You don’t have to stay cooped up inside your apartment on the sunny weekends. Think a live theatre performance in a heritage courtyard, a film screening under open skies, or a movement festival in the hills. India’s arts and culture festival season does not pause for the heat, and with good reason. From legacy film festivals in city centres to intimate residencies in Himalayan towns, there is always something worth showing up for. It’s not about surviving the heat. It’s about knowing how to move through it. 

Let’s Be Honest About What We’re Up Against

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a heatwave is declared in India when temperatures exceed 40°C in the plains, 30°C in hilly regions and 37°C at the coast¹. And we all know where we are at with the heat this year. Average temperatures across the country are soaring between 30°C and 45°C in most regions². This means the prep is non-negotiable, but entirely doable.

Outdoor Venues

Fstivals like the Himalayan Flow Gathering 4.0, Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival, and the iconic Bir Music Festival make for magical experiences, but the heat can make things messy really quick. Here is what to keep in mind before you go.

1. Sunscreen Is Non-Negotiable

Broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50+ minimum, is the key. Apply before you leave, reapply every two hours, and please,  don’t skip your ears, the back of your neck, or the tops of your feet. A sunscreen jacket is not embarrassing. Heatstroke is.

2. Dress For Comfort

Opt for breathable natural fabrics like cotton or linen in light, airy silhouettes. Indian ethnic wear — kurtas, cotton co-ords, breezy palazzos — tends to hit that sweet spot beautifully. You’re going to be on your toes, make sure you wear shoes or sneakers with thick soles. Pack an extra pair of socks you can change into if you start feeling icky and carry a hat. Your future self will thank you.

3. Hydration Is Your Best Friend

You’ll be moving, standing, absorbing excitement, and losing water rapidly through sweat. Most well-organised festivals now provide hydration stations where you can refill a personal bottle, so carry one. Keep a couple of ORS sachets in your backpack or tote for a quick boost. If alcohol is available, indulge responsibly. A headache and heat is nobody’s idea of a cultural experience.

4. Protect The Pits & The Rest of You)

Sweating is your body’s built-in cooling system doing exactly what it is supposed to do. That said, feeling sticky and uncomfortable can pull you out of the moment, so a good antiperspirant deodorant stick or roll-on is worth packing. A small pack of wet wipes or a cooling face mist can also make a surprisingly big difference on a long festival day. 

5. Bring Your Own Breeze

Many outdoor festival venues now come equipped with hydration stations and mist-cooling fans. That is wonderful. But there is a particular joy in having your own personal wind machine that requires no queueing. Go old school with a Japanese fan, or pick up one of those compact portable electric fans. If you go electric, charge it fully the night before and carry a power bank. 

Indoor Venues

Festivals like the Prayatna Festival, World Jazz Festival and Saz-E-Bahar offer cool, composed spaces, but a little prep still goes a long way.

1. Don’t forget to hydrate just because you are out of the sun. The heat catches up with you regardless.
2. Carry a light layer, a shawl or pullover, for the arctic 18°C the A/Cs are often set at.
3. Bring a notebook and pen, you will want to write things down
4. You’re going to be meeting a lot of new people. Carry your favourite mints or gum for a quick refreshing fix

Somewhere between school holidays and adult responsibilities, summer quietly changed its terms. The long, unhurried days gave way to calendar invites and leave applications. But the desire for something live, something electric, something worth showing up for, that never really left.
So submit the leave application. Show up for the music, the films, the strangers who become friends by intermission. Spend on things that stay with you longer than a receipt. Find little bits of yourself in every festival you attend. That is adulting done right.

Want your downloadable summer festival essentials checklist? [Click here.]

Found this useful? Share it with a friend who is planning their summer festival run — they will thank you.

And if you want to read more about festivals click here.

Click here and know more about festivals happening this summer.

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Footnotes

1. Source: India Meteorological Department ↩︎
2. Source: Bajaj Finserv ↩︎