Camel Festival
The camel festival is organised by the Department of
Tourism of the Rajasthan Government in January every
year in Bikaner. The festival begins with a colourful
procession of bedecked camels against the red sandstone
backdrop of the Junagarh fort. The camels display
amazing footwork, dancing gracefully to the directions
of their trainers. bridal bridles, bejeweled necks,
jingling anklets and camel shadows, cast a spell on the
audience. In the evenings, is held a traditional
rendezvous of renowned artistes and folk performers of
Rajasthan.
Nagaur Fair
The fair is held every year in January-February in
Nagaur, is a trading fair for cattle and camels and
gives one an opportunity to catch up with rural life as
owners from all over the state camp on the outskirts of
the town while they buy and sell animals. the hides of
the animals, cut into wonderful patterns, are
particularly attractive.
Mewar Festival
This 18-day festival is celebrated to welcome the advent
of spring and coincides with the festival of Gangaur in
Udaipur. It is significant for the women of the state as
it is time for them to dress in their best. The women
gather to dress the images of Issar and Gangaur and then
carry them in a ceremonial procession through different
parts of the city. The procession ends up at Pichhola
Lake where the images are transferred to special boats
amidst singing and festivity. Cu1tura events are held at
the end of the festivities and they include songs,
dances and a display of fireworks.
Kaila Devi Fair
The fair is held in March or April in Kaila village in
Karauli district and it holds an important place among
the celebrated fairs of the state. The fortnight-long
fair is held on the banks of the river Kalisil in the
hills of Trikut about 2 kilometres from Kaila village.
It houses the images of Mahalakshrni and Chamunda. Kaila
Devi has been regarded as the guardian deity throughout
the ages by the Khinchis, the Yadavas and the princes of
Karauli. A small temple dedicated to Bhairon is situated
in the courtyard and facing the shrine of the devi is
the temple of Hanuman. Throughout the year, there is a
steady flow of devotees.
Mahavir Ji Fair
This fair is held at Mahavir Ji between March and April
to commemorate Shri Mahavir Swami, the 24th tirthankara
(saint) of the Jams. The temple is located in an
enclosure known as ‘katala’ where devotees come to pay
homage.
Summer Festival
The three-day festival is held at Mount Abu in June
every year and is a feast of folk and classical music
and window to the tribal life and culture of Rajasthan.
The festival begins with the singing of a ballad which
is followed by Gaiç Ghoomar and Dhap folk dances. Boat
races and qawwalis are also organised.
Teej Festival
Held during the monsoons, July Teej is also dedicated to
Lord Shiva and Parvati and this time it is married women
who pray for a happy and long married life. Though
celebrations are held all over the state, it is
particularly colourful in jaipur where a procession
winds Its way for two days through the Old City. It is
the festival of swings which are decorated with flowers
and hung from trees. Young girls and women dressed in
green clothes sing songs in celebration of the advent of
the monsoon. The Teej idol is covered with a canopy
whereas the Gangaur idol is open.
Gogaji Fair
The fair is held at Gogamedi in Ganganagar district in
August in memory of a popular hero of the area known as
Goga among the Hindus and Jahar Peer among the Muslims.
The Kayam Khani Muslims claim to be descendants of his.
Gogaji is popular as a snake god and almost every
village in Rajasthan has a sacred place dedicated to
him. Staunch followers of Gogaji believe that by
invoking his name, a snake bite and other diseases can
be cured. It is said that Gogaji went into samadhi at
GogaMedi and thousands of devotees gather there to pay
homage at his memorial every day during the Fair which
lasts three days. The samadhi is a marble structure with
two minarets fortified by a boundary wall. The idol of
Gogaji is seated on a blue horse with a snake coiled
around the neck.
Kaliteej
Though Kaliteej is celebrated all over the state, the
one in Bundi is different in the sense that it is held
on different dates from the rest of the state. The
festival starts with the procession of goddess Teej in a
decorated palanquin from the imposing Naval Sagar and
passes through the main bazaars. The procession
comprises decorated elephants, camels, bands, performing
artists and colourfully dressed people. Though the main
function is held for only two days, the celebrations
continue into Janamashtami, which marks the birth of
Lord Krishna.
Ramdevra Fair
The Ramdevra Fair is held in Ramdevra village in
Jaisalmer in August or Septembet The village has got its
name after Baba Ramdev, a Tanwar Rajput, who took samadhi in 1458 He had miraculous powers and legend goes
that five peers from Mecca came to test his powers.
After being convinced, they paid homage to him. The
Hindus regard him as an incarnation of Lord Krishna. A
large fair is held here which is atteflded by lakhs of
devotees who come in large groups from various places.
Bhajans and kirtans right through the night are
organised.
Marwar Festival
Held in October in Jodhpur, this annual two-day event
attempts to showcase the art and culture of the Jodhpur
region. It is devoted mainly to singing and dancing.
Originally known as the Maand festival, the folk dancers
provide a glimpse of the days of yore, of battles and
valiant heroes who still live on in their songs. Other
attractions are camel tatoo show and polo. The venues
are the impressive Umaid Bhavan Palace, Mandore and the
Mehrangarh fort.
Dusshera
Dusshera is celebrated all over the country in different
ways as also in Rajasthan. It celebrates the triumph of
good over evil the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. The
tale of Rama and Sita and the battle fought between Lord
Rama and Ravana are enacted on stage and it is called
Ramlila. On the tenth day of the festival, huge effigies
of the ten-headed Ravana and his brother Kumbakaran,
stuffed with thousands of fire crackers, are set afire
and the people then begin to rejoice.
Pushkar Fair
Easily the most identifiable of all the fairs of the
state, the Pushkar fair is held in November in Pushkar
in Ajmer, where an eighth century temple of Brabma,
draws the faithful. The place has about 400 shrines and
temples around the lake. Legend has it that Lord Brahma,
in search of a place to hold his yagna(religious
ritual), dropped the lotus from his hand and the three
spots touched by the flower were turned into lakes.
These are today known as the Jyeshtha Pushkar, Madhyam
Pushkar and Kanishtha Pushkar. Pilgrims bathe at the
ghats and pray at the temple. Traders strike deals at
the world’s largest camel fair, although horses are also
sold. People gather together to camp in the desert and
entertain each other with songs and dances and cook
meals over camp fires. The camel, horse and donkey races
are also popular and draw huge attendance. Rajasthan
Tourism puts up a tourist village.
Chandrabhaga Fair
This three-day fair is held at Jhalrapatan near Jhalawar
either in November or December next to the banks of the
Chandrabhaga river which is considered holy by the
people living in this part of the state. On the full
moon night of Kartik Purnima, thousands of pilgrims take
a dip in the rivet There is also a big cattle fair in
which cows, horses, buffaloes, camels and bullocks are
brought for sale.
Kolyat Fair
Bikaner is the venue for this fair which lasts 10 days
and the place is the sacred site where Kapil Muni is
supposed to have meditated. The place has a lake with 52
ghats shaded by banyan trees. Devotees take a dip in the
lake and pray in the temples. Aarti is performed twice a
day and bhog is offered. People float lighted lamps in
the sacred lake as part of the rituals. A cattle fair is
also held where buffaloes, camels, horses and cattle are
sold. Certificates and prizes are given away to the best
breeders at the fair. |