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July in India is more than monsoon rains – it’s a time of grand celebrations, ancient traditions, and electrifying energy. Festivals in July in India range from massive chariot processions in Odisha to vibrant tribal rituals in Meghalaya and high-adrenaline boat races in Kerala. Some bring communities together in devotion, while others turn entire cities into cultural hotspots. Whether it’s the spiritual pull of Amarnath Yatra or the sweet indulgence of Delhi’s mango festival, there’s something exciting happening everywhere.
Top 10 Festivals In India To Celebrate In July
Here are the vibrant festivals that make July a special month in India, celebrating rich traditions, culture, and spiritual significance across the country:
1. Puri Rath Yatra
Photo: Krupasindhu Muduli / Wikimedia Commons
The Puri Rath Yatra turns Odisha’s old city into a huge religious gathering where tall wooden chariots carry gods Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra through crowded streets. Millions of people come to pull these beautifully carved 43-foot chariots, believing this act brings great spiritual rewards. The week-long event marks the gods’ yearly trip to their aunt’s temple, with ongoing prayers, religious songs, and lively dancing. After nine days at Gundicha Temple, the gods return home in an equally grand parade called Bahuda Yatra.
Celebrated In: Puri, Odisha
Main Attractions: Grand chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra
2. Hemis Festival
Photo: MaryOfPrag / Wikimedia Commons
The Hemis Festival brightens Ladakh’s biggest monastery with colourful celebrations honouring Guru Padmasambhava, who brought Buddhism to Tibet. Monks perform amazing dances wearing fancy robes and large paper masks showing Buddhist gods and demons. These careful dance moves tell stories about Buddhist teachings winning over ignorance. The monastery sometimes shows its greatest treasure, a huge cloth painting with pearls, seen only once every twelve years.
Celebrated In: Hemis Monastery, Ladakh
Main Attractions: Cham dance by monks, display of sacred thangka
3. Bonalu Festival
Photo: iMahesh / Wikimedia Commons
Telangana’s Bonalu Festival fills cities with lively celebrations honouring goddess Mahakali during the rainy season. Women balance decorated clay pots with rice, raw sugar, yoghurt, and yellow turmeric with red powder on their heads as gifts to fulfill promises to the goddess. Starting at Golconda Fort’s Jagadambika Temple, celebrations spread through Hyderabad and Secunderabad with strong community support. Men called Potharajus, acting as the goddess’s brother, dance wildly while cracking whips and wearing bells on their ankles.
Celebrated In: Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Telangana
Main Attractions: Women carrying Bonam, Pothuraju dance, grand processions
4. Behdienkhlam Festival
Photo: Wann Majaw / Wikimedia Commons
Meghalaya’s Behdienkhlam Festival brings the Pnar people together in detailed rituals to drive away sickness and ensure good crops. Men throw water on house roofs while saying prayers for cleaning, creating a community-wide washing ceremony. People built carefully carved wooden structures called “rots,” decorated with coloured paper and shiny materials, which were later pushed into the Myntdu River. Young men show courage by climbing slippery, greased bamboo poles to get flags placed on top, while crowds cheer them on.
Celebrated In: Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya
Main Attractions: Traditional stick dances, immersion of decorative rots
5. Dree Festival
Photo: Arunachal2007 / Wikimedia Commons
The Apatani tribe’s Dree Festival turns Arunachal Pradesh’s Ziro Valley into a lively cultural showcase celebrating farming success. Tribal priests perform detailed ceremonies to please four farming gods – Tamu, Harniang, Metii, and Danyi – through ritual offerings of chickens, eggs, and local bison alongside rice beer. People dressed in blue coats, white headgear, and bamboo jewellery perform group folk dances while singing old rhythmic songs passed down through generations.
Celebrated In: Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
Main Attractions: Community feasts, folk dances, and prayers for a good harvest
6. Karsha Gustor Festival
Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves / Wikimedia Commons
The Karsha Gustor Festival changes Zanskar Valley’s largest monastery, built in the tenth century, into a spiritual theatre where monks perform sacred dances in bright robes and detailed masks. Their careful dance moves tell Buddhist stories, especially showing Guru Padmasambhava’s victory over evil forces. The two-day celebration ends with “argham,” a ritual destroying of bread figures representing evil forces, showing the final victory of Buddhist teachings.
Celebrated In: Karsha Monastery, Zanskar, Ladakh
Main Attractions: Masked Cham dance, destruction of a ritual cake symbolising the victory of good over evil
7. Global Mango Festival
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons
Delhi’s Global Mango Festival shows off India’s farming pride through stunning displays of over five hundred mango types from across the country. Farmers proudly show prized mangoes like creamy Alphonso, sweet-smelling Chausa, smooth Dussehri, and tangy Langra alongside rare foreign varieties. Eager participants compete for prizes in groups including largest fruit, sweetest taste, and most unusual shape. Visitors enjoy mango-themed activities including eating contests, cooking shows with new mango recipes, and cultural performances celebrating the fruit’s importance.
Celebrated In: Dilli Haat, New Delhi
Main Attractions: Mango tasting, exhibitions, and competitions
8. Champakulam Boat Race
Photo: Manoj Karingamadathil / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The Champakulam Moolam Boat Race starts Kerala’s rowing season with spectacular events along the Pampa River, continuing a tradition tied to the sixteenth-century placement of Krishna’s statue at Ambalappuzha Temple. Magnificent long boats measuring 120 feet move through backwaters powered by over one hundred rowers working in perfect timing while singing traditional boat songs that keep their steady beat. Different boat types including iruttukuthi, churulan, and veppu compete for the prized Champakulam trophy amid beautiful water patterns and ceremonial water splashing.
Celebrated In: Alappuzha, Kerala
Main Attractions: Traditional snake boat races, rhythmic rowing, and festive celebrations
9. Guru Purnima
Photo: Marcin Białek / Wikimedia Commons
Guru Purnima, observed on the full moon day of Ashadha month, is a day of deep reverence for teachers and mentors. Devotees wake up early to visit temples, offer prayers, and express gratitude to their gurus, both spiritual and academic. Many ashrams and educational institutions hold special discourses, chanting sessions, and community meals. In Buddhist monasteries, monks gather to meditate and commemorate the teachings of Buddha.
Celebrated In: Across India
Main Attractions: Night-long prayers, temple rituals, and spiritual discourses
10. Malabar River Festival
Photo: Guillaume Bonastre / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The Malabar River Festival turns Kerala’s rain-filled Chalipuzha and Iruvanjipuzha Rivers into South Asia’s best white-water kayaking contest, bringing top international athletes to navigate challenging rapids across several exciting events. Professional kayakers show amazing skills in Extreme Race, Boater Cross, and Downriver Time Trial contests, competing for big prize money while showing this extreme sport to eager watchers. After daytime competitions, evenings feature traditional Theyyam dance shows, real Kerala food, and cultural sharing between international participants and local communities.
Celebrated In: Kozhikode, Kerala
Main Attractions: Kayaking and rafting competitions with international participants
Festivals in July in India turn the month into a vibrant showcase of traditions, devotion, and joy. Grand chariot processions, tribal rituals, and thrilling sports events create unforgettable experiences across the country. From spiritual gatherings to cultural feasts, every celebration has something unique to offer. Book with TripXL for expert-planned itineraries, seamless travel arrangements, and the best festival experiences across India.
Cover Photo: Arnab21th / Wikimedia Commons
