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Fair & Festivals
GANGAUR FESTIVAL, JAIPUR
The Gangaur Festival is the most important local festival of Rajasthan and is observed throughout the state with great fervour and devotion by womenfolk who worship Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva. The Festival commences on the first day of Chaitra, the day following Holi and continues for 18 days for a newly-wedded girl. Images of “ Isar “ and “ Gauri “ are made of clay for the festival. In some families, permanent wooden images are painted afresh every year by reputed painters.
The ladies decorate their hands and feet by drawing designes with ‘ Mehendi ‘ (myrtle paste). On the evening of the 7th day after Holi, unmarried girls go around singing songs carrying the earthern pots with burning lamp inside. The festival reaches its climax during the last three days. The image of Gauri and Isar are dressed in new garments especially made for the occassion. At an auspicious hour in the afternoon, a procession is taken out with the image of Isar and Gauri, placed on the hands of married women. Songs are sung about the departure of Gauri to her husband’s house. The women bid farewell to Gauri and turn their steps homewards with tears in their eyes and the Gangaur Festival comes to an end.
ELEPHANT FESTIVAL, JAIPUR
The Elephant Festival gets underway in the month of Phalgun (March) on the eve of Holi (Dhulendi) – The Festival of Colours.
The festival begins with a procession of Elephants, Camels, Horses and Folk dancers. The sight of mighty jumbos striding majestically is a treat to watch. The ‘ Mahauats ‘ or the owners proudly decorate their elephants with bright coloured ‘ Jhools ‘ (saddle cloth) and heavy jewellary. Female elephants are made to wear ‘ Payals ‘ (anklets) which tinkles as they walk. Prizes are given for the most beautifully decorated elephant. Even more exciting is the Polo match, the Elephant race and the tug-of-war between elephants and the tourists. The most colorful event being the playing of Holi on elephant back.
TEEJ FESTIVAL, JAIPUR
Teej is the festival of swings. It marks the advent of the monsoon month of ‘ Shravan ‘ (August). The monsoon rains fall on the parched land and the pleasing scent of the wet soil rises into the air. Swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Young girl and women dressed in green cloth sing songs in celebration of the advent of the monsoon. This festival is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati commemorating her union with Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati is worshipped by seekers of conjugal bliss and happiness. An eleborate procession is taken out in Jaipur for two consecutive days on the festive occassion which is watched by people in large numbers. The Teej idol is covered with a canopy whereas the Gangaur idol is open.
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NAGAUR FAIR, NAGAUR
The quaint town of Nagaur, one of the most picturesque of Rajput townships, stirs to life during the Nagaur fair. The cattle fair here is the second largest in Rajasthan and is held every year during the month of ‘Magh” (Jan – Feb).The fair is renowned for the trading in cows, bullocks, camels and horses. Their owners are seen wearing colorful turbans and flaunting long moustaches. “ Mirchi Bazaar “ or the Red Chilly Market is the main attraction and wooden items, ironcrafts and leather accessories are available in abundance during the fair. As the sun does down, a joyous atmosphere is created by the folk musicians. Nagaur is well connected to all the major cities of Rajasthan by road and rail. The nearest airport is Jodhpur (135 kms).
CAMEL FESTIVAL, BIKANER
A lovely and colorful event – the Camel Festival is organised by the Department of Tourism (Art & Culture), Rajasthan in Bikaner every year. January is just the right month for a desert spree and Bikaner just the right place to see the Ships of the Desert. In the camel country Bikaner, these desert levithans pull heavy cart loads, transport grains and even work at the wells. The Cemel Festival begin with a colorful procession of bedecked camels against the red sandstone backdrop of the Junagadh Fort, the festivity advances to the open sand-spreads of the grounds, followed by the best breed competition, the tug-of-war contest, camel dances and acrobatics, etc. The camel display amazing footwork, dancing graceful to the slightest direction of the trainers, bridal birdles, bejewelled necks, jingling anklets and long, lanky camel shadows on dusky sands cast a magical spell. Hundreds of tourists and thousands of locals and gidnitaries revel in this man-made animal affair organized especially for the tourists Bikaner is connected by rail and road with all the major cities.
