Special Festivals Tours

DURATION:
Duration and schedule vary from situation to situation.
It will be calculated based on the Tour.

COST:
The cost varies depending on the duration and schedule.
It will be calculated based on the Tour.

Experience with me the vibrant festivals season!
Unconventional Tours organised for special occasions such as religious festivals, important anniversaries
and special events. To take part to these Tours, you should be aware and be prepared to endure crowded places, often very noisy, probably nowhere to sit and even some unexpected events.
What you'll get in return is the vibrant life and the most unexpected situations that can only happen in India.
An immersive experience that will remain in your memory forever.

Keep an eye on this page, as it goes with the flow.

Muharram - Ashura
July 6, 2025

June 25 or 26, 2026

Ashura is an important anniversary for the Muslim community, 
celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Muharram, the first month of the New Year, Hijri.

On this day, Sunni Muslims celebrate by fasting, offering prayers and reciting the Quran.
Shia Muslims, after days of prayer and fasting, commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the people who accompanied him in the Battle of Karbala, including his family.
They carry in procession Taziyas, reproductions of Hussain's tomb, made of bamboo
and adorned with paper and colorful fabrics. This is the tradition in Delhi.

On this day you may also encounter small groups of men walking and flagellating themselves in solidarity with the martyrdom of Hussain and those who were slaughtered with him, including children and women.

I will take you to Old Delhi to see how they prepare themselves for this procession
and then to Nizamuddin Basti, where Ashura is celebrated through community rituals involving
both Sunni and Shia Muslims, as well as people of other faiths, in the full Sufi tradition of interreligious harmony.
We will follow the procession as it exits and makes its way through the streets.

Krishna Janmashtami
August 16, 2025

September 4, 2026

Janmashtami is one of the most heartfelt Hindu festivals. It celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna.
For two days puja, mantra and the Bhagavad Gita are performed in his honor throughout much of India.
Devotees involved in the celebrations expect Krishna's blessing,
which will bring them happiness, prosperity and the fulfillment of their wishes.
The main ritual, the Nishita Puja, takes place at midnight to celebrate the birth of the deity.

This tour will focus on visiting the most important temples dedicated to Krishna, in various areas of Delhi.
We will travel by autorickshaw (tuk tuk) to witness and participate in the celebrations.

Ganesh Chaturthi
from August 27 to September 6, 2025

From September 14 to 25, 2026

The true festive season begins with Ganesh Chaturthi, the birthday of one of the most beloved Hindu Gods.
Let's visit Delhi's most important pandals and see how devotees pay homage to the son of the God Shiva and Parvati, his consort and one of the most revered female deities.
Particularly in the late afternoon, people gather at the pandals bringing offerings of flowers, money, fruit, and of course, huge quantities of laddoo, Ganesha's favorite dessert.
There will be songs, programs and, in some places, even food stalls. The celebrations will last nine days and nine nights (Navratri), concluding with the last day, Visarjan, when devotees will carry their idols, large and small, in procession from the pandals to be immersed in water.

We'll travel by autorickshaw (tuk tuk) to witness the celebrations, participate in them, and offer laddoos to those who, hopefully, will help us overcome the obstacles life throws at us.

Navratri: Vijayadashami and Dussehra

There are two ways, at this time of year, to celebrate the victory of good over evil: in some parts of India it's called Vijayadashami, in others Dussehra. In both cases, and in different ways, this victory is commemorated at the end of Navratri; the nine days and nine nights dedicated to the Goddess Durga.

In Delhi, you can experience both ways to celebrate this period and the final victory!

Navratri
from September 22 to October 2, 2025

October 11-20, 2026

The festival is dedicated to the Goddess Durga. During these nine nights and ten days,
the Goddess Durga is worshiped in nine different forms, known as Navdurga.
The tenth and final day is celebrated as Vijayadashami, the victory of good over evil.
In this case, the victory of the Goddess over the demon Mahishasura. Effigies of Durga, large and small,
will be taken from the pandals and immersed in water.

Its greatest expression, called Pujo, or Durga Puja, is experienced in Kolkata, but if you find yourself in Delhi
there is a large community here from West Bengal who, of course, preserve their traditions here as well.
Participating with them is the best way to fully experience the festival.

