
FESTIVALS AND FAIRS
Rajasthani people's love for joyful
celebrations, dance & music, festivals and fairs make this land
a most colorful desert-land in the world. Apart from numerous festivals
of the region, there are also the traditional fairs.
You can plan your tour in such a way that you are
a part of any of the following fairs and festival to truly know
the rich heritage and culture of Rajasthan: |
Camel
Festival, Bikaner (January): An enchanting desert city
which comes alive with music and dance. It is fast gaining popularity
as the visitor finds an opportunity to see some unusual folk performances,
camel, race camel dance etc. here. |
Jaipur
Festival (15-21 Jan.): A festive crossroads of India's cultural
past and future, old and new. This is a unique meeting point of
Jaipur's arts, buildings, crafts and culinary delights, dance and
development, exhibitions, film, history, music, theatre, sports
and Jaipur's fabled shopping. |
Desert
Festival, Jaisalmer (Jan-Feb): One of the most popular of
all festivals it is a journey into the heart of the desert, the
golden city of Jaisalmer that has a charm of its own. A true
show on the sands which attracts even the much traveled visitor.
Highly recommended. Be there. |
| Nagaur Festival
(February): It is also called as Cattle Fair, is the
2nd largest animal fair of India. Thousands of animals are gathered
at the cattle fair for trading. Traders come to buy and sell cows,
bullocks, oxen and camels. |
Gangaur
Festival, Jaipur (March-April): A festival devoted to Goddess
Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. It is time for young girls to
dress up in their finery and pray for grooms of their choice while
the married women pray for the well-being of their husbands. This
18-day festival is laced with various activities and culminates
in a grand procession marking the arrival of Shiva to escort his
bride home. |
| |
Elephant
Festival, Jaipur (March-April): A festival to celebrate
Holi, this is a great occasion for the visitor to watch several
elephant sports and also play this festival of colors. A show is
organized with the elephants turning out in their best finery. |
Summer
Festival, Mt.Abu (June): Organized in the only hill station
of Rajasthan, this is the coldest place at this time of the year.
Folk dances and a general atmosphere of gaiety prevails in this
tiny hill resort and the tourist has ample time to relax and enjoy
himself. |
Teej
Festival, Jaipur (July-August): A festival to mark the advent
of monsoon. Women dressed in bright colors and a lot of merriment
prevails during Teej. Essentially a women's festival, it is interesting
to watch them enjoying in groups and at various bazaars where they
turn up to shop in all their finery. |
Ramdevra
Fair, Jaisalmer (September): The Ramdevra
Fair is held in Ramdevra village in Jaisalmer. A large fair is held
here which is attended by lakhs of devotees who come in large groups
from various places. |
Dusshera
Festival, Kota (October): Dusshera
celebrates the triumph of good over evil- the victory of Lord Rama
over Ravana. This day is also known as Vijayadashmi, or the Victory
Tenth, and is celebrated all over the country. |
Marwar
Festival, Jodhpur (October): A festival devoted mainly to
the music and dance of the Marwar region. This is a festival that
allows the visitor to understand and enjoy the folk traditions of
this part of the state. |
Pushkar
Fair, Ajmer (November): The well-known and marked with largest
participation of all the festivals of Rajasthan, Pushkar is an important
pilgrimage as well as the venue of a mammoth cattle fair. Bazaars,
auctions, music and sports are highlight of this event. Recommended.
|
Chandrabhaga
Fair, Jhalawar (Nov.-Dec.): Next in importance to Pushkar
is the Chandrabhaga Fair on the banks of the holy river Chandrabhaga.
Pilgrims from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh come for Kartik
Poornima celebrations that attract tourists from far and wide. |
| Holy
Urs Fair (Oct-
Nov): Urs Festival of Ajmer Sharif is held in the holy
town of Ajmer in Rajasthan, India. The Urs Fair is held in honour
of the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. On this occasion a special
prayers are offered at the mosque and huge amount of consecrated food
is offered to the pilgrims. |
Click here for monthly >> Fair
& Festival Calendar, '07 |