| » FAIRS & FESTIVALS OF RAJASTHAN |
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| Alwar Festival (Alwar) : Alwar Festival, Alwar which is organized in the month of February. From February 13 to 15 the Alwar Festival in Alwar displays the best of folk culture, music, handicrafts and colorful traditions of the region. The events organized at the Alwar Festival include elephant polo, fancy dress and sketching competitions for children, flower show, exhibition of rare and antique items of the region and a film show on the culture and social customs of Alwar. |
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| Baneshwar Fair (Dungarpur) : This festival is celebrated among the tribal people and involves a lot of religious events and rituals. The Baneshwar Fair in Rajasthan has got its name from the venerated shivalinga which is in the Mahadev Temple in Dungarpur. |
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| Banganga Fair (Jaipur) : The Banganga Fair of Jaipur is one of the biggest events of Rajasthan. Here stream of Banganga is very famous. It is said that the stream of Banganga was formed when Arjun, one of the Pandavas, shot an arrow to quench the thirst of dying Bhishma Pitamah. |
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| Brij Festival (Bharatpur): A famous Brij Festival, staged a few days before Holi, (the festival of colours) in the Brij area around the Bharatpur. The Brij Festival is also known as the Brij Mahotsava. This festival is celebrated with great zeal and zest in the honor of Lord Krishna. |
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| Camel Fair (Bikaner) : A unique celebration highlighting camel & cultural heritage of northern Rajasthan. The festival starts off with a parade of beautifully decorated camels from the Junagarh Fort. They decorate the camels with colourful bridles and saddles and tie anklets around the feet. Contest for camel milking and best camel hair cut and many more contest. |
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| Chandrabhaga Fair (Jhalawar) : The Chandrabhaga fair is held every year at Jhalrapatan (6kms from Jhalawar) in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov). A big cattle fair which blends religion with commerce is held here. Livestock like Cows, horses, buffaloes, camels and bullocks are brought from distant parts for sale. Traders from various parts of Madhya-Pradesh and Maharashtra converge here and brisk trading takes place. |
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| Desert Festival (Jaisalmer) : The three-day Desert festival held annually in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India is a special event that the local people and the tourists look forward to with great excitement and anticipation. It has also become one of the more important events on the annual calendar. Essentially, it is a showcase of the performing arts of the region on the stretching sands around this desert citadel. |
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| Elephant Fair (Jaipur) : It is Asia's oldest and largest animal market. The mahavats or owners proudly decorate their elephants with bright colors, jhools (saddle cloth) and heavy jewellery. Female elephants are made to wear payals or anklets which tinkle as they walk. Special hunting programs and elephant fights were organized to entertain the royal guests. |
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| Gangaur Festival (Rajasthan) : This festival is celebrated in honour of Gauri, the goddess of abundance. Gangaur Festivals holds a special significance for the Rajasthanis. Young girls adorned in their best clothes pray for a spouse of their choice. The married ladies pray for the welfare of their husbands. This spring festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal all over Rajasthan. |
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| Gogaji Or Gogamedi Fair (Jaipur) : Gogaji Fair is held in the memory of a popular hero of the area who is known as Goga Veer among the Hindus and Jahar Peer among the Muslims. The Kayam Khani Muslims claim descent from him and regard him as a peer (saint). The devotees of Gogaji can be found in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. |
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| Holi Festival (Rajasthan) : Holi Festival is one of the most popular festivals in Rajasthan. The colourful state of Rajasthan plays Holi much the same way as Mathura. Mali holi, Gair at Godaji, Dolchi Holi at Bikaner are famous holi in Rajasthan. |
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| Kailadevi Fair (Karauli District) : This annual fair is devoted to the goddess of wealth, Mahalakshmi. Over 2 lakh pilgrims gather at the place during the Kailadevi fair. They travel about twenty kilometers to reach the Kailadevi temple. Some of the devotees endure the rigours of the journey without eating food and taking rest. |
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| Kajli Teej Festival (Rajasthan) : On the auspicious occasion of Kajli Teej, women gather to sing songs in honor of Lord Krishna and perform sacred pooja of neem. Idols of goddess Parvati are decorated and parades in the streets accompanied by singing, music, and dancing. |
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| Kite Festival (Jaipur) : This festival has got no mythological connections or legends attached to it. Started just few years ago, currently, this sport is witnessing a major revival globally and India, with its ancient tradition of kite flying, could benefit from becoming a part of the international kite flying community. |
