Rajasthan Fairs and festivals add vibrant colors to the incredibly stunning state, Rajasthan. Numerous fairs and festivals are celebrated in Rajasthan.
All the fairs and festivals feature display of the state’s legacy, colorful artifacts, lip- smacking delicacies, traditional Rajasthani attires, folk songs, folk dance and various interesting competitions.
fairs and festivals in Rajasthan offer a chance to travellers to have a glimpse into the art, culture, customs and history of the state. Some of the popular Rajasthan fairs and festivals are Camel Festival, Desert Festival, Pushkar Fair and Urs Fair. Other festivals include Gangaur Festival, Diwali Festival, Kite Festival, Teej, Marwar Festival, Summer Festival. Travel to Rajasthan and participate in the jubilant activities.
The Pushkar Camel Fair, organized in Pushkar in November, is among the most famous festivals. As well as the site of a major cattle fair, it is an important religious festival. In January -February, the Desert Festival is held in Jaisalmer. Here, performers such as musicians, ballad singers, snake charmers, and puppeteers demonstrate their talents at a very famous festival. Then there are camel dances, camel acrobatics, camel races, camel polo, musclemen's tug-of-war, turban tying rivalry, and several other tournaments. A spectacular sound and light show ends with it.
In March-April, the Elephant Festival is held in Jaipur. During Holi, this festival is organized and involves elephant sports. The elephants are decorated in eye-catching caparisons and howdas and it is a sight not to miss. Gangaur Festival held in March-April is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. Young girls dressed up in their best pray for the grooms of their choice while married women pray for the well-being of their husbands. The festival is held over a period of 18 days.
The Marwar Festival organized in Jodhpur in October celebrates the music and dance of the Marwar region. It was originally known as the Maand Festival which was a classical style of folk music revolving around the romantic life style of Rajasthan's royalty.
Besides there are other festivals like the Camel Festival celebrated Bikaner in January, the Teej Festival organized in Jaipur in July-August, the Nagaur Fair in Nagaur in Jan-Feb, the Baneshwar Fair in Baneshwar in Jan-Feb, the Mewar Festival held in Udaipur in March-April, the Urs Ajmer Sharif held in Ajmer and many others.
Lakhi Mela Khatu Shyam Ji
Falgun Mela is a very auspicious occasion to seek blessings of Khatu Shyam Baba. It’s a chance to experience a moment that will enlighten your soul, and you will be in a complete state of spirituality and peace. The Falgun Mela is one of the most religious festivals celebrated by the great followers of Khatu Shyam Baba. This mela held at Shree Khatu Shyam Mandir at Khatu Dham in Sikar district of Rajasthan.
Desert Festival Jaisalmer
With a complete picture of folk tunes, tinges as well as twines framed in the sandy dunes, the Desert Festival Jaisalmer shows the traditional culture of Rajasthan. In order to reach the eyes of worldwide spectators, the festival would spray its colors, play its tunes and also whir its heels from the hub of Thar Desert.
Bikaner Camel Festival
A lively and colourful event, the Camel Festival is organised by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture, Rajasthan in Bikaner every year. January is just the right month for a desert spree, and Bikaner just the right place to see the Ships of the Desert. In the camel country Bikaner, these desert leviathans pull heavy cart loads, transport grain and even work at the wells.
Lohri
Lohri is a festival connected with the solar year. Generally, it is an accepted fact that this festival is celebrated to worship fire. This is particularly a happy occasion for the couples, who would be celebrating Lohri for the first time after marriage and, also for the family who are blessed with a son as he would be celebrating his first ever Lohri.
Makar Sankranti
Makara Sankranti festival coincides with the beginning of the sun's northward journey, and falls on January 14 according to the solar calendar. According to legend, Bhishma, a great hero of the Mahabharata, though wounded mortally, waited for this auspicious time to give up his life. For, it is believed that, a person dying on this day reaches the Abode of Light and Eternal Bliss.
Jaipur Literature Festival
The Festival Start from 21-25 Jan 2015 As the largest FREE literary festival on earth, the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival brings together some of the greatest thinkers and writers from across South Asia and the world. From Nobel laureates to local language writers, Man Booker prize winners to debut novelists, every January the most remarkable, witty, sensitive and brilliant collection.
Nagaur Cattle Fair
Nagaur district is the land of fairs as they are not only cattle markets but in real terms a way of life. The rural people participate in these fairs very eagerly as if they are big social events & in addition to the cattle routine things from needles to nails are also available in these events. Fairs infact are the true face of rustic rural Rajasthan & are a strong witness of its social harmony.
Basant Panchami
Literally 'the fifth day of spring', Vasanta Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Magha. The festival itself dates to antiquity. It is reminiscent of the festival of Vasantotsava of the ancient times, which was one of the most important celebrations as it marked the beginning of the agricultural season.
Surajkund Crafts Mela
Surajkund Craft fair is organized by the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Culture-Government of India in collaboration with Haryana Tourism, in the month of February, every year. First celebrated in 1981, the fair continues to be a strong platform for skilled artists and craftsmen from abroad to display their skilled crafts and art work derived from their rich culture and tradition
Shekhawati Festival
The Shekhawati Festival held on 10th and 11th February every year is organised jointly by the State Department of Tourism, District administrations of Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu. Shekhawati, already famous for its frescoes, is fast becoming a rural tourism destination too. Travelling on horse back, the tourists get a closer view of the countryside and the people.
