Plan your trip · Malvan
What's on in Malvan
Malvan's calendar follows the sea and the village temples. The two biggest events are the Anganewadi fair in late winter and Ganesh Chaturthi at the end of the monsoon.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Malvan 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 Malvan
Malvan's calendar works around the monsoon — the big outdoor events sit either side of it, and the wettest weeks are the quietest ones for anything held in the open. Broadly, Oct – Feb and Mar – May 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 Maharashtra
Ganesh Chaturthi
🗓️ August–SeptemberMaharashtra's biggest festival: clay Ganesh idols in homes and neighbourhood pandals for up to ten days, then carried in processions to the nearest river, lake or sea.
Planning: Immersion days close roads and fill the ghats and beaches; the largest crowds by far are in Mumbai and Pune.
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.
Anganewadi jatra (February or March)
The fair at the Bharadi Devi temple in Anganewadi, about 10 km from Malvan, is the largest gathering in this part of the Konkan. It lasts about a day and a half, and people come from Mumbai and further in huge numbers. The date is decided each winter by asking the goddess for a sign, so it moves every year. In 2026 it was on 9 February. Expect traffic jams, special trains and full rooms. See the temples page for more.
Shimga (March)
Holi on the Konkan coast is called Shimga. Villages carry their deity's palanquin from house to house, with drums and dancing. It is a local, village-centred festival rather than a colour party. The dates follow the Holi full moon.
Narali Purnima (August)
On the full moon of the month of Shravan, fishing families offer coconuts to the sea. It marks the end of the monsoon fishing ban and the start of the new season. The Malvan jetty and seafront are the place to see it.
Ganesh Chaturthi (August or September)
This is the biggest festival in Sindhudurg. Unlike Mumbai's huge public pandals, here it is mostly a family festival. People who work in Mumbai come home to their villages, and each house sets up its own Ganesha. Konkan Railway trains and buses are packed for days before and after. Modak are made in every home. Immersions happen in the sea and rivers.
Diwali (October or November)
Diwali falls at the start of the tourist season. Houses hang paper lanterns and draw rangoli outside their doors. It is a good time for quiet beaches and low prices.
Dashavatar (the cooler months)
Dashavatar is the Konkan's folk theatre, based on stories of Vishnu's ten forms. Troupes perform all night at village temple fairs, mostly in the cooler months. There are no fixed listings. Ask your homestay whether a performance is on nearby.
Planning around festivals
Book early for the Anganewadi fair and for Ganesh Chaturthi. Check the best time to visit page for how the weather fits.
Questions
Malvan — FAQ
Can tourists attend the Anganewadi fair?
Yes, it is open to all. It is extremely crowded, so go early in the day, leave valuables behind and expect long queues for darshan.
Where can I watch a Dashavatar performance?
At village temple fairs, mostly in the cooler months. There are no public listings, so ask your homestay or hotel.
Is Ganesh Chaturthi a good time to visit Malvan?
It is a great time to see Konkan family life, but the sea may still be rough and trains are fully booked. Book travel months ahead.