Desert Festival

Quick Facts
Celebrated in : Rajasthan
City : Jaisalmer
Festival Time : February
Duration : 3 Days
Highlights : Songs, Dances, shows and Camel embellishment.

Desert Festival of Jaisalmer - The Camel Show
Sponsored by the Rajasthan State Tourism Corporation, the Desert Festival is a colourful, joyous celebration of the rich heritage of Rajasthan. This festival takes place in Jaisalmer in the month of February and lasts for three days.

During the desert festival, the sands around Jaisalmer are adorned with vibrant hues of music and dance, accompanied with sounds of laughter and joy. Musicians entice you with haunting ballads - a mixture of romantic verses weaved together with tunes of tragic pain. The fair has snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels, also play a stellar role. This desert festival of India closes with an enchanting sound and light show amid the sand dunes on a moonlit night.

Though the festival is mainly a grand display of performing arts, there are several other events that give a glimpse of the desert culture. Exquisitely embroidered skirts, hand-woven shawls, rugs, carvings on wood and stone, camel decorations, embroidered leather bags, ethnic silver jewelry and terracotta can be bought at this desert fair.

Evenings are meant for the main shows of music and dance. Continuing till late into the night, the number of spectators increases by each night and on the final day, under the full moonlit night, the whole place is swarming with people who make it a point to be there to witness this mega show.

The city bends into a jumbo crafts bazaar, craftsmen even from the very interiors and the distant corners of the desert exhibit their work here during the festival. The visitor gets a chance to pick up some pagan stuff and even communicate with the artists who created them. Finely embroidered skirts, hand-woven shawls, rugs, carvings on wood and stone, camel decorations, embroidered leather bags, ethnic silver jewelry and terracotta are some of the products which are offered.

The dance, music and drams usually begins in the evening. The dances of Rajasthan are mind-boggling with men and women moving in absolute co-ordination to the beating sound of desert drums. The colourful scarves and skirts of women spin creating a colourful aura. Rajasthani men, known for their boldness, also display some items like acrobatic feats and some amazing feats of bravery. Fire eaters, sword swallower's and some exclusive type of art is shown.

Dressed in brilliant attires the people dance and sing stalking ballads of valor, romance and tragedy. Camels, of course, play an astral role in this festival, where the rich and colorful folk culture of Rajasthan is on show. The festival concludes with a delighting sound and light show among the sand dunes on a moonlit night.