Navratri and Dasara
Nine nights of the goddess, with the Chaturshrungi fair, garba and dandiya, ending in Dasara.
Quick facts
- Month:
- September or October
- Known for:
- Chaturshrungi fair, garba
During Navratri, the nine nights of the goddess, people visit the temples of Chaturshrungi, Tambdi Jogeshwari and Bhavani Mata. A large fair is held at the foot of the Chaturshrungi hill. In the evenings garba and dandiya are played across the city.
On Dasara, people exchange the leaves of the apta tree as "gold" and wish each other well. It is another good day for new beginnings and big purchases.
More in Festivals of Pune
- Palkhi (Ashadhi Wari) Every year the palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram pass through Pune with lakhs of Varkaris walking to Pandharpur.
- Gudi Padwa The Marathi New Year, when every home raises a gudi and the city celebrates with processions.
- Diwali The festival of lights: lamps, kandils, rangoli, faral and shopping crowds on Laxmi Road.
- Shiv Jayanti The birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, celebrated on 19 February with processions and programmes.
- Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav One of India's most important classical music festivals, held in Pune every December since 1953.
- Christmas and Eid in Camp The Camp area celebrates both festivals in style: midnight mass and plum cakes at Christmas, and the lanes around East Street on Eid.
Sources: Written by PuneDiary. Facts checked 10 October 2026.