PUSHKAR FAIR, AJMER
Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11 kms to the North-West of Ajmer. About 400 temples and shrines are located at Pushkar around its holy lake which finds a mention in the ‘Padma Purana’. Legend has it that Lord Brahma in search for a spot to hold his ‘Yajna’ (religious ritual) dropped the Lotus from his hand. The three spots touched by this flower were turned into lakes. The city of Pushkar is divided in three parts – ‘Jyeshta Pushkar’, ‘Madhyam Pushkar’ and ‘Kanishtha Pushkar’. A temple dedicated to Lord Brahma is located at Pushkar, the other important temple are those of ‘Gayatri, Savitri, Shiva and Badri Narayan’.
The Pushkar Lake is surrounded by 52 flights of steps, called ‘Ghats’, many having special legendary importance. Lord Vishnu is said to have appeared at the ‘Varah Ghat’ in the form of a boar. Brahma took a bath here and performed ‘Yajna‘ at the Brahma Ghat, accompanied by Vishnu and Mahadev. Guru Govind Singh ( Sikh Guru ) chose this site for reciting the sacred Guru Granth Sahib. The ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed at the Gandhi Ghat (previously called Gau (cow) Ghat ).
The religious fair starts from ‘ Kartik Shukla Ekadashi ‘ and goes on for 12 days till ‘ Kartik Purnima (full moon) ‘. The Holy dip is most auspicious on Kartik Poornima. Even before sunrise, people descend the ghats, aided by the priests to take the sacred bath. Offering of coconut, flowers and cash are made to the lake and the priests. After bathing at the lake, people proceed to pay homage to the Creator of the Universe – Lord Brahma, at the Brahma temple.
In conjunction with the religious fair, a cattle fair is also organised in the month of Kartik at Pushkar. Cattle breeders bring a large number of cattle of various popular breeds such as Naugauri, Harayani, Mewati, Kankrej etc. To the fair to be sold th the rural folk who appreciate well-bred animals. The cattle are decorated by their owners and also participate in the races and paraded on the sand dunes. The ancient town of Pushkar is transformed into a spectacular fair ground. The fair attracts a large number of tourists from far and wide. The fair grounds reverberate with festivity. But the highlight of Pushkar Fair is the trading in camels. Camels are bought, sold, decked up and paraded on the sand dunes. The camel, horse and donkeys races are events that draw huge attendance. Body tattooing is yet another favorite activity that attracts a large number of enthusiasts. The Pushkar fair brings together a large number of villagers from different parts of the state. Some come here to sell, some to buy. Still others come here just to enjoy the festivites.
On this special occassion, the Rajasthan Tourism Development Cormporatin (R T D C) puts up a tourist village which is self sufficient and specially designed to complement the natural beauty of the site. The village is arranged in blocks of tents, each with its own identity, named after the famous dances of Rajasthan. The village also has huts with attached western style toilets and runnning water. A lagre number of traders also gather at the Pushkar fair and set up shops. They sell a host of products like bead necklaces of Nagaur, woollen blankets of Merta, textiles printed in Ajmer and Jodhpur & brasswares of Jodhpur and Jaipur.
Both the religious fair and the cattle fair are now international renowed tourist attraction.
BENESHWAR FAIR, DUNGARPUR
The name Baneshwar is derived from the revered ‘ Shiv Ling ‘ which is kept in the Mahadev Temple in Dungarpur. “ Baneshwar “ means the ‘ master of the delta ‘ in the local language and this name was given to ‘ Shiv Ling ‘. The Beneshwar fair is held at a small delta, formed by the river Som and Mahi, from “ Magh Shukla Ekadashi to Magh Shukla Poornima “.
