Rajasthan boasts of its rich heritage, culture, and scenic splendours. And the same is reflected in sparkling lakes & dessert, vibrant markets, and mesmerising palaces & forts of Rajasthan. Undeniably, equally popular are the numerous colorful and traditional festivals of Rajasthan. Some reflect ethnicity, some heritage, and some are purely cultural events. These festivals are for sure a celebration of life, heritage and culture in true Rajasthani style. It provides an opportunity to the tourists to see the different colours of the state.
While some festivals are traditional & religious, others are purely cultural fairs. Have a look at the below list of festivals of Rajasthan.
1. Teej – Worship Of Goddess Teej
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One of the most popular festivals of Rajasthan, Teej is celebrated with absolute grandeur, traditional songs & dance, fair, and worship of Goddess Teej. There is a grand procession in which the golden palanquin of Goddess Teej is taken across the city with decorated elephants, horses, & camels. Undoubtedly, Teej festival in Rajasthan is an important eve.
Location: Jaipur
Key attractions: Ghewar (Teej-special sweet), Malpua, and womenfolk dressed in green traditional dresses, bangles, and mehendi
Date for Teej: 19th August 2023 (Saturday)
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2. International Kite Festival – A Vibrant Festival Of Rajasthan
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One of the most vibrant and popular festivals of Rajasthan, The International Kite Festival is celebrated around Makar Sankranti every year. Locals, as well as tourists, fly kites of various shapes & colours and relish local delicacies and sweets available everywhere.
Location: Jaipur and Jodhpur
Key attractions: Kite War, fireworks, illuminated kites, and sweets like Ghevar, Til-paati, Gajak, & kheer
Dates for International Kite Festival: 14th January (Saturday) to 16th January 2023 (Monday)
3. Jaipur Literature Festival – The Greatest Literary Show On Earth
This is aptly illustrated as the greatest literary show on Earth, showcasing works of amateur as well as most reputed writers. From Nobel Laureates & Man Booker Prize Winners to budding writers, every literature enthusiast visits Diggi Palace for this literature fiesta. This is one of the most famous festivals of Rajasthan and offers a lovely scope for spectators from Rajasthan and other parts of the world to gain knowledge from and share ideas with contemporary legendary stalwarts.
Location: Jaipur
Key attractions: Book releases, seminars, debates, chat shows, and poetry sessions
Dates for JLF: 19th January (Thursday) to 23rd January (Monday)
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4. Elephant Fair – The Traditional Festival Of Rajasthan
Jaipur Elephant Festival, held every year at Jaipur Polo Ground on the day of Holi, is one of the most famous traditional festivals of Rajasthan. Elephants are decorated with colorful jhools (saddle cloth) & heavy jewelry and presented for races, shows, & competitions. Female elephants are even made to wear anklets.
Location: Jaipur
Key attractions: Polo Match and Tug of War between elephants
Date for Elephant Fair: 5th March (Sunday) to 14th March 2023 (Tuesday)
5. Winter Festival -Explore Various Forms Of Arts
The Winter Festival brings together artisans and artists from different corners of the state to showcase various forms of art, handicrafts, food, and culture. Among the most famous fairs and festivals of Rajasthan, the festival also includes stunning fireworks and poetry sessions.
Location: Mount Abu
Key attractions: Deep Daan and kite flying & rowing competitions
Dates for Winter Festival: 29th December 2023 (Friday)
Suggested Read: Top 19 Winter Festivals In India You Must Attend!
6. Summer Festival – Summer Festival On The Day Of Buddha Poornima
The Summer Festival starts on the day of Buddha Poornima and rejoices Rajasthani folk culture & traditions for three days. Along with cultural concerts, the festival also organises horse racing, skating races, tug of war, boating races in Nakki Lake, and live band shows.
Location: Mount Abu
Key attractions: Sham-e-Qawwali, Gair, Ghoomar, and Daph
Dates for Summer Festival: 13th May (Saturday) to 15th May 2023 (Monday)
7. Brij Holi – The Worship Of Lord Krishna
Celebrated few days before Holi, this special Brij Holi is celebrated with the worship of Lord Krishna, dance, music, and splashing of colors. This is one of the most famous fairs and festivals of Rajasthan. Local people take a dip in the ghats of Banganga River before offering prayer to the Radha Krishna Temple.
Location: Bharatpur
Key attractions: Enactment of Raslila
Dates for Brij Holi: 8th March 2023 (Wednesday)
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8. Urs Festival – Celebrated At The Holy Tomb Of Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti
The Urs festival is celebrated at the holy tomb of Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, memorializing his emblematic unification with Allah (God). Observed every year from 1st to 6th day of Rajab (7th Islamic month), this is one of the religious festivals of Rajasthan and attracts followers from all over the world. Here, the tomb is cleaned with rosewater & draped with an embroidered silk cloth. This is followed by prayers and offerings.
