Festivals in March 2025 in India You Must Attend

March is a lively month in India, filled with festivals like the Goa Carnival, Lollapalooza India, and Ugadi. These festivals bring the traditions and energy of Indian culture to the forefront. Club Mahindra offers the perfect place to stay for those wanting to dive into these celebrations. With cozy accommodations near each event, Club Mahindra members can easily enjoy everything from the energetic parades in Goa to the peaceful yoga sessions in Rishikesh.

In this blog

• Festivals in March

• Where to Stay During the Festivals

Festivals in March 2025

Goa Carnival

• Dates: February 28 – March 4, 2025
• Location: Goa
• About the Festival: The Goa Carnival is one of the most vibrant festivals in March in India, celebrated with grand parades, music, and street performances. Rooted in Portuguese traditions, it marks the pre-Lenten season with extravagant floats, dance, and feasting, attracting tourists from across the world.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Watch the colourful float parades showcasing Goan culture.
• Enjoy live music, folk dances, and street performances.
• Taste Goan delicacies like Bebinca and Feni.
• Participate in the mask and costume parade.
• Experience the festive energy in Panaji, Mapusa, and Margao.

Lollapalooza India

• Date: March 8, 2025
• Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• About the Festival: Lollapalooza India is a global music festival and one of the most exciting festivals in India in March. Featuring international and Indian artists across genres like rock, pop, and EDM, it offers an electrifying experience for music lovers in Mumbai.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Enjoy live performances by top global and Indian artists.
• Explore interactive art installations and festival zones.
• Indulge in a variety of gourmet food stalls.
• Experience the vibrant festival culture with themed areas.
• Join the crowd in a high-energy musical celebration.

International Yoga Festival

• Dates: March 9 – 15, 2025
• Location: Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
• About the Festival: The International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh is a globally renowned wellness event that draws yoga enthusiasts from across the world. This March festival in India offers yoga sessions, meditation, and spiritual discourses in the serene setting of the Himalayas.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Join yoga and meditation sessions led by global experts.
• Attend spiritual lectures on mindfulness and holistic health.
• Experience the peaceful Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan.
• Explore Ayurvedic healing and wellness therapies.
• Enjoy the tranquil beauty of Rishikesh’s ashrams and ghats.

Lathmar Holi

• Date: March 9, 2025
• Location: Barsana & Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh
• About the Festival: Lathmar Holi, a unique pre-Holi celebration, is one of the most exciting festivals in India in March 2025. Women playfully chase and hit men with sticks in a fun-filled tradition symbolizing Radha and Krishna’s legendary love story.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Witness the playful stick-and-shield tradition in Barsana.
• Enjoy folk music, dance, and devotional songs.
• Experience the vibrant Holi celebrations with colors and festivities.
• Savor traditional sweets like gujiya and thandai.
• Visit Krishna temples in Mathura and Vrindavan.

Holika Dahan

• Date: March 14, 2025
• Location: Across India
• About the Festival: Holika Dahan, celebrated on the eve of Holi, marks the victory of good over evil. As one of the significant March festivals in India, people light bonfires symbolizing the burning of Holika, reinforcing faith in righteousness.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Attend bonfire ceremonies in local communities.
• Listen to mythological stories about Prahlad and Holika.
• Perform rituals and prayers for prosperity.
• Prepare for the grand Holi celebrations the next day.
• Enjoy festive delicacies like puran poli and malpua.

Holi

• Date: March 15, 2025
• Location: Across India
• About the Festival: Holi, the festival of colors, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in March in India. Marking the arrival of spring, people smear each other with colors, dance to festive beats, and enjoy traditional sweets, creating an atmosphere of joy and unity.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Play with colors and water balloons in the streets and temples.
• Experience Mathura and Vrindavan’s grand Holi celebrations.
• Enjoy festive music and dance in Jaipur and Delhi.
• Taste Holi specialties like gujiya and thandai.
• Join cultural performances and Holi parties.

Jaipur Elephant Festival

• Date: March 14, 2025
• Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
• About the Festival: The Jaipur Elephant Festival is a unique cultural event and one of the most fascinating March festivals in India. Held before Holi, it showcases beautifully decorated elephants, traditional folk performances, and royal processions in Jaipur.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Watch the grandeur of elephants adorned in colorful attire.
• Witness elephant polo and tug-of-war competitions.
• Enjoy traditional Rajasthani dance and music performances.
• Participate in Holi celebrations with dry colours.
• Explore Jaipur’s historic palaces and forts.

Shigmotsav

• Dates: March 15 – March 29, 2025
• Location: Goa
• About the Festival: Shigmotsav, Goa’s spring festival, is a vibrant festival in India in March 2025, celebrated with folk dances, elaborate parades, and cultural performances. It showcases Goa’s rich traditions with colour-filled festivities.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Watch the grand float parades and folk performances.
• Enjoy traditional Goan dances like Fugdi and Dekhni.
• Witness temples and homes decorated for the celebrations.
• Savor Goan delicacies and festive drinks.
• Explore the scenic beaches and lively streets of Goa.

