festival, and the tunes are truly enchanting.
Hampi Festival
Date: First week of November
Vijaya Utsav or the Hampi Festival takes place every year in Hampi. Locals believe that the festival was started by the Vijayanagara empire, and it has been celebrated since then.
The festival captures the essence of Hampi and spread joy and happiness to everybody. Locals wait eagerly to just dress up every year for the Vijaya Utsav, and truly the festival is worth it.
You will watch puppy shows, musical dramas, dances and even fireworks that make the sky look amazing. The festival takes place for three days and there is never a boring moment in this festival.
There is always something happening, and you must buy the little souvenirs that little stalls sell at the festival.
Every day there is a light and sound show and it is mesmerising to watch. You must also witness the enthusiastic and fun-filled elephant march!
Wangala Festival
Date: 8th Nov 2019
If you are looking to witness something that you never have then travel to the North-Eastern side of India and witness this tribal festival. The Wangala Festival is similar to harvest festivals with locals engaging in folk dances and songs.
The Wangala Festival is a way of showing gratitude to the sun god for the beautiful produce and yells that they were blessed with for the year. It also officially marks the end of the agricultural season.
The wonderful part of this festival is how unique and different it is in terms of culture. The traditions, rituals, and events are strikingly different from the rest of India.
During this time the Garo Hills metamorphoses into a carnival. The entire green hills filled with the rhythm of the drums accompanied by soulful dancing and melodious songs.
Events like dance competition, cooking competition and handloom exhibition take place every day. This s a great way for visitors and tourists to understand the culture of Meghalaya and take a deep dive into their traditions.
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Date: 12th Nov 2019
The birth of Guru Nanak is one of the most auspicious and pious festivals celebrated with great fanfare here in India. The enchanting Golden Temple in Amritsar is decorated with the most amazing lights, and it is a sight to behold.
The festival is marked by several rituals and the holy book is taken out along with a procession. The procession is filled with people chanting and creating a wonderfully positive atmosphere.
Several musicians gather to play soulful music and you will feel your heart swaying to the tune. If you do end up missing this fiesta, then make sure to at least drive by this magnificent temple.
The Golden Temple adorned with gorgeous lighting, as it reflects on to the still water is something you do not want to miss.
India Art Festival
Date: 14th – 17th Nov 2019
The idea of this festival was planted in 2011. It is a platform for art dealers, buyers, artists, interior designers, and architects to come together and foster the world of art and make it more viable to the common public.
This festival displays some of the best artwork and everyone can come and appreciate the work. It is a great platform especially for emerging artists you get to show their work on a huge platform.
More than 20 art galleries are affiliated with this festival and they come together to make this event a success.
There is nothing more enchanting than walking down the halls with walls adorned with some of the most amazing paintings, art installations, photography and video art.
Bundi Festival
Date: 15th to 17th November
The Bundi Utsav is yet another magnificent festival celebrated in the historic and rich state of Rajasthan. This festival is more like a deep look into the traditional culture of the region. From traditional folk dance and music to local stalls- this festival is all about celebrating the rich history and culture of Rajasthan.
The highlight of the festival is the lighting of the lamp. Though it might sound underwhelming, there is nothing more mesmerising and stunning to watch than this ritual. Women all dressed in colourful traditional attire gather around the lamp and light it. Then they slowly put the lamp into the river and it floats away idly.
Competitions like camel race, Kabbadi and kite flying are common occurrences in this festival.
Sonepur Mela, Bihar
Date: 20th November
As the full moon descends upon the state of Bihar, the region gradually starts to come to life with the thrilling Sonepur Festival. The festival is ancient and dates back to 300 BC.
The Sonepur Festival is essentially a cattle festival which takes place when in November on a full moon night. The festival is celebrated on the banks of River Ganges making it even more beautiful.
The festival also hosts a famous circus every year apart for a cattle show. The celebration starts as many pilgrims start the day by taking a holy dip into the Ganga River. After such an auspicious affair, the celebration is officially kicked off, and the whole area is filled with a thrilling fiesta.
If you want to truly enjoy the festival and delve into the culture of the region then opt for a tent stay in the region.
