17 Most Beautiful Festivals in December 2023 in India with Dates and Images

December in India is a magical month marked by gentle breezes, festive jubilance, and an amalgamation of cultural celebrations. As the winter chill sets in, the landscape undergoes a picturesque transformation with delicate snowfalls, heartwarming embraces, and the emergence of cozy winter fashion trends. December festival in India ambiance resonates with the melodious jingling of bells, the harmonious rendition of joyous songs, the anticipation of Santa’s presents, and the enchanting glow of sparkling lights against the velvety backdrop of dark skies.

This month holds a special place for traditions, family reunions, and the creation of cherished memories. Beyond its romantic foggy-chill weather, December marks significant events like the solstice, adding historical depth to the festive season. The month’s climate perfectly aligns with the preferences of many, making December a favorite among individuals.

Festival in India in December are synonymous with a festive atmosphere, where the air is thick with happiness and a sense of wonder. From the joyous celebrations to the heartfelt exchanges of greetings, the entire month feels magical and alive. It’s a time for communities to come together, fostering a spirit of unity and shared joy.

In India, a country known for its diverse cultures and religions, December sees the convergence of nearly 50 festivals, each offering a unique tapestry of traditions and celebrations. The festivals span the spectrum of religious and cultural diversity, showcasing the myriad ways people express their devotion and cultural identity.

As December festivals in India unfolds, it becomes a vibrant canvas painted with the hues of various festivals. The celebrations not only captivate the local populace but also draw the attention of global audiences. Indian festivals December takes center stage, providing a unique opportunity for visitors to witness the country’s traditions come to life.

Beyond the borders of India, December witnesses the celebration of various fairs and festivals. These December events offer a glimpse into the country’s cultural mosaic and serve as a testament to India’s global cultural influence. The festivals of India in December bring people from different corners of the world together, fostering a sense of shared joy and appreciation for diverse traditions.

As we immerse ourselves in the festive spirit of December, it becomes an opportunity to explore the country’s rich cultural diversity. Whether attending local events or exploring traditions from different regions, the month offers a unique tapestry of experiences. From religious rituals to vibrant street processions, festival in December in India showcase the unity in diversity that defines the country.

The festivals in December India are not merely events; they are experiences that resonate with the nation’s soul. From the grandeur of Diwali to the vibrant colors of Holi, each festival carries its unique significance, adding to the collective cultural identity of India. It’s a time when the country comes alive with the rhythm of traditional dances, the melody of festive tunes, and the irresistible aroma of delectable seasonal delicacies.

As we celebrate the festivals of December in India, we witness the blending of ancient traditions with modern celebrations. The cultural tapestry unfolds, revealing the depth of India’s historical heritage and the resilience of its age-old traditions.

In conclusion, December is not merely a month on the calendar; it’s a canvas on which India paints its vibrant cultural landscape. The festivals, each a brushstroke on this canvas, create a masterpiece that captivates hearts and minds alike. So, as we navigate the festive labyrinth of December, let’s embrace the joyous spirit, creating lasting memories and appreciating the cultural richness that defines India’s festival calendar.

Check the list of Festivals in December 2023 in India:

S.No.	Festivals in December	Festivals Date and Duration	Location
1	Kumbhalgarh Festival	01-Dec-2023 to 03-Dec-2023	84 kms north of Udaipur
2	Feast of Francis Xavier	03-Dec-23	Goa, India
3	International Sand Art Festival	1st-Dec-2023 to 5-Dec-2023	Chandrabhaga 70 Kms from Bhubaneswar, Odisha
4	Konark Festival	1-Dec-2023 to 5-Dec-2023	Konark, 64 Kms from Bhubaneswar, Odisha
5	Hornbill Festival	1-Dec-2023 to 10-Dec-2023	Kisama village, 12 kms from Kohima
6	Perumthitta Tharavad	7-Dec-2022 to17-Dec-2022	Kasaragod, near Kerala, 70 kms from Mangalore
7	Magnetic Fields Festival	15, 16, 17 Dec 2023	Alsisar, 26 Kms from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
8	Karthigai Deepam	Nov 26, 2023	Tamil Nadu
9	The Cochin Carnival	25 Dec 2022 to 1 Jan 2023	Kochi Fort, 45kms from kochin, Kerala
10	Rann Utsav	26-Oct-2023 to 20-Feb-2024	Dhordo, 80 kms from Bhuj
11	Kurukshetra Festival	22-Dec-23	Kurukshetra, 100kms from Chandigarh, Haryana
12	Hot Air Balloon Festival, Hampi	1-Dec-2023 to 31-Dec-2023	Hampi, Mysuru, Bangalore, Pushkar
13	Winter Festival Mount Abu, Rajasthan	29-Dec-2023 to 31-Dec-2023	Mount Abu, 163 Kms from Udaipur, Rajasthan
14	Galdan Namchot	7 Dec 2023 – 7 Dec 2023	All over Ladhak, 8km from Leh
15	Mamallapuram Dance Festival	25-Dec-2023 to 15-Jan-2024	Mahabalipuram, 61 kms from Chennai
16	Christmas	25-Dec-23	All over India
17	New Year’s Eve	31-Dec-2023 to 1st-Dec-2024	All over India

