Last updated: September 2026 · Method: desk research from tourism-official sources (utsav.gov.in, Incredible India). Dates follow the lunar calendar — the year’s dates need checking before planning.
The Marwar Festival is Jodhpur’s own two-day celebration of itself: the folk music and dance of the Marwar region, performed in the city’s royal venues in honour of its medieval heroes, on the full moon of Sharad Poornima in the autumn month of Ashwin (falling in September–October; recent editions have landed in late October). Where RIFF brings the world to the fort, Marwar Festival is the region performing for itself — and for you.
What happens
- Maand singing — the classical folk style of Marwar, the festival’s original name and its heart: songs of rulers and heroes performed by the region’s traditional singers.
- Folk dance troupes from across the region, in costume, across two days.
- Royal venues — performances have historically spread across Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace, which means the ticket doubles as an evening in both.
- The camel-tattoo show and other traditional displays — the folk-fair layer around the music.
It’s organised by Rajasthan Tourism, which makes it more formal than a street festival: announced programmes, ticketed venues, and a mix of locals and visitors in the audience.
Practicalities
| When | Two days around Sharad Poornima’s full moon, Ashwin month (Sep–Oct); recent editions in late October. Check the year’s dates via Rajasthan Tourism |
| Where | Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace venues (programme-dependent) |
| Tickets | Per-venue/per-evening, announced with the programme (approx) |
| Pair with | Both festivals key to Sharad Purnima, the year’s brightest full moon (autumn) — they cluster within days of each other, not weeks; some travellers time Jodhpur for both |
Marwar Festival or RIFF?
Both celebrate the same musical soil, differently. Marwar Festival is the tradition performed to honour the region — heroic Maand, formal stages, tourist-official organisation. RIFF is the tradition in conversation with the world — collaborations, longer, pricier, more international. If your dates catch only one: casual music travellers should take whichever fits their itinerary; enthusiasts should plan for RIFF and treat Marwar Festival as the bonus.
Questions worth asking
Is it worth building a trip around?
As the anchor event of an autumn Jodhpur trip, yes — two evenings of top-tier folk performance in royal venues, free days for sightseeing. As a single evening’s entertainment added to a planned trip, absolutely.
Do I need to understand the songs?
No — programmes carry context, and the Maand tradition is melodic rather than lyric-first for listeners. The heroes being sung about are the region’s history; the guidebook covers the names.
Related guides
- RIFF: the fort’s other festival
- Best time to visit: autumn’s festival cluster
- Umaid Bhawan: one of the festival’s venues
Attended a past edition? Send the year and the venue that worked best — programme reports help the next traveller.