Top Festivals in May in India 2024
Amidst the scorching heat, the Indian find numerous festive moments to make people forget about the harsh climate and get together for a cheerful time. If you are ready to tolerate the heat, you are in for a colorful time in India.
Here are the Top Fairs and Festivals in India in May 2023 :
1. 5th International Yoga Contest (The Grand Master Of Yoga)
Location – Rishikesh
Date – 15th May 2024
This festival has been celebrated since 2018 and the main focus of this festival is to promote the wellness of Yoga. During the 2021 contest, a large exhibition is planned to focus on health and wellness. Many Yoga performers and philosophers will be attending the contest to give lectures and workshops. However, the main event is the Yoga content, which is participated by hundreds of people. The winners of the contest will be awarded with cash prizes.
Also Read : Top 10 Yoga Destinations in India
Delhi Travel Info
2. Moatsu Festival
Location – Mokokchung District of Nagaland
Date – 1st May 2024 to 3rd May 2024
This festival is exclusively celebrated in Chuchuyimlang village of Nagaland by Ao tribe. This festival marks the end of planting season. It is time for the locals to rejoice the harvest and thus, the festival focuses on merry making and sharing. You can find many dance and music performances. The main event of the celebration is Sangpagtu. In this, the locals dress up in their best local attire, sit around a fire and enjoy wine and meat.
Also Read : Celebration of Naga Culture – The Hornbill Festival 2019
Read More : 7 Best Places to Visit in North East India
3. Thrissur Pooram
Location – Vadakkumnathan Temple of Thrissur In Kerala
Date – 20th April 2024
This is the grandest of all Kerala festivals. This festival’s main attraction is the grand procession with 30 elephants, more than 250 musicians, locals and much more. You can also enjoy many cultural events like ornamental parasol display, drums concerts, dance and music celebrations. Fireworks mark the end of the festival. You can find many special viewing areas for enjoying the fireworks.
Also Read : 10 Most Popular Festivals of South India
Suggested Tour : 11 Days – Kerala Village Tour
4. Madurai Meenakshi Kalyanam
Location – Madurai
Date – 20th April 2024
Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple is one of the iconic religious sites of Southern India. This festival marks the celestial wedding of Meenakshi Amman and Lord Sundareswarar. This festival takes place in two phases, the first phase is the marriage of the two celestial and the second is the procession of Lord Alazhagar. Special rituals, car festivals, processions, and other cultural activities take place during this celebration. Many stalls will be erected around the temple during this festival for souvenir shopping.
Also Read : The Most Spiritual Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai
Suggested Tour :
- Private Day Tour of Madurai
- 4 Days - Madurai Rameshwaram Kanyakumari Temple Tour
- 12 Days - South India Temple Tour
5. Mount Abu Summer Festival
Location – Mount Abu of Rajasthan
Date – 12th - 13th May, 2024
Mount Abu hill station is quite famous in the state of desert. This festival marks the end of the tourism season in the mountain. The summer festival starts with ballad singing and folk dances. Other common events in the celebration are boat race, roller skating, firework display and the iconic Sham-e-Qawwali music show.
Read More : Attractions Not To Miss in Mount Abu
Also Read : Famous Festivals and Events in Rajasthan
Suggested Tour : 5 Days - Rajasthan Tour
6. Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanthi
Location – All Buddhist Locations, Especially Buddha Jayanti Park of Delhi And Bodhgaya
Date – 23rd May, 203
This is the most sacred Buddhist festival of the land. This marks the birthday of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Some people celebrate it as the day of enlightenment of Lord Buddha. Top religious activities of the festival are prayer meet, religious seminar, Buddhist scripture recitation, meditation, rituals and much more. Some people prefer to visit all Buddhist pilgrimage throughout the country.
Read More :
Suggested Tour : 14 Days – Buddhist Tour with Nepal and India
7. Rabindranath Tagore Jayanthi or Rabindra Jayanti
Location – West Bengal
Date – 8thMay, 2024
This is the birth anniversary of the poet and freedom fighter, Rabindranath Tagore. He has written numerous poetries including the National Anthem of the country. This festival is celebrated with numerous cultural and entertainment events, which include dance, drama, and poetry revolving around the works and life of Rabindranath Tagore. The best of all celebrations can be found in Santiniketan of West Bengal, where many cultural programs will be conducted by the students. Each university and institution celebrates this festival in a unique manner.
Also Read : Top Tourist Spots To Visit In West Bengal
Also Read : May Weather in India
8. Yercaud Summer Festival
Location – Yercaud, Tamil Nadu
Date – 21st to 28th May 2024
This is a weeklong festival, which is conducted to promote tourism in this hill station. This festival includes boat races, flower shows, cultural programs, village trips, dog contests, and others. The flower show at this festival has many large displays made of flowers. In 2019, more than one lakh flowers were used for creating many large displays. The detail agenda of the 2020 summer festival is yet to be released. You can enjoy many activities during this festival like boat riding, horse riding, watching dance competitions and so on.
