Festival Calendar
Festivals in Rajasthan
24 festivals across Rajasthan — organized by month
January
Jaipur Literature Festival
Jaipur
The world's largest free literary festival. 500+ speakers, authors, poets at Diggi Palace.
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.
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.
February
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mewar Festival
Udaipur
Women carry brass pots in procession. Boat procession on Lake Pichola. Cultural performances at City Palace.
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.
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.
October
Marwar Festival
Jodhpur
Folk music and dance celebrating Rajasthani heroes under Mehrangarh Fort in full moonlight.
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.
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
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.
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.