Rajasthan is the hotspot for royal and cultural experiences. The land celebrates a plethora of festivals, both religious and historical, with great vigour and enthusiasm.
Throughout the year, unique fairs and festivals are organised at different locations that serve as exciting escapades for tourists from all around the world.
This article provides details of all the festivals of Rajasthan.
Bikaner Camel Festival
Organised by the department of tourism and the government of Rajasthan, this festival of cultural blast is devoted to celebrating the “ship of the desert.” A parade marks the beginning of the festival. Camel owners from all around Rajasthan bring their camels for the camel pageant.
This two-day festival is packed with various competitions including dancing, turban tying, camel milking, water pot race, wrestling, and even kabaddi. Both days feature various cultural performances. The festival is wrapped up with a gorgeous display of fireworks.
Festival location:
Bikaner
Month of celebration:
January - February
Festival duration:
2 days
Timing:
All day
International Kite Festival
This 3-day festival is celebrated on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. People from all over the country come to this festival to fly and participate in the very competitive kite war.
The event begins at the Jaipur polo ground and the prize distribution takes place at the Umaid Bhawan Palace on the very last day.
A fun event with a beautiful sky filled with colourful kites is the place to be.
Festival location:
Jaipur
Month of celebration:
January
Festival duration:
3 days
Timing:
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Jaipur Literature Festival
Known as the world’s grandest literary show, this festival extends over 5 days. Filled with enriching discussions of literature and commendable music pieces, this festival brings some of the best minds in the world under one roof.
This festival tours internationally around the US, UK, Canada, Qatar, Australia, and the Maldives.
Festival location:
Jaipur
Month of celebration:
January
Festival duration:
5 days
Timing:
9:00 am - 10:00 pm
Nagaur Festival
This is an annual cattle trading festival organised on a large scale, providing a place for cattle owners to sell and exchange their livestock. Nagaur is a small town where people depended on their livestock to a large extent, thus, this festival is celebrated with great vigour and enthusiasm.
The festival features a fun mela with handicraft stalls and a mirchi bazaar. A lot of competitions and cultural performances also take place.
Festival location:
Nagaur
Month of celebration:
January - February
Festival duration:
4 days
Timing:
All day
Udaipur World Music Festival
This festival gives a platform to all artists and music lovers to enjoy some magnificent tunes. The festival moves around different venues and is a perfect mashup of cultural and western vibes. With artists from over 16 different countries performing at the event, the festival covers multiple genres of music.
Packed with world-renowned artist line-ups and concerts on large scales, this is a music lovers’ dream.
Festival location:
Udaipur
Month of celebration:
changes every year
Festival duration:
3 days
Timing:
2:00 pm onwards
Baneshwar Festival
Taking place in the temple of the same name, the Baneshwar festival is a tribal fair that takes place on the full moon of the Magha month, as per the Hindu calendar.
This fair combines two festivals. The Vagad festival takes place in honour of the completion of the construction of the Vishnu temple in Baneshwar and the other is a devotion to Lord Shiva.
Devotees from all over India gather together to pray and pay respect to the deities.
Festival location:
Dungarpur
Month of celebration:
February
Festival duration:
5 days
Timing:
5:00 am - 11:00 pm
Jaisalmer Desert Festival
This desert festival takes place in the magnificent Thar Desert. It's a cultural fest that features traditional dances and heritage activities like safaris, for both local folks and tourists.
People participate in the ghoomar and turban-tying contests organised in the fest.
The festival incorporates performances from different Bollywood artists and ends with a blast of fireworks.
Festival location:
Jaisalmer
Month of celebration:
February
Festival duration:
3 days
Timing:
8:30 am- 9:45 pm
World Sufi Festival
A delight for sufi enthusiasts, this festival as the name suggests brings together sufi artists from all over the world and gives them a platform to share their music.
The sacred spirit festival held at Mehrangarh fort ranks on top when it comes to sufi festivals. With 200+ featured artists, this fest is organised by the Mehrangarh Museum trust.
The magical experience of this festival transports you into the land of soothing tunes and poetry.
Festival location:
Jodhpur
Month of celebration:
February
Festival duration:
3 days
Timing:
7:00 am- 9:30 pm
Shekhawati Festival
Organised at different venues, namely, Nawalgarh, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Churu, the Shekhawati festival is a cultural fair organised by the State Department of tourism.The festival includes cultural performances and an exploration of the areas while riding horses.
The festival ends with a magnificent view of fireworks.
