Rajasthan conjures images of vibrant colors, regal hospitality, feasts and festivities, music and dance, culture and tradition, and historical significance. Rajasthan encapsulates Incredible India in a single state. And without experiencing at least one of Rajasthan’s numerous fairs and festivals, your visit would not be complete. In true Rajasthani fashion, they are a celebration of life, culture, legacy, and nature. Here are a few Rajasthani festivals you really must attend at least once in your life. Here is a list of 10 famous festivals in Rajasthan that you simply cannot miss.
Famous Festivals of Rajasthan
1. Pushkar Fair, Pushkar, Rajasthan
Pushkar Show, the forefather of all desert celebrations, is a magnificent five-day camel and animal fair held in Rajasthan’s Pushkar town on the banks of Pushkar lake. Additionally, it falls on Kartik Ekadashi, a Hindu holiday marking the day that Lord Brahma was thought to have created the lake at Pushkar.
The Pushkar fair, which is primarily a livestock fair for the buying and selling of camels, draws throngs of tourists, transforming it into a veritable cultural extravaganza of art, music, dance, puppet shows, gypsy dance, races, and competitions with a variety of vendors selling mouthwatering snacks like camel milk cheeses and cakes, jewelry, shawls, and other trinkets. Over the course of these five days, the entire joyful and spiritual atmosphere lights up the desert.
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2. Desert Festival, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
It is a three-day celebration of the wonders of the desert that is put on by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation in the month of February. The artists are costumed in vibrant colors and traditional finery, singing and dancing as they portray the tragedies and triumphs of the desert.
It will be a fantastic three days thanks to a display of desert customs and lifestyle, camel races, gymnastic feats, competitions for the longest mustache, the best turban, Mr. Desert, etc., excellent cuisine, and intriguing kiosks selling handicrafts and other mementos.
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3. Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
RIFF is an annual music and art festival for the promotion of traditional folk music and arts. It has been hailed as a “People’s Platform for Creativity and Sustainable Development” and is supported by the Maharaja of Jodhpur and Sir Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. It is held at Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort during Sharad Purnima, the year’s brightest full moon night, and is a singular celebration of both Indian and foreign music. This event is a true treat for music and art lovers, drawing more than 200 musicians from around the world. It falls on the Marwar festival weekend.
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4. Gangaur Festival, Jaipur, Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, women celebrate this event, which also honors the goddess Parvati and her return home, with great fervor. Everyone takes part in the procession of a decked-out Goddess Gauri across the city, which is frequently accompanied by elephant processions, antique palanquins, chariots, folk music and dance, and fireworks. In Udaipur, it falls during the Mewar Festival. This is one of Rajasthan’s most well-known festivals.
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5. Teej Festival, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Teej, one of the greatest celebrations in west India, honors a woman’s devotion to her husband as well as the beginning of the monsoon season. In order to commemorate the merger of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the ladies of the community observe fasting, decorate their hands with mehndi, take leisurely swing rides, sing and dance with other women, share tales, and dress in festive clothes.
Jaipur’s markets and bazaars are brimming with enticing apparel, jewelry, and treats like Ghewar and Malpua. Numerous devotees flock to Jaipur to witness a procession of a decked statue of Goddess Parvati, as well as the ancient palanquins, folk music, and dance, and to experience the city’s rich cultural heritage.
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6. Nagaur Fair, Nagaur, Rajasthan
The country’s second-largest fair, which is mostly a cattle fair, draws more than two lakh animal owners who bring their horses, cows, bullocks, oxen, camels, and other animals to participate in a sizable trade display. Both tourists and animal owners are drawn to the area because there are several animal races and cockfights during the day and dancing and music performances at night. It highlights Rajasthan’s authentic Rajput flavor and is put on by the Department of Animal Husbandry.
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7. Jaipur Literature Festival, Jaipur, Rajasthan
The JLF is the largest free literary festival in the world, though perhaps not as glitzy as some of the other festivals on this list. The literary who’s who congregates at the Diggi Palace in Jaipur for five days of readings, discussions, and debates, including Nobel laureates, Booker award winners, and debut novelists. It is a terrific opportunity that nobody should pass up because it gives users access to some of the world’s finest writers and philosophers while also inspiring young people to dream and envision.
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8. Summer and Winter Festivals, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan
Both of these famous festivals of Rajasthan, which are conducted over the course of three days in May and December, respectively, are held to highlight the friendliness and culture of the people who reside in the lone hill station in Rajasthan. They are observed with processions throughout the city, a variety of competitions, folk music and dance, and spectacular fireworks displays to honor the spirit of the community. During the festival days, a significant number of tourists are drawn to the area by a special blend of divine hospitality and an unusual environment.
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9. Camel Festival, Bikaner, Rajasthan
Bikaner hosts the amazing Camel Festival, which is held in honor of the ship of the desert. This event begins with a lot of fanfare, just like the other festivals in Rajasthan. The Camel Festival, a two-day event held each year in lovely January, features a colorful parade of camels dressed in costumes against the majestic Junagadh Fort. There are camel races, camel contests, and other cultural displays. Although this festival honors Rajasthan’s camels, it also features authentic Rajasthani cultural acts. An impressive fireworks show that illuminates Bikaner’s regal skies marks the festival’s conclusion.
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10. Kota Adventure Festival, Rajasthan
The Kota Adventure Festival is one of the famous festivals of Rajasthan that combines adventure and spirituality. One of Rajasthan’s most intriguing events takes place during Dussehra in the month of October. Adventure sports are organized during this festival, attracting visitors from all across the nation. The festival’s primary goal is to increase statewide tourism. Since the main events include rafting, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking, rock climbing, trekking, angling, and rural excursions, it is a week-long haven for adventure fans. The festival’s major attraction is kite flying. The Kota Adventure Festival likely hosts any adventure sport you can think of.
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These are the top 10 famous festivals of Rajasthan. Kindly share and do post your comments.
