Traveling For A Lifetime Experience
Travel in India has become a dynamic celebration of culture, experiences, and life. Gone are the days when journeys were limited to studies, work, or family obligations. Today, travel is mainly about immersing ourselves in the heart of action, whether a colorful festival or an electrifying event
Take the story of one of our employees from Pune. At first, he only used to celebrate festivals at home. For him, travel was mostly about sightseeing, but now, travel is no longer about sightseeing alone – it’s about participation and celebration.
Last year, he and his family joined the kaleidoscopic revelry of Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan. They were in awe to see and know that Mathura’s Holi attracts over 200,000 locals and international visitors.
This time, they planned ahead and booked six months before, so they could experience Kolkata's Durga Puja, where millions come to witness the grand pandals and community spirit. The next event is Puri's famous Rath Yatra, the grand chariot festival that attracts more than a million people annually.
Festivals And Events
Festivals and events have become a central way to explore India. While both festivals and events draw crowds, they cater to different aspects of India's cultural identity. According to recent statistics, more than 3 million tourists visit Gujarat each year to celebrate Navratri and get the real feel of it; over 150,000 idols, including international travelers, immerse themselves in Mumbai’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and not forgetting about the Hornbill festival held at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, Nagaland which attracts over 155,000 visitors annually.
If we talk about events, then events like the Sunburn Festival in Goa attract more than 300,000 music goers mingling contemporary culture with breathtaking beach vibes, also in the 2023 February Vh1 Supersonic returned to Pune featuring some of the global artists like CKay and Anne-Marie, alongside some of our top Indian performers and not forgetting the upcoming Coldplay concert in January 2025 in Mumbai and Ahmedabad, as soon as the tickets went live, all the tickets were sold out in the matter of minutes despite the peak prices.
Fans from all over the country and even abroad just want to fly in for the 2-3 hour concert, showcasing the willingness of people to travel far and spend significantly for a chance to experience their favorite artists perform live.
This rise in travel isn’t just about leisure; then what drives this growing trend? It’s a reflection of a growing desire to connect with culture and community, and a shift in spending power. In earlier times, there was mainly only one person earning in a family, but now the times have changed, and many families have more than 2-3 people earning, and hence an increase in both earning and spending power
With more disposable income and an increased awareness of immersive experiences, and to become part of it, Indians are spending an estimated 30% more on travel for festivals and events compared to previous decades. Individuals and even families alike are prioritizing these journeys and experiences, finding meaning, purpose, and joy in participating in the core of India’s festivities.
You might be wondering, every festival is celebrated across India, so why travel all the way to see the same festival? The beauty of India is its diversity from North to South to East and West, each festival has its own unique story, history, and charm, and you can only live that story when you go there.
That’s the thing that drags people all the way to the core of the festival. As mentioned, Holi is celebrated mainly for 2 days in other places, but in Mathura and Vrindavan, it is celebrated for 5 days. To understand and live that festival, you have to visit and experience it.
The travel industry is evolving to meet this growing demand for traveling. With the rise in event-based travel, advanced bookings are now standard practice, especially during high-demand seasons like Holi, Navratri, and major events like the Goa carnival and international concerts
Now that we have almost reached the end of this year and December is around the corner, the countdown to the end-of-the-year celebrations has already begun as people make plans for the New Year and the Sunburn Festival.
Goa Carnival, renowned for its parade activity and upbeat music, along with the electric Sunburn Festival, attracts thousands annually, making Goa one of the hottest destinations for New Year's holidays. Rising demands now lead most travel companies, including us, to increase bus services for the festive rush with advanced bookings pouring in.
This gives the opportunity to the tourism and travel industry. Whether the company offers transportation services like premium buses or tour packages, this is a big opportunity. By increasing their services before the festivals and events, with the growing demand, they can be in the spotlight.
The numbers speak volumes, and so do the stories. Travelers nowadays plan their trips well in advance so as not to miss out on events that happen only once in a lifetime. Festival rhythms are ringing in the air, hence, it's time to pack bags, plan, and enjoy immersive celebrations across the country, especially in India.
At Sangitam, our internal route planning team keeps a close eye ahead and is very proactive in knowing about upcoming festivals and trends reflected in data from previous years. Such proactive planning enables us to make arrangements months ahead of time to be ready to serve travelers while adding extra support with added buses on busy routes in peak season.