Plan your trip · Ahmedabad
What's on in Ahmedabad
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Ahmedabad — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Ahmedabad 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 Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad 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.
Across Gujarat
Navratri garba
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of garba and dandiya, from neighbourhood squares to grounds holding thousands. Gujarat does this more seriously than anywhere else.
Planning: Large venues ticket in advance; the state is dry, so do not expect a bar.
Uttarayan kite festival
🗓️ 14–15 JanuaryGujarat takes to its rooftops to fly kites for two days straight — most intensely in the old quarters of Ahmedabad and Vadodara.
Planning: Coated kite string injures people on two-wheelers every year — avoid riding on those days.
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.
Ahmedabad's biggest celebrations happen on its rooftops, streets and open grounds. In January, Uttarayan fills the sky over the old city with kites, and in September or October, Navratri brings nine nights of garba, the Gujarati circle dance that UNESCO added to its list of intangible cultural heritage in 2023. The Jagannath Rath Yatra in June or July, Diwali and the Gujarati New Year, and the Kankaria Carnival at the end of December complete the year.
Most festival dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar and move each year, so check the dates before you travel, and book your stay early if you plan your trip around Uttarayan or Navratri. The best time to visit Ahmedabad explains how the festivals fit around the weather.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Ahmedabad
- Book hotels early for Uttarayan, Navratri and Diwali.
- Buy passes in advance for the big Navratri garba events, which are usually ticketed.
- Dress for garba in a chaniya choli or kediyu; many shops rent outfits for the festival.
- Avoid riding a two-wheeler on Uttarayan, as sharp, coated kite string injures riders every year.
- Expect road closures and huge crowds in the old city on Rath Yatra day.
- Carry water, as festival crowds are dense and nights run late.
- Keep your phone and bag secure in crowded places.
Questions
Ahmedabad — FAQ
What are the main festivals and events in Ahmedabad?
The biggest are Uttarayan (the kite festival in January), Navratri with its nights of garba, the Jagannath Rath Yatra and Diwali. The Kankaria Carnival at the end of December and the Saptak classical music festival in early January are also popular.
When is the kite festival in Ahmedabad?
Uttarayan is celebrated on 14 and 15 January, when people fly kites from rooftops all over the city. The International Kite Festival, with kite flyers from India and abroad, is usually held at the Sabarmati Riverfront around the same time, so check the year's dates.
Where can I join garba during Navratri in Ahmedabad?
The big garba nights are held at clubs and party plots, which are large open-air event grounds, usually with passes that can sell out early. Many housing societies and old-city pols also hold their own garba, which are free but mostly for residents and their guests.
When is the Kankaria Carnival?
The Kankaria Carnival is usually held in the last week of December around Kankaria Lake, with shows, music and activities for children. Expect big evening crowds, and check the year's programme before you go.