International Yoga Festival
Week-long event by Parmarth Niketan. Over 100 teachers from 20 countries, 200+ classes on the Ganges banks. Morning till night yoga, meditation, music,yoga lovers’ paradise.
Fair & Festival celebrate in Rishikesh
Ganga Dussehra (May-June)
Ten-day celebration when the Ganges is believed to have descended to earth. Massive aartis, lakhs take holy dips, entire town smells of flowers and incense.
Dev Diwali (Kartik Purnima, Oct-Nov)
Fifteen days after Diwali. Every ghat and ashram lights thousands of diyas. Looks like the sky fell into the river.
Holi
Played with organic colours and bhang lassi (legally sold). Ashrams host flower Holi, rafting companies do river Holi,colour explosions on white water.
Char Dham Yatra opening
Thousands of pilgrims start their journey to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath. Rishikesh becomes the gateway,energy is electric.
Savan Mondays (July-August)
Devotees in orange carry holy Ganges water (Kanwar) on foot to their villages. Roads fill with DJs, free food stalls, and non-stop devotion.