Rajasthan celebrates 24 famous bazaars and festivals
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We all know that Rajasthan is the land of kings, but did you know that in the past few years it has also been considered as one of the most festival-friendly states in India. A cultural spirit of hospitality, vibrant displays of joy and festivities, showcasing Rajasthan’s traditions and heritage. The exciting presentation of the fair attracts locals and is a great opportunity for tourists to witness.
Bazaars and festivals in Rajasthan are full of colour and brightness all year round, attracting tourists and passersby. We have handpicked for you the best festivals and fairs in Rajasthan.
The most famous bazaars and festivals in Rajasthan:
If you’re wondering where to find a curated list of some of the best bazaars and festivals in Rajasthan before planning a trip to this colorful state, look no further. Read on for all the details.
1. Teej Festival in Rajasthan:
Teej is celebrated with absolute solemnity and worship of the goddess Teej. Traditional song and dance performances, bazaars make it one of the most popular festivals in Rajasthan. The goddess Teej rides in a golden palanquin adorned with camels, horses and elephants in a grand procession through the city.
Main Attractions:
Elephants, horses and camels lead the procession of the goddess Teej, and they are best decorated. Ghewar, Malpua, women in traditional dress, mehendi and bracelets.
- when: July-August.
- Where: Jaipur and surrounding areas.
- Festival Duration: One to two days.
2. Holi in Rajasthan:
Holi is one of the famous festivals not only in Rajasthan but all over the country. However, the people of Rajasthan have several ways of celebrating this festival.
- Mali Holi is a well-known method in which men paint on women and women, and then stamp brotherhood with a stick.
- Gair Holi is celebrated in the area around Ajmer and takes the festival to a heavenly celebration under the influence of bhang, thandai and other sweets as well as drums.
- The men watered each other in containers made of camel hide called Dolchi, hence the name Dolchi holi.
Main Attractions:
Music, dancing, colorful environments, and a variety of sweets and beverages.
- when: march.
- Where: All over Rajasthan.
- Festival Duration: two days.
3. Jaisalmer Desert Festival:
One of the major festivals in Rajasthan is the Desert Festival, which is celebrated in the vast Thar desert among the dunes. This cultural carnival showcases exciting sports as well as camel racing, camel polo, gymnastics. It also represents the folk culture of Rajasthan through music and dance.
Main Attractions:
Camel polo, tug of war, turban, gymnast on camel back.
- when: February.
- Where: Jaisalmer.
- Festival Duration: 3 days.
[See Also: Famous Temples in Rajasthan]
4. Pushkar Camel Fair (Kartik Mela):
Of all the bazaars in Rajasthan, Pushkar Bazaar is one of the highest rated tourist experiences in India. For first-time visitors, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Livestock traders from all over Rajasthan gather at this bazaar, which is a combination of colour, culture and camels. Camel, horse and donkey races take place alongside many other activities. You can also enjoy music and dance performances at the amphitheater venue.
Main Attractions:
Beautifully decorated camel parades and beauty contests, hot air balloon rides, handicraft fairs, beard contests.
- when: October/November.
- Where: Pushkar.
- Festival Duration: 5 days.
5. Bikaner Camel Festival:
Held in the traditional city of Bikaner, the Camel Festival is one of the biggest revenue-generating events in Rajasthan. With the largest camel farm in India, Bikaner is known as the camel capital of the country, attracting locals, international and domestic tourists. Camel parades, camel-made sweets, camel parades, camel races, camel dancing, tug-of-war are some of the activities you can find at this festival.
Main Attractions:
Camel racing, tug of war, firecrackers, aerobics and dance skills.
- when: January.
- Where: Bikaner.
- Festival Duration: 2 days.
6. Gangar Festival in Rajasthan:
Gangaur festival is celebrated in honor of Goddess Parvati and is one of the famous festivals in Rajasthan. Both married and unmarried women celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm. Women dress up as the goddess Goryeo and take part in the parade. Elephant parades, folk dancing and ending with fireworks are common accompaniments to the parade. This is one of the most famous festivals in Rajasthan with colorful events lasting 18 days.
Main Attractions:
Women sing national dances, colorful processions.
- when: March April.
- Where: Jaipur and surrounding areas.
- Festival Duration: 18 days.
7. Mewar Festival in Rajasthan:
The Mewar festival of Rajasthan is held in Udaipur in a grand and grand way to celebrate the arrival of spring. It is one of the most popular bazaars and festivals in Rajasthan and is considered the second living heritage festival in the world. In addition to festivities, the festival is also celebrated with folk music, dancing and food.
Main Attractions:
Music performances, classical dance performances, heritage conservation seminars, fireworks displays, food stalls.
- when: March April.
- Where: Udaipur.
- Festival Duration: One to two days.
8. Rajasthan International Kite Festival:
The Kite Festival in Jaipur is one of the unique bazaars and festivals celebrated in Rajasthan in January, where you can observe thousands of colorful kites dot the sky. You can see kites with lights illuminating the night sky, popular in Jodhpur and Jaipur. These kites are like divine birds falling from the sky, attracting kite lovers from all over the world. Several kite club members participated in the festivities and various flying competitions were held.
Main Attractions:
The challenge of flying a kite.
- when: January.
- Where: Jaipur.
- Festival Duration: one day.
