Rajasthan is a vibrant state that exhibits its colour and culture by organizing Fairs and Festivals every year. These events are organised to exhibit it's diversity in culture and Religion and are celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm.

The fairs and festivals add a multitude of colours to the arid land of the state.

An array of fairs and festivals are celebrated in the state all year round. These glaring events offer a golden opportunity to tourists to explore and experience the state’s art, culture, and tradition—that are meticulously interconnected with the state’s royal history.

People of Rajasthan always believe in celebrating life—be it a religious Puja or a merrymaking party. Tourists can enjoy the royal charm and experience the rich culture & traditions of the state by participating in its popular fairs and festivals. If you are planning a tour to Rajasthan, we would recommend you visit the state during festivity and become a part of its rich culture and traditions.

Rajasthan organises several fairs and festivals every year. These interesting fairs and festivals have been very popular among tourists coming from different parts of the world.

Popular fairs and festivals organised in Rajasthan are as follows:

Elephant Festival, Jaipur:
Place: Jaipur
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Traditional procession of decorated elephants

The festival comes usually in March-April. It is considered one of the most popular and celebrated events in the city and the state. The event attracts a large number of domestic and international tourists as well. The Elephant Festival starts with a beautiful parade of ornamented elephants, camels, horses, and folk dancers. This parade showcases the royal charm and rich history of the state. Tug of war between elephants, elephant polo, and elephant race are the highlights of this festival.

Camel Festival, Bikaner:
Place: Bikaner
Duration of Festival: 2 days
Special attractions: Spectacular and unusual camel performances.

Every year this fest is organized by Department of Tourism, Art and Culture, of Bikaner, Government of Rajasthan. Euphoric performances keep on entertaining visitors - Join this festival and witness some of the best camel performances, The creative side of the people as they perform various activities like camel decoration, camel hair cutting, camel milking and camel dancing. Beside this, there is an enlightening celebration organized by the end of the day. On the final day of fest, there is a magnificent firework which lights up the entire city of Bikaner.

Desert Festival, Jaisalmer:
Place: Jaisalmer
Duration of Festival : 3 days (Comes to end on full moon day)
Special attractions: Cultural shows

The Desert Festival is a 3-days long festival that is celebrated in Jaisalmer, the Golden City, at the end of full moon day, usually in January-February. It is a vibrant festival that offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the desert charm, golden sandstones, and fairy-tale charm of the fortress. During this wonderful festival, tourists can enjoy and participate in a number of activities such as camel rides, camel races, turban tying competitions, and so on. The best part of the Jaipur Desert festival is Folk Dance Performance. Other attractions include Puppet shows, snake charmers, acrobats, fire dancers, and folk performers.

Pushkar Fair
Place: Pushkar
Duration of Festival: 13 days
Special attractions: A Camel Safari, Hot Air Ballooning

Pushkar Fair is the 1st largest Fair in India organised during October – November every year in the month of Kartik. This Fair attracts More Then 50,000 camels and 200,000 people and is considered as the largest platform to buy and sell camels, cattle and horses - most of the trading is completed in the days leading up to the fair. This carnival gathers camel traders from all the parts of the India. One can witness unusual performances like camel dancing, bump riding, neck shaking and various other things. A huge camel procession is organized on the 1st day followed by various competitions and trading activities. Owners decorate their camels with paints, jewellery, cloths etc. By the end of the day, live dance and music performances by masses are organized to celebrate the culture of Rajasthan. One the last day, fireworks are organized to lighten-up the entire city and illuminate the Holy City and deserts of Pushkar.

Nagaur Cattle Fair, Nagaur:
Nagaur: Nagaur (137 km from Jodhpur towards Bikaner)
Duration of Festival: 4 days
Special attractions: Cattle Fair, Spice Markets (Methi & Chilli)

Nagaur Cattle Fair is the 2nd largest Fair in India organised during January – February every year. This Cattle Fair provides the largest platform for trading cattles like cows, bullocks, oxen, camel and horses. People are seen wearing Colorful dresses with long moustaches. Visited by many tourists every year, Nagaur Cattle Fair captures the essence of Rajasthan, Folk and cultural competition keeps on happening side by side. Various games like tug-of-war, camel races, cock fights etc are organized for the entertainment of tourists.

Mewar Festival, Udaipur:
Place: Udaipur
Duration of Festival: 3 days
Special attractions: Cultural performances on folk music!

Celebrated in March–April in Udaipur, the City of Lakes, the Mewar Festival is a 3-days long spring festival. It is one of the most significant celebrations in the city. During this festival, you can experience the rich culture of Rajasthan. The festival is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm especially by the women. The entire city is decorated beautifully in colourful streamers. Women carry the statues of Isar and Gangaur towards Lake Pichola. This festival is undoubtedly a not-to-miss event if you are travelling to Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Gangaur Festival, Rajasthan:
Place: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 18 days
Special attractions: Reverence of Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati

Gangaur Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Rajasthan. The festival is celebrated throughout the state with great zeal and enthusiasm. During this festival, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped. It commences on the day right after Holi and lasts for 18 days. During this festival, married women worship Gauri for the health and well-being of their husbands. Unmarried women also worship the Goddess to get blessed with good husbands. The festival reaches its climax during the last three days. Women dress up the statues of Gauri and Isar in new garments and make them look like living figures. In a shubh muhurat, a ceremonial procession is taken out through the different parts of the city. The Gangaur Festival of Jaipur is famous all over the world. The sweet dish called Gheewar is a specialty of this festival.

