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FESTIVALS · RAJASTHAN · MARCH

Rajasthan festivals in March.

8 festivals this month — dates, locations, and travel tips.

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.

March (varies)

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.

March (before Holi)

Elephant Festival

Jaipur

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

March (on Holi)

Gangaur Festival

Bikaner

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

March-April (Chaitra Shukla Tritiya)

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.

March 8

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.

March–April (lunar calendar)

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.

March-April (Chaitra)

Mewar Festival

Udaipur

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

March / April (coincides with Gangaur)

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