Plan your trip · Mangalore
What's on in Mangalore
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Mangalore — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Mangalore 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 Mangalore
Mangalore'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 – 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 Mangalore
Mangaluru Dasara and Pilivesha
🗓️ September–OctoberThe Kudroli temple Dasara, and the tiger dance — performers painted head to toe, moving through the streets to drums.
Planning: Pilivesha is a street event; ask locally which neighbourhoods on which nights.
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.
Mangalore's festival year follows the monsoon. The rains end around Dasara in September or October, which is the city's biggest celebration: the Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple is lit up, Mangaladevi fills with worshippers, and Pilivesha troupes, painted as tigers, dance through the streets to drums. From November the Yakshagana troupes start touring and the Kambala buffalo races begin in the villages outside the city.
Mangalore also has a large Catholic community, so Christmas is celebrated widely, with lit-up churches and homes. Most festivals follow the lunar calendar or local committees, so dates change every year. Check the schedule before you book, and book early for Dasara.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Mangalore
- Book hotels early for Dasara, as the city fills up.
- Arrive early for the Dasara procession to find a good place to stand.
- Ask before photographing Pilivesha dancers up close, and give them space to move.
- Treat Bhuta Kola as a religious ritual, not a show: watch quietly and ask before taking photos.
- Yakshagana shows often run late into the night, so bring water and patience.
- Carry an umbrella for Dasara, as rain is still possible in late September and October.
- Keep your belongings secure in large crowds.
Questions
Mangalore — FAQ
What are the main festivals in Mangalore?
The biggest is Mangaluru Dasara, centred on the Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple. The Kambala buffalo race season, Yakshagana performances, Christmas, Diwali and the Navaratri celebrations at Mangaladevi are also important.
What is Pilivesha?
Pilivesha, or the tiger dance, is a folk dance in which performers paint their bodies with tiger stripes and dance to drums. In Mangalore you are most likely to see it on the streets during Dasara.
When can I watch Yakshagana in Mangalore?
Yakshagana troupes usually tour from about November to May, performing in temple grounds and villages across coastal Karnataka, often through the night. Ask locally or at your hotel about shows near the city.
What is Bhuta Kola?
Bhuta Kola is a Tulu ritual in which a performer, in elaborate costume and make-up, is believed to become a local spirit deity. It is held mostly in the dry months, usually at night. It is a sacred ritual, so watch respectfully and ask before taking photos.