Plan your trip · Jodhpur
What's on in Jodhpur
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Jodhpur — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Jodhpur 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 Jodhpur
Jodhpur 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 Jodhpur
RIFF and the Marwar Festival
🗓️ OctoberThe Rajasthan International Folk Festival runs on the Mehrangarh ramparts around the October full moon, with the Marwar Festival close behind.
Planning: Rooms inside the old blue town go months ahead for RIFF week.
Across Rajasthan
Teej and Gangaur
🗓️ July–August and March–AprilProcessions 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–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine 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 yearThe 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-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Jodhpur's biggest events happen in and around Mehrangarh Fort. In October, the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) brings folk musicians from Rajasthan and around the world to the fort, timed around the brightest full moon of the year. The Marwar Festival, held around the same full moon, fills Mehrangarh, Umaid Bhawan and Mandore with folk dance and Maand music. In spring, the old city celebrates Gangaur and Dhinga Gavar, a festival found only in Jodhpur, when women take to the streets at night in costume.
Most festivals follow the Hindu lunar calendar, so dates move from year to year. Check the latest schedule before you book, and plan well ahead for October, when rooms in the old city go quickly.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Jodhpur
- Book accommodation months ahead for RIFF week and the Marwar Festival.
- Buy RIFF passes early from the official organisers, as some concerts sell out.
- Carry a warm layer for late-night concerts at the fort, as October and winter nights cool down.
- Wear comfortable shoes for the steep walk up to Mehrangarh.
- Expect heavy crowds in the old-city lanes during Gangaur and Dhinga Gavar.
- Keep your phone and wallet secure in crowded areas.
- Carry water, as October days can still be hot.
Questions
Jodhpur — FAQ
What is RIFF in Jodhpur?
RIFF is the Rajasthan International Folk Festival, a music festival held at Mehrangarh Fort. It brings together Rajasthani folk artists and musicians from around the world over several days and nights.
When is the Rajasthan International Folk Festival?
RIFF is held in October, timed around the Sharad Purnima full moon. The exact dates change each year, so check the official schedule before you plan your trip.
When is the Marwar Festival in Jodhpur?
The Marwar Festival is usually held over two days around the Sharad Purnima full moon in October, with folk music and dance at Mehrangarh, Umaid Bhawan and Mandore. Confirm the dates for the year before booking.
What is Dhinga Gavar?
Dhinga Gavar is a festival celebrated only in Jodhpur, usually in April, after Gangaur. Women dressed in costumes walk the old city at night carrying sticks, and the streets stay lively until late.