Rajasthan is a land of striking diversity. Every day is a celebration here for one reason or another. Every celebration centers around the rituals of prayers, seeking benevolence of god, cleaning and decorating houses, wearing colorful clothes and participating in various forms of dance and music. Some of the major festivals of Rajasthan include:

Pushkar Festival
Ajmer (November): The well-known and marked with largest participation of all the festivals of Rajasthan,Pushkar is an important pilgrimage as well as the venue of a mammoth cattle fair. Bazaars,auctions,music and sports are highlight of this event.

Desert Festival
Jaisalmer (Jan-Feb.): One of the most popular of all festivals it is a journey into the heart of the desert,the golden city of Jaisalmer that has a charm of its own. A true show on the sands which
attracts even the much traveled visitor.

Elephant Festival
Elephant Festival,Jaipur (March-April): A festival to celebrate Holi, this is a great occasion for the visitor to watch several elephant sports and also play this festival of colours. A show is organised with the elephants turning out in their best finery.

Summer Festival
Summer Festival, Mt.Abu (June): Organised in the only hill station of Rajasthan,this is the coldest place at this time of the year. Folk dances and a general atmosphere of gaiety prevails in this tiny hill resort and the tourist has ample time to relax and enjoy himself.

Gangaur Festival
Gangaur,Jaipur (March-April): A festival devoted to Goddess Parvati,the consort of Lord Shiva. It is time for young girls to dress up in their finery and pray for grooms of their choice while the married women pray for the well-being of their husbands. This 18-day festival is laced with various activities and culminates in a grand procession marking the arrival of Shiva to escort his bride home.

Nagaur Fair
Nagaur (Jan-Feb.): Essentially an animal fair, it provides an opportunity to participate in some of the local sports.

Baneshwar Fair
Baneshwar (Jan-Feb.): A religious festival with simple and traditional rituals. This fair is the centre of attraction of a large number of tribals from the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat who join their brethren from Rajasthan in offering prayers to Lord Shiva.

Mewar Festival
Mewar Festival,Udaipur (March-April): A festival to welcome the spring season. There is song, dance, processions,devotional music and fireworks where almost everybody participates.

Teej Festival
Teej, Jaipur (July-August): A festival to mark the advent of monsoon.Processions,women dressed in bright colours and a lot of merriment prevails during Teej. Essentially a women's festival, it is interesting to watch them enjoying in groups and at various bazaars where they turn up to shop in all their finery.

Marwar Festival
Marwar Festival,Jodhpur (October): A festival devoted mainly to the music and dance of the Marwar region. This is a festival that allows the visitor to understand and enjoy the folk traditions of this part of the state.

Camel Festival
Camel Festival,Bikaner (January): An enchanting desert city which comes alive with music and dance. It is fast gaining popularity as the visitor finds an opportunity to see some unusual folk performances,camel, race camel dance etc.

Urs Ajmer Sharif
Urs Ajmer Sharif,Ajmer (According to Lunar Calendar): Held in the memory of the revered Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti, it is an occasion fort thousands of believers to congregate at the shrine and offer their prayers.
All of Ajmer seems to take on a festive air and several programmes are organised to mark the festivals.