A Melange of Traditions: Here are the 10 Most Exciting Festivals of Rajasthan

Be it the valour of the Mewar warriors or the elegant beauty of the ladies swaying to ‘Ghoomar’, Rajasthan is a place that brings you the perfect blend of bravery, beauty, and buoyant celebrations. The festivals of Rajasthan are more than just grand spectacles; they are a reflection of the state’s rich cultural heritage, its ancient traditions, and the vibrant spirit of its people. From the shining city of Udaipur to the Thar Desert with its golden sand dunes, the festivals happen almost everywhere. Rajasthanis never shy away from embracing their roots and showing the rest of the world that they have the most beautiful ethnic heritage ever!

Here are the 10 most anticipated festivals of Rajasthan that are celebrated with great vigour and enthusiasm.

If you are planning to visit Rajasthan soon, try to coincide your visit with these festivals. You will see the state during its most glorious days and the experience is awe-inspiring. Also, book your stay at Hotels to enjoy the best hospitality coupled with impressive room rates.

Read on to find out more!

Also Read: Sailing Toward Victory in 2023: Witness the Enchanting Kerala Boat Race This Season

The 10 Prominent Festivals of Rajasthan 2023

1 – Kajli Teej Festival

Kajli Teej or Kajari Teej is one of the main festivals of Rajasthan for women. It is considered an auspicious day to pray for the well-being of one’s husband and wish for conjugal bliss. It falls on the third day after Amavasya or the new moon in Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada month of the Hindu Calendar. Married women wake up, dress traditionally and observe a fast for the good health and prosperity of their husbands. Also, unmarried women also observe a fast to meet the love of their life and find a caring and well-mannered life partner.

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According to legend, Goddess Parvati observed a stringent fast to impress Lord Shiva. Being an ascetic, Lord Shiva was initially averse to the idea of matrimonial association. However, he was so impressed with Goddess Parvati’s pure heart and devotion that he agreed to be a part of the divine holy union. Even today, Shiva and Parvati are considered to be the example of eternal love.

It is believed that praying to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on this day will bring healing, wealth, and smiles into the household. 

Date: 2nd September 2023
Location: Bundi district, Rajasthan.

2 – Ramdevji Fai

The Ramdevji Fair happens at the Ramdevji temple of Jaisalmer district. People who migrated out of Rajasthan for education or employment also fly back to be a part of this spectacular event. It happens during the Bhadrapada month or the sixth month of the Hindu Lunar Calendar. The Ramdevji temple is dedicated to Baba Ramdev who lived here during the 14th Century and people believe him to be the reincarnation of Lord Krishna. His samadhi is present inside the temple. 

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When King Ajmal was not blessed with a child for a long time, he visited Dwaraka to seek the blessings of Lord Krishna. He wished for a child who would resemble Lord Krishna. Baba Ramdev was King Ajmal’s second child and was believed to have a lot of powers.

The people celebrate the birth and presence of Baba Ramdev on their land and offer prayers at the temple. You will get to hear a lot of Bhajans, and devotional songs, and see the locals dancing merrily. The government also arranges for extra transport so that devotees can commute without any hassle. 

Date: 17th September to 25th September 2023
Location: Ramdevji Mandir, Ramdevra Village, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. 

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3 – Kota Adventure Festival

This is one of the most exhilarating festivals of Rajasthan. Not just from India, but people from across the world come here to be a part of the event. If you are an adventure seeker, then you will definitely enjoy the season of the Kota Adventure Festival. The main agenda of this event is to promote national and international tourism.

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The government will organize several sports competitions and activities for the entertainment of the visitors. This is the chance to try your hand at parasailing, rock climbing, kayaking, water skiing, windsurfing, gliding, and rural excursions among other activities. You will also see boat races and kite-flying competitions! The enthusiasm of the cheering crowd will surely lift your spirits!

Seeing how the Kota Adventure Festival happens during Dussehra, you can enjoy both festivals of Rajasthan at the same time.

Date: 30th September to 17th October 2023
Location: Banks of River Chambal, Kota, Rajasthan

4 – Marwar Festival

Marwar Festival is an annual music and dance celebration that serves as an appreciation of the rich cultural history. Seeing how Marwar or the present Jodhpur used to serve as the ruling capital, most of the events happen in this region. The local artists dress up in traditional Rajasthani attires. The women wear bright-coloured lehengas with flare and reflective mirrors. They complete their look with heavy jewellery and a warm smile on their faces. The men wear tunics, pyjama-kurta or angarkha, and the classic head turbans.

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In all the major forts and palaces in Marwar, you will see talented artists singing, dancing, performing their art, and enjoying the festival wholeheartedly. One of the best things to do here is to participate in the Turban Tying Competition! If you can impress everyone with your turban-tying skills, then you get to take home a hefty reward!

Zip lining during the Marwar festival is one of the most entertaining things to do! You can enjoy the thrill of the ride and also see the energetic crowd from above. 

Date: 8th October – 9th October
Location: Jodhpur, Rajasthan. 

