Khajuraho has but a single festival that is exclusive to the town; while others that are celebrated are those that are recognised by the entire country and belong to the faiths of Hinduism or Buddhism. The Khajuraho Dance Festival in February is the only event without a specific religious slant in the town’s calendar.

Sivratri: celebrated across India, this festival is held in tribute of Lord Shiva and runs from the end of February through till March. Religious rites and the worshipping of Shiva dominate the festival’s activities.

Khajuraho Dance Festival: observed in February and running into March, this popular cultural event is held around the town’s ancient temples and is a celebration of Indian classical music and dance.

Ugadi: Khajuraho joins the rest of the country in celebrating the arrival of the new year according to the lunar calendar. Traditionally, house doorways are decorated with mango leaves and locals put their finest clothes on before joining family and friends for celebratory meals.

Buddha Purnima: Khajuraho’s Buddhist residents celebrate one of the most significant dates in the calendar as enthusiastically as those of the same faith across the country. Vesak Day, as it is otherwise known, celebrates the three most important aspects of the Buddha: his birth, his achieving of enlightenment and his death.

Guru Purnima: Buddhists in Khajuraho and across the country celebrate the birthday of Krishna-dwaipayana Vyasa. Gurus are worshipped by those below them; the latter believing that the former are in fact embodiments of the deity.

Ganesh Chaturthi: Hindu residents of Khajuraho join with others across the nation in celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesh. The festival lasts for 10 days and can run on into September depending on the lunar calendar.

Diwali: another of the Hindu faith’s important festivals, Diwali (sometimes known as Deepavali) is referred to as the ‘Festival of Lights’ in English and is a 3-day event that can also take place in November depending on variations in the lunar calendar.