Desert Festival, Jaisalmer

Introduction

The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is a majestic annual event celebrated in the month of February in the historic city of Jaisalmer. The festival brings out the vibrant cultures and traditions of Rajasthan and portrays the most vivid facades of desert.

The Desert Festival fills shimmering golden sands of desert with vivid colors. It is the time when the locals of Rajasthan gather here in thousands to partake in the extravagant festivities. A larger than life parade starts from the Jaisalmer Fort at sunrise and reaches the Shahid Poonam Singh Stadium. Hundreds of locals and travelers partake in this procession, dressed in colorful Rajasthani attires. They can be seen singing and dancing on local Rajasthani folk music while fills the ambience with great fervor. One can also see numerous Gair and fire dance performers showcasing their talent during the procession.

Witnessing all this during the festival is a treat that lets you unveil the vivacious hues of Rajasthan. One of the most exciting façades of the fair is camel race where numerous camels are decked up like brides which then participate in race to win the competition. The Border Security Force Camel Tattoo also remains extremely popular where camel owners create intricate tattoos on their camels. Other attractions during the festival include Tug-of-war, turban tying, Maru-Shri and the longest moustache competition.

The best feature of the Jaisalmer Desert Festival is its backdrop of sand dunes which add so much grandeur to the event. As the sun sets, enjoy the sight of crimson sun being gulped by the golden desert sands.  

All this is clubbed with delicious Rajasthani food which can make anyone fall for gluttony.

How to Reach

By Air: Jodhpur Airport is the nearest international airport to reach Jaisalmer.

By Rail: Jaisalmer has a great rail network which connects it with other major Indian cities.

By Road: Jaisalmer has well maintained road connectivity and one can easily find private and state run buses to reach here.