Festival guides for Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Bali, India and Sri Lanka: dates, where to see each one and how to join in respectfully.
49 guides
Festivals
Thrissur Pooram 2027 is on 17 April. The 2026 edition, held on 26 and 27 April, was scaled back after a fireworks unit explosion. Dates, viewing spots, safety and the elephant welfare debate.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 12 min read
Festivals
Phi Ta Khon 2027 is expected between 15 June and 15 July (estimated). The 2026 edition ran 20 to 22 June in Dan Sai, with a parade opened by the Prime Minister. Dates, recap and how to get there.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 10 min read
Festivals
DIFF 2027 is expected from about 1 June to 15 July (estimated, not announced). The 2026 edition ran 30 May to 11 July and Portugal won. Where to watch, tickets, and a Hoi An base.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 9 min read
Festivals
Hue Festival 2027 is expected to peak in June, but the city hasn't announced dates. The 2026 Arts Festival Week ran 13 to 18 June. What happened, what's on each season, and how to plan.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
Vietnam's next Mid-Autumn Festival is expected on Wednesday 15 September 2027. Where to watch it, from Hang Ma street to Tuyen Quang, plus how the 2026 festival went.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2027 falls on 13 and 14 April. The 2026 edition dawned at 9:32am on 14 April. Aluth Avurudu and Puthandu rituals, kiribath, village games and what closes.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 8 min read
Festivals
Vesak 2027 falls on Wednesday 19 May, confirmed in the official gazette. What happened in 2026, where to see Colombo's lanterns and pandals, how dansal work, and what closes.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 8 min read
Festivals
Poson Poya 2027 is gazetted for Friday 18 June. Here is what the 2026 festival drew to Anuradhapura, where pilgrims go and how a visitor can join in respectfully.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 8 min read
Festivals
Bali Kite Festival 2027 is expected in July, with official dates due closer to the time. The 2026 edition ran 18 to 26 July and drew 96 overseas flyers. Where to watch and what to expect.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
The 49th Bali Arts Festival is expected from 12 June to 10 July 2027, not yet announced. The 2026 edition ran 13 June to 11 July. Free, in Denpasar, with dance, gamelan and craft.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
Pi Mai Lao is expected on 14 to 16 April 2027. The 2026 festival was held on 14 to 16 April, with Luang Prabang running its own programme from 11 to 20 April. Here is what happened.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 8 min read
Festivals
Ziro Festival of Music 2027 is expected 23 to 26 September in Arunachal Pradesh. The 2026 edition ran 24 to 27 September. Permits, tickets, camping and how to get to the valley.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 10 min read
Festivals
Nashik's Simhastha Kumbh runs its main bathing dates in 2027, Ujjain's in 2028. What the dates mean, how crowded it gets, and how to visit safely.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 10 min read
Festivals
Hemis Festival 2027 is expected on 13 to 14 July. The 2026 edition ran 24 to 25 June. Cham masked dances, the giant thangka, getting from Leh, seating etiquette and altitude safety.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
Onam 2027 runs 3 to 12 September in Kerala. See how Onam 2026 went, plus the sadya feast, flower carpets, snake boat races and how long to stay.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 11 min read
Festivals
Ganesh Chaturthi 2027 runs 4 to 14 September. What happened in Mumbai in 2026, Lalbaugcha Raja's queues, the best pandals and how to watch the immersions safely.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 11 min read
Festivals
Durga Puja 2026 runs 17 to 21 October in Kolkata. Mahalaya, day-by-day dates, the best pandals north and south, sindoor khela, food and safety.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 8 min read
Festivals
Navratri and Garba 2026 dates, the difference between Garba and Dandiya Raas, where to dance in Ahmedabad and Vadodara, and what to wear.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 9 min read
Festivals
A month-by-month calendar of Sri Lanka's festivals, from the Kandy Esala Perahera to Vesak and the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, with dates and how the Poya calendar sets them.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
A month-by-month calendar of Laos's festivals, from Pi Mai Lao and Boun That Luang to the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, with dates and how the Buddhist lunar calendar sets them.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 6 min read
Festivals
A month-by-month calendar of Vietnam's festivals, from Tet and the Hoi An lantern festival to Da Nang's fireworks, with dates and how to plan a trip around one.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
A month-by-month calendar of Bali's festivals, from Nyepi's Day of Silence to Galungan and Kuningan, with dates, what to book ahead and how the two calendars behind them work.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
A month-by-month calendar of Thailand's festivals, from Songkran and Loy Krathong to the Full Moon Party, with dates, what to book ahead and how to plan a trip around one.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 9 min read
Festivals
A month-by-month calendar of India's festivals, from Holi and Diwali to Durga Puja, Pushkar and the Hornbill Festival, with dates, what to book ahead and how to plan a trip around one.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 11 min read
Festivals
