If you truly want to soak into the essence of Rajasthan whilst learning about its culture, visiting festivals of rajasthan are a great way of doing so.
By participating or just having a look at the numerous festivals of Rajasthan you will understand the rich culture of the state. A celebration of life, heritage, culture and nature in its true form is the collective meaning behind these festivals.
These festivals are not just limited to the locals but are also known to invite people from all over the world.
The aura of these fairs and festivals is such, that people get lured to experience it from across the world. Apart from the skills and talent of the people, these occasion serves as a perfect fortuity to showcase the state’s traditional artefacts and handicrafts.
You also get a chance to taste various cuisines, most of them dipped in pure ghee that is renowned in the state. Sing, dance, fest and learn about the local life as well as the rich cultural heritage through these fairs and festivals.
Learn about 16 Festivals of Rajasthan
#1 Mewar Festival, Udaipur
Welcoming the spring season, the Mewar festival is celebrated throughout the state with vigour. Udaipur is the epicentre of this festival as the Mewar rulers governed this state from Udaipur, which is why you can get the best of experience of the festival from this city.
The whole of Udaipur is wonderfully decorated to witness this fiesta. The main significance is given to the women who are decked up in their best attire to mark the celebrations.
The key highlight is dressing up of Isar, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Gangaur (Parvati) is dressed up as well and their idols are carried through the streets towards the Gangaur ghat at Lake Pichola.
The idols are then placed in the boats and immersed into the lake. This festival is marked with songs, traditional dance and fireworks, which is a sight to behold. This festival takes place during the months of March or April.
#2 Teej Festival, Jaipur
Though the festival of Teej is celebrated by a number of people throughout the country, it holds a significance in the state of Rajasthan. Married women are known to celebrate this festival who dress up in their finest attire to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati for a blissful married life.
The trees are decorated with swings where women, especially dressed up in green outfits love to sing and dance to traditional tunes. Married women enjoy gifts given from their parents while savouring mouth-watering sweets such as the ghevar.
Celebrated in the month of July/August, this festival also welcomes the monsoon in this desert state. Fairs and processions are conducted in honour of Goddess Teej – the incarnation of Parvati.
#3 Gangaur Festival, Jaipur
The Gangaur Festival is celebrated with much vigour in the city of Jaipur as well as throughout the state of Rajasthan.
The word ‘Gangaur’ is a combination of two words – Gan which is a synonym for Lord Shiva and Gaur which is used to refer to Goddess Parvati. In this festival married women worship Goddess Parvati for a happy married life by observing fast throughout and eating only once a day.
They also don their best attire throughout the festival and indulge in sweet dishes. On the seventh day of the festival, the women make clay idols and on the seventh day of the festival, they break the earthen pots and dispose of the pieces into the water. The idols are also immersed in water on this day. This festival is celebrated during March/April.
#4 Elephant Festival, Jaipur
Organized by the Rajasthan Tourism Department, the elephant festival goes perfectly in sync with its name. The elephants are decorated in the best way possible, with paints drawn on them, in elaborate motifs and murals, huge colourful garments are put on them with large anklets tied around their feet, brocade jackets and the ears are fitted with gigantic rings.
The best-dressed elephant wins the prize. Held at the Polo grounds in Jaipur, these well-decorated elephants are seen marching around the length of the ground to display their sheer beauty. This festival is held in the month of February/March.
#5 Camel Festival, Bikaner
The camel capital of the country, this festival is held in Bikaner, where camels are found in abundance. Despite being a remote place, this place draws visitors from national and international borders.
The primary objective of this festival is to display the usefulness of this animal. Apart from that, there are camel processions, camel races, tug-of-war, camel dances, and camel dressing competitions.
It is a delight to watch these animals being dressed in colourful and heavy attire that makes the best one wins a prize. Sweets made out of camel milk are worth tasting here. Spanning through a period of two days during January, you should watch out for the camel procession that starts from the Junagarh Fort.
#6 Desert Festival, Jaisalmer
Held in the month of February, this festival can be enjoyed in the Thar Desert. Camel races are held and a competition where the best-decorated camel wins. Not just this, moustached men can also participate where the one with the best moustache wins a prize.
This three-day event attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world who get to experience the cultural life of the state amidst its natural desert settings. The Border Security Force also takes part in ‘camel tattoo’ and gymnasts display their skills on camel’s back. Camel Polo is also a major attraction of this fair.
#7. Summer Festival, Mount Abu
Held in the month of May, this festival is conducted by the Rajasthan Tourism Department in the state’s only hill station. Held over a period of three days, this festival begins during the Buddha Poornima amidst the beautiful backdrop of the gorgeous hill station.
The fiesta begins with an elaborate ceremony that includes the singing of ballads, followed by a procession of bright colors and lights. Post this, local musicians and folk dancers entertain the audiences with their performances.
