Besides the famed Holi and Diwali festivities, there are plenty of incredible celebrations to look forward to next year. We have listed our top 5 which shouldn’t be missed - experience at least one of them in your travels across India in 2022…

Sunburn Festival, Goa

Sunburn Festival is considered as the premier electronic dance music festival in Asia, and is also ranked among the world’s largest music festivals. The event, held in Goa, has grown leaps and bounds since its launch in 2007, and each year hosts famous Indian and international artists with visitors from all across the country and world, plus world-class DJs. The festival is usually held on the last weekend of the year, but unfortunately this year’s Sunburn Festival was cancelled due to the on-going pandemic. We hope it will be up and running again and grow even bigger and better in 2022!

We have a great choice of cheap hotel deals to Goa to base your stay for the Sunburn festival.

Hornbill Festival, Nagaland

This is one of India’s most popular festivals that has been celebrated for over 20 years, welcoming celebrants from all over the globe. The festival, hosted in Nagaland, Northeast India, every first week of December is dedicated to the cultural heritage of the state’s tribes and is very sacred. This festival brings with it a myriad of cultural extravaganzas, all under one roof at the Naga Heritage Village near Kohima. Experience it for yourself and enjoy the local food, get involved with Nagaland’s traditional customs, browse craft stalls, get involved in sports games, and enjoy song and dance performances.

Goa Carnival

Goa Carnival, aka the Carnaval or Viva Carnival originates from Goa’s Christian Mardi Gras traditions and celebrates Goa’s culture and local cuisine. Next year’s festival is set to kick off on 26th February until 1st March, and activities to look forward to include feasts, street parades with live music and dance performances, grand lighting, celebrants in colourful costumes and masks, sports competitions, and more. The carnival is generally free to get involved in, and is celebrated across the state. The best places to witness it is at Goa’s major towns of Vasco, Panaji, Margao, and Mapusa.

Sangai Festival

This annual cultural spectacle takes place between 21st-30th November, and is organized by the Manipur Tourism Department. The festival is named after the rare Sangai brow-antlered deer species which is the official state animal of Manipur, and aims to promote the state as a booming tourist hotspot, showcasing its culture, art, cuisine, and more. Look forward to unique dance performances including the classical famous ras leela as well as many other folk performances, and admire some of the state’s finest handicrafts and handloom. You can also witness native sports and take part in thrilling adventures like white water rafting and trekking.

Jaisalmer Desert Festival

Last but most certainly not least is the Jaisalmer Desert Festival, held in the sacred month of Magh, 14th-16th February 2022, just three days before the full moon. The festival has an amazing backdrop of the golden Thar Desert and Sam Sand Dunes, around 42km from Jaisalmer. Take part in this festival and look forward to immersing yourself in the charming cultures of Rajasthan. Activities to look forward to include competitions, a heritage walk, music performances, camel themed shows and activities, a kite flying show, a daily night bazaar, street food stalls, and to mark the end of the celebrations, a magnificent fireworks display.

Which festival would you like to get involved in next year? Maybe you want to experience them all! Brightsun Travel offers a superb choice of hotel packages, tours, and cheap flights across India, transporting you to these hotspots in style. Get in touch with us soon on 0124 416 3050.