Famous Festivals and Events in Rajasthan
Rajasthan the land of grand forts, wonderful palaces and marvelous havelis boost for an India’s most alluring festival state. Over the past few years, Rajasthan host various events ranging from dance music festivals and camels shows to a ballooning events and literature gala. So to witness a great admirable experience or different colors of the state through its events. Here Travelogy India presents top 10 most popular events of Rajasthan.
Top 10 Events in Rajasthan
1. Pushkar Fair
“Pushkar Camel Fair” is treated as one of the biggest annual camel and livestock trading fair in the world. Besides helping business purpose (livestock trading), this five-day carnival is a fusion of camel, culture, and color; here not only display are thousands of camels, cattle and horses but various exhilarating activities for tourists like traditional folk performances, competitions and races(camel, horse, and donkey races) allure everyone to head to the state.
- Month : October / November
- Duration : 5 days
- Timings : All day
- Location : In and around Pushkar
- Highlights : Matka Phod, Longest Moustache, Bridal Competition, Camel Race and Aerobics are the main attractions of this fair. During this fair, foreigners can also take part in a cricket match with the local people.
- Accommodation and Food : Hotels in and around Pushkar
- Also See : What to do on a Pushkar tour
2. Elephant Festival, Jaipur
One of the most heartwarming event of Rajasthan, “Elephant Festival in Jaipur” offers an opportunity to watch royally or princely decorated elephants (brocade jackets, brightly textured turbans and traditional jewellery) with a number of competitions like elephant races, elephant polo and elephant tug-of-war (between animal and man and much more in a grand way is really an experience like no other.
- Month : February / March
- Duration : One day
- Timings : All day
- Location : In and around Jaipur
- Highlights : Elephant Race, Polo, Tug Of War, Elephant Decoration and Color and Music are the main attractions of this festival
- Accommodation and Food : Hotels in and around Jaipur
- Also See : What to do on a Jaipur tour
3. Desert Festival, Jaisalmer
The three day action-packed “Desert Festival, Jaisalmer” display the life and culture of Rajasthan in a large aspect. Its unique and exotic camel races, camel polo, folk music, snake charmers, turban-tying contests, famous Mr. Desert competition and many more activities in the middle of the thick and sun-burnt sands of the Thar Desert are the high points of the festival.
- Month : February
- Duration : 3 Days
- Timings : All day and Night
- Location : Deserts of Jaisalmer
- Highlights : Camel Tattoo Shows, Acrobats (Gymnasts Display Their Skills on Camel's Back), Camel Polo, Puppeteers, Camel Races, Traditional Processions, Camel Mounted Bands, Folk Dances are the major attractions of this festival.
- Accommodation and Food : Hotels in Jaisalmer
- Also See : What to do on a Jaisalmer tour
4. Mewar Festival, Udaipur
One of the another famous festival in Rajasthan “Mewar Festival, Udaipur” welcome spring season with lot of zest, cheer, food, song and dance. Colorfully attired women take images of Goddess Gauri to Lake Pichola for immersion in a procession of boats that signals the completion of the celebrations are the highlight of this event.
- Month : March / April
- Duration : One to two days
- Timings : All day and Night
- Location : In and around Udaipur
- Highlights : Dressing up of Isar (who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva), colorful traditional saris and jewellery are the major attractions of this festival.
- Accommodation and Food : Hotels in Udaipur
- Also See : What to do on an Udaipur tour
5. Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Jodhpur
One of the most awaited and incomparable five days musical events ever “Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Jodhpur” will bring together various folk musicians and artistes from India and all over the globe like Yemen, Scotland, Australia and many of whom will cooperate with inborn talent under one roof. No doubt an exciting combination of international Indian folk music in tie up with electrifying performances at the spectacular “Mehrangarh Fort” is a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyone who looking for an unusual charisma.
