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Port Blair’s event calendar is anchored by the Island Tourism Festival in January and a series of beach and monsoon festivals spread through the year. The islands’ mix of settlers, from Bengalis and Tamils to a large Christian population, also means major Indian religious festivals are celebrated widely. Here are the main events and festivals in Port Blair with dates and locations. For timing your trip around the calendar, see best time to visit Port Blair.
Annual Events in Port Blair
Island Tourism Festival (mid-January)
The Island Tourism Festival is the biggest event of the year, held over about 10 days in mid-January at the ITF Grounds and other venues around Port Blair. It features cultural dance performances from the islands and mainland India, food stalls, handicraft exhibitions, and water sports competitions. Entry is free or nominal, and hotel rooms are hardest to find during this week, so book ahead. For monthly temperatures and rainfall, see our Port Blair weather by month.
Subhash Mela (January 23)
Subhash Mela marks the anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisting the Indian flag in Port Blair in 1943, and runs for a few days around January 23 at the ITF Grounds. Expect cultural shows, boat races, and local food stalls. It often overlaps with the Island Tourism Festival, creating a busy January calendar. where each area sits and who it suits is covered in our Port Blair neighborhoods guide.
Beach Festival (April)
The Beach Festival is held in April, usually at Corbyn’s Cove or Wandoor, and centers on water sports such as jet skiing, kayaking, and beach volleyball. Exact dates shift each year but it typically falls in the first half of April before the monsoon. It is a good reason to visit during the otherwise quiet and hot shoulder month. See our Port Blair travel tips for ferries, costs and practical advice.
Religious and Cultural Festivals in Port Blair
Durga Puja (September or October)
Durga Puja is a major event in Port Blair thanks to the large Bengali community, with elaborately decorated pandals set up across town, especially in the Aberdeen Bazaar and Junglighat areas. The four-day festival falls in September or October depending on the lunar calendar. Pandal-hopping is free and most venues stay open late into the night. For an overview of the city, see our Port Blair travel guide.
Diwali (October or November)
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is celebrated with lamps, fireworks, and sweets across the islands. It falls in October or November. Shops close early on the main day and the waterfront sees evening firework displays. It is a lively but not crowded time to visit, with the monsoon winding down.
Christmas and New Year (December)
With Christians making up roughly a quarter of the population, Christmas is widely celebrated in Port Blair. Midnight mass at churches around Aberdeen Bazaar and candlelit services across the islands are the highlights, and December 25 to January 1 is the busiest stretch of the year. Hotels and ferries are heavily booked; for options, see where to stay in Port Blair.
Eid-ul-Fitr (date varies)
Eid-ul-Fitr ends Ramadan and is marked by morning prayers and family feasts across the Muslim community in Port Blair. The date moves back about 11 days each year on the Gregorian calendar. Expect some shops to open late on the day. Visitors are welcome to observe prayers but should dress modestly near mosques.
Sports and Adventure Events in Port Blair
Andaman Monsoon Festival (August to September)
The Andaman Monsoon Festival, sometimes called the Monsoon Festival, runs during August and September and leans on indoor cultural programs, music, and food rather than beach events. It is aimed at attracting off-season visitors when rains keep beaches empty. Exact dates vary, so confirm locally or through the tourism office before planning around it.
Island Marathon and Cycling Rallies (dates vary)
Occasional island marathons and cycling rallies pass through Port Blair and along the coast road to Chidiya Tapu, usually in the dry season between December and February. Dates are announced by local organizers rather than a fixed calendar, so check the tourism office website or local press a few months out if you want to join. For what else to do between events, see the things to do in Port Blair list.
