Plan your trip · Agartala
What's on in Agartala
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Agartala — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Agartala right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Agartala
Agartala packs most of its outdoor calendar into the cooler months; the pre-monsoon peak is hot enough that daytime processions are genuinely hard going. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Signature to Agartala
Kharchi Puja
🗓️ JulySeven days at the Chaturdasha temple, worshipping fourteen deities — one of the state's largest gatherings.
Planning: Monsoon month; the Ujjayanta Palace and Neermahal are the fair-weather stops.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Agartala's festivals mix old royal traditions, Tripuri tribal celebrations and the Bengali calendar. The best known is Kharchi Puja in July, a week-long festival at the Chaturdasha Devata Temple in Old Agartala, where fourteen deities are worshipped and the city fills with pilgrims and fairground stalls. In April, the Tripuri and other indigenous communities celebrate Garia Puja, with drumming, dancing and prayers for a good harvest.
In the autumn, Durga Puja brings pandals and late nights across the city, and at Diwali a large fair is held at the Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur. The Neermahal Water Festival, usually held around August or September at Rudrasagar Lake, has boat races and cultural shows by the water palace. At Unakoti, the Ashokashtami fair draws pilgrims in spring. Many dates follow the lunar calendar and change each year, so check before you plan your trip.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Agartala
- Book your stay early for Durga Puja, Diwali and Kharchi Puja.
- Carry rain gear for Kharchi Puja and the Neermahal festival, which fall in the monsoon.
- Arrive early at the Tripura Sundari Temple during the Diwali fair, when the queues are long.
- Dress modestly for festivals held at temples.
- Ask before photographing people during rituals and processions.
- Keep your phone and wallet secure in crowds.
- Expect traffic delays around festival sites.
Questions
Agartala — FAQ
What are the main festivals in Agartala?
The main festivals are Kharchi Puja in July, Garia Puja in April, Durga Puja and Diwali. The Neermahal Water Festival and the Ashokashtami fair at Unakoti are also popular.
What is Kharchi Puja?
Kharchi Puja is a week-long festival held every July at the Chaturdasha Devata Temple in Old Agartala. Fourteen deities of the old royal family are worshipped, and a large fair runs alongside the rituals.
What is Garia Puja?
Garia Puja is a festival of the Tripuri and other indigenous communities, held in April. A bamboo pole representing the deity Garia is worshipped, with drumming and the traditional Garia dance.
When is the Neermahal Water Festival?
It is usually held around August or September at Rudrasagar Lake, with boat races and cultural programmes near the palace. Dates change each year, so check before you travel.