Location: Ajmer
Key attractions: Sajjada Nashin white flag hoisting, Qawwalis, and Mehfil sessions.
Date for Urs: 29th January 2023 (Sunday)
9. Pushkar Camel Fair – A Camel Trade Fair
This is one of the most traditional festivals in Rajasthan, where thousands and thousands of camels gather for trading. These ones of its kind carnivals are celebrated with music, dance and magic show, acrobats, snake charmers and carousel rides.
Location: Pushkar
Key attractions: Parade & beauty contests of well-decorated camels, hot-air balloon ride, moustache competition, and handicraft bazaar
Dates for Pushkar Camel Fair: 20th November (Sunday) to 28th November (Monday)
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10. Rajasthan International Folk Festival – A Celebration Of Traditional Folk Music And Arts
The Jodhpur RIFF is an annual festival that has been organized in Jodhpur since 2007. It aims to promote traditional folk music and arts. It is held every year on the Sharad Purnima – the brightest full moon of the year – at the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.
Location: Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
Key attractions: Folk music & dance, jazz night, early morning ragas, and various interactive sessions
Dates for Shree Festival: 26th October (Thursday) to 30th October 2023 (Monday)
11. Kolayat Fair – The Kapil Muni Fair
Popularly known as the Kapil Muni Fair, this mesmerising carnival is one of the most popular festivals in Rajasthan. During this event, all the 52 ghats are beautifully decorated. People offer sweetmeats, milk pudding, and sugar drops to the idols of the deity. Devotees also take dip in the holy Kolayat Lake.
Location: Kolayat, Bikaner
Key attractions: Floating of oil lamps by the believers and cattle trading
Dates for Kolayat Fair: 27th November 2023 (Monday)
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12. Mewar Festival – The World’s 2nd Living Heritage Festival
To celebrate the onset of spring, Mewar Festival of Rajasthan is organised in Udaipur with grandeur and splendour. This is the world’s 2nd Living Heritage Festival and one of the most popular fairs and festivals of Rajasthan. It is celebrated with folk music, dance, food, and festivities.
Location: Udaipur
Key attractions: Musical shows, classical dance, seminars on preservation of city monuments, sumptuous food stalls by professional chefs, and marvellous firework display
Dates for Mewar Festival: 24th March (Friday) – 24th March 2023 (Sunday)
13. Kumbhalgarh Festival – The Cultural Feast
Kumbhalgarh Festival is known for its vibrant musical shows, extravagant dance recitals by local artists, and spectacular firework displays. This famous festival of Rajasthan is held with the Kumbhalgarh Fort in the backdrop. The cultural feast is truly a paradise for art and culture enthusiasts.
Location: Kumbhalgarh, Udaipur
Key attractions: Mehendi and turban tying contests
Dates for Kumbhalgarh Festival: TBA
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14. Bundi Festival – A 3-Day-Long Cultural Extravaganza
Bundi Utsav is a 3-day-long cultural extravaganza. The marvellous carnival organized by RTDC includes a majestic procession. Ethnic sports, folk dance performances, cultural events, and competitions are the primary highlights of the festival.
Location: Bundi
Key attractions: Competitions of bridal makeup, mustache, turban tying, kabaddi, horse riding, and camel race
Dates for Bundi Festival: TBA
15. Matsya Festival – Discover Adventurous Sports During Festival
Another famous festival of Rajasthan, the Matsya Festival is a two-day festival celebrated in the month of November in Alwar. It is attended by plenty of natives and foreign tourists.
Location: Alwar
Key attractions: Hot air ballooning, parasailing, zorbing, yoga, and stunning adventure-filled army exhibition
Date for Matsya Festival: 25th November (Saturday) to 26th November 2023 (Sunday)
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16. Desert Festival – The Expansive Thar Desert
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Desert Festival is the main festival of Rajasthan. It is a cultural carnival celebrated amid the sand dunes of the expansive Thar Desert. The Rajasthani folk culture is showcased through dance, music, gymnastic, camel polo, camel races, and other thrilling sports.
Location: Jaisalmer
Key attractions: Gigs by a local nomadic group, rally from Jaisalmer Fort to Shahid Poonam Singh Stadium, Gair & Fire Dance, Tug of War, Turban tying, and other contests
Dates for Desert Festival: 14th February (Tuesday) to 16th February 2023 (Wednesday)
17. Nagaur Cattle Fair – The Ramdeoji Cattle Fair
As the name suggests, this annual fair is meant primarily for cattle trading. Almost 70,000 bullocks, camels, and horses are traded. The cattle are extravagantly adorned and their owners dress up with multicolored turbans and long moustaches. Along with animals, spices are traded. Jugglers, puppeteers, and storytellers are also seen here.