9. Jaipur Elephant Festival:
The Jaipur Elephant Festival is one of the famous traditional festivals in Rajasthan and is held every year at the Jaipur Polo Stadium on the day of Holi. Elephants are adorned with colorful saddle cloth, heavy jewellery and female elephant anklets for competitions, shows and competitions. For overall entertainment, there are demonstrations of live folk dance and music programs.
Main Attractions:
Elephant tug of war, polo match.
- when: march.
- Where: Jaipur.
- Festival Duration: one day.
10. Gaugaji:
Famous among Hindus and Muslims, Gogaji Bazaar is held in honor of the hero Goga veer. Samadhi is at Goga Medi and his idol sits on a blue horse with a statue of a coiled snake nearby. It is believed that anyone bitten by a snake can be healed once prayers are prayed to him, and Kayam Khan Muslims gave him a statue of the saint. Not only Rajasthan but Gojaji also has devotees in many parts of North India.
Main Attractions:
Followers of Gogaji lay live snakes around their necks and lie near temples.
- when: In the month of Batharabada.
- Where: Gongamidi.
- Festival Duration: 3 days.
11. The Festival of Urs:
The Festival of Urs commemorates the symbolic unity of Sufi saint Khwaja Munuddin Chisti with Allah (God) and is celebrated in his tomb. This is considered a religious festival in Rajasthan that attracts followers all over the world and is held every year from the 1st to the 6th day in Rajab (the 7th month of Islam). After the tombs are washed with rose water and covered with silk embroidered cloth, devotees will pray and make offerings.
Main Attractions:
Qawwali and mehfil meeting, Sajjasa Nashin white flag raised.
- when: The seventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
- Where: Ajmer.
- Festival Duration: six days.
12. Baneshwar Bazaar:
The Baneshwar Festival is of great significance to the Bhills tribe and is held at the Baneshwar Temple in Durgapur. This bazaar is considered one of the famous cultural and tribal festivals in Rajasthan. People of this tribe swim at the confluence of the Mahi and Somme rivers in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. One of the main attractions of this fair is the morning and evening aarti.
Main Attractions:
Puppet dance and animal show.
- when: January to February.
- Where: Dungarpur.
- Festival Duration: one day.
13. Nagaur Bull Market:
This fair is celebrated annually mainly for the livestock trade, hence the name. The owners wore colorful turbans and long beards, and nearly 70,000 bulls, camels and horses were lavishly decorated and traded. Also, you can see performances by storytellers, puppeteers, jugglers. Spices are traded with animals.
Main Attractions:
Mirchi Bazaar, selling wrought iron handicrafts, camel skin accessories, wood products.
- when: February.
- Where: Nagol.
- Festival Duration: 8 days.
14. Mount Abu: Winter Festival:
Rajasthan’s Abu Hill Winter Festival is one of the colorful and vibrant festivals in Rajasthan that offers an opportunity to escape the monotony of life. By bringing together artisans and artists from different corners of the state, you can see a variety of art forms, crafts, food and culture on display. The festival also includes poetry sessions and stunning fireworks that further enhance the area’s stunning beauty. In addition, the hospitality and movement of this festival leave a positive impression on visitors.
Main Attractions:
Rowing and kite competition, Shenzhen Daan.
- when: March April.
- Where: Mount Abu.
- Festival Duration: 3 days.
[See Also: Unique Places to Visit in Rajasthan]
15. Bradj Hawley:
Braj Holi is one of the most vivid festivals in Rajasthan and the festival of colours is celebrated in a unique way. You can see people wearing colourful costumes at the festival and dancing to Rajasthan’s musical folk music. Raslila dancing is one thing you can’t miss during these musical moments. People pray to the Lord before entering the holy waters of the Banganga Ghats.
Main Attractions:
Folk dance, tug of war, women’s wrestling, fireworks,
- when: march.
- Where: Bharatpur.
- Festival Duration: two days.
16. Rajasthan International Folk Festival:
The Rajasthan International Folk Festival is one of the important stages to celebrate the musical heritage of Rajasthan and provides a stage for folk artists from all over the world to showcase their talents. It also showcases the cultural lifestyle of India and showcases the fusion of Indian and international music with more than 20 artists. UNESCO sees the festival as a platform for people’s creativity and sustainable development.
Main Attractions:
Concerts and cultural performances.
- when: October.
- Where: Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur.
- Festival Duration: Five days.
17. Jaipur Literary Festival:
The Jaipur Literary Festival is considered one of the greatest literary performances in the country and one of the most spectacular bazaars and festivals in Rajasthan. This literary festival brings together business people, athletes, historians, humanitarians, entertainers, people from all walks of life. The festival offers them a powerful stage to share their thoughts and ideas.
Main Attractions:
Discuss, debate, read.
- when: January.
- Where: Jaipur.
- Festival Duration: a week.
18. Kabir Yatra:
Kabir Yatra is a music festival in Rajasthan that celebrates the folk music of the state and is unique. This is one of the festivals that gives you a glimpse of local Rajasthani folk music and is a great choice for travelers. The festival is made even more unique by Bikaner as a stage for local musicians to showcase their skills and talents on a six-day journey.
Main Attractions:
Folk music of Rajasthan.
- when: October.
- Where: Bikaner.
- Festival Duration: a week.
19. Bondi Day:
Known for its natural beauty, Bundi is located in…