Festival location:
Shekhawati villages
Month of celebration:
February
Festival duration:
3 days
Timing:
All day
Brij Holi Festival
Devoted to the Hindu deity, Lord Krishna, this festival is the Rajasthani celebration of the national festival of Holi. They combine folk dances with the colourful aspects of Holi and create an atmosphere of vibrance and joy.
A skit is performed portraying the love story of Lord Krishna and Radha and many hymns are sung in their praise.
Festival location:
Bharatpur
Month of celebration:
March
Festival duration:
2 days
Dhulandi Festival
Dhulandi is another name for Holi. This festival is celebrated in Jaipur over a period of two days. This festival marks the beginning of the spring season. It also includes the ritual of Holika Dahan which is a bonfire symbolising the victory of good over evil and takes place on the second day of the Holi celebration.
Festival location:
Jaipur
Month of celebration:
March
Festival duration:
2 days
Rajasthan Festival / Rajasthan Day Celebration
This festival is celebrated on 30 March marking the formation of the now-known Rajasthan. In the year 1949, the princely states and provinces were combined under one Rajputana and named Rajasthan, which means, the abode of the kings. This festival is celebrated all over Rajasthan which is now the largest state in India.
Festival location:
everywhere in Rajasthan
Month of celebration:
March
Festival duration:
1 day
Elephant Fair
This fair is devoted to the demonstration of the royal animal elephant. There are elephant dance performances by beautifully adorned elephants and there is even a “Gaj Shringar” contest.
Elephant paintings, carriages, textiles, and food are all included in this fair.
Since the fair occurs during Holi, a nationally celebrated festival in India, people also get to play with colours and water. The highlight of the festival is elephant races and elephant polo matches.
Festival location:
Jaipur
Month of celebration:
March
Festival duration:
2 days
Matsya Festival
Devoted to Matsya who was the first embodiment of Lord Vishnu, this festival either falls in March or April according to the Gregorian calendar.
This religious Hindu festival attracts many devotees and pilgrims and is also celebrated in parts of south India with great enthusiasm
Festival location:
everywhere in Rajasthan
Month of celebration:
March - April
Festival duration:
1 day
Gangaur Festival
Held after two weeks of Holi, this festival is of immense importance to the women of Rajasthan. Both married and unmarried women enthusiastically participate in the festival in devotion to Goddess Gauri, who is a symbol of unconditional and pure love.
The festival extends over 18 days, where women dress traditionally, apply henna on their hands & feet, and collect cash, sweets, ghee, oil, and jaggery in earthen pots. On the last day, they break these pots and take the remains to a well or a tank.
Festival location:
Jaipur
Month of celebration:
April
Festival duration:
18 days
Mewar Festival
The Udaipur Mewar festival is a welcome celebration of the spring season. It is a cultural event including folk dances, religious hymns, devotional tunes, and the blasts of magnificent fireworks.
Falling on the same day as Gangaur, on this festival the women of Udaipur walk towards Lake Pichola while carrying the image of the Goddess Gauri. The lake is packed with boats and offers a charming experience.
Festival location:
Udaipur
Month of celebration:
April
Festival duration:
3 days
Karni Mata Fair
Organised on the 9th day of Navratri, this fair is celebrated twice a year at the temple of Karni Mata. In this temple stands a yellow marble, 75 cm image of Goddess Karni Mata wearing earrings and carrying a crown.
The shrine, also known as the Rat Temple, is a safe space for rats as they are considered sacred and are allowed to roam free around this goddess’s shrine.
Festival location:
near Bikaner
Month of celebration:
March - April and September - October
Festival duration:
1 day
Mahaveerji Fair
Celebrated in the loving memory of Shri Mahavir Swami, this fair takes place in Chandan Gaon, at Mahaveerji temple.
The festival includes religious rituals such as aarti and presenting rice, sandalwood, mishri, saffron, and dry fruits as offerings to the deity. During the fair, a rath yatra takes place, and the image of the deity is carried on a golden chariot to & from the River Gambhiri.
The fair is a favourite for the Jain community and includes various food, handicrafts, clothes, and utensil stalls.
Festival location:
Jaipur
Month of celebration:
March - April
Festival duration:
1 day
Summer Festival
Buddha Poornima marks the beginning of this 3-day long summer festival at the hill station Mount Abu.
The festival is set off with a display of beautiful folk dance performances and cultural ballads. The festival celebrates the culture of Rajasthan and encourages people via various competitions. The skating race and the boating race are public favourites.
