Rajasthan is a happy state that displays its bright culture year-round through a variety of fairs and festivals that bring a variety of hues to the state’s dry landscape. Travellers have the opportunity to explore the art, culture, and customs that are expertly woven throughout the state’s regal heritage during these conspicuous fairs and festivals. Rajasthan is a distinctive location where people value celebrating life. And to truly experience the flavour of this magnificent place, go during this celebration and participate.
These various fairs and festivals bring colour and happiness all around to Rajasthan’s lifeless landscape. Ashwa Poojan, Navratri, Guru Purnima, Mt. Abu: Summer and Winter Festival, Pushkar Fair, Gangaur Festival, Nagaur Festival, Kite Festival, Kumbhalgarh Festival, Teej, Summer Festival, Baneshwar Fair, Sheetla Mata Fair, Elephant Festival, Camel Festival, Desert Festival, Pushkar Fair, and Urs Fair are just a few of the major celebrations that take place throughout Rajasthan. Additionally, two of the greatest Hindu holidays, Diwali and Dussehra, are observed with opulence and a fireworks display.
Numerous events and competitions are held during these festivals to add to the fun, including turban-tying contests, puppet shows, camel races, the Mr. and Miss. Desert pageant, performances of traditional music and dance, cock and bull fighting, and camel and cow trading. These events provide a fantastic venue for showcasing the state’s traditional artefacts and handicrafts, and both shopaholics and art enthusiasts may have a great time.
Desert Festival
Where: Jaisalmer
Duration of Festival:3 days (Comes to end on full moon day)
Special attractions: Cultural shows
The vibrant desert festival in Jaisalmer is a fantastic opportunity to see the enchanted palaces and sandstones. The three-day event offers a variety of activities, including camel races, polo matches, turban-tying competitions, and elegant camel rides. The folk dance performance on the festival’s final day is its outstanding feature. Snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats, folk performers, fire dancers, and other things that will captivate your heart are some of the main draws of the desert festival in Jaisalmer.
Bikaner Camel Festival
Where : Bikaner
Duration of Festival: 2 days
Special attractions: Spectacular and unusual camel performances.
Witness some of the best camel performances by attending this festival. As participants in the camel festival in Bikaner engage in activities like camel dance, camel decorating, and camel hair cutting, they demonstrate their artistic side. In addition to this, a revelatory celebration is planned for the end of the day. The Department of Tourism, Art and Culture in Bikaner, Rajasthan’s government, organises this festival each year. Visitors are continuously entertained by euphoric acts. A spectacular firework that illuminates the entire city of Bikaner is set off on the last day of the festival.
Nagaur Fair
Where: Nagaur (137 km from Jodhpur towards Bikaner)
Duration of Festival: 4 days
Special attractions: Cattle Fair, Methi & Mirch (chillies)
The second-largest livestock fair in India is held in Nagaur. The greatest marketplace for trading horses, camels, oxen and livestock is offered by this funfair. People can be seen sporting lengthy moustaches and colourful clothing. Nagaur Fair, which is frequented by many tourists each year, will immerse you in Rajasthan’s lovely culture. Alongside each other, struggle between cultures continues. For the amusement of visitors, a variety of events are organised, including cockfights, camel races, and tug-of-war.
Pushkar Fair
Where: Pushkar
Duration of Festival: 13 days
Special attractions: A Camel Safari, Hot Air Ballooning
Pushkar Mela is a festival that takes place annually in the month of Kartik. This fair, which draws 50,000 camels and 200,000 people, is thought to be the biggest venue for buying and selling camels, livestock, and horses. However, most of the business is done in the days preceding the fair. From all around the world, camel traders and associates attend this funfair. Unusual performances including camel dancing, bump riding, neck shaking, and other activities can be seen. On the first day, a sizable camel procession is organised, which is followed by a number of competitions and trading events. Camel owners dress up their animals with paint, jewels, and other materials. Live dance and music performances are scheduled for the evening to honour Rajasthani culture. On the final day, fireworks are organised to highlight Pushkar’s deserts and the entire city.
Elephant Festival
Where: Jaipur
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Traditional procession of decorated elephants
Holi is approaching, and in Rajasthan, taking part in the Elephant Festival is the greatest way to enjoy it. This procession is viewed as a representation of Rajasthani royalty. There is a massive elephant procession that kicks off this celebration. Elephants are decked in heavy ornaments like gold and combed, painted, dressed, and embodied for this big day. All of the female elephants who compete in this festival’s races, tug-of-wars, and polo matches. Everyone enjoys the festival and it draws large crowds. Additionally, there are live dance and musical performances.
Mewar Festival
Where: Udaipur
Duration of Festival: 3 days
Special attractions: Cultural performances on folk music!
The spring is approaching! The Mewar celebration takes place during this period. Women bring the statues of Isar and Gangaur towards Lake Pichola during this celebration. The entire city of Udaipur is tastefully decked with vibrant streamers, giving off the impression that a major celebration is just around the corner. One of Udaipur’s most significant festivals is the Mewar festival, during which the rich culture of Rajasthan is at its pinnacle. If you are going to be in Udaipur, you should not miss this event!
Mount Abu : Winter Festival
Where: Mount Abu
Duration of Festival: 3 days
Special attractions: Cultural festival
In Mount Abu, a cultural event is held throughout the final weekend in December. This event is a wonderful experience because to the kind hospitality, traditional dance performances, ceremonial processions, and vibrant culture. On the final day, a large firework displays lights up Pushkar’s deserts.
