Rajasthan Fairs & Festivals
Camel Festival
Organized By: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Date: 21-22 January, 2008
Location: Bikaner, Rajasthan
Organized by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture, Rajasthan, The
Camel festival is held in Bikaner, in the month of January every year. This
exiting and lively festival begins with a
colorful procession of bedecked
camels. Famous folk artists from Rajasthan perform and entertain tourists.
Camel races and other competitions are organized during the festival.
Pushkar Fair
Organized By: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Date: 17-24 Nov, 2007
Location: Pushkar, Rajasthan
Pushkar is 11 km. from Ajmer and is famous for
world's largest camel fair,
Pushkar fair. This fair is one of the main cultural activities of Pushkar.
It is held in the month of November every year. Pushkar fair is well-known
for its
camel trading and other religious activities. Villagers come from
different parts of the state and bring their cattle with them. The festival
is full of folk dance, and music. Colorful shops make this fair a very
charming cultural event.
Camel races are also held during this vibrant
festival.
Desert Festival
Organized By: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Date: 19-21 Feb, 2008
Location: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
February is the month of celebration for the Golden City, Jaisalmer. A
celebration of Rajput heritage, Desert festival is organized by Rajasthan
Tourism Development Corporation. It is one of the most popular of all
festivals in Rajasthan.
Camel race and other cultural programmes are main
attractions of The Desert Festival. Many interesting competitions are held
during this festival. It is full of singing and dancing and folk music. Many
prominent folk artists of Rajasthan perform during this famous festival.
Kite Festival 
Organized By: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Date: 14th Jan, 2008
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
14 January is celebrated all over India as Makar Sankranti marking the
transition of the sun into the Northern hemisphere. This day is also
celebrated as
the kite day in most parts of India. Kite festival of Jaipur
is very popular among tourists. In Jaipur during the Kite festival the
entire sky is filled with colorful kites. The three-day festival starts with
an inauguration
at the Polo Ground, which is the venue for kite flying and
fighting for the three days of the festival. A
kite flying competition is
also held during this festival.
Elephant Festival 
Organized By: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Date: 21st March, 2008
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Elephant festival is an enjoyable event held in Jaipur. It is held at the
Chaugan stadium on the day of Holi, the festival of colors. Caparisoned elephants walk in front of the spectators and participate in a royal procession. Some of the interesting events of this festival are elephant processions, races, polo and playing Holi on elephants.
Gangaur Festival
Organized By: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Date: 8-10 April, 2008
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Gangaur festival is very important for the people of Rajasthan. Celebrated in the
honor of Goddess Parvati Gangaur festival is celebrated by the womenfolk of Rajasthan with great devotion and enthusiasm. The festival is celebrated a fortnight after Holi and continues for eighteen days. The celebrations in Jaipur and Udaipur are very colorful and attractive. Another unique thing about this festival is that on this occasion, tribal men and women have an opportunity
to meet and interact freely during this time; they select partners and marry by eloping.
Teej Festival 
Organized By: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Date: 15-16 August, 2007
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Celebrated in the month of July-august, Teej is one of the most important
festivals celebrated in Rajasthan. Teej is primarily women's festival and
women pray to
Goddess Parvati during this festival. Young girls and women
dressed in green clothes sing songs in celebration of the advent of the
monsoon. There is a mythical legend attached to Teej festival and it is
believed that after years of penance,
Goddess Parvati was united with Lord
Shiva on Teej. On the day of Teej festival, married women pray for the well
being of their husbands and marital bliss.
Dussehra Fair 
Organized By: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Date: 19-21, October, 2007
Location: Kota, Rajasthan
The effigies of
Ravana, Kumbhakarana and Meghnad are burnt on Dussehra day. Dussehra fair symbolises the victory of good over evil. It is one of the big festivals of India. Dussehra festival of Kota is very famous and colorful. It is held in the months of October and November. Thousands of villagers gather here and enjoy the fair. The festival also attracts the tourists. Various cultural programmes are organized during this festival. This was also the day
to worship the weapons.
Urs Fair 
Date: July, 2008
Location: Ajmer Shariff, Rajasthan
The largest Muslim Fair in India, Urs is held in the holy town of Ajmer. It
is held in the memory of
Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti (Rh.), a respected Sufi
saint popularly known as
Gareeb Nawaz because he devoted his entire life for
the services of mankind. More than five lakhs devotees gather from all parts
of the subcontinent to pay homage to the Khwaja Sahib on his Urs (death
anniversary) during the first six days of Rajab (seventh month of the
Islamic calendar). Mehfils & Qawwalis are held during the Urs.
Nagaur Fair 
Organized By: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Date: 13-16, Feb, 2008
Location: Nagaur, Rajasthan
Held in the month of January or February in Nagaur (Rajasthan), Nagaur Fair is basically a
cattle fair. It is a four day festival. It is second largest animal fair in India. Traders from all over Rajasthan come to buy and sell cows, bullocks, oxen, camels and horses. Visitors can also participate in some exiting local sports like
tug of war, camel races, bullock races and cock fights. Folk dances and music are the other activities of this fair which provides entertainment for the tourists.
Marwar Festival 
Organized By: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Date: 25-26 Oct, 2007
Location: Jodhpur, Rajasthan
This major festival of
Jodhpur is held in October. The Marwar festival,
held in memory of the heroes of Rajasthan. The festival is also known as
The
Maand festival. It celebrates the culture and art of Marwar region.
Performance by the folk artistes is the main attraction of this festival.
Other important events of this festival are
horse riding and horse polo.
