Festivals of Rajasthan You Simply Cannot Miss!

1. When we think about Rajasthan, we think of colors and brightness, royalty and hospitality, celebrations and feasts, music and dance, culture and tradition, history and heritage. Rajasthan packs the essence of Incredible India in 1 state. And the experience of Rajasthan is never complete unless you have a taste of the myriad fairs and festivals that it has to offer. They are a celebration of life, culture, heritage, and nature, in true Rajasthani style. Here are some of the festivals of Rajasthan you must experience at least once in your lifetime Here is a list of top 12 Festivals of Rajasthan that you simply cannot miss: 1. Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Jodhpur Hailed as a 'People's Platform for Creativity and Sustainable Development' and patronized by the Maharaja of Jodhpur and Sir Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, RIFF is an annual music and art festival for the promotion of traditional folk music and arts. It is celebrated around Sharad Purnima, the brightest full moon night of the year and is a unique celebration of Indian as well as

2. international music at Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort. More than 200 musicians from around the globe attend this festival, making it an absolute treat for music and art lovers. It coincides with the Marwar festival. Location: Mehrangarh Fort and Museum, Jodhpur 2. Desert Festival, Jaisalmer A three-day event organized by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation in the month of February, it is an absolute bonanza that celebrates the delights of the desert. The atmosphere is alive with song and dance, with the artists dressed in bright colors and traditional finery, depicting the tragedies and accomplishments of the desert. A showcase of desert rituals and life, camel races, gymnastic stunts, several competitions like the longest mustache, turban tying, Mr Desert etc, delicious food and interesting stalls selling handicrafts and other souvenirs will make it a memorable 3 days of your life. Book Royal Rajasthan Cabs and make your trip memorable for life. Location: Sam Dunes (42 kilometers from Jaisalmer)

3. 3. Pushkar Fair, Pushkar The Big Daddy of all desert festivals, Pushkar Fair is a spectacular five-day camel and livestock fair held in the town of Pushkar, on the banks of the Pushkar lake in Rajasthan. It also coincides with the religious celebration of Kartik Ekadashi, when the Pushkar lake was supposed to be created by Lord Brahma. Primarily a livestock fair for the buying and selling of camels, the Pushkar fair attracts hordes of tourists making it a true cultural bonanza of art, music, dance, puppet shows, gypsy dance, races, competitions with a host of vendors selling delicious snacks including camel milk cheeses and cakes, jewelry, shawls and other titbits. The entire festive and spiritual atmosphere completely lights up the desert in these five days. Location: Pushkar Fair Ground, Pushkar, Ajmer, Rajasthan 4. Teej Festival, Jaipur

4. One of west India's biggest festivals, Teej commemorates two things - a woman's love for her husband and the advent of the monsoon season. The festival is marked by colorful celebrations where the womenfolk observe fasting and apply mehndi designs on their hands, enjoy long swing rides, sing and dance with other women, tell stories and deck up in festive attire to celebrate the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The markets and bazaars of Jaipur are filled to the brim with attractive clothes, jewelry and sweets like Ghewar and Malpua. A procession of a decorated idol of Goddess Parvati is carried through Jaipur, and thousands of devotees and tourists throng to see the procession and the antique palanquins, chariots, bands, folk music and dance and soak in the cultural revelry. Location: Chaugan Stadium, Jaipur, Rajasthan 5. Gangaur Festival, Jaipur

5. Another festival that commemorates the goddess Parvati and her home-coming, it is celebrated with huge fanfare in Rajasthan by women. Processions of a decked up Goddess Gauri are carried all over the city and everyone participates in these processions, often accompanied by elephant processions, old palanquins, chariots, folk song and dance and often ends with fireworks. It coincides with the Mewar Festival in Udaipur. This is a very famous festival of Rajasthan. Find the best cab service in Jodhpur and make this trip the best moments of your life. Royal Rajasthan is the most popular taxi service in the blue city because our prices are fair and we always show up on time. Location: Across Jaipur 6. Jaipur Literature Festival, Jaipur

