Fairs and Festivals of Rajasthan

Like The Rest Of India, Rajasthan Also Has Numerous Fairs And Festivals That Celebrate Life And Its Various Seasons. Colourful And Full Of Gaiety, The Fairs And Festivals Of Rajasthan Are Also Popular For Cattle Trading.

The royal heritage of Rajasthan, its desert topography, multi-religious social system and a largely rural life with its camels and horses is reflected in the large number of fairs and festivals observed in Rajasthan.

There is not just one or two; there are plenty of fairs and festivals. Each month has a large calendar of events to mark the various seasons and events in the life of an average Rajasthani.

The vibrancy and colours of Rajasthan come alive in its fairs and festivals. It has a rich heritage of folk music, traditional dances, puppetry, camel races and various craft that can be observed in these fairs and festivals.

Some of the more popular fairs and festivals of Rajasthan are listed below:

Nagaur Fair, Nagaur
Held in Nagaur in January - February, this is basically an animal fair and also hosts several local sports. Situated half way between Bikaner and Jodhpur, Nagaur becomes resplendent with cattle, horses and camels and their colorfully turbaned owners during this fair. Games, tug-of-war contests, camel races and strains of ballads create a joyous atmosphere.

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Desert Festival, Jaisalmer
Organized in Jaisalmer in January -February, this is one of the most popular festivals in Rajasthan and attracts even the most jaded traveler. This fair is a journey into the heart of the desert in the Golden City of Jaisalmer. Folk performers like musicians, snake charmers, ballad singers and puppeteers all show their skills. Camel being the life and soul of Rajasthan, exciting camel dances, camel acrobatics, camel races, and camel polo, and competitions for the best decorated camel, are the highlights of the proceedings.

Tug-of-war between musclemen, a turban tying competition and a Mr. Desert contest are the other attractions with a spectacular sound and light show on a moonlit night amidst sand dunes that marks the close of the Desert festival.

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Camel Festival, Bikaner
Organized in Bikaner in the month of January, this is an enchanting desert festival that brings alive the music and dance of Bikaner region. Unusual folk performances, camel races and camel dance are the highlights of this festival.

Baneshwar Fair
This is a religious fair organized in Baneshwar in January - February. Large number of tribals from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat also visit, to join in the prayers to Lord Shiva.

Gangaur Festival, Jaipur
The Gangaur festival is observed in Jaipur in March - April. A festival dedicated to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, in this young girls dress up in finery and pray for grooms of their choice while married women pray for the well-being of their husbands. This is an 18-day festival with several interesting activities and ends with a grand procession marking the arrival of Shiva to escort his bride home.

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Mewar Festival, Udaipur
Organized in Udaipur in March-April, this festival welcomes the spring season. Song, dance, devotional music, processions and fireworks mark the revelry. Everybody participates in these festivities making it extremely tourist friendly.

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Elephant Festival, Jaipur
Celebrated in Jaipur, it is observed at the time of Holi. Tourists can participate in the Festival of Colors and watch various elephant sports. Decked up elephants are a sight to behold at this festival.

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Urs Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer
Held in Ajmer at the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, the dates are decided according to the lunar calendar. People of all faiths come from all over the world to offer prayers and participate in the various programs.

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Summer Festival, Mount Abu
Organized in Mount Abu, the only hill station of Rajasthan in June as it is the coldest place in Rajasthan at this time of the year. Folk dances and other cultural activities are organized for the visitors.

Teej Festival, Jaipur
Essentially a festival for women, Teej is observed in Jaipur region during July-August. This is a festival to mark the onset of monsoon. Processions, women dressed in bright colours and general merry making prevail during Teej.

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Marwar Festival, Jodhpur
This festival is held in Jodhpur in October. Music and dance of the Marwar region are the highlights of this festival. Maand, a classical style of folk music centered on the romantic life style of Rajasthan's rulers, and Maand Raag are the big attractions.

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Pushkar Fair, Pushkar
Held in Pushkar near Ajmer in November, this fair has the largest participation of all the fairs and festivals of Rajasthan. Pushkar is an important pilgrimage for Hindus as well as the venue of a cattle fair. People come from all over the world to participate in Pushkar fair.

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Winter Fesival, Mount Abu
The Winter Festival is held every year in the month of December in Mount Abu. It is the only hill station in this desert state known as the summer capital of Rajasthan. The Winter Festival is an electrifying annual event celebrated from December 29 to 31. The festival is arranged by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Municipal Board of Mount Abu to showcase the electrifying culture of Rajasthan.

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