A lively and colourful event, the Camel Festival is organized by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture, Rajasthan in Bikaner every year. January is just the right month for a desert spree, and Bikaner is just the right place to see the Ships of Desert. In the Camel country Bikaner, these desert leviathans pull heavy cart loads, transport grain and evn work at the wells. The Camel Festival begins with a colorful procession of bedecked camels against the red sandstone backdrop of the Junagarh Fort, the festivity advances to the open sand-spreads of the grounds, followed by the best breed competition, the tug-of-war contest, camel dance and acrobatics, etc. The Camels display amazing footwork, dancing gracefully to the slightest direction of their trainers

The evening closes with a different tenor and tempo altogether: a traditional rendezvous of renowned of Rajasthan and the local folk performers. The jubilant skirt-swirling dancers, the awe inspiring fire dance, and the dazzling fireworks light up the fortified desert city of Bikaner.Bikaner is connected by rail and road with all the major cities. The nearest airport is at Jodhpur (243 Kms.)

Once a year in winters and in the middle of continually rising and falling stark yellow sands of the great thar desert, the empty sands around Jaiselmer come alive with brilliant colour, music and laughter of the Desert festival. The festival is organized by the tourist authorities as tourist entertainment around January-February. The very rich and colorful Rajasthani folk culture is on show here for a few days. Rajasthani men and tall beautiful women dressed in their bright costumes dance and sing lingering ballads of valor, romance and tragedy. Traditional musicians attempt to outdo each other in their musical superiority.

The Elephant festival is an inimitable event held annually in Jaipur. Groomed flawlessly, rows of elephants do a catwalk before an enthralled audience like fashion models to make this festival an amazing one. The elephants move with poise in pageant, run races, lay the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time with elephants typically celebrates one day before the Holi, Indian festival of colours. Staged at Jaipur Chaugan stadium elephants put up a variety programme and the arena is brought alive with musician and dancers. The crowd, which includes sizable presences of foreign and Indian tourists, electrify the atmosphere. The festival starts with an impressive procession of the majestic animals lovingly painted and tastefully attired with glittering ornaments and embroidered velvets. There are deadly and fierce elephant fights.A ceremonial procession is recreated with caparisoned elephants, lancers on horses, chariots, camels, cannons, and palanquins.

Most of the participants are female elephants. The female elephants wear anklets alongwith painted trunks, foreheads, and feet with floral motifs. The game of polo forms the highlights of festival. Finally the tourists are invited to mount the elephants and play Holi. Participants dance with great vigor and the excitement rising to a crescendo.Jaipur was a favourite spot with the important personalities of the British rule and Maharajas always arranged for their guests of honour elephant rides upto the Amber palace.

Excitement, gaity and a keen sense of competition fill the airs as the long journey to Pushkar begins. The only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma (the creator) is located at Pushkar. The Pushkar lake is surrounded by 52 flights of steps called 'Ghats'. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu appeared at the Varah ghat in the form of Boar. Brahma took a bath here and performed yagna at Brahma ghat accompanied by Vishnu and Mahadev. Pushkar is among the five places of Hindu pilgrimage. People consider the water of the Pushkar lake to be very sacred and the rituals of taking dip in the holy water is believed to bestow salvation. In conjunction with the religious fair, a cattle fair is also organised.

The fair grounds reverbrate with festivty and women folk shop for bangles, clothes, utensils, sundry household items and leather goods. The highlight of Pushkar fair is the trading in camels. The camel, horse and dinkey races are events that draw huge attendance. Body tatooing is yet another favourite activity. Come dusk and the rich strains of haunting music are carried across the desert sand as the merrymaking continues deep into the night.

The Brij Festival takes place a few days before Holi, (the festival of colours) in the month of March. Held in honour of Lord Krishna, this festival is marked by verve and zest. Villagers in gay, multitude attire,can be seen singing and performing the Raslila dance (dance depicting the immortal love story of Radha and Krishna).All of Bharatpur echoes the sound of folk melodies on this festival on the eve of Holi. Bharatpur is situated on the Delhi-Mumbai main railway line and also on National Highway no. 11(Bikaner - Agra). Agra being the nearest airport (56 kms.)