Also Read : Top Places to Visit in Yercaud – The Land of Seven Forests
9. Dhungri Mela
Location – Hadimba Temple of Manali
Date – 14th - 16th May, 2024
This three-day local celebration is conducted to honor the birthday of Goddess Hadimba. This local deity is said to be the consort of Mighty Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers. This temple is the main religious site for numerous villages. Thus, several villages take part in this celebration. A large fair will be conducted with carnival rides, shopping stalls, singing, dancing and much more. The best of all is the local Kullu Natti dance performed by professionals.
Also Read : Top 15 Offbeat Places to Visit in Himachal Pradesh
Suggested Tour :
- 6 Days – Shimla Manali Tour Packages
- 9 Days - Trip to Leh Ladakh from Manali
10. Electric Mahadev Festival
Location – Manali
Date – Shifted in September
This festival is celebrated with Psychedelic art, music, and cultural events. Apart from the cultural events, you can find flea markets to buy ethnic souvenirs, meditation workshops, Yoga classes and much more. Tourists can camp in the area to enjoy late-night events too. Each day, a unique combination of events and activities take place and you can find a large audience of international and local youths. If you wish to enjoy a unique festival with an energetic crowd, this is the best festival in May.
Suggested Tour :
11. Ramadan
Location – Throughout India (Best Enjoyed In Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi And Lucknow)
Date – 11th March to 10th April 2024 (The Actual Date Varies With The Cycle Of Moon, Every Year)
If you were a foodie, you would find this festival, very interesting. Muslims around the world, fast throughout this month. They dine only before sunrise and after sunset. Thus, during their dining time, the streets will be filled with street food shops. Traditional Muslim community regions will be celebrating with food by throwing feast, creating food festivals and much more. These festivals focus more on meat. Muslims find it very religious to donate or share food with people. Thus, you can have a great time with food. The festival of Ramadan ends with Eid-ul-Fitr. This is the day of feasting, merry making and shopping.
Suggested Tour : 2 Days – Delhi Private Tour
If you are choosing to explore Hyderabad in the luxurious way during Ramadan, it is recommended to choose the luxury train, Deccan Odyssey’s Jewels of the Deccan itinerary. For more details about the itinerary : Click Here.
Suggested Tour : 14 Days - South India Tour from Bangalore
12. Maharana Pratap Jayanti
Location – Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana
Date – 9th June 2024
Maharana Pratap is a ruler of Rajput and a freedom fighter. His birthday is celebrated with valor in these destinations. Many dance, music, drama and other cultural events will be conducted to explain the bravery of the king. The king’s memorial statue in Udaipur will be decorated well and it is worth a visit. Many cities conduct parades to honor the legacy of the king.
13. Ooty Summer Festival
Location – Ooty of Tamil Nadu
Date – 17th May to 22nd may 2024
Ooty is an important summer destination in the state of Tamil Nadu. May marks the end of tourism season in the region. Thus, the locals create extravaganza in every element to attract tourists or as a way of saying good-bye. Top events includes vegetable show in Nehru Park of Kotagiri, Rose show in the Government rose garden of Ooty, Fruit show in Sim’s Park of Coonoor, Flower show at Ooty Botanical Garden and the Commercial Road will be filled with bazaars for shopping. The actual date of the summer festival varies within the month of May, every year.
Read More : About Ooty – The Uncrowned Queen Of Hill Stations
Suggested Tour :
- 6 Days – South India Hill Station Tour
- 11 Days - Karnataka and Kerala Tour
14. International Flower Festival
Location – Governor’s Residence of Gangtok
Date – 1st May to 31st May 2024
This festival is celebrated to create awareness about the flowers and plantation of the region. Many flower shows are conducted to display special species of gladioli, roses, orchids, alpine plant, trees, creepers, climbers and ferns. Many delicacies made from these plants are also for sale like jam, jelly and others. Seminars and lectures about local plant species are conducted by professionals at specific venues. This is also the right time to enjoy yak safari and river rafting in the region.
Do you Know about : Sikkim’s First Airport in Pakyong between Himalayan Ranges
Suggested Tour :
- 4 Days – Gangtok Tour Packages
- 7 Days - Darjeeling Gangtok Tour Packages
- 8 Days - Darjeeling Kalimpong Gangtok Tour Packages
As mentioned before, the exact date of the festivals varies from time to time. The locals use lunar calendar to mark the date of the festivals. Thus, talk to your tour agent to know the right time and place to be in India to enjoy as many festivals and celebrations as possible. While visiting India in May, remember that you are visiting in the peak of summer. Thus, you ought to be ready to keep yourself hydrated. Pack cotton clothing, hats, sunscreen lotions and scarfs.
Also Read : 20 Best Places to Visit in India in May
