Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
Spring in India is a season of celebrations. As winter fades, festivals in the spring season in India bring people together with colours, music, and traditions. Holi turns streets into a riot of colours, Baisakhi fills fields with dance and drum beats, and Ugadi marks new beginnings with festive rituals. Families gather, temples host grand processions and markets buzz with special treats. From harvest feasts to vibrant street parades, these festivals showcase the country’s rich cultural diversity. Each festival has its own story, making spring one of the most exciting times of the year.
Top 10 Festivals In The Spring Season In India
Here are ten of the best festivals in the spring season in India that celebrate tradition and bring people together in festive spirit:
1. Holi
Photo: Maxime Bhm / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Known as the “Festival of Colours,” Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Celebrated in March, people smear each other with powders and water, dance to traditional music, and share festive foods like gujiya (sweet dumplings) and thandai (a spiced milk drink). The celebration begins the night before with Holika Dahan, where bonfires symbolise the burning of the demon Holika. Holi breaks down social barriers as people of all backgrounds come together in joyous celebration, making it one of India’s most beloved and internationally recognised festivals.
Celebrated In: Across India
Main Attractions: Vibrant Color Play, Festive Sweets, Lively Music
2. Baisakhi
Photo: Ministry of Culture / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Celebrated primarily in Punjab on April 13 or 14, Baisakhi marks the Sikh New Year and commemorates the formation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It’s also an important harvest festival for farmers, celebrating the wheat harvest season. Festivities include vibrant processions called Nagar Kirtan, Gurdwara visits, energetic Bhangra and Gidda folk dances, and community feasts (langar). The Golden Temple in Amritsar becomes the epicentre of celebrations, with pilgrims taking holy dips in its sacred pool. Baisakhi embodies the spirit of new beginnings, gratitude, and community solidarity.
Celebrated In: Punjab and Haryana
Main Attractions: Traditional Bhangra Dance, Fairs, Festive Feasts
3. Bohag Bihu
Photo: Diganta Talukdar / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Bohag Bihu (or Rongali Bihu) is Assam’s most important festival, marking the Assamese New Year in mid-April. This week-long celebration coincides with the spring harvest and features distinctive traditions like the Bihu dance, performed in colourful traditional attire with energetic movements symbolising youthful vigour. Traditional Bihu songs accompanied by instruments like the dhol, pepa, and gogona create a festive atmosphere. Special foods include pitha (rice cakes) and laru (sweet balls made of coconut or sesame). Another unique aspect is the cattle worship ceremony, where livestock are bathed, adorned, and blessed for their role in agriculture.
Celebrated In: Assam
Main Attractions: Energetic Bihu Dance, Folk Songs, Assamese Cuisine
4. Vishu
Photo: Vishnu Kunnathully / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Celebrated in Kerala on April 14 or 15, Vishu marks the Malayalam New Year and spring equinox. The most distinctive tradition is Vishukkani—a ritual arrangement of auspicious items like gold, fruits, vegetables, coins, and religious texts that family members view first thing in the morning, symbolising prosperity for the coming year. Other customs include giving money gifts (Vishukkaineetam), especially to children, wearing new clothes, and enjoying a traditional feast (Sadya) with a perfect balance of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter flavours. Spectacular fireworks and visits to temples, particularly the Sabarimala and Guruvayur temples, round out the celebrations.
Celebrated In: Kerala
Main Attractions: Vishukkani Ritual, Grand Vegetarian Feast, Fireworks
5. Puthandu
Photo: Amila Tennakoon / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Tamil New Year (Puthandu) falls on April 14, welcoming the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai. Homes are adorned with kolam (decorative floor patterns) and mango leaves. Like Vishu, Puthandu features a ritual arrangement called Kani that’s viewed upon waking for good fortune. The traditional feast includes mangoes, jackfruit, bananas, and dishes with six key flavours: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent, and spicy, symbolising life’s varied experiences. Temples host special ceremonies, and cultural performances bring communities together.
