Two must-experience festivals in February 2025: Goa Carnival & Mahashivratri

Goa Carnival is one of the must-attend festivals in February. It is a lively and energetic celebration of music, dance and stunning parades that take over the whole city. Rooted in Portuguese traditions, this is one of the most awaited events in Goa and people from all across the world travel during this time to witness it.

Goa Carnival 2025 dates: February 22 – February 25, 2025

Location: Panaji, Margao, Vasco da Gama, Mapusa

The Goa carnival features parades and vibrant street processions with beautifully decorated floats and offers activities like enjoying dance performances, experiencing the culinary genius of Goan food and witnessing street plays. The Goa Carnival music and dance has a fanbase of its own as it celebrates traditional Goan music and Latin influences that are wonderful to watch. The entire state lights up during the festivities and the Goa Carnival costumes are nothing short of extraordinary with colorful masquerade balls and elaborate attires. While planning your Goa Carnival itinerary, make sure to plan your visit around the grand parade that takes place on the opening day and is followed by evening parties.

For those seeking a spiritual experience, February comes with abundance. Maha Shivaratri 2025 is a must-visit festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and is celebrated with night-long Maha Shivaratri worship wherein devotees engage in fasting, prayers and temple visits.

Maha Shivaratri 2025 date: February 26, 2025

Best Location to celebrate: Varanasi, Somnath and Ujjain

The best way to celebrate this beautiful festival is by going for a visit to the famous Lord Shiva temples during Maha Shivaratri like Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Somnath temple and Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain and taking part in the Maha Shivaratri rituals like abhishekam and chant mantras with the other devotees. You can even participate in Maha Shivaratri fasting and prayers which you can break only after the night-long prayers which are a spectacle in themselves as the temples remain open all night for Lord Shiva night worship and you can hum along the special bhajans and aartis. If you are willing to learn more about the Maha Shivaratri significance, there are lots of priests who often host reciting the story of union of Lord Shiva and Parvati and dives deep into the concept of spiritual awakening.