The Brij Festival takes place a few days before Holi, (the festival of colours) in the month of March. Held in honor of Lord Krishna, this festival is marked by verve and zest. Villagers, in gay, multihued attire, can be seen singing and performing the Raslila dance (dance depicting the immortal love-story of Radha and Krishna).
All of Bharatpur echoes the sound of folk melodies on this festival held on the eve of Holi. Melodious Dance is often a part of the cultural music and the stories or Nayaks who are Pabu Bhopas, have a female accompanist; together they recite the phad ( a painted ballad). The festivities are usually tagged with folk dances accompanied by music played. Men and women, young and old, rich and poor-all are touched by the spirit of this festival. Boisterous revellers spare no one during this festival and delight in splashing color on everyone around.
Folk opera is another field which has been made immensely popular by the professionals, often in association with amateurs during the brij festivals. Rajasthan brij city comes alive with the echoes of music and rhythms of traditional dances performed by the rural folks. The Chairawi and Kuchamani Khyals, Maach of Chittaurgarh area, Tamayha of Jaipur and Rammat of Bikaner are famous. the Alibakshi Khyal, the original Bhawai plays (which still have a strong presence in Gujrat) and the musical traditions of the Rasadharies and Rawals are now extinct.