You can come with me and take part in the Navratri evenings, as well as the Vijayadashami experience.
Keep in mind, especially for the latter, you really have to be prepared to endure crowds
and some discomfort in exchange for a truly authentic experience!

Ramlila, Dussehra and Ravan Dahan
from September 22 to October 2, 2025

October 11-20, 2026

Particularly here in the North, the days leading up to Dussehra are celebrated with highly attended performances of the epic Ramayana. These take place almost everywhere, in cities and villages and are called Ramlila.
In Delhi, there are several places where you can attend them, but two in particular traditionally began during
the last Mughal's time and are now enhanced by amusement parks and stalls, especially food stalls.

The tenth and final day of Navratri is celebrated as Dussehra, the victory of good over evil.
This is represented by the defeat of the demon king Ravana at the hands of the God Rama.
Very tall effiges of Ravana, his brother and his son are set ablaze during Ravan Dahan,
in the spaces adjacent to Ramlila as well as in some neighborhood of the city.

You can come with me and take part in the Ramlila evenings and the Ravan Dahan experience.
Keep in mind, especially for the latter, you really have to be prepared to endure crowds
and some discomfort in exchange for a truly authentic experience!

 

Chhath Puja
October 25-28, 2025

November 13-16, 2026

Six days after Diwali (Deepawali), celebrations for Chhath Puja start. This is an ancient Hindu festival that lasts four days. Each of the four days includes different rituals, which those who choose to perform must follow very rigorously.

Preparations for Chhath begin the day after Diwali, when people will only follow a Satvik diet (without onion or garlic) and will eat only after ritual bathing in the river.

Chhath Puja honors the gods Surya (the Sun) and Chhathi Maiyya (his sister) with offerings and prayers. They ask for happiness for their family and future well-being for their children. Fasting, mostly observed by women, is another form of prayer to obtain these blessings.

This festival is particularly celebrated in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, but also throughout the northern regions and in major urban centers of northern India such as Delhi and Varanasi.

In Delhi, the Yamuna is a holy river, a tributary of the Ganges, but it is highly polluted. Nevertheless, there are those who still cannot imagine giving up the ritual in the river. Those who follow the directives and restrictions participate by using special artificial water bodies, made available by the municipality in some areas of the city.

I will take you through the two final rituals: Sandhya Arghya and, or Usha Arghya. 
Read more below.

 

Sandhya Arghya October 27

Sandhya Arghya is the main evening ritual that takes place on the third day of Chhath Puja. Devotees offer prayers and water, arghya, to the setting sun to express gratitude for life which, without the sun would be unsustainable, to invoke its blessings and to ask for prosperity for their families, especially their children. They also ask for blessings for fertility. After fasting, including abstaining from drinking a single drop of water, from dawn onward, entire families head to the Yamuna River, laden with baskets containing offerings and everything needed for the rituals. Once they reach the riverbank they begin their practices in an atmosphere that slowly becomes surreal.

We will go together to witness this incredible expression of devotion, still steeped in ancient times and animism. If you're lucky enough to be in Delhi these days, and you have a great spirit of adaptability, don't miss this unique opportunity!

IMPORTANT!!!
It's really important to be willing to experience a far from comfortable situation; this isn't an event for tourists. But that's what will make it special.

 

Usha Arghya October 28

Usha Arghya concludes the four-day Chhath Puja. The ritual offering made to the rising sun, Usha Arghya, literally "dawn offering," marks the culmination of a 36-hour fast. The devotees immerse themselves in the water to once again offer prayers to the Sun God, celebrating new beginnings and invoking blessings for prosperity and well-being.

We will go together to witness this incredible expression of devotion, still steeped in ancient times and animism. We'll have to go to the river before dawn, while it's still dark, so a special spirit of adaptation is required. What you'll receive in return will be an experience you'll remember forever, in a truly incredible and unique atmosphere. Once the sun is high, and people will go back to their homes to eat, we'll go together for a hearty breakfast and to process this experience.
If you're lucky enough to be in Delhi these days, and you have a great spirit of adaptability, don't miss this unique opportunity!

IMPORTANT!!!
It's really important to be willing to experience a far from comfortable situation; this isn't an event for tourists. But that's what will make it special.

Contact me to book your Tour