India · month by month
Delhi food calendar
What is in season in Delhi, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Delhi
Shoulder seasonThe best of January: Til rice for Lohri, Winter food season and Lohri.
In season
- Til rice for Lohri
Lohri 13 Jan (Santorini Dave)
- Winter food season
Nihari, gajar ka halwa and daulat ki chaat (an airy milk dessert only made in winter).
Nov–Feb
On the calendar
- Lohri
13 Jan; til rice (sweet rice with jaggery and sesame)
Plan around
- Closures
National holidays with most government offices and many attractions closed: Republic Day 26 Jan, Independence Day 15 Aug, Gandhi Jayanti 2 Oct; also Christmas 25 Dec has some closures. Effect on...
Aug, Oct, Dec–Jan
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Delhi
Peak seasonThe best of February: Old Delhi iftar and Winter food season.
In season
- Winter food season
Nihari, gajar ka halwa and daulat ki chaat (an airy milk dessert only made in winter).
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- Old Delhi iftarRamadan
Matia Mahal near Jama Masjid comes alive at sundown.
Feb–Mar
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Delhi
Peak seasonThe best of March: Gujiya and thandai, Old Delhi iftar, Holi.
Eat it now
- Gujiya and thandaiHoli
Sweet dumplings and spiced milk.
- Old Delhi iftarRamadan
Matia Mahal near Jama Masjid comes alive at sundown.
Feb–Mar
On the calendar
- HoliHoli
Colors, sweets and thandai.
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Delhi
A hard month
Plan around
- Heat
Very hot; eat early or late.
Apr–Jun
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Delhi
A hard monthThe best of May: Mangoes.
In season
- Mangoes
Dussehri, langra and chausa from Uttar Pradesh.
May–Jul
Plan around
- Heat
Very hot; eat early or late.
Apr–Jun
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Delhi
A hard monthThe best of June: Mangoes.
In season
- Mangoes
Dussehri, langra and chausa from Uttar Pradesh.
May–Jul
Plan around
- Heat
Very hot; eat early or late.
Apr–Jun
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Delhi
A hard monthThe best of July: Mangoes, Monsoon pakoras and chai.
In season
- Mangoes
Dussehri, langra and chausa from Uttar Pradesh.
May–Jul - Monsoon pakoras and chai
Fried snacks on rainy days.
Jul–Sep
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Delhi
A hard monthThe best of August: Monsoon pakoras and chai.
In season
- Monsoon pakoras and chai
Fried snacks on rainy days.
Jul–Sep
Plan around
- Closures
National holidays with most government offices and many attractions closed: Republic Day 26 Jan, Independence Day 15 Aug, Gandhi Jayanti 2 Oct; also Christmas 25 Dec has some closures. Effect on...
Aug, Oct, Dec–Jan
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Delhi
The best of September: Monsoon pakoras and chai.
In season
- Monsoon pakoras and chai
Fried snacks on rainy days.
Jul–Sep
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Delhi
Peak seasonThe best of October: Mithai and Diwali.
Eat it now
- MithaiDiwali
Sweet shops are packed with kaju katli and gift boxes.
Oct–Nov
On the calendar
- One of the world’s 100 best food eventsDiwaliSunday 8 November 2026 (Lakshmi Puja) · from SmartPuja, checked Oct 24, 2026
The festival of lights: sweet shops pile up kaju katli, barfi and gift boxes, homes cook for days, and the cities glow.
How to go: Delhi and Mumbai are joyful and packed; Old Delhi's sweet shops (Ghantewala, Chaina Ram) have lines out the door.
Oct–Nov
Plan around
- Closures
National holidays with most government offices and many attractions closed: Republic Day 26 Jan, Independence Day 15 Aug, Gandhi Jayanti 2 Oct; also Christmas 25 Dec has some closures. Effect on...
Aug, Oct, Dec–Jan
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Delhi
Peak seasonThe best of November: Mithai, Winter food season and Diwali.
In season
- Winter food season
Nihari, gajar ka halwa and daulat ki chaat (an airy milk dessert only made in winter).
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- MithaiDiwali
Sweet shops are packed with kaju katli and gift boxes.
Oct–Nov
On the calendar
- One of the world’s 100 best food eventsDiwaliSunday 8 November 2026 (Lakshmi Puja) · from SmartPuja, checked Oct 24, 2026
The festival of lights: sweet shops pile up kaju katli, barfi and gift boxes, homes cook for days, and the cities glow.
How to go: Delhi and Mumbai are joyful and packed; Old Delhi's sweet shops (Ghantewala, Chaina Ram) have lines out the door.
Oct–Nov
Plan around
- SmogNovember
Air quality often poor.
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Delhi
Shoulder seasonThe best of December: Winter food season.
In season
- Winter food season
Nihari, gajar ka halwa and daulat ki chaat (an airy milk dessert only made in winter).
Nov–Feb
Plan around
- Closures
National holidays with most government offices and many attractions closed: Republic Day 26 Jan, Independence Day 15 Aug, Gandhi Jayanti 2 Oct; also Christmas 25 Dec has some closures. Effect on...
Aug, Oct, Dec–Jan
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.