Jaisalmer Maru Mahotsav 2026 Concludes With Strong Tourist Turnout

Maru Mahotsav 2026 Highlights Desert Culture And Tourism 

The 47th edition of the Jaisalmer Maru Mahotsav (Desert Festival) concluded on Magh Purnima in accordance with tradition, marking a milestone in Rajasthan’s cultural and tourism calendar. Held over four days in 2026, the festival was notable for its cultural programming and expanded regional scope. For the third consecutive year, Pokaran was formally included in the celebrations, with the festival opening there with religious rituals, ceremonial processions and performances by local artists before continuing in Jaisalmer for the main events.

Rukmani Riar, Tourism Commissioner, Rajasthan, said the objective of the Maru Mahotsav goes beyond organising cultural performances. “The festival is designed to preserve desert heritage while strengthening domestic and international tourism.” 

Following Pokaran, the festival unfolded across multiple venues in Jaisalmer, including Gadisar Lake, Shaheed Poonam Singh Stadium, Dedansar Stadium, Sam, Lakhamna and Khuri sand dunes. Over four days, visitors witnessed a wide range of programmes, from folk music and dance to camel races, camel decoration contests, camel polo, turban-tying and moustache competitions, rural sports, handicrafts exhibitions and food festivals. The evening cultural showcases held against the backdrop of the desert dunes emerged as a major draw for visitors from India and abroad.

Kamleshwar Singh, Assistant Director, Tourism, Jaisalmer, said that incorporating Pokaran into the Maru Mahotsav was aimed at giving broader visibility to desert culture and extending tourism activity beyond Jaisalmer alone. “This has helped bring regional traditions, rural sports and local artists into the mainstream festival narrative.”

Singh also noted that the Maru Mahotsav was formally launched in 1979, when the Rajasthan government adopted a policy to place desert districts on the tourism map. In its early years, folk music, folk dance, camel decoration and traditional attire formed the core attractions. Over time, the camel emerged as the festival’s central symbol, with camel races, camel dance performances and decorated camel contests giving the festival a distinctive national identity.

He further highlighted a lesser-known but important moment in the festival’s history: during the devastating Gujarat earthquake, the Maru Mahotsav was not held, in recognition of national mourning and social sensitivity. “That decision reflected the festival’s alignment with larger national responsibilities, beyond celebration alone,” Singh said.

Strong Tourist Presence

The 47th Maru Mahotsav witnessed a substantial turnout of foreign tourists. According to the Tourism Department, visitors from Germany, France and the Netherlands, among other European countries, attended the festival this year.

Traditional dance performances in the desert, camel-based competitions and open-air cultural evenings under the night sky remained particular favourites among international visitors, many of whom planned extended stays in and around Jaisalmer during the festival period.

Additionally, tourism officials estimated that 30,000 to 40,000 domestic tourists visited Jaisalmer during the festival. Visitors arrived from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Hotels, resorts, homestays and desert camps reported near-full occupancy, while local markets, handicraft sellers, folk artists and transport operators experienced a noticeable economic boost. 

The Maru Mahotsav concluded on Magh Purnima with religious rituals and final cultural performances. The district administration and the Tourism Department described the event as successful, noting that the festival has now firmly established itself as a permanent and flagship event in Rajasthan’s tourism calendar.