Ghoomar
The swirling dance of Rajput women, skirts flaring as they turn. You'll see it at weddings, festivals and the Dharohar show.
Culture of Udaipur
The dances, music, crafts, dress and words of Mewar, and where to see them for yourself.
Dance, music & puppetry
Where to see it: the Dharohar show at Bagore Ki Haveli, the Lok Kala Mandal and Shilpgram.
Bhavai
A dancer balances a tower of brass pots on her head, sometimes on the edge of a plate or a sword. The finale of most folk shows.
Kathputli
String puppets with painted wooden faces, worked by the Bhat community of puppeteers. Tales of kings, snake charmers and horse riders.
Gavri
A forty-day ritual dance-drama of the Bhil community of Mewar, performed village to village after Raksha Bandhan. Rarely staged for tourists.
Terah Taali
Women of the Kamad community play thirteen small cymbals tied to their bodies, in rhythm, while seated.
Folk music
Ravanhatta, kamaicha and dholak carry the ballads of Mewar's heroes. Listen for them at Gangaur Ghat and in hotel courtyards.
Crafts of Mewar
Mewar miniature painting
The Udaipur school of painting, at its height in the 17th and 18th centuries: court scenes, hunts and Krishna stories in mineral colours. Painters still work at Hathi Pol.
Pichwai
Large painted cloth backdrops for Shrinathji at Nathdwara: lotus ponds, cows and festival scenes.
Molela terracotta
Votive plaques of village deities, made by potters in Molela near Nathdwara.
Bandhej & leheriya
Tie-dye in dots, and wave-patterned stripes worn at Teej. Sold by the metre in Bada Bazaar.
Wooden toys & kathputli
Painted puppets and toys from local workshops, the classic souvenir.
Silver & thewa
Heavy tribal silver around Ghanta Ghar, and thewa, gold worked onto glass, from nearby Pratapgarh.
Speak a little Mewari
Five words that will get you a smile.
खम्मा घणीKhamma Ghani
Hello. The Mewar greeting, answered the same way.
पधारो साPadharo Sa
Welcome. 'Padharo mhare des' means welcome to my land.
हुकुमHukum
A respectful 'yes' or 'sir', used for elders and hosts.
हाँ सा / ना साHaan sa / Naa sa
Yes / no, said politely. 'Sa' adds respect to almost anything.
घणो आछोGhano aachho
Very good. Use it after a meal.
What people wear
Safa & pagri
The turban is identity in Mewar: colour and tie change with region, caste and occasion. See the giant collection at Bagore Ki Haveli.
Poshak & leheriya
Women wear the ghaghra, kurti and odhni; green leheriya for Teej, red and gold for weddings.
Mojari
Embroidered leather slip-ons, made to soften with wear.
See it live
CultureDharohar folk dance show
Folk dance and puppetry at Bagore Ki Haveli, 7–8 pm daily.
CultureKathputli show at Lok Kala Mandal
Rajasthan's string-puppet tradition, live, in the city's folk-art museum.
WorkshopsShilpgram crafts village
Potters, weavers and painters at work; buy straight from the maker.
Festivals keep it alive
8Nov 2026
Diwali
Palaces, ghats and havelis lit with lamps that double in the lakes.
Across the city21Dec 2026
Shilpgram Utsav (Dec 21–30)
Ten days of crafts, folk music and food from across western India.
Shilpgram, Havala6Mar 2027
Maha Shivratri
Night-long worship and fairs at temples around Udaipur.
Shiva temples21Mar 2027
Holika Dahan & Holi (Mar 21–22)
The royal Holika Dahan at the City Palace, colours the next morning.
City Palace & the Old CityPlan it with a local.
Tell us your dates and what you love. Our Udaipur team will suggest a plan, and can book stays, cars, guides and tables.
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