Goa Carnival
This carnival cum festival was first started in Goa in the year 1961. It was initially celebrated by King Momo, one of the legendary Chaos kings of the state and is one of the Portuguese festivals. Since the state has experienced the reign of different Portuguese rulers for more than 500 years, this festival reflects some of the Portuguese lifestyle.
Maha Shivaratri
On the 14th day of the dark half of Margshirsh month the great night of Shiva is celebrated. On this day the devotees of Shiva observe fast. According to a legend once King Bhagiratha left his kingdom to meditate for the salvation of the souls of his ancestors. He prayed for the holy River Ganga from heaven to wash over his ancestor's ashes to release them from a curse and allow them to go to heaven.
Khajuraho Dance Festival
Khajuraho Festival of Dances is celebrated at a time when the hardness of winter begins to fade and the king of all seasons, spring, takes over. The most colorful and brilliant classical dance forms of india with their roots in the ling and rich cultural traditions across the country, offer a feast for the eyes during a weeklong extravaganza here.
Konark Dance Festival
Konark Dance & Music Festival started in the year 1986 at Konark Natya Mandap by its Founder-Director Padmashree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan. In a sense it can be called the harbinger of the contemporary festivals of Orissa. The sole aim behind this festival is to bring in many artistes into its cultural family and creating of international cultural amity and brotherhood.
World Sufi Spirit Festival
World Sufi Spirit Festival welcomes Sufi artists from India and across the globe to showcase their most sacred traditions at Nagaur and Jodhpur, in Rajasthan. The festival is highly acknowledged as it features some of the rare talents at their best. Also, Rajasthan hosting this cultural extravaganza will present the plethora of its rich cultural heritage, making it an unforgettable experience!
Taj Mahotsav
This cultural bonanza was started in year 1992 and since then its grandeur has reached to greater heights. In the year 2014, we are celebrating the 23th year of this Mahotsav. This festival also figures in the calendar of events of the Department of Tourism, Government of India. A large number of Indian and foreign tourists coming to Agra joins this festivity in the month of February.
Kutch Rann Utsav
Experience Kutch at its colorful and exotic best during the rann utsav this December from 1st to 3rd. This annually organized festival offers an opportunity For visitors to attend folk dance and music concepts, to watch artisans at work, to Shop directly from NGO’s craftspeople and village co-operatives, to see the great Historical monuments in the state, and to visit places off the usual tourist trail.
Hola Mohalla Festival
Holla Mohalla is a Sikh festival celebrated in the month of Phalguna , a day after Holi.An annual festival held at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, Hola Mohalla was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, as a gathering of Sikhs for military exercises and mock battles on the day following the festival of Holi. It reminds the people of valour and defence preparedness, concepts dear to the Tenth Guru who was at that time battling the Mughal empire.
Gangaur Festival
Gangaur is one of the most important local festival in Rajasthan. In some form or the other it is celebrated all over Rajasthan. “gan” is a synonym for Lord Shiva and “gauri” or “gaur” stands for goddess parvati, the heavenly consort of lord Shiva. Gangaur celebrates the union of the two and is a symbol of conjugal and marital happiness.
Holi Festival
Holi - the festival of colors - is the most fun-filled Hindu festival. It's an occasion that brings in joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance, and, of course, lots of bright colors! Every year it is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March and glorifies good harvest and fertility of the land. It is also time for spring harvest and riotous fun. Holi is also celebrated as 'Vasant Mahotsava' and 'Kama Mahotsava'.
Marwar Festival
The Mewar Festival is held every year in memory of the heroes of Rajasthan. The festival is held in the month of Ashwin (Sept-Oct) in Jodhpur, for two days during the full moon of Sharad Poornima. Originally known as the Maand Festival, this festival features folk music centred on the romantic lifestyle of Rajasthan's rulers. This festival is devoted to the music and dance of the Mewar region and offers.
Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF), Jodhpur
Jodhpur RIFF is a not-for-profit partnership project involving two of India’s leading heritage trusts: Mehrangarh Museum Trust and Jaipur Virasat Foundation. The festival has been endorsed by UNESCO as a "Peoples" Platform for Creativity and Sustainable Development." HH Gaj Singh of Marwar-Jodhpur is the Chief Patron of Jodhpur RIFF, Sir Mick Jagger, front man of the rock band The Rolling Stones is International Patron of Jodhpur RIFF.
Kota Dussehra Mela
Kota Situated on the banks of the Chambal River, it praises ious celebrations. In any case, the mela of Dussehra bears an unmistakable interest out and out. The entire region brags an alluring amid this celebration. This celebration is praised everywhere throughout the nation yet the Kota Dussehra is very special for it is something other than the start of a bubbly period.
Adventure Festival Kota
The Adventure festival is one of the most fascinating festivals of Rajasthan. Every year it is held at Kota in the month of October. The main aim of this festival is to boost the tourism of the state. People from across the country also come to be a part of this festival.