Jaipur’s festival calendar is anchored by the Jaipur Literature Festival in January, which has grown into the world’s largest free literary event. The city’s Hindu festivals, particularly Diwali, Holi, and Teej, transform the Pink City with processions, lights, and street celebrations. Most festival dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar and shift annually by 2 to 3 weeks relative to the Gregorian calendar.
Jaipur Events and Festivals Calendar
Jaipur Literature Festival
Held in late January over 5 days at Diggi Palace Hotel and The Clarks Amer. The world’s largest free literary festival attracts 400+ speakers and 500,000+ visitors annually. Sessions run 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM covering fiction, non-fiction, politics, science, and music. The festival is free but registration is required through the JLF website. The Jaipur Music Stage runs parallel evening concerts at The Clarks Amer (tickets 1,500-3,000 INR per night). Hotel rooms in Jaipur sell out 3 months ahead during JLF week. Expect citywide traffic congestion around the venues. The 2025 dates are expected January 25-29. Past speakers have included Nobel laureates, Booker Prize winners, and the Dalai Lama.
Diwali (Festival of Lights)
October or November (15th day of the lunar month Kartik). Jaipur’s markets and buildings are covered in oil lamps and electric lights. The entire old city is illuminated, with the best viewing from Nahargarh Fort at sunset. Markets stay open until midnight for the 5 days around Diwali. Fireworks start at sunset and continue until 11:00 PM on the main Diwali night. The Laxmi Puja is the main ritual, performed in homes and businesses. The following day is Govardhan Puja, and the fifth day is Bhai Dooj (sibling festival). Book hotels well in advance as domestic tourism peaks during this week.
Holi Festival
Full moon day of the lunar month Phalgun (February or March). Jaipur celebrates Holi with particular intensity. The Holika Dahan bonfires happen the night before. On Holi day, the streets fill with people throwing colored powder (gulal) and water by 8:00 AM. Celebrations wind down by 1:00 PM. The City Palace and several heritage hotels host organized Holi parties with organic colors, live music, and thandai (cannabis-infused milk drink, legal during Holi). The Rambagh Palace Holi brunch costs 5,000-7,000 INR per person and sells out weeks ahead. Wear old white clothes you’ll throw away. Apply coconut oil to your skin and hair before going out, it makes color removal far easier. Leave valuables and phones in your hotel safe.
Teej Festival
Third day of the lunar month Shravan (July or August). This monsoon festival celebrates the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The main event is a procession carrying an idol of Goddess Parvati (Teej Mata) through the old city on a decorated palanquin. The 3 km procession starts from the City Palace and passes through Tripolia Bazaar, Choti Chaupar, and Gangauri Bazaar before returning. The procession features decorated elephants, camels, folk dancers, and brass bands. Women wear green saris and apply henna. The procession starts around 5:00 PM and takes 2 to 3 hours. Viewing from Tripolia Bazaar gives the best vantage point. The date coincides with heavy monsoon rain, so the procession occasionally gets shortened or delayed.
Makar Sankranti Kite Festival
January 14 (fixed solar date). The sky above Jaipur fills with thousands of kites from dawn to dusk. The best viewing is from rooftops and Nahargarh Fort. Locals fly kites from every rooftop and compete to cut each other’s strings with glass-coated manjha thread. The festival marks the sun’s transition into Capricorn and the end of winter. Traditional foods include til ke laddu (sesame seed sweets) and gajak (peanut brittle). The government organizes a competition at the Jaipur Polo Ground with prizes for largest kite, longest flight, and best design. Hotels with rooftop restaurants like the Om Tower offer kite-flying packages.
Gangaur Festival
March or April (day after Holi through the third day of Chaitra). A 16-day women’s festival honoring Goddess Gauri (Parvati). Married women fast for their husbands’ longevity. Unmarried women pray for a good spouse. The final day features a grand procession from the City Palace through the old city with decorated palanquins. Women carry brass water pots on their heads while walking. The procession route passes Tripolia Bazaar to Talkatora. The festival is most visible in the old city and around the Govind Dev Ji Temple inside the City Palace complex.
Elephant Festival
Held on Holi eve (February or March) at the Jaipur Polo Ground. Elephants are decorated with vibrant colors, heavy jewelry, and embroidered velvet covers. The program includes elephant polo, an elephant procession, elephant races, and tug-of-war between elephants and men. The festival starts around 4:00 PM. Entry is free but seating fills by 2:00 PM. The event has faced criticism from animal rights groups for the treatment of elephants. A more ethical alternative is visiting the Elefantastic elephant sanctuary (1,500 INR per person) in Amber village, which offers feeding and walking with rescued elephants without riding.
