Jaisalmer Mela (Jaisalmer Desert Festival) is an annual cultural event which takes place in Magh Month as per Hindu calendar (February). In 2017, dates of Jaisalmer Mela – 8 February, 9 February and 10 February.
Mela Jaisalmer is celebrated for three days during Magh Purnima (Full Moon) amidst the beautiful dunes of Thar desert in Sam dunes. Sam dunes is located at a distance of 42 kilometres from Jaisalmer.
According to a legend in Mahabharata, Lord Krishna told Arjuna that a successor of Yadav community will set up his kingdom on Trikuta Hills. And in the year of 1196, the words of Krishna came true as King Rawal Jaiswal, a descendent of Yadav clan, set up his kingdom in Jaisalmer. When the people came to know about this prophecy, to mark this, celebrations were organised throughout the kingdom.
The celebrations gradually turned out to be a festival and government also started packaging the cultural festival as a vibrant colourful event to attract international visitors.