Festival & Religious Events Calendar: September 2026 – March 2027
India's festival season runs almost continuously from October through March, and timing a family trip around one of these dates is one of the most popular reasons the diaspora travels home. Here's what's coming up, and what it means for flight and hotel demand.
Navratri & Durga Puja
Nine nights of celebration culminating in Dussehra (Vijayadashami), with Durga Puja especially significant in West Bengal and eastern India — Kolkata sees some of the country's biggest celebrations.
Flights & hotels: rising through the final week; book 2–3 months aheadDiwali (Deepavali)
The festival of lights and India's single biggest annual travel event for the diaspora, marked with Lakshmi Puja, fireworks and family gatherings nationwide.
Flights: peak fares of the year on UK/USA/Canada/ Australia–India routes; book 4–6 months aheadChhath Puja
A major festival for families with roots in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, observed with rituals at rivers and water bodies at sunrise and sunset.
Regional flight and rail demand rises sharply in Bihar and UP-bound routesChristmas & New Year — Goa
Goa's beaches, markets and party scene make it one of India's most popular Christmas and New Year destinations for both diaspora and domestic travellers.
Goa hotels: peak-season rates, often requiring multi-night minimum stays; book 3+ months aheadMakar Sankranti, Lohri & Pongal
Harvest festivals celebrated under different names across the country — Lohri in Punjab, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and Makar Sankranti nationwide — each with its own regional travel spike.
Regional demand rises in Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat-bound routesRepublic Day
Marked nationwide, with the flagship parade in New Delhi drawing visitors from across the country and abroad for a long-weekend city break.
Delhi hotels: moderate rise around the parade weekendHoli
The festival of colours brings vibrant street celebrations across northern India in particular, with Mathura and Vrindavan among the most famous celebration hubs.
Hotels in Mathura, Vrindavan and Jaipur rise sharply; book well ahead once dates are confirmedFestival dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar and can shift by a few days. Confirm exact dates closer to your travel window before booking, and for help matching your dates to a specific festival, message our team on WhatsApp — we specialise in building budget flight itineraries around exactly this kind of festival-season travel.
India Trip Cost Calculator
Every family's trip is different, so use this calculator to build your own estimate rather than relying on one generic figure. The defaults below are a reasonable mid-range starting point outside peak festival dates — increase the flight and hotel fields if you're travelling during Diwali or Christmas/New Year.
This is an illustrative estimate based on the figures you enter, not a live quote — festival-season flight and hotel prices move daily. For a real, bookable price on your dates, compare live India flights or message us on WhatsApp for a tailored itinerary.
Average India Trip Costs
These are broad, indicative ranges in GBP per person outside peak festival dates — expect the top of each range, or higher, during the two to three weeks around Diwali and Christmas/New Year.
| Expense | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights (return, per person) | £420–£600 | £600–£900 | £900–£1,800+ |
| Hotel (per room, per night) | £15–£35 | £35–£75 | £75–£200+ |
| Food (per person, per day) | £6–£12 | £12–£25 | £25–£55+ |
| Transport (per person, per day) | £3–£8 | £8–£20 | £20–£45+ |
| Activities (per person, per day) | £3–£10 | £10–£25 | £25–£60+ |
*Ranges reflect typical patterns across popular Indian cities and are updated periodically — treat them as planning benchmarks, and add a premium for travel during Diwali, Christmas/New Year or Holi.
How Much Does a 7-Day India Trip Cost?
A 7-day trip is a common length for a focused hometown visit or a single-city festival trip — enough time to celebrate Diwali, Navratri or Holi with family without an extended stay.
7-Day Trip — Per Person Estimate
2 travellers, shared roomFlights
£420–£9006–7 hotel nights
£53–£263Meals (7 days)
£42–£175Local transport
£21–£140Activities
£21–£175Insurance
£18–£40Gifts & spending
£70–£200How Much Does a 10-Day India Trip Cost?
A 10-day trip often combines a hometown family visit with a short getaway — for example, a Delhi or Mumbai family stay plus a few days in Goa or Jaipur — adding roughly three extra nights of accommodation, meals and transport on top of a 7-day trip.
10-Day Trip — Per Person Estimate
2 travellers, shared roomFlights
£420–£9009–10 hotel nights
£75–£375Meals (10 days)
£60–£250Local transport
£30–£200Activities
£30–£250Insurance
£20–£45Gifts & spending
£90–£260How Much Does a 14-Day India Trip Cost?
A 14-day trip is the most common length for a proper festival-season visit home — long enough to celebrate a major festival with extended family and still fit in some sightseeing or a second city, especially popular for Diwali and Christmas/New Year trips.
