Rajasthan
Fairs & Festivals
Nagaur Fair, Nagaur
Essentially
an animal fair, it provides an opportunity to participate in some of the local
sports.
This eight days fair held every year during the month of Jan-Feb, is popularly
known as the Cattle fair and is the second largest in Rajasthan. Nagaur Town
is the most picturesque of Rajput townships.
Nagaur is a sea of animals, trading over 70,000 bullocks, camels and horses
every year. The bullocks are known for their fleetness. Not only are the animals
lavishly decorated, even their owners flaunt wearing colourful turbans and long
moustaches.
Sports like tug-of-war, camel races, bullock races and cock fights; jugglers;
puppeteers, story-tellers; and exciting campfire evenings are held to entertain
the tourists. Folk music of the Jodhpur variation echoes the tranquil desert
sand. Nagaur is well connected to the major cities by road and rail. Nearest
airport is Jodhpur, some 135kms away.
Baneshwar Fair, Dungarpur
A religious festival with simple & traditional rituals. Quaint rhythms conjure
up the tribal cultural identity of the Bhils of Rajasthan, Gujarat & M.P.
Baneshwar means the master of the delta and this name was given to the Shiva
linga.
The Baneshwar fair is held at a small delta formed by the river Som & Mahi
& prayers are offered to Lord Shiva locally named as Baneshwar.
The fair resounds with the gaeity of traditional folk songs, folk dances, Raslila,
animal show, magic shows acrobatic feats.
Adding to the excitement are me joy ride." on merygo rounds & swings.
Banganga Fair
The
Banganga Fair is held annually on the full moon day of Vaishakh (April-May)
near a rivulet 11 kms from the historical township of Bairath in Jaipur district.
The stream is believed to have been created by Arjun, one of the Pandavas.
Visiting the Banganga Fair, taking a bath and paying homage to the holy sites
in the vicinity at this time is therefore considered very auspicious by the
pilgrims who come from Alwar, Behror, Jaipur, Bharatpur and many other places.
Apart from those who come to the fair for pilgrimage, traders of different communities
arrive at the fair to sell their wares. The articles sold range from simple
rural ornaments to toys and household items. The buying and selling adds to
the atmosphere and to the hustle and bustle of the fair. Giant wheels and merry-go-rounds
thrill the children as well as the grown-ups.
Devotees gather at the Shri Radha Krishnaji's temple in the morning, they take
a bath at the ghats (a flight of steps leading to the water) of the Banganga
river with the belief that it has powers to purify the soul. The people then
proceed to the nearby shrines of Hanuman and Ganga Bihari and also visit the
Shiva temple and the Math of Goswamiji.
Bairath is 85 kms from Jaipur on a diversion from National Highway No. 8 near
Shahpura which connects Alwar. There is a regular bus service between Jaipur
and Maid (from where Banganga is only a couple of kilometres away).
Brij Festival
The
Brij Festival takes place a few days before Holi, (the festival of colours)
in the month of March.
Held in honour 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.
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
colour on everyone around.
Bharatpur is situated on the Delhi - Mumbai main railway line and also on National
Highway no. 11 (Bikaner - Agra). Agra being the nearest Airport (56 kms.)
Camel Festival
A lively and colourful 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 leviathans
pull heavy cart loads, transport grain and even work at the wells.
The Camel Festival begins with a colourful procession of bedecked camels against
the red sandstone backdrop of the Junagarh Fort, the festivity advances to the
open sand-spreads of the grounds, followed by the best breed competition, the
tug-of-war contest, camel dance and acrobatics, etc.
The camels display amazing footwork, dancing gracefully to the slightest direction
of their trainers. Bridal, bridles, bejewelled necks, jingling anklets and long,
lanky camel shadows on dusky sands cast a magical spell. Hundreds of tourists
and thousands of locals and dignitaries revel in this man-and-animal affair
organised especially for the tourists.
The evenings close with a different tenor and tempo altogether: a traditional
rendezvous of renowned artistes of Rajasthan and the local folk performers.
The jubilant skirt-swirling dancers, the awe inspiring fire dance, and the dazzling
fireworks light up the fortified desert city of Bikaner.
Bikaner is connected by rail and road with all the major cities. The nearest
airport is at Jodhpur (243 kms.)
Kaila Devi Fair
The annual fair of Kaila Devi, (Mahalakshmi or the goddess of wealth), is held
at the village Kaila (24 kms to the south west) in Karauli district in the month
of Chaitra (Mar-Apr), lasting for a fortnight. The temple of Kaila Devi is located
on the banks of the Kalisil river in the hills of Trikut, 2 Kms. to the north-west
of Kaila village. Another attraction is the small temple dedicated to Bhairon,
situated in the courtyard and facing the shrine of Kaila Devi is a temple of
Hanuman locally called 'Languriya'.
Approximately 2 lakh devotees gather during the fair. The ritual of Kanak-Dandotis
is observed by staunch devotees. They cover a distance of 15 to 20 Kms to reach
the temple, not on foot but by lying prostrate, making lines with their hands
in that position, advancing up to the line drawn and repeating this procedure
till they reach the temple.
While some eat food and take rest during the journey, others endure the rigours
of the ritual without these.
Groups of Mina tribesmen arrive in a spirit of gaiety dancing, singing and creating
a lively atmosphere. The spacious courtyard becomes the venue for dances and
songs sung in praise of the guardian deity.
The nearest rail-head is Hindaun at a distance of about 48 Kms. Shri Mahavirji
is another rail-head of the Western Railway near Kaila. The site is approachable
by well maintained roads from Karauli, Hindaun and Mahavirji. During the fair,
the State Transport as well as private operators provide bus services keeping
in mind the huge inflow of pilgrims.
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