Rajasthan has displayed its religious side in every way, from the devotion of camels and elephants to sculptures. This time, arrange your vacation in this “land of celebrations” and assimilate into the vibrant carnival of ethnic customs. Rajasthan’s fairs and festivals draw travellers from around the world to India.
Mahashivratri
Where: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Shiv temple decoration in colourful manner
India celebrates Mahashivratri, which is regarded as the most auspicious event. This celebration is linked to many legendary notions. With the use of honey, flowers, and bel leaves, Lord Shiva is aided. On this day, the vast majority of women observe a strict fast. People continue to sing devotional songs and celebrate all night long. Devotees also take a plunge in the sacred River “Ganga.”
Holi
Where: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 2 days
Special attractions: festival of colours
Similar to Mathura, the colourful state of Rajasthan also celebrates Holi. Before the full moon night, large bonfires are lit by large groups of people to burn the remaining winter-dry leaves. On the second day, people enjoy themselves by throwing coloured water and powders (gulal and kumkum) at one another. The customary dhol beats, singing, and dancing all add to the celebration’s joy.
Gangaur Festival
Where: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 18 days
Special attractions: Reverence of Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati
The Rajasthani people observe the Gangaur celebration just after Holi. Beginning the day after Holi, it lasts for 18 days. Women participate in the celebration with great fervour and devotion to Gauri, Lord Shiva’s spouse. Unmarried women pray to the Goddess in order to be blessed with decent husbands, whereas married women worship Gauri. The female members of the group come together to dress the statues of Isar and Gangaur before leading them through the city in a formal procession. Every woman puts her best foot forward and dresses like a diva at this time of year.
Mount Abu: Summer Festival
Where: Mount Abu
Duration of Festival: 3 days
Special attractions: Live shows, CRPF road show, processions
Every year on Buddh Purnima, Mount Abu hosts a three-day cultural festival to honour the vigour and energy of this tiny hill station. On the first day of this funfair, there is a procession. The second and third days feature sporting events like skating races, horse races, boat races and other contests. With thrilling firework displays and a road show by the CRPF band, the celebration comes to a close.
Urs Fair
Where: Ajmer
Duration of Festival: 6 days
Special attractions: Night-long dhikr/zikr qawwali singing
To celebrate the festival of Urs and remember Moinuddin Chisti’s death anniversary, thousands of pilgrims, Sufis, and tourists travel to Ajmer in northern Rajasthan during this time. Both inside and outside the dargah’s gates, music in the form of quawwalis is continuously played. The entire city is decked out in ornaments and lights.
Guru Purnima
Where: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Thanksgiving ceremony
Today is the day to express your gratitude to everyone who has ever helped you learn a spiritual lesson. On the day of the full moon in the Hindu month of Ashad, it is observed.
Teej
Where: All over Rajasthan (particularly in Jaipur)
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Uplifting occasion filled with singing, swinging, and dancing
Women in Rajasthan fast on Teej for marital bliss in an effort to better their marital condition. As they commemorate this festival in homage of Parvati, also known as “Teej Mata,” Teej plays a very important part in women’s lives. Aside from this, it is a highly vivid celebration where all the women enjoy dance, singing, dotting themselves with jewellery, and applying heena. For this day, a unique dessert called “ghewar” is made and offered as prasad. Teej offers a chance to strengthen ties within families.
Raksha Bandhan
Where: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Rakhi symbolises the endearing bond between a brother and a sister. All the sisters tie a thread around their brother’s wrist, and in exchange, all the brothers swear to always look out for their sisters. This particular day is set aside to honour the emotional ties that bind siblings. On the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan, the ceremony is performed.
Marwar Festival
Where: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 2 days
Special attractions: folk music, live dancing
During Sharad Purnima’s full moon, a two-day festival with lots of energy is held. The funfair brings the heroes of Rajasthan to life via the traditional dance and music of the Marwar region. On this day, a number of additional competitions are held, including the regal horse and polo games.
Navratri
Where: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 9 days
Navratri, which is observed across Rajasthan with great enthusiasm and vitality, is celebrated as the most auspicious nine days of the Hindu calendar. While eating and dancing are only permitted at night, worship and fasting are only permitted during the day.
Ashwa Poojan
Where: Udaipur
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Worshipping the Horse
In Udaipur, a royal festival honouring horses is held on the ninth day of Navratri. This unique celebration highlights the unique connection between honour and horses. The oldest household member worships the horse at this holiday, and after the religious rite, delicious Rajasthani food is served.
Dussehra
Where: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Carnival, rides
Dusshera is a festival that is observed all throughout Rajasthan to commemorate the triumph of good over evil. The victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo monster Mahishasura is also symbolised by this day. All around the world, large, vibrant processions honouring Lord Rama are organised. Paper statues of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhkaran are burned in celebration of Lord Rama’s victory, and then there is a great funfair where everyone may enjoy treats, food, rides, dance, and musical performances.
Diwali
Where: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 5 days
Special attractions: Festival of lights, firework
Diwali, known as the “festival of lights,” commemorates the return of Lord Rama. This five-day funfair is enthusiastically observed. Prior to being beautifully decorated with fairy lights, patterned lanterns, and vibrant rangolis/kolams, homes and businesses undergo a thorough spring cleaning. In the evening, a puja is held to ask Devi Lakshmi for her blessings. Following the religious ritual, people exchange sweets with family, friends, and neighbours before watching magnificent fireworks. Gifts are given and received, and people make the most of them. People buy clothes and utensils during these 5 days, and some even launch new businesses, as they believe this period to be particularly auspicious.