Kandy Esala Perahera 2027 is estimated for 6 to 16 August. What happened in 2026, the Kumbal and Randoli nights, seats and prices, and the elephant welfare debate.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 11 min read
Festivals
Pasola 2027 is expected between February and mid March, with exact days set by Rato priests only weeks ahead. What happened in 2026, where to watch, and how to stay safe.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
Every full moon, Hoi An's old town switches off its electric lights and runs on lanterns. The 2026 and 2027 dates, what happens on the night, what it costs and how to enjoy it.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 5 min read
Festivals
Every Full Moon Party date for late 2026 and 2027, plus what the night is like on Haad Rin beach, where to stay on Koh Phangan, what it costs and how to get home safely.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival runs 10 to 18 October 2026. The processions, the piercings, the food, the dates for 2027, and how to watch it respectfully.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 6 min read
Festivals
Galungan 2027 is expected on 13 January and 11 August, with Kuningan on 23 January and 21 August. Galungan 2026 was held on 17 June. Penjor poles, where to see them, how to visit well.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 9 min read
Festivals
Goa Carnival 2027 is expected 5 to 9 February, with the Panaji parade on 6 February. The 2026 edition ran 13 to 17 February. Routes in four towns, King Momo, what to wear and how to watch safely.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 8 min read
Festivals
Chinese New Year in Bangkok 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February. The 2026 Yaowarat street party was cancelled during royal mourning. Here is what ran instead and how to plan for next year.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
Nyepi 2027 is on Monday 8 March, with the ogoh-ogoh parades the evening before. In 2026 Bali's airport shut and 440 flights were cancelled. Here's how the day works and how to plan around it.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 8 min read
Festivals
Songkran 2027 runs Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April. The 2026 edition was held 13 to 15 April, with Bangkok reporting 4.95 million participants. Dates, places, rules and safety tips inside.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 10 min read
Festivals
Uttarayan 2027 falls on 14 and 15 January in Ahmedabad. The 2026 edition ran on the same days, with Modi and Merz opening the kite festival. Dates, where to watch and kite string safety.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
Pongal 2027 runs 14 to 17 January, fixed to the solar calendar. What the 2026 edition looked like, where to see it in Tamil Nadu, and how the Jallikattu events work.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 8 min read
Festivals
Ladakhi Losar starts on 9 December 2026, and standard Tibetan Losar next falls on 7 to 9 February 2027. The February 2026 Losar was held 18 to 20 February, at the start of the Fire Horse year.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 9 min read
Festivals
Tet 2027 is on Saturday 6 February. Tet 2026 fell on 17 February, with a nine-day break and about 14 million tourist visits. What closes, how transport copes and where to be.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 10 min read
Festivals
Holi 2027 is on Monday 22 March, with Holika Dahan on the 21st. Holi 2026 was held on 3 to 4 March, after a total lunar eclipse. Where to celebrate in India and how to stay safe.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 9 min read
Festivals
Nagaland's Hornbill Festival runs 1 to 10 December every year near Kohima. What happens at Kisama, the permits foreigners and Indian visitors need, and how to plan the trip.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 6 min read
Festivals
Wonderfruit runs 3 to 7 December 2026 at The Fields near Pattaya. Ticket prices, how to get there from Bangkok, what to pack and what the festival is actually like.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 6 min read
Festivals
Boun That Luang climaxes on the full moon night of 24 November 2026 at Vientiane's golden stupa. What happens over festival week, the 2027 date and how to see it well.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 6 min read
Festivals
The Pushkar Camel Fair is expected 17 to 24 November 2026 in Rajasthan, building to Kartik Purnima on 24 November. What happens, when to go, the town's rules, and how to see it responsibly.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
Rann Utsav 2026-27 runs 1 November 2026 to 7 March 2027 on Gujarat's salt desert. Tent city options, the permit, getting there and the best full moon nights.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 6 min read
Festivals
Dev Deepawali lights every ghat in Varanasi on Kartik Purnima, Tuesday 24 November 2026 (Saturday 13 November 2027). Where to watch from, boat prices, etiquette and safety.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
The Surin Elephant Round-up is expected on 20 to 22 November 2026 in north-east Thailand (dates not yet confirmed). What happens, the welfare concerns, and how to get there.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 6 min read
Festivals
Diwali 2026 falls on 8 November, over five days. Where to see it (Varanasi's Dev Deepawali, Jaipur, Udaipur, Amritsar), air pollution and firecracker rules, and travel tips.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 7 min read
Festivals
Chiang Mai's Yi Peng lantern festival runs 24 to 26 November 2026, with ticketed releases on the 24th and 25th. Where to see the lanterns, ticket costs and the lantern rules.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 6 min read
Festivals
Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026 and Saturday 13 November 2027. What the festival is, where to celebrate in Thailand, and how to float a krathong right.
Sarthak DhonchakUpdated 6 min read