Diwali starts India’s festival season, but the celebrations continue all winter. Camel herders gather in Pushkar, a million lamps float on the Ganges in Varanasi, Delhi parades for Republic Day and the Thar Desert comes alive in Jaisalmer. If you are planning an India tour for foreigners between November and February, timing it with a festival makes it unforgettable. Here is our festival calendar for winter 2026–27, with routes and our festival tour offer with a private car and driver India travellers rely on.
Why Plan Your India Tour Around a Festival?
- The best weather: November to February is cool and dry in North India, ideal for sightseeing and photography.
- Real culture: festivals are when Indians dress up, cook special food and welcome visitors.
- Easy with a car: festival towns are busy and public transport is crowded. A personal cab with driver in India drops you close to the action and waits for you.
Still celebrating Diwali? See our Diwali 2026 tour packages guide first.
Winter Festival Calendar 2026–27
| Festival | Where | When | Best Combined With |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diwali | All over India | 8 November 2026 | Golden Triangle, Rajasthan |
| Pushkar Camel Fair | Pushkar, Rajasthan | About a week, ending 24 November 2026 | Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur |
| Dev Deepawali | Varanasi | 24 November 2026 | Golden Triangle with Varanasi |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | Amritsar | 24 November 2026 | Golden Triangle with Amritsar |
| Christmas and New Year | Delhi, Rajasthan, Shimla | 25 December to 1 January | See our Christmas and New Year guide |
| Republic Day | Delhi | 26 January 2027 | Delhi, Agra |
| Jaipur Literature Festival | Jaipur | Late January 2027 | Golden Triangle |
| Desert Festival | Jaisalmer | February 2027, around the full moon | Jodhpur, Jaisalmer |
| Holi | Mathura, Vrindavan, Jaipur | Around 22 March 2027 | See our Holi guide |
Lunar festival dates and official programmes are confirmed each year by the state tourism boards, so check again a few weeks before you travel.
Pushkar Camel Fair
The Pushkar Mela is one of the most photographed events in the world. Thousands of camels, horses and cattle are traded on the sand dunes outside town, with folk music, camel races, a moustache competition, hot air balloons and Rajasthani families in their brightest clothes. On the full moon of Kartik, pilgrims bathe in the holy Pushkar Lake and light lamps on its 52 ghats.
How to visit: arrive early in the fair week for the camel trading, and stay near the lake for the full moon. With limited time, our Same day Jaipur to Pushkar tour is the easiest option; with more time, the Golden Triangle tour with Ajmer and Pushkar adds two nights. Read our Jaipur to Pushkar guide for timings.
Dev Deepawali in Varanasi
Fifteen days after Diwali, on the full moon of Kartik, Varanasi celebrates the “Diwali of the gods”. After sunset more than a million diyas are lit along every ghat, the Ganga Aarti is performed on a grand scale and boats crowd the river to watch. It is one of the most magical sights in India.
How to visit: book a riverside hotel and a private boat months ahead; prices rise sharply for this night. Our Golden Triangle tour with Varanasi fits perfectly: see the Taj Mahal with a Same Day Agra Tour with private driver earlier in the week, then fly to Varanasi for the full moon.
The same night, Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti, and the Golden Temple in Amritsar is lit beautifully. Choose one of the two, as they are far apart.
Republic Day in Delhi
On 26 January India celebrates its constitution with a grand parade on Kartavya Path: marching regiments, camel-mounted soldiers, folk dancers and colourful state floats. On 29 January the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk is a beautiful evening of military bands. Tickets go on sale in January. Our driver handles the early start and road closures, and the next day you can take a Same day Delhi to Agra tour. Arriving for the parade? Book a Delhi airport pickup with private driver so you are not waiting for a taxi.
Jaipur Literature Festival
Every January, the world’s largest free literary festival brings authors, musicians and thinkers to Jaipur. It is a lively, cultural way to start a Golden Triangle Tour with english speaking driver. If you are flying out of Delhi afterwards, a Same day Jaipur to Delhi tour lets you stop at the Amber Fort or the Abhaneri stepwell on the way back.