The Sham-e-Qawwali, an event that features some of the best Qawwali singers is held later in the day to enhance the beauty of the evening.
Boat races and horse races are also held in and around the Nakki Lake which draws a huge cheering crowd. Skating race, CRPF Band Show, skater’s show, boat races, tug of war, panihari matka race and deepdan are some of the events that are organized during the course of this fair.
#8 Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Jodhpur
Held in the month of October in the Mehrangarh Fort, this festival celebrates the musical culture of the state. This festival has been regarded as People’s Platform for Creativity and Sustainable Development, by UNESCO and hosts more than 250 artists showcasing a fusion of Indian and international music. This fest invites Grammy winners, Indian folk artists, Sufi musicians from around the world to perform here.
#9. Adventure Festival, Kota
Standing true to its name, this festival in Kota observes a number of adventure activities that you can enjoy. Held in the month of September/October, the popular activities to be enjoyed are hot air balloon, paragliding, parasailing, windsurfing, water sports like balloon water, kayaking, jet-skiing, river rafting, sports gliding, rock climbing, angling, excursions and trekking.
#10 Jaipur Literature Festival
This fest is termed as the best literary festival in the world that observes a gathering of some of the world’s greatest minds, historians, humanitarians, sportspeople, business leaders and entertainers from all walks of life who share the stage and put forward their ideas and thoughts. This week-long festival takes place in Jaipur in the month of January.
#11 Marwar Festival, Jodhpur
This popular festival that is held in the month of September/October is to mark the memory of the heroes of the state. An amalgamation of folk music and traditional dances, these performances were once enacted in front of the Kings centuries ago. The folk music and dance remind the audience of the days of yore, where the battles that were fought, the sacrifices that were made and the people who became martyrs. The camel tattoo show is another highlight of this festival. The Mehrangarh Fort and the Umaid Bhawan Palace became the venue of these festivals.
#12 Bundi Utsav, Bundi
Located in the Kota district of Rajasthan, this festival is known to bring alive the little village of Bundi. Held between November/December, this festival is marked by celebrations in the form of folk music and traditional dances. The Rajasthan Tourism Department holds this festival where you can see sporting events, sightseeing expeditions, musical performances, and dances by the locals. A Shobha Yatra is also held where women are decked up in their finest attire with pitchers being carried on their heads and walk-in procession.
#13 Kite Festival, Jaipur
Celebrated in the month of January, this festival is an opportunity to see a number of different kites in the sky. Popular in Jaipur and Jodhpur as well, people fly kites not just during the day but also during the night time.
Kites which are lit up are flown in the night sky, which is an eye-catching moment. If you have a passion for kite flying, this festival is a just visit. On the day of the festival, people take a bath in the Galtaji River and offer their prayers to the Sun God for long and healthy life. You can also savour the til ke ladoo, which are popular sweets during this festival.
#14 Pushkar Fair, Pushkar
One of the most popular fairs in Rajasthan, this fair is also a highly rated one in terms of experience. It attracts people from all over the world who flock the city of Pushkar just to see camels decorated in their best attire.
The best-dressed camels sure win a prize. This fair was originally for the livestock traders who used this opportunity to buy and sell livestock. Continuing this tradition, this fair has gone through several changes where camel, horse and donkey races are held for fun.
There are gigantic ferry wheels that allow you to watch the whole of Pushkar Mela from the above with music and dance performances going on the ground. Matka Phod, longest moustache, bridal competition, camel race and aerobics are some of the main attractions of this fair.
#15 Kolayat Fair, Bikaner
Held in the month of November, this fair is organized in Bikaner in the commemoration of Kapila, an ancient sage, who was believed to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Kapila Muni resided here, which is why this place got its name in his honour. Devotees throng this place from all parts of the world and take a dip in the holy Kolayat Lake as a part of the ceremony. All the ghats of this lake are lit up during the evening when aarti is performed and oil lamps are floated in the lake.
#16 Nagaur Fair, Nagaur
This fair is a place where the biggest cattle trading happens in Rajasthan. People from various parts of the world come here just to enjoy cattle, horse as well as camel rides. The traders come dressed in colourful gears with their cattle, which are painted beautifully and dressed in elaborate costumes.
Held between January and February, this festival spans a period of eight days where more than 70,000 cattle are on display. Apart from that, there are stalls set up, which sells local cuisines and sweet dishes, handicraft items and even camel leather items. The best part about this fair is the tug-of-war, cockfighting, camel race, and bullock race.
These are the popular fairs and festivals in Rajasthan, which can be enjoyed by you during your excursion to this desert state.
To know more about these fests and fairs and be a part of them, write to us on support@adventourist.in or send us a WhatsApp and we will help you plan a trip to Rajasthan.
