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Bhubaneswar’s festival calendar peaks in the winter months, when the city stages its dance and music festivals in the temple courtyards, and in autumn during Durga Puja. Most events are free or low-cost and are concentrated in the Old Town and the Kalinga Nagar exhibition grounds. This guide sits alongside our full Bhubaneswar coverage.
Festivals in Bhubaneswar: Winter Dance and Music Festivals
Mukteshwar Dance Festival
Held January 14 to 16 each year in the courtyard of Mukteshwar Temple, this three-day festival showcases Odissi dance, Odisha’s classical form. Performances run in the evening and admission is free. Arrive before sunset to get a seat facing the lit 10th-century temple.
Rajarani Music Festival
Staged in January at Rajarani Temple, this festival brings Hindustani and Carnatic classical vocalists and instrumentalists to the temple grounds. It typically runs two or three evenings, and entry is free. The combination of live classical music and the 11th-century sandstone temple is the draw.
Konark Dance Festival
From December 1 to 5, the Konark Dance Festival is held at the Sun Temple in Konark, 60 km from Bhubaneswar on the coast. It features Odissi, Bharatanatyam and Kathak troupes performing on an open-air stage with the temple behind. It is the region’s best-known dance event, so book a hotel early; the best time to visit Bhubaneswar guide explains the winter festival season.
Festivals in Bhubaneswar: Religious Festivals
Maha Shivaratri
Falling in February or March, Maha Shivaratri draws thousands to Lingaraj Temple, which stays open through the night for prayers. Expect large crowds and long queues from late evening. The things to do in Bhubaneswar guide covers the temple rules for visitors.
Ashokashtami and Chandan Yatra
Ashokashtami in March or April is Lingaraj Temple’s annual car festival, when the deity is taken out in a wooden chariot. Chandan Yatra, around April and May, runs for 21 days and involves the temple’s deities being taken to Bindu Sagar for a ritual boat ride. Dates follow the Odia calendar, so check before planning.
Festivals in Bhubaneswar: Durga Puja and Heritage Events
Durga Puja
Over four to five days in October, the city fills with hundreds of temporary pandals housing clay idols of Goddess Durga. The biggest clusters are in Sahid Nagar, Rasulgarh and Nayapalli, and pandal-hopping by auto-rickshaw is the standard way to see them. Expect traffic to slow to a crawl at night.
Ekamra Utsav
Ekamra Utsav, held over several days in January, celebrates Bhubaneswar’s heritage with craft fairs, food stalls and folk performances. It is timed to coincide with the winter dance festivals, so you can combine several events in one trip. For what the weather will be like, see our Bhubaneswar weather by month page, and use the Bhubaneswar neighborhoods guide to pick a district.
Logistics like transport and hotels are covered in the where to stay in Bhubaneswar and travel tips and FAQ pages.