1- Kumbhalgarh Festival(01-Dec-2023 to 03-Dec-2023):

Kumbhalgarh festival is celebrated in the Kumbhalgarh Fort of Udaipur, India. This festival continues for three days, and each day is uniquely celebrated. This is a cultural festival and attracts numerous tourists. You can find all kinds of cultural activities during this festival. It is a delight for the tourists to witness such a wide variety of art under one roof, giving them the true essence of Rajasthan.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Dance and music by folk groups
Puppet shows
Exhibitions
Art and craft camps and workshops

Kumbhalgarh Festival Dates and Duration: 01-Dec-2023 to 03-Dec-2023

Where: 84 kms north of Udaipur

2- Feast of Francis Xavier(3-Dec-2023):

Feast of Francis Xavier is celebrated in Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa, India. This is an annual feast during which the mummified body of Francis Xavier is kept on display inside the Basilica of Goa. He was one of the Christian missionaries who came to India to spread the religion. This festival marks the anniversary of his burial, and a large feast and a fair are conducted.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Special mass
Rituals and celebrations

Feast of Francis Xavier Duration of the Festival: 3-Dec-2023

Where: Goa, India

3- International Sand Art Festival(1st-Dec-2023 to 5-Dec-2023)

This festival of Chandrabhaga beach, Odisha, attracts thousands of visitors. International Sand Art Festival aims to encourage the young sand artists of the state to display their masterpieces on the golden sands of the river, which will help them to expose their artistic excellence and to promote Odisha tourism across the globe. There is competition among the artists, and awards and trophies will be given to the winners. At this festival, you can witness the magnificent sculptures of sand artists showcasing their talent and creating masterpieces with sand.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Photography
Sand Arts
Beach View
Beautiful Sunset and Sunrise
Beach Festival

Duration of the Festival: 1-Dec-2023 to 5-Dec-2023
Where: Chandrabhaga 70 Kms from Bhubaneswar, Odisha

4- Konark Festival, Odisha(1-Dec-2023 to 5-Dec-2023):

The Konark festival is celebrated in the Konark temple of Odisha, India. This festival is celebrated to enhance awareness and interest in the cultural art forms of the region. Many cultural activities and performances occur on the Natyashala stage of the famous Sun temple. This is the largest dance festival in Odisha. 

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Enjoy dance performances of many traditional forms like Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and others
Musical performances, including vocal, violin recital, and other instrumental music
Rajasthani and Odissi folk dance and music celebrations by local artists.

Duration of the Festival:  every year in the month of December mostly from 1 Dec to 5 Dec 

Where: Konark, 64 Kms from Bhubaneswar, Odisha

5- Hornbill Festival, Nagaland(1-Dec-2023 to 10-Dec-2023):

Hornbill festival is celebrated in Kohima of Nagaland, India. This is a traditional and cultural celebration enjoyed by the local tribes of the state. This festival celebrates local life, heritage, food, artwork, and others.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are as follows:

Enjoy the traditional war dance performed by the local tribal warriors
Enjoy Hornbill national rock concert
Taste the local rice beer
Visit the night market and buy unique souvenirs
Enjoy the car and bike adventure sports.
Take part in traditional games conducted
Enjoy the unique headhunting rituals
Taste the local cuisine during the feast thrown during the festival.

Duration of the Festival: Fri, Dec 1, 2023 – Sun, Dec 10, 2023.

