About Desert Festival
The passion of the dessert pulsates!
Once a year during the winter season, the sands around Jaisalmer come alive
with the viviacity of colors, music and enchantment of the Desert Festival.
Dressed in brilliantly hued costumes, the people of the desert dance and
sing haunting ballads of valor, romance and tragedy.
The
fair has snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels,
of course, play a stellar role in this festival, where the rich and colorful
folk culture of Rajasthan is on show. The festival closes with an enchanting
sound and light show amidst the sand dunes on a moonlit night.
The Jaisalmer fort provides an ethereal backdrop to the annual desert
festival. Sponsored by the Rajasthan State Tourism Corporation, this
festival is a joyful celebration of the traditional performing arts and
creative crafts of Rajasthan.
» Moonlit Desert : And at night, the entire town
looks breathtakingly beautiful in the moonlight. The magic of the moon
affects all dancers and onlookers. The Kalbelia dancers are the most popular
and are equated with the famous belly dancers of Egypt. The girls wear long
black skirts, blouses and odhnis embroidered in silver and respond to the
beat of the music in such a manner that they look ethereal. The
awe-inspiring fire dance is also performed for the cheering crowd. Even the
sand dunes seem to come alive as they witness this spectacular event.
» Celebrations : A few days before the spring full
moon according to the Hindu calendar, musicians, dancers and performers from
all over Rajasthan start moving in colorful camel caravans towards the
golden town of Jaisalmer, which dons a festive look. The otherwise barren
landscape is splashed with vibrant colors marking the opening of the Desert
Festival. The 12th century fort of Jaisalmer, built in yellow sandstone,
provides a fairytale background. Over the years, the desert dwellers in
their solitude have woven a fascinating tapestry with threads of music and
rhythm and the Desert Festival is a celebration of their heritage. It is a
chance of a lifetime to see the folk art forms against the landscape that
has nurtured them for hundreds of years.
Getting there
» By Air : Jackson Airways has started flight to
Jaisalmer from Delhi. You can also fly to Jodhpur and Jaipur. But the flight
is 8-seated plane operates only in peak season (Dec-Feb). For the rest of
the time Jodhpur is the nearest airport.
» By Road : Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable
deluxe & air conditioned buses from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner. The roads
are very good and fairly comfortable.
» By Rail : Jaisalmer is connected to Delhi Via
Delhi-Jaisalmer Exp. There is also train from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer.
