Rajasthan Fairs

The colorful land of Rajasthan celebrates a number of fairs with a great fanfare. Celebrated with a great pomp and show by all communities, these fairs come as a rejuvenating force for the people and tradition of the state. There is a fair to mark every arena of life. Religion, change of season, sale/purchase of animals and reaching puberty all have a fair associated to it.

Acting as life force of their culture, these fairs offer a unique opportunity to the Rajasthani people to celebrate life. Some or the other fair is held throughout the year in some or the other region of the state offering a rare opportunity to the tourists to observe the culture of Rajasthan more closely. Some of the major fairs of the state include :

Nagaur Fair
This animal fair is an annual feature celebrated in the month of January- February. With a lot of household goods being at sale here, this fair offers a unique opportunity to participate in some of the local sports of Rajasthan.

Pushkar Fair
Celebrated at Pushkar, one of the most revered shrines of Hindus, this fair sees the largest participation of both the pilgrims and traders. A potential ground for a mammoth cattle fair, Pushkar fair serves as the rarest chance to buy, sell, beautify, race and parade the cattle. The Brahma temple of the town also bustles with various activities. The natives of the town believe that a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake can wash away all the sins of a lifetime. Folk dramas, skits and folk dances are also organized during the nights to entertain the locals and visitors both.

Gangaur Fair
Celebrated in the capital city of Rajasthan, in the months of March and April, Gangaur Fair is devoted to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva.

Young girls dressed in beautiful attires pray to the goddess to grant them their dream husbands to them. The married ladies on the other hand pray for the well being and long life of their husbands to the goddess. Laced with various activities, the fair lasts for 18 days. A grand procession marking the arrival of Shiva to escort his bride home culminates this fair.