Where: Kisama village, 12 kms from Kohima

6- Perumthitta Tharavad(7-Dec-2022 to17-Dec-2022 last updated):

Perumthitta Tharavad is a regional festival. This is celebrated in Kerala with colour, grandeur, and culture. The main element of this festival is the dance. The dancers coat themselves in the paint from head to toe to represent mythological characters. The facial expressions of the dancers are a top-notch element of the dance. This dance is called Theyyam. It is the traditional dance of Kerala.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Watching different styles of dance performances
Unique rituals in the temple
Cultural music and mime performances
Ancient dance and music performances by tribal.

Duration of the festival: 7-Dec-2022 to17-Dec-2022
Where: Kasaragod, near Kerala, 70 kms from Mangalore

7- Magnetic Fields Festival(15, 16, 17 Dec 2023):

This festival has no constant venue. This is a talent festival in Rajasthan. This camping festival lasts three days and is open for all budding artists to stage their performances. Magnetic Fields Festival is a music festival held in Alsisar, Rajasthan, India. Magnetic Fields is our community; it is a festival that absorbs and unites participants, crew, artists, and guests. 

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Kite flying competition
Yoga workshops in the morning
Treasure hunts, private parties, and other games
Workshop for music, cooking, and other activities
Camping and stargazing in the desert
Adventure spots in the desert

Duration of the Festival: 15, 16, 17 Dec 2023
Where: Alsisar, 26 Kms from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.

8- Karthigai Deepam(Sun, Nov 26, 2023):

Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated in several regions of Tamil Nadu, especially the Murugan temples. This festival marks the birth of Lord Murugan, the youngest son of Lord Shiva. Murugan temples around the country would be decorated with earthen lamps, cultural performances, rituals, and much more. The locals decorate their houses with hundreds of earthen oil lamps and burst crackers, and share delicacies with one another. 

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Visit any of the Murugan temples to take part in rituals
Take part in processions where pilgrims carry pots of milk and water or even pierce themselves with small Vel (a spear) as a token of sacrifice.
Many cultural celebrations, including music and dance, will be conducted by temples.

Duration of the Festival: Sun, Nov 26, 2023

Where: Tamil Nadu.

9- The Cochin Carnival(25 Dec 2022 to 1 Jan 2023):

The Cochin Carnival festival is celebrated in Cochin, India and this is the festival of fun. The festival’s main aim is to bring locals together, celebrate on Christmas days, to make more locals participate. There is an activity for everyone in this carnival. The main highlight of the carnival is the massive procession on New Year’s Day, led by elephants in ornamental trappings.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Cultural performances, dances, and music performances. The iconic performance is the Panchavadyam, a music made with a blend of five instruments.
Beach activities like beach bike races, beach volleyball, and beach football.
Elephant Parade and processions.

Duration of the Festival: start on the 25^th December 2022 and finish on 1^st January 2023

Where: Kochi Fort, 45kms from kochin, Kerala.

10- Rann Utsav(26-Oct-2023 to 20-Feb-2024):

Rann Utsav festival is celebrated in Kutch, Gujarat, India. Rann of Kutch is the largest salt desert in India. This festival is celebrated in the desert to express the locals’ culture and traditions.  One can see all kinds of cultural activities and attractions in the middle of the desert. Tourists and locals venture into the desert, camp together, and enjoy these celebrations.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Musical performances, dance performances, story recitals, and other cultural performances
Camel riding, horse riding, archery, paramotoring, and other adventure activities will be available for people in the desert.
You can enjoy elite feasts during this celebration.

Duration of the Festival: 26-Oct-2023 to 20-Feb-2024

Where: Dhordo, 80 kms from Bhuj

 11- Kurukshetra Festival(22-Dec-2023):

Kurukshetra Festival festival is celebrated in Haryana, India. Kurukshetra is the renowned battlefield where the epic Mahabharat battle took place. This is also the place where Lord Krishna recited Bhagavad Gita for the first time. To mark this, the Kurukshetra festival is celebrated by pilgrims in Haryana and the regions around it. Every activity of this festival revolves around the holy book. From music recital to drama, many cultural activities are performed to stage stories and mythologies of Bhagavad Gita. Many temples host unique rituals during this festival.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Holy dip in Sannihit Sarovar. The holy dip is said to remove earthly sins from the soul.
Watch religious heads performing recitals and stories revolving around Bhagavad Gita.
Drama and dance performances take place in the temples
Free medical camps are conducted around the region
Book exhibitions are conducted where books related to Bhagavad Gita are sold.

