Ahmedabad, India offers visitors a rich array of events and festivals throughout the year that highlight its unique cultural identity and history. HotelTravel.com highlights the key events and festivals in Ahmedabad from month to month, providing visitors with a huge choice of possible choice to play that once in a lifetime holiday around. Each one brings to life why Ahmedabad is so representative of people from India. Click the events and festival links below for further information.
With its mix of Hindu and Islamic holidays as well as traditional Gujarati and Indian festivals, Ahmedabad is a destination that features regular special events, some of which are also unique to the city, such as the visually impressive Kite Festival in which the climax is a hectic kite fight. One of the most intriguing Gujarati festivals is Navratri, a nine-day event that sees hours of tireless dancing by local inhabitants when the women come to the fore.
Kite Festival: held in the middle of the month, the Ahmedabad Kite Festival, also known as Uttarayan, is one of the highlights of the holiday calendar attracting kite fliers from across the world and causing the skies over the city to become filled with colour. The event is held over three consecutive days, culminating in mid-air battles between competing kites, each string laced with shards of glass designed to cut competitors down to size.
Saptak Music Festival: held every year at the beginning of the month, this 11-day music festival has become an institution in the city since it was first held in 1980. Musicians of all ages are encouraged to display their talent, whether performing individually or in a group. Performers are mostly from Gujarat, but many others from other areas of India participate too.
Holi: a festival in celebration of the beginning of spring, Holi sees the throwing of coloured powder and water which is thought to reduce the threat of cold and fever at a time when the body is perceived to be vulnerable due to the change in season. Traditionally, the coloured powders were made up of medicinal herbs.
Rath Yatra: prompting the largest procession in the state, Rath Yatra in early July sees the pulling of chariots and large swarms of people in the streets in commemoration of the departure of Krishna. Decorated elephants and music bands are the highlight of processions during this celebration.
Tarnetar Fair: exclusive to Ahmedabad, this festival takes place at the end of August or beginning of September at the Trinteshwar temple of lord Shiva. During the festival, locals believe that any woman who stops to converse with a man is deemed to spend the rest of her life with him.
Ramadan: the traditional month of abstinence and fasting is a significant part of the religious calendar for Ahmedabad’s Muslim population which equates to about one in 10 people here. Ramadan means regular visits to the mosque and fasting during the day, but little in the way of tangible celebration that is noticeable to outside visitors.
Navratri: lasting nine days, Navratri is a festival celebrated across Gujarat that sees young people dress in their finest traditional clothes ready to dance the garbha every night of the holiday. Women tend to dominate proceedings, clapping their hands and singing around a special lamp.
Eid: marking the end of the holiday month of Ramadan, Eid is a popular Islamic holiday in Ahmedabad that sees Muslims dress in their finest clothes before prayers at any one of the mosques in the city. Traditionally, families greet each other and enjoy a large meal which includes toasted vermicelli noodles.
Diwali: this major Hindu festival usually takes place in late October/early November. Also known as the ‘festival of light’, Diwali lasts five days and is held in celebration of the victory of good over evil, an event marked with abundant lights and candles throughout Ahmedabad.
Nazariya Films for Peace Festival: this pioneering annual film festival focuses on human rights and alternative cinema, encouraging entrants to submit short films and documentaries for consideration which are then shown in the city.
Christmas: less than one percent of Ahmedabad’s population is Christian but that still translates to nearly 40,000 people who eagerly celebrate the most important holiday of the year according to their faith. Expect carol services, singing and the exchange of gifts on Christmas Day.
With its mix of Hindu and Islamic holidays as well as traditional Gujarati and Indian festivals, Ahmedabad is a destination that features regular special events, some of which are also unique to the city, such as the visually impressive Kite Festival in which the climax is a hectic kite fight. One of the most intriguing Gujarati festivals is Navratri, a nine-day event that sees hours of tireless dancing by local inhabitants when the women come to the fore.
January
Kite Festival: held in the middle of the month, the Ahmedabad Kite Festival, also known as Uttarayan, is one of the highlights of the holiday calendar attracting kite fliers from across the world and causing the skies over the city to become filled with colour. The event is held over three consecutive days, culminating in mid-air battles between competing kites, each string laced with shards of glass designed to cut competitors down to size.Saptak Music Festival: held every year at the beginning of the month, this 11-day music festival has become an institution in the city since it was first held in 1980. Musicians of all ages are encouraged to display their talent, whether performing individually or in a group. Performers are mostly from Gujarat, but many others from other areas of India participate too.March
Holi: a festival in celebration of the beginning of spring, Holi sees the throwing of coloured powder and water which is thought to reduce the threat of cold and fever at a time when the body is perceived to be vulnerable due to the change in season. Traditionally, the coloured powders were made up of medicinal herbs.July
Rath Yatra: prompting the largest procession in the state, Rath Yatra in early July sees the pulling of chariots and large swarms of people in the streets in commemoration of the departure of Krishna. Decorated elephants and music bands are the highlight of processions during this celebration.August
Tarnetar Fair: exclusive to Ahmedabad, this festival takes place at the end of August or beginning of September at the Trinteshwar temple of lord Shiva. During the festival, locals believe that any woman who stops to converse with a man is deemed to spend the rest of her life with him.September
Ramadan: the traditional month of abstinence and fasting is a significant part of the religious calendar for Ahmedabad’s Muslim population which equates to about one in 10 people here. Ramadan means regular visits to the mosque and fasting during the day, but little in the way of tangible celebration that is noticeable to outside visitors.October
Navratri: lasting nine days, Navratri is a festival celebrated across Gujarat that sees young people dress in their finest traditional clothes ready to dance the garbha every night of the holiday. Women tend to dominate proceedings, clapping their hands and singing around a special lamp.Eid: marking the end of the holiday month of Ramadan, Eid is a popular Islamic holiday in Ahmedabad that sees Muslims dress in their finest clothes before prayers at any one of the mosques in the city. Traditionally, families greet each other and enjoy a large meal which includes toasted vermicelli noodles.
November
Diwali: this major Hindu festival usually takes place in late October/early November. Also known as the ‘festival of light’, Diwali lasts five days and is held in celebration of the victory of good over evil, an event marked with abundant lights and candles throughout Ahmedabad.
Nazariya Films for Peace Festival: this pioneering annual film festival focuses on human rights and alternative cinema, encouraging entrants to submit short films and documentaries for consideration which are then shown in the city.December
Christmas: less than one percent of Ahmedabad’s population is Christian but that still translates to nearly 40,000 people who eagerly celebrate the most important holiday of the year according to their faith. Expect carol services, singing and the exchange of gifts on Christmas Day.
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