14-Day Trip — Per Person Estimate
2 travellers, shared roomFlights
£420–£90013–14 hotel nights
£98–£525Meals (14 days)
£84–£350Local/inter-city transport
£42–£280Activities
£42–£350Insurance
£22–£50Gifts & spending
£120–£340India Trip Cost from the UK
For UK families, flight cost is the biggest lever on total trip price, and it rises sharply for Diwali, Christmas/New Year and other festival dates due to strong diaspora demand across all major UK departure airports.
Flights
£420–£1,800+ returnNon-stop and one-stop routes from London, Birmingham and Manchester to Delhi, Mumbai, Amritsar and other major Indian cities; festival dates carry the year's highest fares.
Accommodation
£15–£200+ per nightCosts depend heavily on city and whether you're staying with family or booking hotels — Delhi and Mumbai generally cost more than smaller cities.
Food & gifts
£6–£55+ per dayFestival-season trips typically include a meaningful gifts and spending budget alongside daily food costs, especially around Diwali.
Transportation & sightseeing
£8–£60+ per dayLocal transport, any domestic flights or trains between cities, and sightseeing make up the rest of the daily spend.
Compare live fares and cabin options in our best airlines UK to India guide, or find booking-window tips in our cheap flights to India guide.
India Trip Cost from the USA
US-based families flying to India for Diwali or other festivals typically connect via a European or Gulf hub, and should expect the same seasonal fare spike seen on UK routes, with prices climbing as the festival approaches.
Flights
Connection or non-stop, seasonal premiumMajor US gateway cities offer both non-stop and one-stop options to Delhi and Mumbai; connecting routes are often better value, especially for festival travel.
Accommodation & food
Same as UK-departure rangesOnce in India, hotel and food costs don't differ by departure country, so the budget/mid-range/premium ranges earlier in this guide apply equally.
Booking window
4–6 months ahead recommendedUS-India festival routes sell out early at the lowest fares, so booking well ahead of Diwali or Christmas/New Year matters just as much as on UK routes.
Multi-city options
Ask a specialistA specialist agent can often combine a US-India festival trip with a stopover city, adding value to a long-haul journey at limited extra cost.
India Trip Cost from Canada
Canada has one of the largest Indian diaspora populations outside India, and Diwali and Christmas/New Year routes from Toronto, Vancouver and other major Canadian cities see some of the sharpest seasonal price increases of any departure market.
Flights
High seasonal demandCanada-India routes are consistently in high demand during festival season, making early booking especially important compared to off-peak months.
Accommodation & food
Same as UK-departure rangesOnce in India, hotel and food costs are consistent regardless of departure country and follow the ranges set out earlier in this guide.
Family group bookings
Ask about group faresLarger family groups travelling together for Diwali or a wedding season trip may be able to access group booking rates through a specialist agent.
Booking window
4–6 months ahead recommendedGiven how quickly Canada-India festival fares rise, booking as early as possible is the single most effective saving strategy.
India Trip Cost from Australia
Australian families flying to India for festival season should expect a similar seasonal price pattern to other departure markets, with Diwali and Christmas/New Year among the highest-demand periods of the year on Australia-India routes.
Flights
Long-haul, seasonal premiumRoutes from Sydney, Melbourne and other major Australian cities to India typically involve a connection, with festival-season fares well above off-peak pricing.
Accommodation & food
Same as UK-departure rangesCosts on the ground in India follow the same national ranges covered throughout this guide, regardless of departure country.
Stopover opportunities
Ask a specialistGiven the long-haul distance, a stopover city en route can sometimes be added to an Australia-India festival itinerary at limited extra cost.
Booking window
4–6 months ahead recommendedAs with other departure markets, booking well ahead of the festival date is the most reliable way to secure a reasonable fare.
Flight Costs & Diwali Special Offers
Flight cost is the single largest and most seasonal line item in a festival-season India trip budget. Here's what actually moves the price, and how to find a genuine special offer rather than a last-minute premium fare.
| Factor | How it affects price |
|---|---|
| Festival proximity | Fares rise steadily as Diwali, Christmas/New Year or another major festival approaches, peaking in the final few weeks before |
| Booking window | Booking 4-6 months ahead typically secures noticeably better rates than booking within a month of a festival |
| Direct vs connecting | Connecting flights via European or Gulf hubs are often considerably cheaper than non-stop festival-season fares |
| Exact travel date | Flying a few days either side of the festival's peak date itself can unlock meaningfully lower fares than flying on the day |
| Departure city & airline | Different airlines and departure airports price the same festival-season route very differently — comparing several matters |
| Group / family bookings | Larger family groups may access group rates through a specialist agent that aren't available on standard search engines |
Looking for a genuine Diwali special offer? Early-bird fares are typically released several months ahead and sell out quickly. Rather than waiting and hoping to catch one, message our team on WhatsApp — we track festival-season fares and can build a budget flight itinerary using multi-city routings and stopovers that often beats a standard direct search.