Duration of the Festival: 22 December 2022

Where: Kurukshetra, 100kms from Chandigarh, Haryana

12- Hot Air Balloon Festival, Hampi(1-Dec-2023 to 31-Dec-2023):

Hot Air Balloon festival is celebrated in Hampi, Bidar, and Mysore in Karnataka, India. This festival continues the entire month of December. This festival takes place in numerous states. In December, the festival is enjoyed in a grand manner in South India. This festival is all about flying above the land in a large colourful hot air balloon.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Flying in hot air balloons
Watching hundreds of balloons decorating the regions
You can find small stalls near the festival region to buy simple toys and basic souvenirs.

Duration of the Festival: 1-Dec-2023 to 31-Dec-2023.
Where: Hampi, Mysuru, Bangalore, Pushkar

13- Winter Festival Mount Abu, Rajasthan(29-Dec-2023 to 31-Dec-2023):

Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan. Its mesmerising beauty makes it a paradise for adventure lovers, honeymooning couples, friend groups, and family tourists. Mount Abu’s winter festival is celebrated with heart and soul near New Year’s Eve. The festival is jointly organised by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and the Municipal Board of Mount Abu. 

Key Attractions: The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Folk dance
Pleasant music
Meaningful poetry
Traditional dancing
Concerts
Fairs and fireworks display

Duration of the Festival:  29-Dec-2022 to 31-Dec-2022
Where: Mount Abu, 163 Kms from Udaipur, Rajasthan 

14- Galdan Namchot(7 Dec 2023 – 7 Dec 2023):

The Tibetian new year is known as Galdan Namchot. People of Ladakh are majorly Buddhist and thus, the festival holds its significance for them. The day commemorates the birth and death of a revered Buddhist Monk. The festival is celebrated mainly in the Himalayan regions, especially in the Ladakh area. Monasteries are decorated and lit with butter lamps on this auspicious day. Local people dressed vividly perform the traditional dance on the beats of age-old musical instruments. People prepare and share dishes like Thukpa, Momo, and Butter tea.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Music
Dance
Feasts
Gifts

Date of the Festival: 7 Dec 2023 – 7 Dec 2023
Where: All over Ladhak, 8km from Leh

15- Mamallapuram Dance Festival(25-Dec-2023 to 15-Dec-2024):

Mamallapuram is a historic port city, a heritage land filled with cave sculptures, paintings, carvings, inscriptions, and others. This 8^th-century city gets a more significant crowd at the end of December for the dance festival. This festival commemorates the dance forms of the country. You can find dancers from around the country taking part in the ceremony to perform state dances of the country, like Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, and others.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Watch dancers perform enthralling traditional dance performances
You can find dance skits explaining mythological stories from Radha-Krishna romantic tale, Mahabharatham, and others.
Watch rare forms of folk dances like Kokkali Attam, Kavadi, Karagam
Music performances also take part between dance shows
Many stalls will be erected around the region for souvenir shopping.

Duration of the Festival:  Mamallapuram Dance Festival is a 30-day festival that celebrate annually in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu.
Where: Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu

16- Christmas(25-Dec-2023):

The birthday of Jesus Christ is solemnized with great joy. Christmas is once a year held on December 25. Usually, the Christians celebrate Christmas by attending events in Church, spending time with dear ones, putting up new dress and eating a cheerful meal. After the service, the church bells ring to announce that Christmas Day has arrived.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Churches
Christmas tree
Carols at the church
Going on outings with family

Duration of the Festival: 25-Dec-2022
Where: All over India

 17- New Year’s Eve(31-Dec-2023 to 1st-Dec-2024):

The English new year is celebrated with great joy and fun. The eve of the last day is celebrated with evening parties and fireworks. The parties continue into the early hours of January 1st of next year. People celebrate New Year’s Eve by attending parties bidding farewell to the finishing year and to celebrate and welcome the year to come. There are a lot of places in India that host grand New Year events and parties where people from over the world gather and celebrate.

The unique attractions and activities to enjoy during the festival are:

Make your new year resolutions
Spend your beginning of the year with your loved ones.
Do charity.

Duration of the Festival: 31-Dec-2023 to 1-Jan-2024
Where: All over India

India can never have enough fairs and festivals. A lot more local fairs and festivals are still left in this list. If you ever get a chance to witness any of these December beauties then do visit and experience our fairs and festivals and enjoy it to the fullest.