Plan your trip · Bengaluru
What's on in Bengaluru
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Bengaluru — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Bengaluru 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 Bengaluru
Bengaluru 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.
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.
Bengaluru's festivals mix old city traditions with big national holidays. The Bengaluru Karaga, one of the city's oldest festivals, ends with a night procession from the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in March or April. The twice-yearly flower shows at Lalbagh draw huge crowds in January and August, and the Kadalekai Parishe groundnut fair fills the streets around the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi in November or December.
Most dates follow the Hindu calendar and change each year, so check the latest schedule before you plan your trip around an event. Expect crowds and road closures near the festival areas.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Bengaluru
- Use the metro where you can, as roads near festival areas get very congested.
- Visit the Lalbagh flower show on a weekday morning to avoid the worst crowds.
- For the Karaga procession, expect a late night and very large crowds in the old city.
- Dress modestly for temple festivals and carry shoes that are easy to remove.
- Carry a small umbrella from June to October, as evening showers are common.
- Keep your phone and wallet secure in crowded areas.
Questions
Bengaluru — FAQ
What is the Bengaluru Karaga?
The Karaga is one of Bengaluru's oldest festivals, held at the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple over about nine days in March or April. It ends with a night procession in which a priest carries a tall flower-covered karaga on his head through the old city.
What is Kadalekai Parishe?
Kadalekai Parishe is a groundnut fair held around the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi on the last Monday of the Karthika month, usually in November or December. Farmers sell fresh groundnuts from huge heaps along the streets.
When is the Lalbagh flower show held?
Twice a year, around Republic Day in January and Independence Day in August. Each show has a theme and fills the Glass House with flower displays.
Is Bengaluru a good place for Ganesh Chaturthi?
Yes. Ganesh Chaturthi, usually in August or September, is widely celebrated, with Ganesha idols set up in neighbourhoods across the city. The festival often falls in the rainy season, so carry an umbrella.