Location: Nagaur
Key attractions: Mirchi Bazaar (largest red chilli market of India) and sale of wooden items, iron crafts, and camel leather accessories
Dates for Cattle Fair: 27th January (Friday) 30th January 2023 (Monday)
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18. Baneshwar Festival – The Tribal Festival Of Rajasthan
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Baneshwar Festival is one of the popular tribal and cultural festivals of Rajasthan. Organised in the Baneshwar temple of Dungarpur, the festival is of most significance to the Bhills tribe. The tribe comes here all the way from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh to take a holy dip at the convergence of Mahi and Som River.
Location: Dungarpur
Key attractions: Animal shows and puppet dance
Dates for Baneshwar Festival: 1st February (Wednesday) to 5th February 2023 (Sunday)
19. Chandrabhaga Fair – A Religious Cum Cattle Fair
This religious cum cattle fair pulls travelers, cattle herders, pilgrims, and explorers from all over the country to assemble on the banks of river Chandrabhaga for a holy dip and prayer. However, for most locals, it holds a greater significance for cattle trading.
Location: Jhalawar
Key attractions: Deep Daan, Shobha yatra, cattle fair & trading, and various competitions
Dates for Chandrabhaga Fair: 27th November 2023 (Monday)
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20. Kota Adventure Festival – A Heaven For Adventure Enthusiasts
Kota is a heaven for adventure enthusiasts from all over the world. People visit this festival to rejoice a wide range of thrilling adventure sports and also take part in rural expeditions by the banks of River Chambal. Be a part of one of this amazing Rajasthan festivals and have a great time here in Kota.
Location: Kota
Key attractions: Parasailing, rafting, windsurfing, water skiing, kayaking, rock climbing, trekking, gliding, and fishing
Dates for Kota Adventure Festival: TBA
21. Gangaur Festival – Symbolises Togetherness Of Lord Shiva And Goddess Parvati
One of the famous festivals in Rajasthan, Gangaur festival is celebrated in the honour of Goddess Parvati. It is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm by both married and unmarried women in Rajasthan. People participate in the processions of a decked up Goddess Gauri. It is often accompanied by elephant processions, folk dances and end with fireworks. This colourful affair lasts for 18 days and is one of the most celebrated festivals in Rajasthan.
Location: Jaipur
Key attractions: Colourful processions, folk dances, women singing songs
Dates for Gangaur Festival: 8th March (Wednesday) to 24th March 2023 (Friday)
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22. Mahashivratri – In The Honour Of Lord Shiva
Mahashivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated in the honour of Lord Shiva. One of the auspicious Rajasthan festivals 2020, it is celebrated all over India and is a holiday in most states. There are lots of mythological beliefs associated with this festival. Lord Shiva is facilitated with flowers, honey and bel leaves and most of the women observe fast on this day.
Location: All over Rajasthan
Key attractions: Colourful decoration of Shiv temple
Dates for Mahashivratri: 18th February 2023 (Saturday)
23. Ashwa Poojan – The Regal Festival Of Worshipping
Ashwa Poojan is the regal festival of worshipping the horse organized in Udaipur on the 9th day of Navratri. This is the most famous festival of Rajasthan that acknowledges relationship between honour and horse. The horse is worshipped by the eldest member of the house followed by a delicious Rajasthani cuisine treat.
Location: Udaipur
Key attractions: Worshipping the Horse
Dates for Ashwa Poojan: 30th March 2023 (Thursday) (Tentative)
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24. Kabir Yatra – The Folk Music Of Rajasthan
Kabir Yatra is one of a kind festival that celebrates the folk music of Rajasthan. It is a travelling music festival all over Rajasthan that is great for travellers who would like to enjoy the state’s folk music. What makes the festival unique is that the 6 days journey in and around Bikaner acts as a stage for the local musicians to express their skills and talents.
Location: Bikaner
Key attractions: Folk music of Rajasthan
Dates for Kabir Yatra: Not yet disclosed
25. Ramdevra Fair – Celebrated In The Memory Of Baba Ram Dev
Ramdevra Fair is a significant fair held in memory of Baba Ram Dev in a small village in Jaisalmer. Every year, it attracts devotees to Ramdevji’s temple, where his samadhi exists too. People from different religions come to the temple and offer prayers. What makes the fair significant is that people from different walks of life come and unite together to be a part of the celebrations.
Location: Jaisalmer
Key attractions: Melodious bhajans and kirtan
Dates for Ramdevra Fair: 17th September (Sunday) to 25th September 2023 (Monday)
Further Read: 36 Most Famous Festivals Of India You Must Experience
Now that you know the dates and celebration rituals of the festivals in Rajasthan for this and the coming year, which ones would you be attending? Taking place all throughout the year, you will surely enjoy these events. Go ahead and plan your trip to Rajasthan, and take part in Rajasthan festivals.
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