Ooty celebrates all of India’s popular festivals, including those aimed specifically at Hindus and Buddhists; however, it has little in the way of exclusive events that are specific to the town with a scant three entries on the calendar of this nature. The Summer Flower Festival at the Botanical Gardens is perhaps the highlight of the year but as the weather is so hot at this time, few visitors will want to schedule their holidays to coincide with the event. The Tea and Tourism Festival in January is a different matter however, regularly attracting large numbers of tourists.

Republic Day: this national celebration is enjoyed with as much enthusiasm in Ooty as anywhere in the country. Festivities are conducted in order to celebrate India’s adoption of its constitution in 1950.

Tea and Tourism Festival: during this festival, a large variety of teas can be sampled and enjoyed at this event celebrating one of the town’s and region’s most successful home-grown products.

Makar Pongal: this is an annual cultural festival enjoyed by large numbers of residents and visitors. Celebrations include lots of eating and dancing.

Sivratri: Hindu residents of Ooty take the time to pray and worship to Lord Shiva in this lengthy event, which runs from the end of February through till March.

Festival of Colours: this is another of India’s national festivals. The Festival of Colours sees a variety of traditional activities, among which are family feasts and get-togethers and the dousing of people with coloured water on the second day of the festival.

Ugadi: based on the country’s following of the lunar calendar, this is India’s New Year celebration and is a popular time of year in which locals in Ooty don their best outfits and get together with friends and family for appropriate celebrations.

Buddha Purnima: at the arrival of the full moon, Buddhist residents hold religious rites and activities which celebrate the birth, death and enlightenment of the Buddha.

Ooty Flower Festival: held at Ooty Botanical Gardens, this is just one of many summer festivals that take place in the Tamil Nadu hill stations. Visitors can expect a variety of cultural activities as well as fantastic flower displays across the gardens.

Guru Purnima: Buddhists in Ooty celebrate Krishna-dwaipayana Vyasa’s birthday on this festival with a day of religious rites including the worshipping of local gurus believed to be human manifestations of deities.

Ganesh Chaturthi: the resident of Ooty celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesh in this popular Hindu festival that lasts for 10 days, often running into September.

Dussehra Festival: for 10 days, Hindus in Ooty engage in activities aimed at celebrating the triumph of good over evil. Major Hindu events such as the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasura and the victory of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana are remembered.

Diwali: regarded as one of Hinduism’s most important festivals, Diwali is a 3-day event which, among other things, sees the letting off of fireworks and the lighting of thousands of candles.

Children's Day: celebrated in conjunction with the birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru, on this day young children receive gifts and enjoy entertainment based on a variety of activities.