5 – Kota Dussehra

Everyone in India is aware of Dussehra. This is one of the grandest festivals in Rajasthan and is all about the good winning over the evil. This is when Lord Rama beheaded the egoistic Ravana and got his wife Sita back to his kingdom. The event begins on the first day of Dussehra and extends till Diwali. The Fairground area of Kota is going to be occupied with stalls and mini-shops that sell handicrafts, artefacts, and textiles.

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Elaborate processions featuring beautifully adorned idols of deities and historical figures are carried through the city streets. The event is a spectacle of colours, music, and traditional dance performances that attract thousands of locals and tourists alike.

A huge statue of Ravana stuffed with hay will be set up in the fairgrounds and people burn the figure at the end of the event. It does feel like the vibrance of the holy fire is burning everything dark and filling our lives with light again. 

Date: 25th October to 13th October 2023
Location: Fair Ground, Kota, Rajasthan

6 – Pushkar Camel Fair

The Pushkar Camel Fair or Pushkar Mela is an annual livestock festival that happens in the Pushkar and Ajmer regions of Rajasthan. This is where people from Rajasthan and the surrounding states gather with their cattle, camels, and horses and indulge in profitable trading. Apart from the camel and livestock, you will also see local artisans decked up in colourful attires and dancing to Rajasthani tunes. There will be magic shows and acrobat performances as well!

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Pushkar Mela is one of the most unique festivals of Rajasthan that brings you the ‘Camel Beauty Pageant’. You read that right! The owners of camels will decorate the animals with colourful cloth pieces, and accessories that jiggle. They are made to walk around and the best-looking camel will win the competition.

Pushkar itself is a small and picturesque town with a holy lake, and it is considered one of the most sacred places for Hindus. During the fair, the town also hosts a large number of pilgrims who come to take a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake, believing it to cleanse their sins.

Date: 1st November to 8th November 2023
Location: Ajmer, Rajasthan

7 – Bundi Utsav

Bundi Utsav is that vibrant time of the year when the streets come alive with processions, eye-catching folk performances and other cultural events that create an atmosphere of immense joy. Taragarh Fort and the surrounding areas will be decorated extravagantly and it is hard to ignore the buzzing excitement in the air. This is the right time for the local artisans to display their work and grab some good bucks for their hand-made pieces. Tourists can get everything from simple shawls, textiles, utensils to extravagant home decor items.

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The main attraction of this festival is the Shoba Yatra or the Deepdaan ceremony. Women reach the shores of the serene Chambar River while carrying earthen pots on their heads. Here, they light diyas and pray for wealth and prosperity. Only after this will the grand celebrations begin; the dance performances, singing, swaying, and lots of laughter.

Date: 11th November to 13th November 2023
Location: Bundi district, Rajasthan

8 – Matsya Festival

Matsya is one of those festivals of Rajasthan when people gather solely to celebrate their rich cultural beliefs. This is when the people of the state bask in the glory of their rich ethnic history and let the world know that they are proud of their past. Matsya means – Fish. According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Vishnu took the form of a fish to save the life of the first man on Earth – Manu. A King to the west of the Yamuna River named his kingdom after this mighty form of Lord Vishnu as Matsya Mahajanapada. This land includes a majority of the present Alwar region along with parts of Jaipur. This is where the festival happens grandly.

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The Matsya festival is a multi-day event where people get to participate in a lot of sports and games. Also, the government arranges excursion trips around the Alwar district. Some of the best activities include – listening to skilled men playing Shehnai, the game where the first one to pick the handkerchief from the ground wins – Roomal Jhapatta, Teerandaazi or archery, and the tug of war.

Date: 25th November – 26th November 2023
Location: Alwar, Rajasthan

9 – Kumbhalgarh Festival

Kumbhalgarh Festival is one of the grandest and the most spectacular festivals of Rajasthan organized by the government body that takes care of State tourism. This is one of the many means through which the officials try to bring both Indian and International visitors into the state. And rightly so, because this three-day event will leave you craving for more!

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The highlight of the Kumbhalgarh Festival is the stunningly illuminated Kumbhalgarh fort walls that create a mesmerizing spectacle during the evenings. The grandeur and charm of this event make it a popular attraction for travellers who want to witness the beauty of Rajasthan’s cultural heritage against the backdrop of this ancient and imposing fort. You will see mesmerizing folk performances that will seem out of the world, especially because of the awe-inspiring background of the magnificent fortification.

You get to witness many mesmerizing folk performances, local dances, and  

Date: 1st December to 3rd December 2023
Location: Kumbhalgarh Fort, Udaipur, Rajasthan

10 – Winter Festival

This is one of the Festivals of Rajasthan that happens after Christmas but before the New Year. So, you get to enjoy the best of both worlds. The Municipal Board of Mount Abu in collaboration with Rajasthan Tourism brings you loads of entertainment in the form of cultural performances, sports, and games. Ghoomar, Gair, Daph, and Sufi Kathak are the famous dance forms that you will come across. Local female artisans dress up as characters, men don colourful turbans, and children paint their faces with a rainbow of colours.

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The sound of those drums, the thrumming, and the palpable energy on the streets make this winter paradise one of the finest festivals of Rajasthan.

Date: 29th December – 30th December
Location: Mount Abu, Rajasthan

Have you been to the ‘Abode of Rajas’ and experienced being a part of any of these festivals of Rajasthan? If yes, let us know in the comments section!