Plan your trip · Khajuraho
What's on in Khajuraho
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Khajuraho — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Khajuraho 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 Khajuraho
Khajuraho 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 Madhya Pradesh
Khajuraho Dance Festival
🗓️ FebruaryClassical dance performed in front of the western temples.
Planning: Cool and dry — the best window for the temples anyway.
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.
Khajuraho's biggest event is the Khajuraho Dance Festival, held every February since 1975. For a week, dancers perform Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri and other classical styles on an open-air stage in the Western Group, with the lit temples behind them. Around Mahashivratri in February or March, Matangeshwara Temple celebrates the wedding of Shiva and Parvati over three days, when the lingam is dressed like a bridegroom and thousands of pilgrims visit.
Holi, Diwali and Navratri are also celebrated in the town, and the light and sound show at the Western Group runs most evenings through the year. Festival dates change each year, so check the latest schedule and book your stay early if you plan your trip around an event. The best time to visit Khajuraho explains what the weather is like in each season.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Khajuraho
- Book rooms and transport early for the Dance Festival week in February.
- Arrive early in the evening for a good seat at the festival performances.
- Carry a warm layer, as February evenings can still be cool.
- Dress modestly and remove your shoes if you join the celebrations at Matangeshwara Temple.
- Expect big crowds and queues around Matangeshwara at Mahashivratri.
- Keep your phone and wallet secure in crowded areas.
- Check the timings of the light and sound show on the day, as they change with the season.
Questions
Khajuraho — FAQ
What are the main festivals and events in Khajuraho?
The Khajuraho Dance Festival in February is the biggest event, followed by Mahashivratri at Matangeshwara Temple. Holi, Diwali and Navratri are also celebrated, and the light and sound show runs most evenings.
When is the Khajuraho Dance Festival?
It is held every February, usually for a week from 20 to 26 February, with evening performances in front of the Western Group temples. Entry has been free in recent years, but check the dates and details for the year before you plan your trip.
How is Mahashivratri celebrated in Khajuraho?
Matangeshwara Temple holds a three-day celebration of the wedding of Shiva and Parvati, when the lingam is bathed and dressed like a bridegroom. Thousands of pilgrims come, so expect crowds and queues.
Is there a light and sound show in Khajuraho?
Yes. A light and sound show is held most evenings in the Western Group, with separate shows in English and Hindi. It tells the story of the temples in the voice of Amitabh Bachchan and lasts about 50 minutes; timings change with the season.