Essentially an animal fair, it provides an oppurtunity to participate in some of the local sports. The eight days fair held every year during the month of Jan-Feb, is popularly known as cattle fairand is the second largest in Rajasthan. . Sports like tug-of-war, camel races, bullock races and cock fights; jugglers; puppeteers, story tellers; and exciting campfire eveningsare held to entertain the tourists. Folk music of the Jodhpur variation echoes the tranquill desert sand.

Nagaur is well connected to the major cities by road and rail. Nearest airport is Jodhpur, some 135 Kms away. A religious festival with simple and traditional rituals. Quaint rhythms conjure up the tribal cultural identity of the Bhils of Rajasthan, Gujrat and M.P.Baneshwar means the master of delta and this name was given to the Shiva linga. The Baneshwar fair is held at a small delta formed by the river som and Mahi and prayers are offered to Lord Shiva locally named as Baneshwar. The fair resounds with the gaeity of traditional folk songs, folk songs and dances, raslila animal show, magic show, acrobatic feats.

The annual fair of Kaila Devi (Mahalakshmi or the goddess of wealth), is held at the village of Kailas (24 Kms to the souyh west) in Karauli district in the month of Chaitra (Mar-Apr) lasting for a fortnight.Approximately 2 lakh devotees gather during the fair. The ritual of Kanakdandotis is observed by staunch devotees. They cover a distance of 15-20 Kms to reach the temple, not on the foot but lying prostrate, making lines with their hands in that position, advancing upto the line drawn and repeating the procedure till they reach the temple. While some take rest and eat food during the journey, others endure the rigours of the rituals without these. The nearest rail head is Hindaun at a distance of 48 Kms. During the fair, the State Transport as well as private operators provide bus services keeping in mind the huge inflow of pilgrims.

Dedicated to goddess Gaur (Parvati) the festival commences on Holi (festival of colours). Young girls pray for grooms of their choice while married women seek a long life for their husbands. On the 7th day after Holi unmarried girls go around singing songs of Ghudila (earthen pots with numerous holes all around with a lamp lit inside). In their way they collect gifts, cash, sweets, jaggery, Ghee, oil, etc. Festivities continue for 18 days culminating with the arrival of Lord Shiva to escort his bride home.

Dussehra is one of the significant Hindu festivals, celebrated with much joy and happiness in the entire country. The occasion marks the triumph of Lord Ram over Ravana, the victory of good over evil. Brilliantly decorated tableaux and processions depicting various episodes from Ram's life are taken out. On the tenth day, or the Vijayadasami, colossal effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnad are placed in vast open spaces. Actors dressed as Ram, his consort Sita, and brother Lakshman arrive and shoot arrows of fire at these effigies, which are stuffed with firecrackers. The result is a deafening blast, and an explosion of sound and light enhanced by the shouts of merriment and triumph of the spectators.

Also part of the celebration is the Ram Lila or the dramatic depiction of episodes from the lives of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman. All the regions across the country have evolved their own distinctive style, and performances at different places are done in the local language.

The festival celebrating the reunion of Lord Shiva and Parvati, is celebrated at the onset of monsoon. Teej is festival of swings. Young village girls and women dressed in green clothes sing songs and swing in celebrating the advent of monsoon. an elaborate procession is taken out at Jaipur for two consecutive days with ornately dressed elephants, horses and camels, bands of various artists and colourfully dressed. Goddess Parvati is invoked to bless her worshippers with conjugal harmony and bliss.

Coinciding with the festival of Gangaur the Mewar festival is celebrated to welcome the advent of spring.Once the religious part of the festival is over it is time for portrayal of Rajasthani culture, through songs, dances and other programmes. The festival culminates with an impressive firework display.