Festival location:
Mount Abu
Month of celebration:
May - June
Festival duration:
3 days
Teej Festival
Devoted to the pure love of the Hindu deities, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, this festival is a favourite among the women of north India. Jaipur celebrates Haryali Teej, also known as Singhara Teej on the 3rd day of Shravan mass.
The festival includes preparing delicious dishes, women dressing up in traditional costumes, applying henna, and swinging on swings singing cultural folk songs. They also perform ghoomar.
Festival location:
Jaipur
Month of celebration:
August - September
Festival duration:
1 day
Kajli Teej Festival
On the occasion of Kajli Teej, women in the Bundi area participate enthusiastically and pray to Goddess Uma for gaining a happy, stable marital life.
Applying henna design on palms and wearing new bangles along with traditional attire is key to this festival. This festival is associated with the beginning of the monsoon season and hence it features cultural monsoon hymns and songs.
A fair at Bundi is also organised for the celebration of this festival.
Festival location:
Bundi
Month of celebration:
August - September
Festival duration:
7 days
Ramdevji Fair
Celebrated around the Baba Ramdevji Temple at Ramdevra, Jaisalmer, this fair is a tribute to the saint Baba Ramdevji. He achieved a higher-level plane and sat in samadhi and since then he has been a spiritual guru for hundreds and thousands of devotees all around the world.
The aarti at the temple is a must-attend.
Festival location:
Jaisalmer
Month of celebration:
August - September
Festival duration:
1 day
Kota Adventure Festival
The Kota adventure festival is a major tourist attraction for adventure lovers. Organised near the banks of river Chambal, this festival is a culmination of water and land adventure sports. From parasailing, and windsurfing to rafting, water skiing, and kayaking, this festival does not disappoint to give you an adrenaline rush.
Festival location:
Kota
Month of celebration:
September - October
Festival duration:
7 days
Marwar Festival
This heritage festival is a tribute to the Marwari culture of Rajasthan. Spread across multiple venues, this festival has Mr. and Mrs. Marwar pageant.
The aim of this festival is to remember the lives of Marwar rulers and celebrate the Marwar culture with its traditional songs and dances.
Festival location:
Jodhpur
Month of celebration:
September - October
Festival duration:
2 days
Pushkar Camel Fair
This fair extends over numerous days and is a major tourist attraction. Initially organised to encourage cattle trading, especially that of camels, the Pushkar camel fair is now a grand-scale celebration of the tribal culture of Pushkar.
Festival location:
Pushkar
Month of celebration:
November - December
Festival duration:
5-8 days
Chandrabhaga Fair
Organised on the banks of river Chandrabhaga, this fair is a favourite for tourists and pilgrims. The perfect mix of trade, religion, and fun, this fair is the place to be.
People participate in cattle trading and play fun games during the fair. The spiritual aspect of this fair includes the purification of one’s soul by taking a dip in the river.
Festival location:
Jhalawar
Month of celebration:
October - November
Festival duration:
3 days
Bundi Utsav
Organised by the government of Rajasthan and the department of tourism, this festival is the celebration of the culture and traditions of Rajasthan.
Inaugurated by a rath Shobha yatra, the festivities of Bundi Utsav includes the lighting of diyas, traditional dishes, folk dances and music, and handicrafts.
Festival location:
Bundi
Month of celebration:
October - November
Festival duration:
3 days
Kolayat Fair (Kapil Muni Fair)
This is a cattle fair organised on a full moon. Kolayat is a sacred place near Bikaner, that allegedly is the place where a part of Kapil Muni’s soul resides.
This fair holds a high level of religious importance for many pilgrims. Devotees take a dip in the holy lake to rectify their sins and practice meditation to achieve purity.
Festival location:
Bikaner
Month of celebration:
October - November
Festival duration:
1 day
Kumbhalgarh Festival
The 3-day event is devoted to the achievements of Maharana Kumbha. The fort is adorned with decorations welcoming tourists to enjoy the royal traditions of Rajasthan.
The festival goes on day and night and features multiple dance and music performances.
Festival location:
Kumbhalgarh Fort
Month of celebration:
November - December
Festival duration:
3 days
Winter Festival
Organised by the municipal board of Mount Abu and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation in the crisp air of December, the winter festival includes cultural performances and songs from the heritage of Rajasthan.
Different types of dances are presented like ghoomar, sufi kathak, daph, and gair. Hot air ballooning is also available.
Festival location:
Mount Abu
Month of celebration:
December
Festival duration:
3 days