- Month : October
- Duration : Five days
- Timings : All day and Night
- Location : In and around Udaipur
- Highlights : Folk art and Music are the major attractions of this festival
- Accommodation and Food : Hotels in Jodhpur
- Also See : What to do on a Jodhpur tour
6. Jaipur Literature Festival
The biggest literary festival on Earth “Jaipur Literature Festival” come together some of the most remarkable, clever, sensitive and brilliant collection of authors from India and all over the world for five days of readings, debates and discussions at the beautiful “Diggi Palace” of Rajasthan. If literature is not your thing/you don't want to be an inch closer to your favorite’s writers, then there’s great music and food on offer too.
- Month : January
- Duration : Five days
- Timings : All day and Night
- Location : In and around Jaipur
- Highlights : Literature, Readings, Debates and Discussions are the major attractions of this festival
- Accommodation and Food : Hotels in Jaipur
- Also See : What to do on a Jaipur tour
7. Summer Festival, Mt. Abu
When the rough/dry summer beats down the desert land of Rajasthan, its only hill station – Mount Abu provides more than breather as it comes alive with its unique three day “Summer Festival, Mt. Abu”; starting on the day of Buddha Poornima, the summer festival opening ceremony includes the singing of ballads which is followed by enticing folk dance styles of Gair, Ghoomar and Daph, Sham-e-Qawwali. Along with folk culture, this festival host other events also like horse racing, tug of war, skating races, CRPF band show, boat races on the Nakki Lake and last but not least closing ceremony that include a sparkling display of fireworks make it a one-of-its gracious experience.
- Month : May
- Duration : 3 days
- Timings : All day and Night
- Location : In and around Mt. Abu
- Highlights : Skating Race, CRPF Band Show, Skater's Show, Boat Race, Tug Of War, Paniharimatka Race and Deepdan are some of the major attractions of this festival.
- Accommodation and Food : Hotels in Mt. Abu
- Also See : What to do on a Mt. Abu tour
8. Matsya Festival, Alwar
The two day “Matsya Festival” in Alwar displays the prosperity, traditional values and colorful customs of the region boost for its colorful processions, cultural performances, an array of sporting events, impressive artistic exhibitions and many events that no doubt make something for everyone.
- Month : October
- Duration : 2 days
- Timings : All day and Night
- Location : In and around Alwar
- Highlights : Several Competitions, Dance and Song Performances and Other Fun Activities are some of the major attractions of this festival.
- Accommodation and Food : Hotels in Alwar
- Also See: What to do on an Alwar tour
9. Camel Festival, Bikaner
An annual “Camel Festival” held in traditional city, Bikaner also known as the camel capital of the country attracts local, national, and international visitors through various events like camel processions, camel races, tug-of-war, camel dances, and camel dressing competitions etc. Apart from these, camel festival offer plenty of option for eating, souvenir-shopping, photography and other sights to watch out include the skirt-swirling folk dancers, fire dancers and the dazzling fireworks show, that lights up the night sky above the covered Desert City.
- Month : January
- Duration : 2 days
- Timings : All day and Night
- Location : In and around Bikaner
- Highlights : Camel Race, Best Decorated Camels, Tug Of War, Camel Shows (Camel Show Their Footwork, Dancing and Aerobic Skills), Fireworks Show and other exciting games are some of the major attractions of this festival.
- Accommodation and Food : Hotels in Bikaner
- Also See : What to do on a Bikaner tour
10. Urs Fair, Ajmer
One of the biggest Muslim fair in the country “Urs Fair, Ajmer” which is celebrated in the memory of “Khwaja Muin-nddin Chisti” at Dargah Sharif, Ajmer is a wonderful event .On the evening of the Urs Festival, millions of devotees from all communities throng the tomb and offer Chadar, Ghilaph, and Neema/ Nazrana (Rose and jasmine flowers are placed on the tomb along with perfumes and incense) and blessed Kheer (milk pudding)/attend the famous qawali in evening.
- Month : Seventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar
- Duration : 6 days
- Timings : All day and Night
- Location : In and around Ajmer
- Highlights : Nazrana, Kheer (milk pudding) and famous “Qawali” during the evening are some of the major attractions of this fair.
- Accommodation and Food : Hotels in Ajmer
- Also See : What to do on an Ajmer tour