Marwar Festival, Jodhpur:
Place: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 2 days
Special attractions: folk music, live dancing

Also known as Rajasthan International Folk Festival, the Marwar Festival is an annual music event and art festival. This grand event is organised at the historical Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, the Blue City, to promote traditional folk music and arts. The festival is organised every year in the month of October. During this festival, folk music depicts the romantic lifestyle and heroism of Rajput rulers.

Mount Abu: Winter Festival
Place: Mount Abu
Duration of Festival: 3 days
Special attractions: Cultural festival

Last weekend of December, a cultural festival is organized in Mount Abu. Warm hospitality, folk dance performances, ceremonial processions make this festival an unforgettable experience.

Mahashivratri
Place: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Shiv temple decoration in colourful manner

Mahashivratri is an auspicious festival and celebrated all over India. The statue of Lord Shiva is flooded with water, milk and honey, flowers and leaves. People keep Fast and Celebrations take place throughout the night and People chanting devotional songs; devotees also take a Holy dip in ‘Ganges’.

Holi
Place: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 2 days
Special attractions: festival of colours

Rajasthan celebrates Holi much the same way as other parts of India. On the first day Crowds of people come together before the full moon night and light huge bonfires to burn the residual dried leaves of the winter and On the second day, people color each other with Dry colors (Gulal) and Pour coloured water.  Singing, dancing and the traditional beats of dhol add to the gaiety of the occasion.

Mount Abu: Summer Festival
Place: Mount Abu
Duration of Festival: 3 days
Special attractions: Live shows, CRPF road show, processions

To celebrate the exuberance and spirit of this small hill station, every year Mount Abu organizes a 3 days cultural festival on Buddh Purnima. This event starts with a procession, live dance programme on the first day, followed by sports activities like skating race, horse race, boat race and various other activities. The festival comes to an end with an electrifying fire work and a road show by the CRPF band.

Urs Fair
Place: Ajmer
Duration of Festival: 6 days
Special attractions: Night-long dhikr/zikr qawwali singing

Thousands of pilgrims, Sufis and tourists from all over the world head to Ajmer to celebrate the festival of Urs, to commemorate the death anniversary of Moinuddin Chisti. Musical quawwalis is constantly performed in the dargah compound and outside its gates. The entire city is decorated with lights and frills.

Guru Purnima
Place: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Thanks giving ceremony

This is the day when you thank those who has given you spiritual lessons in life. It is Observed in the month of July and on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashadha.

Teej
Place: All over Rajasthan (particularly in Jaipur)
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Proccession with singing, swinging, and dancing

Women in Rajasthan fast on this day of Teej to improve their marital status and get bliss. Teej is celebrated in the honour of Parvati, who is also known as 'Teej Mata’. Not only this, all the ladies enjoy swing, sing, apply heena and adorn themselves with all the jewellery. A special sweet of Rajasthan called “ghewar” is prepared for this day and also served as Prasad.

Raksha Bandhan
Place: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 1 day

Sweet relationship of a brother and a sister celebrates this Festival all over. All sisters tie a thread on the wrist of their brother and in-return brothers promises their sisters protection from all evils. A special day to celebrate the emotional bonding of siblings. The ritual is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana.

Navratri
Place: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 9 days

The most auspicious 9 days of the Hindu calendar, Navratri is celebrated all across Rajasthan. Worship of Goddess Kali and fasting takes place during the day time while the nights are reserved for feasting and dancing.

Dussehra
Place: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 1 day
Special attractions: Carnival, rides

As per the Hindu Mythology, to celebrate the victory of good over evil, Dusshera is celebrated all over Rajasthan. This day also symbolizes triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. Huge and colourful processions of Lord Rama is organized everywhere. Paper Statues of Ravana alonf with Meghnath and Kumbhkarna are set to fire to celebrate the victory of Lord Rama, this is followed by a huge carnival where people can enjoy sweets, food, rides, dance and musical performances.

Diwali
Place: All over Rajasthan
Duration of Festival: 5 days
Special attractions: Festival of lights, firework

Diwali also known as the festival of lights, is celebrated as the homecoming of Lord Rama. This 5 day long festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Houses and shops are decorated with fairy lights, and colourful rangolis. Puja is organized in the evening to seek the blessings of Devi Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth). People exchange gifts and sweets with family and neighbours, followed by splendid fireworks. These 5 days are considered very auspicious as people purchase utensils and cloths, some even start new business during this festival.