Plan your trip · Bhopal
What's on in Bhopal
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Bhopal — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Bhopal 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 Bhopal
Bhopal 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.
Bhopal celebrates both Hindu and Muslim festivals in a big way. Diwali, Holi, Navratri and Dussehra are marked across the city, while Ramzan and Eid bring the Old City's food streets to life late into the night. The biggest event of the year is the Aalami Tablighi Ijtema, a Muslim religious gathering usually held over four days in November at Eintkhedi, on the city's outskirts. It draws hundreds of thousands of people.
In January, Lokrang brings five days of folk and tribal dance, music and crafts to the city. Nearby, the Bhojeshwar Temple at Bhojpur fills with pilgrims on Maha Shivaratri, when the Bhojpur Utsav is also held. In late November, Sanchi's Chethiyagiri Vihara festival is the one time in the year when the relics of two of the Buddha's disciples are shown to devotees. Many dates follow lunar calendars and change every year, so check them before you book. To plan around the weather, see the best time to visit Bhopal.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Bhopal
- Book your stay early if your trip overlaps with the Ijtema, Diwali or the winter holidays.
- During the Ijtema, expect heavy traffic and road diversions, and allow extra time to reach the station or airport.
- Van Vihar is closed on Holi, Rangpanchami and Diwali, as well as every Friday.
- On Holi, expect coloured powder and water in the streets in the morning, and wear clothes you do not mind ruining.
- During Ramzan, visit the Old City in the evening, after the fast is broken.
- Dress modestly for religious events and ask before photographing people.
- Keep your valuables secure in crowds.
Questions
Bhopal — FAQ
What are the main festivals and events in Bhopal?
The biggest are the Aalami Tablighi Ijtema in November, Diwali, Holi, Eid and the month of Ramzan in the Old City, and Lokrang, a festival of folk and tribal arts held in January. Navratri and Dussehra are also celebrated across the city.
When is the Ijtema held in Bhopal?
The Aalami Tablighi Ijtema is usually held over four days in November at Eintkhedi, on the outskirts of Bhopal. The dates change every year, and the city is very busy while it is on, so check before you plan your trip.
What is Bhopal like during Ramzan?
The Old City comes alive after sunset, when the fast is broken and the food streets stay busy until well past midnight. It is a great time for Bhopali food, but dress modestly and be respectful around the mosques.
Which festivals are held near Bhopal?
Maha Shivaratri brings big crowds to the Bhojeshwar Temple at Bhojpur, where the Bhojpur Utsav is held at the same time. At Sanchi, the Chethiyagiri Vihara festival in late November is when the relics of two of the Buddha's disciples are shown to devotees.