Jaisalmer Desert Festival
In February the Golden City hosts three days of camel races and polo, turban-tying contests, the Mr Desert competition and folk performances in the Sam sand dunes under the full moon. Combine it with the forts of Jodhpur and the lakes of Udaipur on a Royal Rajasthan Tour with english speaking driver, or add tigers with a Rajasthan Wildlife Tour with Private driver india.
Our Festival Tour Offer
All our festival tours are private and planned around the exact festival dates. Every package includes:
- A private AC car and a verified, English speaking chauffeur India guests rate highly, from arrival to departure.
- Fuel, tolls, state border taxes, parking and driver allowance included, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay for transport.
- Free pickup and drop at Delhi airport, your hotel or the railway station.
- Free planning of festival timings: when to arrive, where to stand, where to park.
- Hotels, boats and festival tickets arranged on request.
Outstation rates start at ₹12/km for a Maruti Dzire sedan, ₹19/km for an Innova Crysta and ₹30/km for a Tempo Traveller. Compare all cars on our Car Rental Services with Driver page.
Ajay’s Insider Insight
"Festival hotels sell out first, not cars. For Pushkar and Dev Deepawali, confirm your hotel before anything else, then we build the driving around it. Our drivers know the back roads into Pushkar on the busy days."
Festival Travel Tips
- Book two to three months ahead for Pushkar, Varanasi and Jaisalmer.
- Dress modestly at temples and ghats, and remove shoes where asked.
- Pack layers: desert nights in December to February can drop close to freezing.
- Watch your belongings in festival crowds and keep valuables in the car with your driver.
- Women travellers: we provide a safe private driver in India for women travelers; read our safety guide.
- Ask before photographing people at the fairs; most are happy to pose, and a smile goes a long way.
Book Your Festival Tour
Many guests hire car and driver in India from USA, Canada and Australia, and we are a regular private driver India for UK tourists and European travellers too. Send your dates and the festival you want to see on WhatsApp or our contact form, and we will reply with a full itinerary and price. It is the simplest way to book private car and driver in India for a festival.
Popular Services for Festival Travellers
- Hire Private Driver for Golden Triangle India Tour, including the Delhi Agra Jaipur golden Triangle tour and the Delhi - Agra - Jaipur golden triangle tour
- Private Driver For Delhi to Agra Tours
- Car Rental with Driver India and Car Rental with Driver for any route
- Personal driver in india from the most popular Private Driver India team
- Best English speaking driver india and private driver in India for foreign tourists
- India tour packages for international travelers from the best private driver India service
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Pushkar Camel Fair in 2026?
The Pushkar Fair runs for about a week in November and ends on Kartik Purnima, the full moon, which falls on 24 November 2026. Camel trading is busiest in the first days; the religious bathing in Pushkar Lake peaks on the full moon. Rajasthan Tourism announces the official programme each year.
Can I visit the Pushkar Fair as a day trip?
Yes. Our same day Jaipur to Pushkar tour takes about 2.5 hours each way, so you can spend several hours at the fair grounds and the lake and be back in Jaipur at night. Staying overnight lets you see the fair at sunrise.
When is Dev Deepawali in Varanasi in 2026?
Dev Deepawali is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, 24 November 2026, the same full moon that ends the Pushkar Fair. The ghats are lit with more than a million lamps after sunset. Book a boat and a riverside hotel well in advance.
Can tourists watch the Republic Day parade in Delhi?
Yes. Tickets for the 26 January parade on Kartavya Path go on sale online and at government counters in January. Security is tight and roads close early, so your driver will drop you as close as permitted before dawn.
Can I combine a festival with the Golden Triangle?
Easily. Pushkar is a short drive from Jaipur, Varanasi connects by a short flight from Delhi or Agra, and Republic Day is in Delhi itself. We plan the Golden Triangle around the festival date.
