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Surat’s festival calendar is anchored by Navratri, the nine-night garba festival that turns every open ground in the city into a dance floor, plus the January kite-flying holiday of Uttarayan. Most events follow the Hindu lunar calendar, so dates shift by a week or two each year. For the weather you can expect during each one, cross-reference the best time to visit guide, and use the where to stay page to find a hotel within walking distance of the main venues.
Events and Festivals in Surat: Navratri (September to October)
Navratri is the biggest event of the year, nine nights of garba and dandiya raas that usually falls between late September and mid-October. Surat’s largest grounds, including the ones at Ambika Niketan Temple, Vesu, and Adajan, set up stages and run dancing from roughly 21:00 to 02:00, with entry passes from about Rs 100 to Rs 500 for the premium ticketed venues. Dress in traditional chaniya choli or kediyu if you want to blend in, and book accommodation months ahead, since rooms sell out citywide. The whole city shifts to a late-night schedule for the nine days. The things to do list has the full rundown of sights.
Events and Festivals in Surat: Uttarayan Kite Festival (14 January)
Uttarayan, on 14 January, is Gujarat’s kite-flying holiday, and Surat’s rooftops fill with fighters competing to cut each other’s strings. The night before, families set off sky lanterns, and the next morning the city’s terraces are packed from about 7:00 onward. There’s no single official venue; the best views are from rooftops in the old city and Athwa Lines. The date falls in the coolest stretch of the year, with highs around 30°C (86°F), which makes it one of the most comfortable times to experience the city, as the best time to visit page explains. Our neighborhoods guide maps the main districts.
Events and Festivals in Surat: Diwali (October to November)
Diwali lands in late October or early November, five days of lamps, fireworks, and sweets that peak on the new-moon night. Surat’s textile and diamond markets decorate their storefronts heavily, and the Gopi Talav promenade and riverfront are strung with lights. Expect shops to close for the main evening, heavy traffic on the days around it, and hotel prices to spike. It’s a great window for food, with stalls selling chakli, ghughra, and other Gujarati sweets across the old city. Our travel tips page has the practical details.
Events and Festivals in Surat: Holi (February to March)
Holi, usually in late February or early March, is a one-day colour festival celebrated with water and gulal in the streets and housing societies. The larger public celebrations happen in the morning and wind down by early afternoon, after which most people head home to clean up. If you’re joining, wear clothes you don’t mind staining and keep your phone in a sealed bag. Temperatures are already climbing toward 36°C (97°F) by March, so the morning is the only comfortable window, a point the weather by month table makes clear.
Events and Festivals in Surat: Rath Yatra (June to July)
Rath Yatra, the chariot festival honouring Lord Jagannath, falls in late June or early July and sees a large decorated chariot pulled through the city streets amid chanting crowds. It’s one of the few major events that lands inside the monsoon, so be ready for rain; July averages 440 mm across 14 to 15 rainy days. Processions start mid-morning and run for several hours. Carry an umbrella and expect waterlogged roads in the surrounding lanes. See the full Surat guide for everything in one place.
Events and Festivals in Surat: Literature and Trade Events
Beyond the religious calendar, Surat hosts a handful of annual professional events worth knowing about. The Surat International Textile Expo (SITEX) is a trade fair for the city’s textile industry, typically held over three days in the winter at the Surat International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The Surat Literature Festival runs over a weekend in winter with panels in Gujarati, Hindi, and English. Both are free or low-cost to attend, and both cluster in the November to February window that our best time to visit guide recommends for travel.
