Popular Festivals of Panipat

Panipat shares its geographical border with three cities of Haryana and on one side it has Uttar Pradesh as its neighbor. The city is located just 90 km away from Delhi and has proximal distance from Chandigarh. As such the city is largely influenced by the cultures and traditions of all these regions. The festivities are the order of day in Panipat and they are celebrated with great zeal throughout the year.


Panipat has a remarkable place in history and this also impacted its traditions to great extent. The various rulers of this land left their reminiscences in its cultural ethos. The festivals in Panipat are the same as that of the entire state. While some of these festivals are particularly related to the regional customs of Panipat, all Indian festivals are also celebrated here by the people of Panipat.

Important Festivals celebrated in Panipat

Lohri in Panipat

This is the festival of prosperity and fertility that marks the end of winter season. Every year, on 13th January, Lohri is celebrated in the city with great enthusiasm and joy. Though it is originally the festival of Punjab, it is now an integral part of Haryana as well. Punjabis constitute a major portion of Panipat’s population and hence, Lohri is also enjoyed here. In this festival, huge bonfires are burnt across the city and people throw puffed rice, popcorns, and sweets into the flames of these bonfires. They pray around this fire and dance to celebrate this festival of vivacity.

Gangore Festival in Panipat

Gangore is the festival of women folk in Panipat. It is celebrated to worship Goddess Gauri who signifies prosperity and abundance. Every year, in the months of March - April, this colorful festival takes place. Little girls beautifully dressed in ethnic Haryanvi clothes take out the procession of Gangore from one place to another before finally immersing the idols made by them into the river. It is celebrated by young girls to find a suitable match for them and marries ladies take part in these festivities to pray for the well being of their husbands.

Teej Festival in Panipat

It is an important festival in the entire state. It marks the onset of Monsoons and it is celebrated in July-August months. Teej or Haryali Teej is celebrated on third day of Shrawan month of Hindu calendar. On this day, swings are set up in open courtyards for the girls and Teej receives first swing of season.

Teej is a small red insect that crops up from soil after the first showers of rain in this region. It is the festival for girls who receive new clothes from their parents, get henna applied on their hands, and enjoy the swings.

The mother sends baya (gift) to the daughters and they all collectively worship goddess Parvati in the evening. Baya is a plateful of foodstuffs kept at the place where Teej Puja is performed. A lot of singing and dancing by the women and girls mark the festivities of Teej. The purpose behind Teej Puja is the long life of their husbands and prosperity of their families.

Gugga Navmi in Panipat

It is the festival celebrated only across the Haryana state. It is known for worship of snakes by the local people.

The festival of Gugga Naumi reveres the Gugga Pir, also called Zahir Pir, of Haryana who was blessed with powers to cure the snake bites and save the local people from snake poison.

It is celebrated in the months of August - September every year.

Baisakhi in Panipat

Baisakhi is celebrated in April to mark the beginning of Punjabi New Year. It is an important festival in Panipat when its gurudwaras are flocked by Sikh community who worship and then enjoy the Kada Prasad distributed to everyone. Then Langar takes place in these gurudwaras in Panipat where the whole community enjoys delicious feast together without any discrimination.

Dussehra in Panipat

Dussehra or Vijayadashmi is celebrated with unparalleled zeal in Panipat. It falls in Ashwin month of Hindu calendar or September/ October month of Gregorian calendar. Dussehra comes after nine days of Durga Puja and the whole city seems to be awash with divinity during these days.


On Dussehra, processions of Ramayana are taken out all over the city and Ram Leela is also performed at some places. Finally the huge effigy of Ravana, the devil king, along with Meghnad and Kumbhkaran, is burnt in front of huge crowds marking the victory of good over evil. This festival also marks the end of summers and beginning of winter season in Indian subcontinent.