Pune festival is held between August and September during Ganesh Mahotsav. It is the biggest festival of Pune. The festival goes for ten days - starts with the installation of idols of Lord on the first day to immersion of the Lord's idols on the tenth day.
Pune festival is mainly emphasized on the celebration of art and culture, song and dance, custom and tradition. It was started as a local event but now has succeeded to attract visitors from across India and abroad. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation joining hand with the Union government actively promotes the festival abroad as a major tourist attraction.
Classical dance, music recitals, film, drama festival, automobile rallies and traditional sports are held as a part of the festival. Maestros and stalwarts from all over India are invited to perform during the festival. The denizens of Pune and also the visitors from outside enjoy the event with fullest during the celebrations.
Modern sport events, shop for exquisite textiles and handicrafts, appetizing cuisine are some of the new additions since past few years.
Pune is well connected by air, rail and road with the important places within and beyond the state. Accommodations are available at the hotels in Pune.
Maharashtra is a land of rich cultural heritage and traditions. The diverse form of landscape and environment make the state's culture more colourful. Maharashtrians celebrate every fair with great fervour and enthusiasm. The sacred Kumb Mela at Nashik that comes after every twelve years is regarded to be the most important religious fair in Maharashtra. As Maharashtrians have great belief of Lord Ganesh, Ganesh Utsav at Sangli and Pune are the fairs that Maharashtrians celebrate with great fun fare, which are attended by the maximum number of visitors even from foreign countries. The Maharashtra government in collaboration with the Union government is promoting the Pune fair as a major tourists attraction. Other important temple fairs include Changdeo fair at the Markandeya Temple near Edlabad, Kiran Utsav at the Mahalaxmi Temple at Kolhapur, Rathyatra at the Kalaram Temple in Nashik, and the Shrirama Rathotsava fair and the Navaratra Mahalaxmi fair at the Navaratra Mahalaxmi temple in Jalgaon. The Khuldabad Urs is a festival for Muslims; celebrated for five days. Mount Mary Festival, which is held every year at Bandra, Mumbai attracts huge crowds of the city. The Snake festival at Battis Shirala town too attracts large number of tourists from India and aboard.