It’s that time of the year when you can dust off your backpacks, put on your travelling boots, book a ticket and fly off to a dream vacation. Autumn is the time when India bids adieu to the scorching heat and says hello to cooler days. It is also the start of festive time in India, which translates to “perfect time for vacation”. If you are hooked to the idea of experiencing different festivities of India with some autumn wind in your hair, we have exactly what you want.

India is a nation of passionate culture and each Indian celebrates numerous celebrations wholeheartedly and consistently. Each celebration is one of a kind in its manner. While some festivals are too popular, others are not known to many but are grandly celebrated. So without any further ado, here are some of the best festivals in India, to explore this autumn.

Navratri, Gujarat

While Navratri is a festival that is celebrated in major parts of northern India, the celebration in Gujarat is something unique. Gujarat is the only state that erupts into a nine night dance festival during Navratri. The dance form known as Ras Garba comes from Lord Krishna’s worship rather than Goddess worship, from the Gop culture of Saurashtra and Kutch. Nothing beats the fervour of Gujarat during this nine-day festival. Night after night, people gather around to celebrate this vibrant festival. The spirit of the festival is so overpowering that it is impossible to blend in with the essence and celebrate the power of one true Goddess in her nine avatars.

When: Date – 29th September 2019 to 7th October 2019

Where: Entire Gujarat

Shirui Lily Festival, Manipur

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This one is an unusual festival, celebrated in Ukhrul, a small town in the north eastern state of Manipur. The Shirui Lily Festival is celebrated with the objective to spread awareness about the endangered state flower Shirui Lily. The festival aims at its conservation, as well as promoting the hill district of Ukhrul as a potential tourist destination. The highlights of the festival include colourful Tangkhul Naga games, live music, rock concerts, cultural shows, beauty pageants, exhibits, folk songs, traditional dances and indigenous games and sports competitions like the Shirui Lily Grand Prix, mountain biking, etc. Whether you are a cultural enthusiasts or adventurous soul, this festival is a must explore for you. Besides attending the festival, the tourists can also enjoy a trek to Shirui Peak to witness the Shirui Lilies in bloom.

When: October 16th -19th October 2019

Where: Ukhrul, Manipur 

Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Jodhpur

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Rajasthan International Folk Festival exhibits the cultural lifestyle of India and beyond. This 5 day long festival has been titled as People’s Platform for Creativity and Sustainable Development, by UNESCO. More than 250 artists from different regions around the world perform in this festival to showcase a fusion of Indian and international music. This eclectic festival is a heady fusion of interactive events, performances and late night jam sessions. Artists from around the world create interesting stage performances that highlight the music heritage of the state. Celebrated in and around the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, this year the festival focuses on poetry, song/ lyrics of folk music in Rajasthan –traditional as well as contemporary.

When: 10th – 14th October 2019

Where: Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur 

Tawang Festival, Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang Festival of Arunachal Pradesh highlights the major tourist attractions of the state. Organised by the Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Department, the annual Tawang Festival highlights the major tourist attractions in the region along with the traditional values.  The hill station of Tawang is home to various tribes, therefore, one can witness the local charm during the festival. The festival has a huge fair, dance of Yak, tribal participation with various dances and traditional rituals, traditional moastic dances, street performances, parade, Buddhist religious functions etc. One of the major highlights of the festival is the AJI-LHAMU DANCE.

Other than the festival, one can also visit the places of interest like the Bumla Pass, Sela Pass, Gorichen Peak, Madhuri Lake, Nuranang Falls, P T Tso Lake, Tawang monastery, Jang Waterfalls etc.

When: 29th – 31st October 2019

Where: Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh 

Bhandara Festival, Pune

Bhandara Festival also known as the Great Turmeric Festival is one of the unusual festivals of India, which also makes it a must explore festival. Celebrated with much fervour and enthusiasm, the festival involves an astonishing amount of turmeric being thrown all over the temple premises. Dedicated to a local deity Khandoba, who is often considered to be a family deity, many interesting rituals take place during this festival. This festival is the highlight of Jejuri village of Maharashtra. The festival takes place on Somvati Amavasya– a new moon day that falls on a Monday. It usually occurs two or three times a year. Immersed in turmeric, devotees sing and dance invoking the deity in their prayers. The procession sees thousands of devotees waiting to touch the palki or palanquin, which carries the deity for a bath from the temple on the hill to the Karha River.

When: 28th October, 2019

Where: Khandoba temple in Jejuri, about an hour and a half southeast of Pune in Maharashtra 

Bathukamma, Telangana

The state festival of Telangana in Southern India, Bathukamma means ‘Mother Goddess come alive’. This flower festival celebrates life and Mother Goddess during Navratri. Also regarded as the Spriung Festival of Goddess Gauri, beautiful flower stack is arranged in unique style in the shape of a temple during the festival. Women sing old folk devotional songs and take the Bathukammas out in procession to immerse them in water on the last day.

When: 28th September – 6th October, 2019

Where: Hyderabad, Telangana 

Samsara Himalaya Yoga Festival, Himachal Pradesh

Samsara Himalaya Yoga Festival is a festival for uniting yoga and psybient music enthusiasts from around the world. During this unusual festival, guests are introduced to healing and transformative crafts and vision recuperation. It is a celebration of the five elements, a festival of the Five Senses compatibility. Organised in the month of February in Bir, this fest is observed with Aryamarga Meditation. The visitors can freely participate in this event and can heal their vision through music and art. With this festival, Europe’s top Psy festival made its presence felt in India.

When: 22nd October – 31st October 2019

Where: Bir, Himachal Pradesh