Rajasthan in northwest India is a land of brilliant colors and vibrant festivals. You can join in the celebration of some of these festivals on your Palace on Wheels royal luxury train tour to Rajasthan. The festivals celebrate the changing of the seasons, the gathering of the harvest, the fertility of the soil, the joy of a happy marriage and religious events through the year. Some of the important festivals in Rajasthan, which you can glimpse on your Palace on Wheels royal luxury train tour, are:

Pushkar Fair - Pushkar
Time - October - November

The Pushkar Fair is Rajasthan's best-known traditional event. A combination of religious festival, cultural event and the largest camel fair in India, Pushkar is a photographer's delight. Pilgrims come to Pushkar to bathe in the holy lake on the auspicious day on which the fair is held. The temples of Pushkar, including the Brahma temple is crowded with pilgrims on this day. The camel fair features hundreds of camels, and their buyers, engaged in the business of trading camels, which are an essential part of the traditional economy of Rajasthan. Colorfully decorated Rajasthani folk dancers and singers perform at the Pushkar Fair. The camel related events include camel races and contests for the most beautiful camel, which you can see on Rajasthan Fairs and Festivals Tours.

Camel Festival - Bikaner
Time - January

The Camel Festival in Bikaner is a celebration of the camel - the Ship of the Desert. This useful animal's provides milk, carries loads and people, and after its death, its hide is used to make utility items. The camel is indispensable to Rajasthan's traditional way of life. Various contests including camel dancing, camel racing, and camel beauty contests are held along with cultural performances by folk singers and dancers in the desert town of Bikaner.

Nagaur Fair - Nagaur
Time - Between January and February

The Nagaur Fair is held in the town of Nagaur located between Jodhpur and Bikaner. Traditionally a cattle fair, the Nagaur Fair has been promoted as a tourist attraction and attracts many visitors from around the world, who come to see, camels, cattle and horses, being bought and sold by their traditionally dressed owners. The cultural and sporting events, such as tug of wars and camel races are an enjoyable sight and the ambience as a Rajasthani folk singer sings a ballad, as the sun sinks below the horizon and the sand dunes are bathed in twilight, is truly a sight to be seen.

Desert Festival - Jaisalmer
Time - Full Moon of February

The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is one of the most popular festivals in Rajasthan with tourists to this state. This three-day long festival held in the town of Jaisalmer, known for its Golden Fortress, and in the sand dunes at Sam outside Jaisalmer town, is a splash of color across the desert sands. Cultural performances by Rajasthani folk dancers, of traditional dances of Rajasthan including the Tehratal, Ghoomer, Dhap, Gangaur, Moria, Gair and Chari dances enchant the audience. The Fire dances and Gair dances are a popular attraction. Puppeteers, ballad singers and snake charmers add to the exotic ambience. The camel events include camel races, camel dances and the best decorated camel contest. Events for people include a best moustache contest, a turban-tying contest and a tug of war. The festival ends with a sound and light extravaganza on the desert sands, which you can see on festival tours of Rajasthan.

Elephant Festival - Jaipur
Time - March

The Elephant Festival is a delightful tourist attraction that combines the festival of colors - Holi, with the antics of the gentle giants - the elephants of Jaipur. The elephants are colorfully decorated and walk through the town in a spectacular parade along with horses, camels and colorfully dressed folk dancers. Guests are invited to play Holi, by throwing colors and flowers on each other, while seated on elephant back. Ganesha, the elephant headed God is worshipped on this day. You can enjoy the festivities on Rajasthan Fairs and Festivals Tours.

Gangaur - All over Rajasthan
Time - March-April

The Gangaur Festival is celebrated in March and April. It celebrates the union of Gauri (an incarnation of the Goddess Parvati) and her consort Shiva, who are considered the perfect couple. The festival is a celebration of conjugal happiness and marital bliss. Married women pray for the health and long life of their husbands, while unmarried girls pray for a groom of their choice. The festival begins after Holi day and continues for 18 days.

While the festival is celebrated across Rajasthan, Jaipur hosts the grandest procession. The idol of the Goddess is ecorated and carried through the town in a procession with married women in their finery, singing and dancing performers accompanied by elephants, horses and camels.

Mewar Festival - Udaipur

Celebrated in Udaipur, the Mewar Festival, celebrates the coming of Spring. A spectacular procession winds its way through Udaipur town, accompanied by music, folk dances and bursting of fireworks, which you can enjoy seeing on Tours of Rajasthan with Palace Wheels.

Urs Ajmer Sharif - Ajmer
Time - Changes according to the lunar calendar

The annual commemoration of the anniversary of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, who lived in Ajmer, is one of the largest Muslim religious events in India. Pilgrims of all religions, from across the globe, travel to Ajmer to join in the anniversary of the Saint's passing from this world. Sufi singing and music play an important role in this festival, which attracts some of the world's best Sufi musicians.

Teej - Across Rajasthan but primarily in Jaipur
Time - August

The festival of Teej, is celebrated in Jaipur town, to mark the arrival of the monsoon rains. Held in honor of the Goddess Parvati, in the month of Shravan, women swing on decorated swings tied to the branches of trees and sing songs to celebrate the reunion of Shiva and Parvati.

Marwar Festival - Jodhpur
Time - October

Previously known as the Maand Festival, the Marwar Festival is held during Sharad Purnima, or full moon day in October. The folk music genre called Maand, celebrates the royal lifestyle of the rulers of Rajasthan. During this festival cultural performances are held where Maand singers bring to life the regal past of Rajasthan. Celebrated in Jodhpur, the Maand Festival is both a cultural event and a preservation of the oral history of Rajasthan, through the ballads of rulers and events of the past.

Other Fairs and Festivals