Delhi has become the hot spot for festivals this month, but in case you were planning on taking a road trip or even making your way down south, we have a bunch of fun festivals for you. Read on!
Desert Festival in Jaisalmer
Three days filled with dancing, music, handicraft fairs and interesting competitions in Jaisalmer. They have really unusual pageants ones like 'Mr Desert', a 'turban-tying' contest and a 'best moustache' contest. The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is organised by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and is one of the few festivals that you can travel to on a budget. It’s super popular with foreigners, too.
When: 20 — 22 February
Where: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Check out their website here.
Travel Photo Jaipur
Image courtesy: Luis Gonzalez Palma {Guatemalahe} from the series The Annunciation {a 2007 collaboration with Graciela de Oliveira}
There’s a new international, outdoor photography festival and it’s going to be held in Jaipur, so if you’re traveling for Valentine’s weekend, then this is a great idea. Travel Photo Jaipur will showcase travel photography across 14 international exhibitions, exhibited at some of the city’s most popular tourist spots, including the Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall Museum, Jawahar Kala Kendra and even the train station!
Look out for the travelling photo studio by set designer and photographer Aradhana Seth.
When: 5 - 14 February
Where: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Contact: Nikhil Padgaonkar at +91 9637259131
SulaFest in Nashik
Image courtesy: Jeethendra Saran
SulaFest is a two-day wine and music festival held at the gorgeous Sula Vineyards, located on the outskirts of Nashik. It feature 100 international and national artists, more than 25 genres, 23 nations, and over 30 gourmet food and beverage options. The venue and the wine, of course, are excellent. {Psst! They do not ask for ID}.
Indulge in wine tasting and stomping on grapes for wine the old way. Vast open blue skies, surrounded by acres of land without a concrete structure in sight is why you should be making the trip.
When: 6 - 7 February
Where: Nashik, Maharashtra
Check out their website here.
Udaipur World Music Festival
Udaipur World Music Festival, conceptualised and produced by SEHER, will be hosting a city-wide, multi-venue music festival to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Spain and India. Watch out for the several genres of music that will bring together over 100 global artists, and ensembles from more than 12 countries—including Spain, Ghana, Venezuela, Italy, France and India.
The line-up includes the likes of The Raghu Dixit Project, Papon, Fado Singers from Portugal, and Mathias Duplessy {French composer} who’ll collaborate with Mukhtiyar Ali from Rajasthan, and much much more.
When: 13 – 14 February
Where: Fateh Sagar Paal {afternoon sessions}, Railway Institute Grounds {evening sessions}, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Follow their Facebook page here.
World Sacred Spirit Festival in Jodhpur
The ninth edition of World Sacred Spirit Festival, at the stunning Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, is back and this time there are artists from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Morocco, Greece and India, including Ustad Amjad Ali Khan with his sons, and also young bands like Maati Baani. This is one of the few festivals that celebrates devotional music at such a big scale. Go for the music nirvana.
When: 26 — 28 February
Where: Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Check out their website here.
Lost Party at Salter Lake
Lost Party is back with it’s second edition. This three-day festival will be held at the Salter Lake, at the foothills of the Sahyadris this time. Expect some wonderful music, art, and technology, a gorgeous camping area, community bonfires, and an fun-loving crowd.
They have two stages—Idhar and Udhar—amped up for you along with Nukkad, for a ‘disco in the day’ and a ‘silent party’ zone after 10pm.
When: 26 – 28 February
Where: Salter Lake {in the foothills of the Sahyadris}
Follow The Lost Party on Facebook here. Find out more about The Lost Party here.
Featured image courtesy: Rajasthan Tour Advisor