12 Spectacular Monsoon Festivals in India You Must Experience

India, a land of diverse cultures and traditions, celebrates every season with grandeur, and the monsoon is no exception. As the rains refresh the landscapes, the country embraces the season with vibrant festivities, spiritual rituals, and cultural expressions. Festivals in India during monsoon are a tribute to nature’s abundance, marked by colourful processions, traditional music, dance, and age-old customs. Whether steeped in devotion, showcasing local artistry, or bringing communities together in joyous revelry, these celebrations offer a unique glimpse into India’s rich heritage.

Here are 12 spectacular monsoon festivals in India you must experience to truly embrace the magic of the rainy season.

1. Teejh/ Teej
2. Nag Panchami
3. Saputara Monsoon Festival
4. Raksha Bandhan
5. Onam
6. Ganesh Chaturthi
7. Janmashtami 
8. Puri Rath Yatra
9. Hemis Festival
10. Behdienkhlam
11. Sao Joao
12. Adiperukku

Teejh / Teej

Among the many festivals in India during monsoon season, Teej stands out as a celebration of love, devotion, and the rejuvenating spirit of the rains. Primarily observed by women, this festival is dedicated to the union of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, symbolizing marital bliss and prosperity. As the monsoon showers bring new life to the earth, Teej festivities fill the air with joy, featuring traditional songs, dances, vibrant processions, and elaborate rituals. 

Date: In 2025, Hariyali Teej falls on July 27, while Hartalika Teej will be observed on August 26th. Kajari Teej usually occurs approximately 15 days after Hariyali Teej, though the exact date may vary.

Where to Celebrate:

Teej is celebrated with great enthusiasm across various parts of India, with some of the best places to experience its vibrant festivities being Jaipur, Bundi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Bihar and Jharkhand. 

Nag Panchami

Amid the vibrant monsoon festivals in India, Nag Panchami stands out as a unique celebration dedicated to the worship of serpents. Rooted in ancient traditions and mythology, this festival symbolizes protection, prosperity, and the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. As the monsoon replenishes the earth, devotees across India offer prayers, milk, and flowers to snake idols and live cobras, seeking blessings for their families and protection from evil. 

Date: In 2025, Nag Panchami falls on July 29th.

Where to Celebrate:

Nag Panchami is widely celebrated across India, with some of the best places to experience its vibrant rituals being Battis Shirala in Maharashtra, Nagvasuki Temple in Prayagraj, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, various temples in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, where it is associated with the worship of Manasa Devi.

Saputara Monsoon Festival

The Saputara Monsoon Festival is a vibrant celebration that showcases the natural beauty and cultural richness of Gujarat’s only hill station. As one of the most exciting festivals of the monsoon season, it highlights the lush greenery, misty landscapes, and refreshing climate that the season brings. The festival offers a perfect mix of cultural performances, adventure activities, handicraft exhibitions, and traditional cuisine, allowing visitors to experience the essence of the region. 

Date: Yet to be announced

Where to Celebrate:

The Saputara Monsoon Festival is celebrated in Saputara, Gujarat, the state’s only hill station. The main events take place around the Boat House Ground near Saputara Lake, with various cultural and adventure activities spread across the town.

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan is one of the most cherished festivals in India during the monsoon season. It celebrates the sacred bond between siblings. Rooted in tradition and love, this festival symbolizes protection, affection, and lifelong commitment. On this special day, sisters tie a rakhi, a sacred thread, around their brothers' wrists, praying for their well-being, while brothers pledge to protect and support their sisters. The festival is marked by family gatherings, gift exchanges, and festive feasts, making it a heartwarming occasion that strengthens familial bonds amidst the refreshing monsoon season.

Date: 9th August 2025

Where to Celebrate:

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with great enthusiasm across all parts of India, but some of the best places to experience its grandeur and cultural significance include Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Mathura, where traditional rituals and festive markets create a lively atmosphere

Onam 

Onam is one of the top monsoon festivals, celebrated with grandeur in Kerala, marking the homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali. This vibrant festival showcases Kerala’s rich cultural heritage through elaborate rituals, stunning floral decorations (Pookalam), mesmerizing Kathakali performances, and the famous snake boat races. Onam is a time of joy, togetherness, and feasting, with the grand Onam Sadhya, a traditional multi-course meal, being a highlight. 

Date: Tue, 26th Aug, 2025 – Fri, 5th Sept, 2025

Where to Celebrate:

Onam is celebrated with great enthusiasm across Kerala, but some of the best places to experience its grandeur include Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Thrissur, Kottayam, and Alappuzha. 