Celebrated In: Tamil Nadu
Main Attractions: Colourful Kolam Decorations, Temple Rituals, Festive Dishes
6. Basant Panchami
Photo: BadhonCR / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Falling in late January or early February, Basant Panchami heralds the arrival of spring with a celebration dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, and arts. The festival is characterized by its vibrant yellow theme—people wear yellow clothes, prepare yellow sweets like kesari bhaat, and exchange yellow flowers to represent the ripening mustard fields. Educational institutions hold special ceremonies where students place their books and instruments before the goddess for blessing. In Punjab and parts of North India, the day is also marked by flying colourful kites that dot the sky.
Celebrated In: Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan
Main Attractions: Kite Flying, Saraswati Puja, Yellow-themed Celebrations
7. Mapro Strawberry Festival
Photo: MChance666 / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
A more contemporary addition to India’s festival calendar, the Mapro Strawberry Festival takes place in March or April in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra—India’s strawberry capital. This four-day festival transforms the hills of Mahabaleshwar into a paradise for food enthusiasts with strawberry-themed games, cooking competitions, and workshops demonstrating innovative recipes. Visitors can indulge in strawberry pizza, strawberry bhel, chocolate-covered strawberries, and fresh strawberry cream while enjoying live music performances. The festival also educates visitors about strawberry cultivation through farm tours and offers opportunities to pick fresh strawberries. Unlike most traditional Indian festivals, this celebration highlights agricultural innovation while promoting rural tourism.
Celebrated In: Maharashtra
Main Attractions: Free Strawberry Tastings, Cultural Performances, Farm Visits
8. Shigmo
Photo: Frederick Noronha / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Celebrated in Goa during March, Shigmo is a vibrant spring festival with both religious and cultural significance. It begins with temple rituals by rural communities to welcome warriors returning from battle in ancient times and evolves into public festivities lasting up to two weeks. The highlight is the elaborate street parade featuring colourful floats depicting scenes from mythology, folk dances like Ghode Modni (horse dance) and Fugdi, and traditional musical instruments including dhol, tasha, and cymbal. Folk artists painted in bright colours perform traditional dances, while the Chitrarath (decorated chariots) showcase Goan artistic traditions.
Celebrated In: Goa
Main Attractions: Colorful Street Parades, Folk Dances, Music
9. Ugadi
Photo: Kalyan Kanuri / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Celebrated as the New Year in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, Ugadi (usually in March-April) begins with ritual cleansing, oil baths, and prayers. Homes are decorated with mango leaves and colourful rangoli. The pivotal Ugadi tradition is the preparation of Bevu-Bella, a mixture of six flavors including neem (bitter), jaggery (sweet), green chilli (spicy), salt, tamarind (sour), and raw mango (tangy), symbolising life’s mixed experiences. The day is considered highly auspicious for starting new ventures. Special dishes include holige/obbattu (sweet flatbread), kosambari (salad), and chitranna (lemon rice). Cultural programs featuring classical music and dance performances enhance the celebrations.
Celebrated In: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana
Main Attractions: Special Ugadi Pachadi Dish, New Year Celebrations
10. Gudi Padwa
Photo: Abhijit Tembhekar / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Marking the new year in Maharashtra on the first day of Chaitra month (March-April), Gudi Padwa features the distinctive tradition of raising a Gudi—a bamboo stick with silk cloth, neem and mango leaves, sugar garland, and an inverted copper or silver pot—outside homes to ward off evil and invite prosperity. The rangoli decorations adorn entranceways, while families dress in new traditional attire. The special feast includes sweet dishes like shrikhand (strained yoghurt dessert) and puran poli (sweet flatbread) alongside savoury items. Urban centres host massive processions with traditional dhol-tasha pathaks (drum troops), folk dances, and lavani performances.
Celebrated In: Maharashtra
Main Attractions: Traditional Gudi Flag Hoisting, Festive Meals, Processions
These festivals in the spring season in India capture the essence of celebration, community, and tradition. From the riot of colours during Holi to the rhythmic beats of Baisakhi and the rituals of Ugadi, each festival brings its own charm. They mark new beginnings, honour cultural heritage, and turn the season into a time of joy and togetherness. Plan a trip with TripXL and experience the energy of these vibrant celebrations firsthand.
Cover Photo: Azim Khan Ronnie / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
