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FESTIVAL CALENDAR · RAJASTHAN · 029

Festivals in Rajasthan.

29 festivals across Rajasthan — organised by month.

January

Bikaner Camel Festival

Bikaner

Two-day festival celebrating the ship of the desert with camel races, fur-cutting designs, camel milk contests, and folk performances in Junagarh Fort area.

Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti

Ajmer

Six-day Sufi pilgrimage at the Ajmer Dargah Sharif with qawwali nights, langar distribution, and devotees from all faiths offering chadars at the saint's tomb.

Jaipur Literature Festival

Jaipur

The world's largest free literary festival. 500+ speakers, authors, poets at Diggi Palace.

February

Braj Holi Festival

Deeg

Two-day festival celebrated at Deeg Palace with great pomp, honoring Lord Krishna and Braj region heritage. Features colorful fountain displays (900 fountains operational), Rajasthani folk performances, kabaddi, rope pulling, Mehendi art, and rangoli competitions.

Baneshwar Fair

Dungarpur

Massive tribal fair at the confluence of Som and Mahi rivers where Bhil tribals gather for a holy dip, folk dancing, and paying respects at the Baneshwar Mahadev Temple.

Nawalgarh Festival

Shekhawati

Heritage festival in the painted havelis of Shekhawati with guided fresco tours, folk music, camel safaris, and traditional Marwari cuisine.

Desert Festival

Jaisalmer

Camel polo, turban-tying races, Mr. Desert competition, folk music under the stars at Sam Sand Dunes.

Neemrana Music Festival

Neemrana

Classical Indian music festival hosted at the 15th-century Neemrana Fort-Palace with performances by renowned artists in the stepped fort's courtyards.

March

Jauhar Mela

Chittorgarh

Annual fair at Chittorgarh Fort commemorating the three historic jauhars (mass self-immolation) performed by Rajput women to protect honor during sieges.

Mewar Festival

Udaipur

Women carry brass pots in procession. Boat procession on Lake Pichola. Cultural performances at City Palace.

Elephant Festival

Jaipur

Decorated elephants parade, play polo, and race through Jaipur. Holi celebrations follow.

Gangaur Festival

Bikaner

Women worship Goddess Gauri (Parvati) for 18 days, carrying decorated clay idols in processions through the old city streets of Bikaner.

Barmer Thar Festival

Barmer

Desert cultural festival featuring folk music, Kalbelia and Ghoomar dances, turban-tying competitions, and camel polo on the sand dunes near Barmer.

Mallinath Cattle Fair

Barmer

One of Rajasthan's largest cattle fairs held at Tilwara near Barmer over two weeks, with livestock trading, folk performances, and rural sports.

Mahavir Jayanti

Ranakpur Jain Temple

Celebrates the birthday of Mahavir, founder of Jainism. Major festival at 15th-century Ranakpur Jain Temple with 1,000+ daily visitors (15,000 during festival). Temple idol adorned with silver crowns; 1,000 kilos of rice offered annually.

Brij Festival

Bharatpur

Three-day pre-Holi celebration in the Brij region with Raslila performances, folk dances, and cultural programs near the Bharatpur bird sanctuary.

April

Guru Shikhar Fair

Mount Abu

Fair at the Dattatreya Temple atop Guru Shikhar, the highest peak of the Aravalli range, with devotees trekking up for blessings and panoramic views.

Hanuman Jayanti

Sariska Tiger Reserve

Grand fair organized at Pandupol Hanuman Temple within Sariska Tiger Reserve celebrating the birth of Lord Hanuman. Draws pilgrims and locals for rituals, prayers, and festive gatherings at the 5,000-year-old shrine.

August

Kajli Teej

Bundi

Women's festival where married women sing Kajli folk songs and swing on decorated jhulas (swings) near Nawal Sagar Lake in Bundi.

September

Ganesh Chaturthi at Trinetra Ganesh Temple

Ranthambore

Thousands visit the 1,000-year-old Trinetra Ganesh Temple inside Ranthambore Fort, believed to be the only temple where Ganesh is shown with his entire family.

Mitthe Shah Dargah Urs Fair

Gagron Fort

Annual colorful fair held at the mausoleum of Sufi Saint Mitthe Shah, located just outside Gagron Fort. Features music, rituals, and traditional communal gatherings celebrating the intersection of regional faith, folklore, and harmony.

October

Meera Mahotsav

Chittorgarh

Festival celebrating the mystic poet-saint Meera Bai at her temple in Chittorgarh Fort, with bhajan recitals and devotional music by renowned artists.

Marwar Festival

Jodhpur

Folk music and dance celebrating Rajasthani heroes under Mehrangarh Fort in full moonlight.

November

Pushkar Camel Fair

Pushkar

50,000+ camels traded. Mustache competitions, longest turban contests, hot air balloons over the desert.

Bundi Utsav

Bundi

Cultural festival in the lanes of Bundi with processions, fireworks, turban-tying, traditional music, and tours of the town's famous stepwells and murals.

Matsya Festival

Alwar

Cultural festival at Alwar's Siliserh Lake and city palace featuring folk performances, handicraft exhibitions, and boat rides celebrating the Matsya kingdom heritage.

December

Winter Festival Mount Abu

Mount Abu

Rajasthan's only hill station hosts a winter carnival with folk dances, boat races on Nakki Lake, fireworks, and cultural performances by tribal artists.

Osian Camel Safari Festival

Osian

Desert festival at the ancient Jain and Hindu temple town of Osian with camel safaris to sand dunes, temple tours, and folk music under the stars.

Kumbhalgarh Festival

Kumbhalgarh

Three-day cultural festival held at Kumbhalgarh Fort organized by Rajasthan Tourism Department. Features folk music and dance (Sufi, Kalbelia, Bhavai, Chari, Ghoomar), sound-and-light show narrating fort history, traditional Rajasthani handicrafts markets (haats), and celebrations of Maharana Kumbha's legacy.

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