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Plan your trip · Jaisalmer

What's on in Jaisalmer

Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Jaisalmer — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.

Nothing dated is confirmed for Jaisalmer right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.

The year in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer packs most of its outdoor calendar into the cooler months; the pre-monsoon peak is hot enough that daytime processions are genuinely hard going. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.

Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.

Signature to Jaisalmer

Desert Festival

🗓️ February

Folk music, camel events and turban-tying contests in the dunes outside the fort.

Planning: Peak desert season; camps at Sam sell out.

Across Rajasthan

Desert and camel fairs

🗓️ October–February

Livestock fairs that became festivals — Pushkar in autumn, Bikaner's camel festival and Jaisalmer's desert festival in winter.

Planning: This is peak season; rooms are booked months out and prices double.

Teej and Gangaur

🗓️ July–August and March–April

Processions of decorated idols through the old cities, especially Jaipur and Udaipur.

Planning: Good street photography, heavy crowds in the old-city lanes.

Nationwide

Diwali

🗓️ October–November

The biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.

Holi

🗓️ March

Coloured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.

Navratri and Dussehra

🗓️ September–October

Nine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.

Eid al-Fitr

🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each year

The end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.

Makar Sankranti and Pongal

🗓️ mid-January

The harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.

Jaisalmer's biggest event is the Desert Festival, also called Maru Mahotsav, a three-day celebration held each winter around the full moon of the Hindu month of Magh, usually in late January or February. It brings folk music and dance, camel races, turban-tying and moustache contests, and ends on the dunes at Sam. Beyond that, the city marks the main Hindu festivals, with Diwali lamps in the fort lanes, Holi colours in the old town and Gangaur processions in spring.

Most festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move each year. Check the dates before you book, and reserve rooms and desert camps early if you plan to travel for the Desert Festival.

Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Jaisalmer

  • Book hotels and desert camps well ahead for the Desert Festival, Christmas and New Year.
  • Arrive early for good viewing spots at the festival grounds and the dunes.
  • Carry a warm layer, as evenings in the desert get cold in winter.
  • Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for daytime events.
  • Keep your belongings secure in crowded areas.
  • Ask before photographing performers and people in traditional dress.

Questions

Jaisalmer — FAQ

When is the Jaisalmer Desert Festival?

The Desert Festival is held for three days ending on the full moon of the Hindu month of Magh, usually in late January or February. In 2026 it ran from 30 January to 1 February. Check the dates for your year before you plan.

What happens at the Jaisalmer Desert Festival?

Expect folk music and dance, camel races and camel polo, turban-tying and longest-moustache contests, and the Mr Desert competition. The final evening is held on the dunes at Sam.

Is Jaisalmer good for New Year?

Yes. Many desert camps hold New Year's Eve dinners with folk music and dance. It is one of the busiest times of year, so book early and expect higher prices.

Is Jaisalmer worth visiting during Diwali?

Yes. Lamps and lights in the fort and old town make Diwali a lovely time to visit, and the weather has usually cooled by then. Some shops and restaurants may close for a day or two around the festival.