For a month-by-month look at general India travel pricing, see our best time to visit India guide, and for route and airline comparisons, see our best airlines UK to India guide and cheap flights to India guide.
Compare Flights to IndiaIndia Hotel Costs by City
Hotel prices vary significantly by city and season. These are broad indicative nightly ranges (per room, GBP) outside festival dates — expect the top of the range, or higher, during Diwali and Christmas/New Year in particular.
| City | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | £18–£35 | £35–£80 | £80–£200+ |
| Mumbai | £20–£40 | £40–£90 | £90–£220+ |
| Goa | £15–£35 | £35–£75 | £75–£180+ |
| Jaipur | £12–£28 | £28–£65 | £65–£160+ |
| Kerala (Kochi) | £15–£32 | £32–£70 | £70–£170+ |
| Amritsar | £12–£25 | £25–£55 | £55–£130+ |
See our best places to visit in India guide for what to see in each of these cities once you've settled on a budget.
Food Costs in India
Food is one of the most flexible parts of an India budget — eating mostly with family and at local restaurants keeps costs low, while hotel restaurants and tourist-oriented dining push the daily total up considerably.
£1–£6
A local breakfast from a family kitchen or neighbourhood eatery sits at the low end; a hotel restaurant breakfast is considerably higher.
£2–£10
Local restaurants and street food are the cheapest option; a sit-down lunch at a tourist-oriented restaurant costs more.
£3–£25+
Casual local restaurants sit toward the lower end, with upscale dining in Delhi, Mumbai and Goa well above it.
£1–£8 per day
Street snacks and chai are inexpensive; bottled drinks and snacks at hotels or tourist sites cost noticeably more.
Family stays vs hotels: Families staying with relatives during a festival visit will naturally spend far less on food than those based in hotels, since meals at home are typically included as part of the visit.
Transport Costs in India
Getting around India ranges from very cheap local transport to higher-cost domestic flights for longer, multi-city or multi-region festival itineraries.
| Transport type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| City bus or metro (single ride) | £0.20–£0.80 |
| Auto-rickshaw (short city trip) | £1–£4 |
| Ride-hailing app (city trip) | £2–£8 |
| Hired car with driver (per day) | £25–£55 |
| Domestic flight (one-way, economy) | £35–£110 |
| Intercity train (AC class, one-way) | £8–£35 |
Domestic flights and trains between cities should be booked well ahead during festival season, since routes to and from popular hometown and pilgrimage cities fill up quickly around Diwali, Chhath Puja and Christmas/New Year.
How to Save Money & Find Special Offers
None of these tips require missing the celebrations — they simply help you spend less to get there.
Book 4–6 months ahead
The lowest festival-season fares sell out first, well before the peak week itself.
Shift your exact travel date
Flying a few days before or after the festival's peak day often unlocks lower fares.
Compare connecting routes
A one-stop routing via a Gulf or European hub is often considerably cheaper than a non-stop fare.
Ask about group family fares
Larger family groups travelling together may access rates not available on standard search engines.
Watch for early-bird offers
Airlines and agents release limited Diwali and Christmas special offers several months in advance.
Book hometown hotels early too
Guesthouse and hotel rates in popular return-home cities rise sharply around Diwali as well.
Use local transport where practical
Buses, metros and trains cost a fraction of hired cars for city-based sightseeing.
Talk to a flight itinerary specialist
Our team builds budget multi-city and stopover itineraries that often beat a standard direct search — message us to compare options.
For a full seasonal breakdown of India travel pricing beyond festival season, see our best time to visit India guide.
Family Budget Examples
To make these ranges concrete, here's how a 14-day festival-season trip might look for four different traveller types.
Budget Traveller
~£828 for 14 days- Economy flight booked well ahead of the festival
- Staying with family or a budget guesthouse
- Mostly home-cooked and local meals
- Local transport, minimal paid activities
Mid-Range Traveller
~£1,450 for 14 days- Standard economy flight
- 3-star hotel for part of the trip
- Mix of home, local and restaurant meals
- Some ride-hailing, a few sightseeing days
Family of Four (Diwali Trip)
~£5,600 for 14 days- Four flights booked 4-6 months ahead
- Staying with family, plus a short Goa or Jaipur add-on
- Gifts, new clothes and festival spending included
- Hired car with driver for sightseeing days
Couple (Mid-Range)
~£2,900 for 14 days- Shared standard economy flights
- 3 to 4-star hotel, one shared room
- Regular restaurant dining
- Ride-hailing plus a multi-city add-on
*These are illustrative examples built from the ranges above, not fixed quotes — use the calculator above to adjust for your own trip, or message our team for a tailored itinerary.