Maharashtra is the state of numerous merry festivals of which Ganesh Chaturthi is the center of attraction. Gudi Padva is the most significant for it marks the start of the Maharashtra's New Year. ‘Nariel Purnima’, yet another festival in August marks the end of the monsoon and is celebrated by Maharashtra’s fishermen folk community. ‘Patcti’ is the Parsee New Year, significant for on this day the Shahenshali Zoroastrian community landed in India while migrating from Persia. ‘Mount Mary’s Feast’ is celebrated in Bombay for a week beginning on a Sunday closest to the birthday of Virgin Mary. Christmas is also a fun event among the Catholic population of the city. Muharram, Id-UI-Fitre, Diwali, Holi, Shivaratri, Janmasahtami are some of the other festivals that people observe.

Maharashtra Tourism too has introduced some tourist festivals to attract visitors and focus on the state’s cultural heritage. These include Ellora festival which attracts state’s finest talent to perform to backgrounds that must surely be fit for the celestials alone. The illuminated cave sites are the appropriate muses for the rendition of vocal classical music, rendering a rendezvous feast of Indian music. In addition, the department is also promoting tourism festivals and many other events in Mumbai, Kolhapur and many other places that focus on the cultural strength of the city.

Elephanta Festival
February sees an explosion of dance and music on the island when the Elephanta Festival stages eminent artistes - dancers and musicians perform under the stars outside the caves. Special launch services take you to the island and catering arrangements add up to your comfort. Plan to visit Elephanta during Festival time.

Ellora Festival
Every year in the third week of March Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) organizes the Ellora Festival of Classical Dance and Music at the Caves.