The Beneshwar fair in its present form is actually a merger of two fairs : one which used to be held in honour of Beneshwar Manadev – Lord Shiva, and another fair which started after the construction of the Vishnu Temple By “Jankunwari’ – daughter-in-lax of Mavji, a highly revered saint considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The temple of Beneshwar Mahadev remain open from 5:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. during the fair in the morning. Saffron is applied to the Shiv Ling after it is bathed and an aarti of burning incense is waved before it.
The Bhils (local tribe) attending Beneshwar Fair sing traditional folk songs in high pitched voices sitting around a bonfire every night. Cultural shows are arranged by youngsters of the clan. The fair site is at a distance of 6.5 kms and the buses go right upto the bank of the river Som during the fair.
DESERT FESTIVAL, JAISALMER
Held in the month of January – February, the desert festival exudes a delightful spirit for three days, the otherwise barren land of Jaisalmer comes to life and is clustered with hordes of colorfully dressed people. In fact during these days, Jaisalmer gets a chance to parade its exuberant charm to the world.
Some chosen and cherished moment of the glorious and illustrious past and affluent culture are on display. The turban tying competition and Mr. Desert contest add a touch of excitement to the festival celebration.
MARWAR FESTIVAL, JODHPUR
The Marwar festival is held every year in the memory of the heroes of Rajasthan. The festival is held in the month of ‘ Ashwin ‘ (September – October) in Jodhpur for two days during the Full moon of ‘ Sharad Poornima ‘.
Originally known as “ Maand Festival “, this festival features folk musiccentered on the romantic lifestyles of Rajasthan’s rulers. This festival is devoted to the music and dance of the Marwar region and offers a good opportunity to see the folk dancers and singers who assemble here and provide hours of lively entertainment. These folk artists provide a glimpse of the days of yore, of battles and valiant heros through their songs. Other attraction of the festival are the camel tattoo show and Polo game. The impressive Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mandore and Mehrangarh Fort, which are symbold of might and valor provide the ideal venue for the cultural extravaganza.
KARNI MATA FAIR, DESHNOK
Karni Mata fair is held twice a year at Deshnok, a small town near Nokha in Bikaner district. The first and larger fair is held in March – April during the ‘ Navratras ‘ from ‘Chaitra Shukla Ekam to Chaitra Shukla Dashmi’. The second fair is held in September – October also during ‘ Navratras ‘ from ‘Ashwani Shukla Ekam to Ashwin Shukla Dashmi’.
Karni Mata was an ascetic who led a righteous life dedicated to the service and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden of all communities. The Karni Mata temple at Deshnok is a stone and marble structure and is also known as Madh. The main feature of this temple is that the rats here are considered as sacred and they roam around in the temple freely. At no point, these rats or “Kabas” as known in the local language are to be tampered by the feet.
KAPIL MUNI FAIR, KOLAYAT (BIKANER)
The Kapil Muni fair is the largest fair of Bikaner district held on Kartik Poornima at Kolayat, named after the sage Kapil who is believed to have done ‘tapasya’ (Meditation) here for the redemption of mankind. Kolayat is situated in an arid area. There is a lake with 52 ghats shaded by banyan trees around the lake. A large number of people come to Kolayat to redeem themselves by taking holy dips in the Kolayat Lake throughout the year. The legendary Maharishi Kapil and the lake find mention in ‘puranas’ and Kapil Muni is belived to have descended from Lord Brahma. People belonging to different castes and communities gather at the fair. They come to take a holy dip, pay homage at the shrines and also fro trading in cattle and a host of other merchandise.
A cattle fair is held in conjunction with the Kapil Muni fair. Nuffaloes, Camels, Horses and cattles are sold. Certificates and prizes are given away to the best breeders at
the fair. Kolayat is situated 50 kms to the south-west of the city of Bikaner.
