Rajasthan Festivals: A Month-by-Month Guide to Mewar’s Celebrations

Gangaur festival is one of the most important festivals of Rajasthan and is celebrated during Chaitra, generally in March or April. The festival honours Gauri, a form of Goddess Parvati, alongside Isar, associated with Lord Shiva. It holds particular significance for women, with prayers traditionally associated with marital happiness and well-being.

In Udaipur, Gangaur takes on a distinctly Mewari character. Processions carrying beautifully decorated idols make their way towards Gangaur Ghat on Lake Pichola. The celebrations include traditional dress, music, cultural performances, and the much-loved ceremonial boat procession on the lake.

Gogunda has a special place in the Gangaur celebrations of the Mewar region. The Ministry of Tourism records a 3-day rural Gangaur Mela at Gogunda, organised by the local administration and Panchayat Samiti. The fair includes a procession of Lal Gangaur through the village, along with traditional performances and a rural haat bazaar. For guests staying at Gogunda Palace, this connection offers an opportunity to experience Gangaur beyond the better-known city celebrations and discover its rural Mewari setting.

The Mewar Festival is closely associated with Gangaur and marks the arrival of spring in Udaipur. Held in Chaitra, generally in March or April, it brings together religious traditions, processions, music, dance, and folk culture. The celebrations traditionally include processions carrying the idols of Isar and Gangaur towards Gangaur Ghat on Lake Pichola. One of the highlights is the ceremonial boat procession, followed by cultural performances and fireworks. The official tourism listing also records a rural Gangaur fair and cultural programme at Gogunda as part of the wider celebrations.

The Mewar Festival is therefore a particularly rewarding time to experience Udaipur and Gogunda together. The city offers the spectacle of Lake Pichola and its historic ghats, while Gogunda brings a more intimate rural dimension to the celebrations.

Teej arrives with the monsoon, usually during July or August. Dedicated to Goddess Parvati and associated with her union with Lord Shiva, the festival is traditionally observed by women through prayers, fasting, festive dress, mehendi, songs, and community celebrations.

Across Rajasthan, Teej is celebrated with varying local traditions. Jaipur is particularly known for its grand public procession, traditional performances, decorated elephants, camels, horses, musicians, and folk dancers. The 2026 Jaipur Teej Festival is scheduled for August, although dates and programmes vary each year. For travellers visiting Mewar during the monsoon, Teej adds another cultural layer to the season. The Aravalli landscape is greener at this time of year, creating a striking setting for exploring Rajasthan beyond its usual summer and winter imagery.

The festival calendar continues beyond the major Mewar celebrations. Holi generally falls in February or March and brings colour, music, gatherings, and festive energy to communities across Rajasthan. In Udaipur, it adds a lively dimension to the end of winter and the arrival of spring. Raksha Bandhan follows later in the year, usually in August. The festival celebrates the bond between siblings, with sisters traditionally tying a rakhi around their brothers’ wrists.

Janmashtami, also generally observed in August, marks the birth of Lord Krishna. Temples and communities come alive with devotional activities, prayers, and midnight celebrations. Together, these occasions demonstrate that festivals in Rajasthan are not limited to large public spectacles. Many are deeply connected to family, faith, and everyday community life.

As the year moves towards autumn, Rajasthan enters another important festive period. Navratri is observed over 9 nights, with devotional worship and cultural celebrations taking place across the region. Dance traditions and community events form an important part of the festive atmosphere, although the style and scale of celebrations vary between cities.

Dussehra follows Navratri and commemorates the triumph of good over evil. Across Rajasthan, the occasion is marked through religious observances, cultural programmes, and community celebrations. Then comes Diwali in Udaipur, when homes, markets, heritage buildings, and waterfront areas take on a festive glow. Lamps and decorations transform the city, while Lake Pichola provides a particularly atmospheric backdrop to the celebrations. For visitors, Diwali is an opportunity to experience Udaipur at one of its most vibrant times of year. It is also worth planning accommodation well in advance, as the festive season is a popular travel period.

The festive calendar does not end with Diwali. December brings cooler days and crisp evenings to Mewar, making it a pleasant time to explore Gogunda and the surrounding Aravalli landscape. Christmas and New Year celebrations at heritage properties can offer a quieter alternative to the large public festivities of spring and autumn. At Gogunda Palace, the historic setting, traditional architecture, courtyards, and gardens provide a natural backdrop for seasonal dining and celebrations. The experience is less about following a single traditional festival and more about enjoying Rajasthan’s heritage in a different season.

A festival becomes even more memorable when the place you stay adds to the experience. Gogunda Palace, our heritage palace near Udaipur, is a restored 16th-century palace in Gogunda, a historic town in the Aravalli Hills. Our palace was built as a strategic forest fort and occupies an important place in Mewar’s history. Its location makes our palace a distinctive base for exploring the cultural landscape around Udaipur. Beyond festival excursions, guests can experience the character of Mewar within our palace itself.

Experiences include village walks, pottery and jaggery-making activities, jeep safaris into the Aravalli Hills, and visits to historic sites connected with Maharana Pratap. As the day winds down, Royal High Tea in the Champa Garden, sundowners at the Aravalli Chhatri, or a private dinner in the Neem Garden offers another way to experience the setting. For travellers looking for a heritage stay near Udaipur, our palace brings together restored heritage, local experiences, and the atmosphere of a living Mewari stronghold. It also provides a memorable base for discovering Rajasthan’s festivals and the traditions that continue to shape the region’s cultural landscape.

Rajasthan is a destination where the calendar can become part of the journey. Spring brings the colour and devotion of Gangaur and the Mewar Festival. The monsoon brings Teej and a greener Aravalli landscape. Autumn brings Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali, while winter offers cooler days and a more relaxed heritage experience. Gogunda adds another perspective to this calendar, particularly during the rural Gangaur celebrations held as part of the Mewar Festival programme. Rather than simply visiting Rajasthan during a festival, staying within a historic Mewari setting allows you to experience the region through its landscapes, stories, traditions, and hospitality. Choose the season that speaks to you, and let Mewar provide the backdrop.