A gig in Delhi is one thing. Doing it with Purana Qila as the backdrop is entirely something else. New Zealand-based vocalist Amrita Kaur is set to do exactly that this October, returning to India for a two-part musical experience over a weekend. What better way to ring in the winter than Purana Qila concerts?
Presented by Inkpot India as part of its Songs of the Stone series, Dusk to Dawn is, quite literally, that. Spanning an evening and the following morning, the experience brings together two performances with the fort's sandstone walls acting as the third performer. Kaur will move through ghazal, Indian classical, Sufi and contemporary music as the sun slips away at dusk. Twelve hours later, she returns to the fort for a more contemplative programme of spiritual music at first light.
In between, there's plenty to keep you occupied: food, storytelling and a bazaar featuring
When: Sat, October 10, 7pm-10pm: Ghazal, Sufi and contemporary music.
Sun, October 11, 7am-10am: Contemplative and spiritual music.
Where: Purana Qila, Mathura Rd, Near Delhi Zoo, New Delhi, Delhi 110001
Nearest metro station: Supreme Court (formerly called Pragati Maidan) on the Blue line.
Tickets: ₹4,500 onwards.
We’ve made it to the month we Delhi folk wait for all year: October. It’s the one month the weather behaves – the sun’s bearable in the afternoon, the evenings are beset with a delicious chill, and night-time – well, night-time’s for being out and about, whether it’s to participate in the glut of incoming festivities, or just catch a drink at the neighbourhood bar.
So what’s October got in store for us? Well, all we can say is – we hope you haven’t skimped out on your festive wardrobe. Delhi’s got barely any time to catch its breath between Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, and Halloween. Durga Puja, especially, is a big deal in Delhi, with scores of people turning up to the pandals lining most neighbourhoods.
Pandal-hopping and garba nights not your cup of tea? No fear. The glorious weather brings us some pretty cool concerts. Purana Qila is set to turn stage to vocalist Amrita Kaur as she takes over the historic fort for her Dusk to Dawn concert, while dancers including Saswati Sen bring classical Indian dance to the same dramatic setting with the Indraprastha Nritya Mahotsav.
And more on the music front: Raftaar for rap lovers, Rahgir for those who like their music heavy on lyrics and light on frills, and Gurdas Maan for a generous dose of Punjabi folk.
The best place to be right now, however, might just be Mandi House, which is hosting not one but two major theatre events: the BRICS International Theatre Festival and Natya Kumbh 2026. Add standalone shows such as Ratna Pathak Shah and Seema Pahwa-starrer Lafzon Ki Gathri and Amol Palekar-starring Silhouettes, and it’s clear that theatre has grabbed some of October’s prime slots.
Outdoor festivals are kicking it up a notch too. Start with arguably the biggest food festival in town, The Grub Fest 2026, where the main question will be how many plates is too many plates. Beauty enthusiasts can make a beeline for NykaaLand, while anyone looking to take Halloween beyond a last-minute costume and a themed cocktail can head to HorrorCon 2026 for cosplay, horror, music and plenty of spooky business.
And if you’re still not satisfied, well, this is, ultimately, the best time to be outdoors and do nothing. Go cycling through Delhi’s sprawling gardens, trek up to a sunset point in the Aravallis, conduct an evening bar crawl or wander through the archaeological ruins of Mehrauli.
So, yes, October is busy. But with this weather, no one’s expected to complain.