SHEETLA MATA FAIR ( CHAKSU )
The Sheetla Mata fair is held in March – April, in the month of Chaitra, in village Sheel-Ki-Doongri (Jaipur). Doongri is a hillock on top of which the shrine of Sheelta Mata stands. The fair is held in her honour every year and attracts hordes of visitors from far and wide. It is a local belief that epidemic spreads because of the wrath of Sheetla Mata and hence the Goddess is worshipped. Offerings are made so that she may be pacified. The deity is represented by a red stone. The village Sheel-Ki-Doongri is situated on the Jaipur-Kota Highway at approximately 35 kms south-east of Jaipur and 5 kms from the tehsil head quarters of Chaksu. The nearest rail head is Chaksu on Jaipur – Sawaimadhopur section of the western railway. Regular buses plying on Jaipur – Kota, Jaipur – Tonk, Jaipur – Deoli passes through this village.
GANESH CHATURTHI ( RANTHAMBORE )
Ganesh chaturthi marks the birth of Lord Ganesha and is celebrated all over the country. In Sawai Madhopur, the festival is rather special. The temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha is located in the fort of Ranthambore, about 12 kms from Sawai Madhopur and it is one of the most important Ganesha temples in the state. There is always a lot of activity at the temple because people believe that the first invitation to a marriage should be sent to Lord Ganesha. As a result, hundreds of invitations pour in every day from all over the country inviting Lord Ganesha to attend the marriage. It is perferable to approach Ranthambore from Sawai Madhopur which lies on the main Delhi – mumbai railway line and is also connected to Jaipur by rail. A road link with Jaipur exists as well.
RAMDEVRA FAIR
Situated about 12 kms to the north of Pokhran, the village of Ramdevra known after Baba Ramdev, a Tanwar Rajput and a saint who took Samadhi (conscious exit from the mortal body) in 1458 A.D. He had miraculous powers and his fame reached far and wide. Legend goes that five peers from Mecca came here to test his powers and after being convinced, they paid their homage to him. Since then he is venerated by Muslims also as Ram Shah Peer. The Hindus regard him as an incarnation of Lord Krishna.
Near the village, there is a tank known as Ramsar tank which is believed to have been constructed by Baba Ramdev himself. A large step well, the Parcha Baori, is also situated nearby. Baba Ramdev believed in the equality of all human beings, both high and low, rich and poor. He helped the down trodden by granting them their wishes. Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner constructed a temple around the samadhi in 1931 A.D. Rice, coconuts, “churma” and wooden toys (horses) are offered to Ramdevji by the devotees. A large fair is held here from Bhadon Sudi 2 to Bhadon Sudi 11 (Aug – Sept). Ramdevra village lies about 12 kms from Pokhran in Jaisalmer district. Pokhran is connected to Jodhpur by a metalled road as well as by rail. Ramdevra can be reached from Jodhpur and Pokhran by bus.
KOTA DUSSEHRA
More than 75 feet effigies of the demons Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad are burnt on Dussehra day to symbolise the victory of good over evil. This festival is celebrated all over the country but the Kota Dussehra is quite unique for it marks more than just the beginning of a festive period. Villagers gather here dressed in multicoloured clothes to offer prayers to Lord Rama and to celebrate his victory over the demon king Ravana. Rich in courtly splendour and age, the festival attracts thousands of people from the surrounding villages. Like all festivals in Rajasthan, it provides a good oppurtunity to the traders to display their attractive wares to the rural buyers. Prominent artists from all over the country are invited to participate in cultural programmes who enthral the huge audience with their performances. The fair lasts for about a fortnight.
KAJLI TEEJ, BUNDI
Teej festival is celebrated all over the state with each region having its own unique touch. Kajli Teej of Bundi is different in several ways. While Teej is celebrated on the third day of the month of Shravan, in Bundi it is celebrated on the third day of Bhadra. The festival starts with the procession of Goddess Teej in a decorated palanquin from the beautiful Naval Sagar. It passes through the main bazaars and terminates at Azad Park. The procession has decorated elephants, camels, bands, performing artists and colorfully dressed people. The people who gather here from surrounding areas also get to watch and participate in the evening. It provides a very good chance to see performance by local artists from Hadoti region. Though the main function of Teej is held only on two days, the celebrations continue up till Janamashtami – the festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna.
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