6. Perhaps not as glamorous as some of the other festivals on this list, JLF is the world's largest free literary festival. Nobel laureates, Booker prize winners, debut novelists - the who's who of the literary world come together for five days of readings, discussions and debates at the Diggi Palace in Jaipur. A great platform that provides access to some of the greatest authors and thinkers on this planet and gives courage to young minds to dream and imagine, it is not a chance anyone should miss. Location: Diggi Palace, Jaipur 7. Nagaur Fair, Nagaur

7. The second largest fair in the country, it is essentially a cattle fair that attracts more than two lakh animal owners to bring their horses, cows, bullocks, oxen, camels etc. to be a part of a large trade show. A lot of animal races and cockfights in the day, followed by some dance and music in the nights attracts tourists and animal owners alike. Organized by the Department of Animal Husbandry, it brings out the true Rajput flavor of Rajasthan. Location: Nagaur, Jodhpur 8. Summer and Winter Festivals, Mt. Abu

8. Celebrated to showcase the warmth and culture of the people belonging to the only hill station in Rajasthan, both these festivals are held over a period of three days, in May and December respectively. They are marked by processions all over town, followed by a range of competitions, folk dance and music and dazzling fireworks to celebrate the spirit of the town. A unique combination of divine hospitality and exotic location attracts a large number of tourists during the festival days. Dates: Summer Festival - 17th to 18th May 2019, Winter Festival - 29th to 31st December 2019 Location: Nakki lake and Pologround, Mt.Abu 9. World Sufi Spirit Festival, Gangaur, Jodhpur

9. Hosting artists from Mongolia, Afghanistan, Africa, Italy etc. and also from various parts of the state and the country, it is a very exclusive event that attracts a limited number of patrons. A very simple affair means you can sit down to chat with some of the brilliant artists or even the royalty of Jodhpur. Add to that some delicious food and the ambience of the spectacularly lit-up Nagaur fort, and you will surely have the experience to cherish for a lifetime. Location: Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur 10. Kite Festival, Jodhpur

10. A 3-day festival to celebrate the spirit of Makar Sankranti, the Jodhpur International Desert Kite Festival, is simply put, a kite-flying competition. In reality, it is a colorful and extravagant specter of kites, of myriad shapes, colors and sizes that deck up the desert sky. A number of helicopters release kites in the sky and children release balloons, making it a truly magnificent and spectacular event. Location: Jodhpur Polo Ground, Jodhpur 11. Camel Festival, Bikaner

11. Organized in the honor of the ship of the desert, the Camel Festival is a spectacular festival celebrated in Bikaner. Just like the other celebrations of Rajasthan, this festival kicks off with great pomp and show. Celebrated every year in the pleasant January, the Camel Festival is a two-day long affair with a colorful parade of the decked up camels against the backdrop of the magnificent Junagarh Fort. It includes camel races, camel games and other cultural performances. Though celebrated to glorify the camels of Rajasthan, this festival also includes the traditional Rajasthani folk performances. The festival concludes with an awe-inspiring display of fireworks, illuminating the majestic skies of Bikaner. Location: Karni Singh Stadium, Bikaner 12. Mewar Festival, Udaipur

12. The city of Udaipur comes alive with colors of festivities during the Mewar Festival which marks the advent of spring in the region. It is a major Rajasthan festival and people from all over the globe flock to Udaipur to witness the glory of the town during this time. The whole town is decorated with bright lights and a joyous mood reigns in the air. This festival includes a number of practices, like dressing the idols of Isar and Gangaur and carrying them in a traditional procession through various parts of the city. People also engage in cultural dance and songs, revealing the colorful culture of Rajasthan. Location: Across Udaipur Visit Rajasthan to enjoy these festivals with Royal Rajasthan as it offers the best taxi in jodhpur and other cities of Rajasthan with a high level of comfort and affordability.