Plan your trip · Amritsar
What's on in Amritsar
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Amritsar — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Amritsar 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 Amritsar
Amritsar 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 Amritsar
Baisakhi at the Golden Temple
🗓️ 13–14 AprilThe harvest festival and Khalsa foundation day, at the temple that matters most for it.
Planning: Very long darshan queues; langar runs all day regardless.
Across Punjab
Baisakhi
🗓️ 13–14 AprilThe harvest festival and the founding of the Khalsa — the Golden Temple is at its fullest.
Planning: Expect long queues for darshan and langar.
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.
Amritsar comes alive with festivals, religious celebrations, cultural events and traditional performances throughout the year. From the colourful energy of Baisakhi to the illuminated Golden Temple during Diwali, festivals offer a different way to experience the culture and traditions of Punjab.
If you are planning a trip around an event, check the latest dates and local arrangements before travelling, as festival schedules and programmes can change each year.
Questions
Amritsar — FAQ
What are the main festivals celebrated in Amritsar?
Baisakhi, Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas, Guru Nanak Gurpurab, Basant Panchami and Ram Tirth Fair are among the major celebrations.
What is Bandi Chhor Divas in Amritsar?
Bandi Chhor Divas is a significant Sikh celebration marked with prayers, kirtan and beautiful illumination at the Golden Temple.
What cultural events can I experience in Amritsar?
Visitors can experience Punjabi music, Bhangra, Giddha, Gatka performances, cultural programmes and traditional fairs.
Are festivals in Amritsar crowded?
Yes, major festivals can attract large crowds, so arriving early and booking accommodation and transport in advance is recommended.
Should I book accommodation early during festivals?
Yes, hotels can fill quickly during major festivals, so booking accommodation well in advance is a good idea.