Jodhpur’s festival calendar blends Rajasthan’s royal heritage with Hindu religious celebrations. The city’s two signature events, the Marwar Festival and the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF), draw visitors from around the world, while local celebrations like the Desert Kite Festival and Gangaur bring the old city alive with colour. Here is a month-by-month guide to events and festivals in Jodhpur. Check our Jodhpur weather by month for detailed information.
Events and Festivals in Jodhpur: Signature Events
Marwar Festival (October)
Jodhpur’s biggest cultural event, held annually during the Sharad Purnima full moon (usually October, exact dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar). The two-day festival celebrates the music, dance, and folklore of the Marwar region with performances at Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace. Expect Kalbeliya snake-charmers’ dances, Ghoomar folk performances, camel tattoo shows, and a grand procession. The fort becomes a dramatic open-air venue lit by thousands of lamps. Tickets: Rs 500 to 2,000 depending on seating category. Book through the Rajasthan Tourism website or at the RTDC hotel. Hotels sell out 4 to 6 weeks in advance, so plan accordingly. For more details, see our best time to visit Jodhpur.
Rajasthan International Folk Festival / RIFF (October/November)
Held at Mehrangarh Fort since 2007, RIFF is a five-day music festival coinciding with Sharad Purnima that brings together Rajasthani folk musicians and international artists. Past performers include Mick Jagger, Mumford and Sons, and Rajasthani legends like the Manganiyar musicians. Unlike commercial music festivals, RIFF emphasises collaboration and the preservation of folk traditions. Day passes start at Rs 2,000, full festival passes at Rs 8,000 to 15,000. Tickets sell out fast via riff.jodhpur.com. The festival’s all-night sessions under the full moon on the fort’s ramparts are legendary. For more details, see our things to do in Jodhpur.
Events and Festivals in Jodhpur: Religious and Seasonal
Desert Kite Festival / Makar Sankranti (January 14)
On Makar Sankranti (January 14, fixed solar date), the skies above Jodhpur fill with thousands of kites. The tradition marks the sun’s transition into Capricorn and the end of winter. Rooftops across the old city become kite-flying battlegrounds, with locals competing to cut each other’s strings. The best viewing spots are rooftops in Brahmapuri and around the Clock Tower. Many hotels host rooftop kite-flying sessions with chai and snacks. The city also hosts an organised Kite Festival at the Polo Ground with professional kite flyers, competitions, and food stalls. For more details, see our neighborhoods in Jodhpur.
Gangaur Festival (March/April)
An 18-day festival dedicated to Goddess Gauri (Parvati), celebrated primarily by women. The festival falls in March or April (Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar). Married women pray for their husbands’ wellbeing; unmarried women pray for a good spouse. The highlight is the final day procession: women dressed in colourful Rajasthani attire carry decorated idols of Gauri through the old city to a ceremonial immersion site. The procession starts from the Clock Tower area and winds through Sardar Market. The best viewing spots are along Nai Sarak and near the step well. For more details, see our where to stay in Jodhpur.
Holi (March)
Jodhpur celebrates Holi with particular enthusiasm. Unlike the tourist-oriented Holi parties in Jaipur and Pushkar, Jodhpur’s Holi is more local and authentic. The Mehrangarh Fort hosts an organised Holi event in its courtyard with organic colours, traditional music, and thandai (Rs 2,500 per person, book through mehrangarhmuseum.org). In the old city, the blue lanes become a riot of pink, green, and orange powder. Wear clothes you are happy to throw away, protect your camera and phone in zip-lock bags, and apply coconut oil to your skin and hair before going out (it makes the colours easier to wash off). For more details, see our travel tips for Jodhpur.
Diwali (October/November)
The festival of lights transforms Jodhpur’s sandstone architecture. Mehrangarh Fort is illuminated with thousands of diyas (oil lamps), and the view from the old city rooftops is unforgettable. Sardar Market is at its most vibrant, with sweetshops doing brisk business and families buying decorative lights and fireworks. Diwali falls on the new moon of the Hindu month Kartik (usually October or November). Book rooftop restaurant tables in advance for the best views of the illuminated fort. See our Jodhpur travel guide for more planning information.
Nagaur Cattle Fair (January/February)
Held about 140km northeast of Jodhpur in the town of Nagaur, this is Rajasthan’s second-largest cattle fair after Pushkar but far less touristy. Over 70,000 cattle, camels, and horses are traded over four days. The fair includes camel races, tug-of-war competitions, and traditional Mirasi musicians. It takes place in late January or early February (Magh month). Jodhpur hotels can arrange day trips (Rs 4,000 to 6,000 for a car and driver, 2.5 hours each way).
Jodhpur Flamenco and Gypsy Festival (February)
A unique cross-cultural festival exploring the historical connections between Rajasthan’s Kalbeliya community and Spanish Roma (Gypsy) flamenco traditions. Held at Mehrangarh Fort over two days in February, the festival features flamenco dancers from Spain performing alongside Rajasthani folk artists. The shared rhythms and footwork patterns between Kalbeliya and flamenco are striking. Tickets: Rs 1,000 to 3,000. Check jodhpurflamenco.com for dates and bookings.
Events and Festivals in Jodhpur: Planning Tips
- Lunar festivals (Holi, Diwali, Marwar Festival, Gangaur) shift dates each year. Check the Hindu calendar or Rajasthan Tourism website 3 to 4 months before your trip.
- During major festivals, hotel rates in Jodhpur increase 30 to 50% and many properties sell out. Book at least 6 weeks ahead for Marwar Festival, RIFF, and Diwali.
- Mehrangarh Fort’s zip-line (Flying Fox) often closes during large fort-based events. Check before booking.
- Auto-rickshaws become scarce and fares increase during festival evenings. Negotiate fares upfront or use Ola/Uber (available in Jodhpur since 2022).
- For photography during festivals: the golden-hour light combined with festival colours produces some of the best travel photos you will take in Rajasthan. Bring extra memory cards.
