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Dehradun‘s festival calendar is anchored by the Jhanda Mela, a five-day fair at the Guru Ram Rai Darbar that draws pilgrims from across North India, plus a run of Hindu and regional tribal festivals through the spring. Most events cluster between February and April, which also happens to be one of the best weather windows in the valley. These are the main Dehradun events and festivals to plan around.
Dehradun Events and Festivals: Spring (February to April)
Jhanda Mela
The Jhanda Mela, held at the Guru Ram Rai Darbar around mid-March to early April, starts five days after Holi and runs for five days. The centerpiece is the hoisting of a 100-ft mast wrapped in cloth, a tradition going back to the 17th century. Expect large crowds, processions, and food stalls around the Darbar, and book accommodation well in advance since the city fills up. The fair overlaps with the dates in our best time to visit Dehradun guide.
Holi
Holi falls in March (in 2026 it’s March 4), and Dehradun celebrates with the same color-throwing as the rest of North India. Wear clothes you don’t mind staining, and keep valuables in your room. Many hotels run their own dry-color events if you want a tamer version.
Bissu Mela
The Bissu Mela, held in April in the Jaunsar-Bawar region of the hills around Dehradun, is a harvest fair of the Jaunsari tribe with folk dance, music, and local crafts. Dates shift with the harvest, usually in the first two weeks of April. It’s a good reason to combine a valley stay with a village day trip.
Maha Shivratri Fair at Tapkeshwar
On Maha Shivratri, in February or March, the Tapkeshwar Temple hosts a large fair along the Tons River. Devotees arrive through the night for the cave shrine, and the area fills with stalls and temporary lighting. It’s free to attend, and the temple is described in the things to do in Dehradun list.
Dehradun Events and Festivals: Autumn and Winter (October to January)
Dussehra and Diwali
Dussehra in October brings Ramlila performances and the burning of Ravana effigies at open grounds across the city. Diwali, 20 days later in late October or November, lights up Paltan Bazaar and the residential areas with oil lamps and fireworks. Both are good times to be in town if you enjoy street-level festival energy, and the October to November weather is among the best of the year, as the Dehradun weather by month data shows.
Winter Marathon and New Year
Dehradun hosts an annual marathon in the cooler months, usually October or November, with routes through Rajpur Road and the cantonment. Around New Year, hotels in the valley and up in Mussoorie sell out weeks ahead, so book early if you’re visiting over the last week of December.
Dehradun Events and Festivals: Nearby Hill Station Fairs
Mussoorie Summer Festival
Mussoorie, 35km north, runs a summer festival through May and June with music performances and cultural programs on the Mall. If you’re staying in the valley for the where to stay in Dehradun options, the festival is an easy evening trip by taxi.
For transport to the fairs, local taxi fares, and the best months to attend, read the Dehradun travel tips guide. The Dehradun neighborhoods overview also maps where each festival takes place, since most cluster around the Guru Ram Rai Darbar and the city center.