Thirunakkara Arattu

• Date: March 24, 2025
• Location: Kottayam, Kerala
• About the Festival: Thirunakkara Arattu is a traditional temple festival in March in India, celebrated at Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple. It features grand processions, caparisoned elephants, and vibrant cultural performances.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Witness the majestic elephant procession.
• Experience Kathakali and other classical dance performances.
• Participate in temple rituals and prayers.
• Enjoy the festive atmosphere with illuminated temple grounds.
• Explore the cultural richness of Kottayam.

Paripally Gajmela

• Date: March 9, 2025
• Location: Kollam, Kerala
• About the Festival: Paripally Gajmela is a grand elephant festival held at the Kodimoottil Sree Bhagavathy Temple. One of the most visually stunning festivals in India in March 2025, it features a magnificent parade of caparisoned elephants, temple rituals, and cultural performances.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Witness the majestic elephant procession with traditional decorations.
• Experience Kerala’s temple rituals and folk music.
• Enjoy traditional dance performances and cultural displays.
• Explore local temple fairs and food stalls.
• Capture the festival’s grandeur through photography.

Ugadi

• Date: March 30, 2025
• Location: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka
• About the Festival: Ugadi marks the New Year for Telugu and Kannada communities and is one of the most auspicious March festivals in India. It symbolizes new beginnings, with homes decorated, special prayers offered, and traditional feasts prepared.

Things to Do During This Festival

• Taste Ugadi Pachadi, a mix of sweet, sour, and bitter flavors.
• Visit temples for special prayers and blessings.
• Watch cultural performances showcasing traditional dance and music.
• Participate in festive processions and celebrations.
• Enjoy family gatherings and feasting on festive dishes.

Gudi Padwa

• Date: March 30, 2025
• Location: Maharashtra, Goa
• About the Festival: Gudi Padwa, the Marathi New Year, is a joyous celebration marked by the hoisting of the Gudi, symbolizing prosperity. As one of the most significant festivals in March in India, it features festive processions, cultural performances, and delicious traditional foods.

Things to Do During This Festival:

• Witness the hoisting of the Gudi outside homes.
• Enjoy street processions with folk performances.
• Relish festive dishes like Puran Poli and Shrikhand.
• Visit temples for special prayers and blessings.
• Experience the festive spirit in Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik.

Where to Stay During the Festivals in March 2025

To fully enjoy the festivals in India in March 2025, a well-located stay can enhance your experience. Club Mahindra resorts offer elegant stays, comfortable accommodations, top-notch amenities, and a variety of activities, making them the perfect choice for festival travelers. Whether you're celebrating Holi, Gudi Padwa, Goa Carnival, or Shigmotsav, these resorts ensure a memorable and immersive festive getaway.

Where to Stay in Maharashtra 

For those celebrating Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Club Mahindra resorts provide the ideal retreat. Stay at Club Mahindra Sherwood, Mahabaleshwar, Club Mahindra Saj, Mahabaleshwar, Club Mahindra Hatgad, or Club Mahindra Tungi, Lonavala. These resorts in Maharashtra offer stunning views, spacious rooms, delicious Maharashtrian cuisine, and adventure activities, making your March festival in India even more special.

Where to Stay in Goa

If you're visiting Goa for the Goa Carnival or Shigmotsav, experience the lively festivities while staying at Club Mahindra resorts in Goa, including Club Mahindra Varca, Club Mahindra Emerald Palms, and Club Mahindra Acacia Palms. These resorts in Goa provide beachfront views, thrilling water sports, cultural performances, and multi-cuisine restaurants, offering the perfect mix of relaxation and excitement.

Where to stay in Jaipur 

For those celebrating Holi and the Jaipur Elephant Festival, Club Mahindra Jaipur is the best place to stay. This resort in Jaipur offers heritage-inspired décor, top-notch amenities, Rajasthani folk entertainment, and authentic local cuisine, ensuring a truly royal experience during festivals in March in India.

Where to stay in Kerala 

To witness Thirunakkara Arattu and Paripally Gajmela, choose from Club Mahindra resorts in Kerala, including Club Mahindra Ashtamudi, Club Mahindra Munnar, Club Mahindra Thekkady, Club Mahindra Cherai, and Club Mahindra Poovar. These resorts in Kerala offer serene backwater experiences, rejuvenating Ayurvedic spa therapies, and delicious Kerala cuisine, making your festival trip truly special.

Where to stay in Karnataka

For those celebrating Ugadi, Club Mahindra resorts in Karnataka provide a blend of tradition and modernity. Stay at Club Mahindra Madikeri, Coorg, Club Mahindra Virajpet, Coorg, and Club Mahindra Eagleton, Bengaluru. These resorts in Karnataka are known for their lush green landscapes, adventure activities, spa treatments, and authentic South Indian cuisine, making them the ideal choice for celebrating March festivals in India.

Conclusion

The festivals of March in India leave lasting memories, thanks to the cultural richness they offer. Club Mahindra enhances these experiences with its resorts located near key festival sites. Whether you're throwing coloured powders during Holi or watching cultural dances during Gudi Padwa, Club Mahindra provides a comfortable stay with local food, cultural performances, and excellent service. This makes every festival moment special and unforgettable.