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| Kolayat Or Kapil Muni Fair (Bikaner) : The largest fair of Bikaner, the Rajasthan Kapil Muni Fair is held on Kartik Poornima. Kapil Muni has been mentioned in Puranas and has been said to descend from Lord Brahma (the creator of the world) himself. Kolayat was originally known as Kapilayatan and is an oasis in an arid area. |
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| Kota Dussehra Festival (Kota) : Kota Dussehra is quite unique for it marks more than just the beginning of a festive period. More than 75 feet tall effigies of the demons Ravana, Kumbhakarana and Meghnad are burnt on Dussehra day to symbolise the victory of good over evil. |
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| Marwar Fair (Jodhpur) : Marwar Festival of Jodhpur, was originally known as the Maand Festival. This festival is dedicated to the folk heroes of Rajasthan. The highlight of this festival is the classical folk music that is sung by various traditional musicians and local artists. The music is typical Rajasthani style and speaks about the passionate and adventurous lifestyle of the rulers of Rajasthan. |
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| Mewar Festival (Udaipur) : The Mewar Festival is celebrated to welcome the advent of spring. The women folk gather to dress the images of Isar and Gangaur, who are the main deities at this festival. The festival culminates with an impressive fireworks display. |
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| Nagaur Fair (Jodhpur) : The Nagaur Fair is the second biggest fair in India at jodhpur. It is popularly known as the Cattle fair of Nagaur. Approximately 70,000 bullocks, camels and horses are traded every year in this fair. Nagaur fair is also famous for its jugglers, puppeteers, storytellers, etc. |
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| Pushkar Fair (Ajmer) : The Pushkar Camel Fair is one of the largest in India and the only one of its kind in the entire world. During the fair, Lakhs of people from rural India flock to Pushkar, along with Camel and Cattle for several days of live stock trading, horse dealing, pilgrimage and religious festival. |
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| Ramdevra Fair (Jaisalmer) : A large fair is held here from Bhadon Sudi 2 to Bhadon Sudi 11 (Aug - Sept) which is attended by lakh of devotees who come in large groups from far and wide. Irrespective of their caste, creed or religious affiliations, these devotees throng the shrine dedicated to the saint. These groups organise night long singing of bhajans and kirtans to pay homage to Baba. |
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| Sheetala Ashtami Festival (Jaipur) : The Sheetala Ashtami is a very famous festival, popularly known as the Basoda. On this occasion, women do not enter their kitchen and consume the goodies prepared the previous evening. The festival is also used for trading and selling in wares such as shoes, clothes, foodstuff, utensils and agricultural implements. |
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| Shekhawati Fair (Shekhawati) : Shekhawati, already famous for its frescoes. The festival is spread over a number of venues - Nawalgarh, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu. The programmes include a one day tour of the region, camel and jeep safaris, farm visits, rural games, cultural programmes, haveli competitions and fireworks. |
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| Shilpgram Craft Fair (Udaipur) : Shilpgram Fair is well-known as "Crafts Bazaar". Shilpgram Crafts Fair is organized to promote art and craft of Rajasthan. The tourists from the national as well as international come to witness the painstakingly and intricately done handiworks of the people. |
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| Summer Festival (Mount Abu) : The festival goes on for three-day and showcases the traditions, culture and the tribal life of Rajasthan. Folk and classical music is the high point of the Summer Festival. Also some sports events like a boat race. Other attractions of the Summer Festival include Sham-e-Qawwali, a musical extravaganza. In this program qawwals from all over the country. |
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| Teej Festival (Jaipur) : Teej is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of Rajasthan. Swings, traditional songs and dancing are the unique features of Teej celebrations in Rajasthan. Women perform traditional folk dance dressed in green colored clothes and sing beautiful Teej songs while enjoying their sway on swings bedecked with flowers. On this day, women and young girls wear their best clothes and adorn themselves with fine jewelry. |
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| Urs Fair (Ajmer) : It is the largest Muslim Fair in India at Ajmer. The Urs Fair is dedicated to Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti, the Sufi saint. More than five lakh devotees belonging to different communities gather from all parts of the subcontinent to pay homage to the Khwaja on his Urs (death anniversary). |
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| Winter Festival (Mount Abu) : The Winter Festival is held every year during the last week of December. The festival celebrates the warmth and cheerfulness of the people of hill station, who welcome the tourist from the depth of their hearts. This three days colorful festival is organised by the Rajasthan Tourism and Municipal Board, Mt. Abu. The hospitality of the people, their colorful culture and exotic location make this festival a never to be forgotten experience. |
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