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most widely celebrated monsoon festivals, marking the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom and prosperity. This grand festival brings communities together in devotion, with beautifully crafted Ganesha idols installed in homes and elaborate public pandals. The air is filled with chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya," devotional songs, and vibrant processions as devotees offer prayers, sweets like modaks, and perform aartis. The festival culminates with the visarjan (immersion) of the idols in water, symbolizing the cycle of creation and dissolution. 

Date: Wed, 27th Aug, 2025

Where to Celebrate:

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated across India, but some of the best places to experience its grandeur include Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Goa. Mumbai is the epicentre of the festival, with massive pandals like Lalbaugcha Raja and Ganesh Galli attracting millions of devotees. 

Janmashtami

 Janmashtami is one of the most significant monsoon festivals in India, celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Marked by devotion, joy, and elaborate rituals, this festival brings devotees together to honour Krishna’s life and teachings. Temples are beautifully decorated, bhajans (devotional songs) fill the air, and dramatic reenactments of Krishna’s childhood, known as Raslila, captivate audiences. A major highlight is Dahi Handi, where teams of young men form human pyramids to break an earthen pot filled with curd, symbolizing Krishna’s playful nature. 

Date: Sat, 16th Aug, 2025

Where to Celebrate:

Janmashtami is celebrated across India, but some of the best places to experience its grandeur include Mathura, Vrindavan, Dwarka, Nathdwara, Mumbai, and Puri. Mathura and Vrindavan, being the birthplace and childhood home of Lord Krishna, host spectacular temple celebrations, Raslilas, and processions. 

Puri Rath Yatra

The Puri Rath Yatra is one of the most revered monsoon festivals in India, celebrated with immense devotion and grandeur in Odisha. This ancient festival, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra, is marked by the grand procession of three massive chariots through the streets of Puri. Millions of devotees gather to witness this sacred spectacle, pulling the elaborately decorated chariots from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, symbolizing the deities' annual visit to their aunt’s home.

Date: 27th June 2025

Where to Celebrate:

The Puri Rath Yatra is best celebrated in Puri, Odisha, home to the iconic Jagannath Temple. Smaller Rath Yatras also take place in Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and New Delhi, but Puri remains the most significant and grandest venue.

Hemis Festival

The Hemis Festival is one of the most vibrant festivals in India during the monsoon season. It is celebrated in Ladakh to honour Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. Held at the Hemis Monastery, the festival features mesmerizing masked dances, traditional music, and spiritual rituals. Monks dressed in elaborate costumes perform the sacred Cham dance, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.

Date:  5th – 6th July, 2025

Where to Celebrate: 

The Hemis Festival is best celebrated at the Hemis Monastery in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, the largest and most famous monastery in the region.

Behdienkhlam

Behdienkhlam is a vibrant monsoon festival celebrated by the Pnar tribe of Meghalaya, primarily in Jowai. This festival is held to drive away evil spirits and seek blessings for a bountiful harvest. Marked by colourful rituals, traditional dances, and the symbolic immersion of elaborately decorated bamboo structures, Behdienkhlam showcases the rich cultural heritage of Meghalaya.

Date: Friday to Monday, July 11th to 14th, 2025 

Where to Celebrate:  

The Behdienkhlam Festival is best celebrated in Jowai, Meghalaya, the cultural hub of the Pnar tribe.

Sao Joao

Sao Joao is a lively monsoon festival celebrated in Goa, honouring St. John the Baptist. Marked by vibrant traditions, locals jump into wells, ponds, and streams to celebrate the arrival of the rains. The festival is filled with music, dance, boat races, and colourful parades, reflecting Goa’s rich Portuguese heritage and joyful monsoon spirit.

Date:  23rd - 24th June 2025

Where to Celebrate:

The Sao Joao Festival is best celebrated in Goa, particularly in North Goa villages like Siolim, Anjuna, and Candolim, where the festivities are most vibrant.

Adiperukku

Adiperukku is a unique monsoon festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to the rivers and water bodies that sustain life. Observed on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi, it is a thanksgiving festival where devotees offer prayers along riverbanks, especially near the Kaveri River, seeking prosperity and abundance.

Date: August 2nd, 2025

Where to Celebrate:

Adiperukku is best celebrated along the Kaveri River in Tamil Nadu, particularly in regions like Trichy, Thanjavur, and Erode, where special rituals and festivities take place.

The Festivals of Monsoon bring vibrancy, devotion, and cultural richness to India, transforming the rainy season into a time of grand celebrations. From spiritual rituals to colourful processions and traditional performances, these festivals reflect the country’s deep-rooted traditions and communal spirit. Whether honouring nature, deities, or age-old customs, the Top Monsoon Festivals offer a unique experience, blending faith, joy, and togetherness against the lush backdrop of the season.