Fairs and Festivals are the occasion when whole family unites and celebrate every moment with full cheer and happiness. Rajasthan is the place where fairs and festivals are celebrate almost around whole year with changing month and season. Following is the list of some major fairs and festivals that spread the cultural essence of Rajasthan to whole world.
Desert Festival, Jaisalmer (Jan-Feb.): Recognized as the golden city of Rajasthan, the city of Jaisalmer holds this festival in the months of January and February in the heart of desert. The most attracting feature of this festival is cultural programme on the sand dunes of its desert. The traditional folk artists depict their art sining ballad, snake charmers, and puppeteers all make presentation of their traditional and cultural heritance. The traditional folk games and competitions like camel dances, camel acrobatics, camel races, and camel polo, competitions for the best decorated camel, tug-of-war between musclemen, a turban tying competition and a Mr. Desert contest are the major attractions of this festival.
Nagaur Fair, Nagaur (Jan-Feb.): Recognized as an animal fair. The Nagaur fair is celebrated in the district of Nagaur located between the districts of Bikaner and Jodhpur. This fair is famous for animals where the buyers and sellers from whole Rajasthan come to sale and buy cattles, horses, camels and livestock. The whole business is based on bargaining. The visitor can enjoy every colour of Rajasthan in this fair where he can play the traditional games, can listen the traditional bhajans or ballads, camel race etc. The setting sun creates its own eye catching scene.
Gangaur festival: This festival is held in honor of goddess Parvati. The festival is held a few days after Holi in February/March and is celebrated in Jaipur on a grand scale. Primarily a festival for women, married women pray for their husbands and unmarried girls pray for getting a good husband.
Click here to know more… Elephant Festival - Jaipur: The Elephant Festival is held every year during Holi, in Jaipur (Rajasthan). Here, as you would expect from the name of the Festival Elephants are the centre of attraction. During the festival, Jaipur comes alive with elephants, dancers, and musicians and draws visitors from all over the world.
Click here to know more… Mewar festival: The onset of spring brings the Mewar festival on April 7–8. A traditional welcome to spring, this festival is a visual feast with Rajasthani songs, dances, processions, devotional music and firework displays. It is celebrated in the romantic city of Udaipur during the Gangaur Festival.
Click here to know more… Urs Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer (According to Lunar Calendar): The Urs are held at Ajmer, Rajasthan every year at the tomb of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, commemorating his symbolic union with God. The Urs, commemorative celebration is held in the solemn memory of Khwaja Muin-nddin Chisti, a sprightly respected Sufi saint fondly revered as the benefactor of the poor, popularly known as Gareeb Nawaz.
Click here to know more… Summer Festival, Mount Abu (June): The summer festival of Mount Abu acts an exotic ingredients relaxing tourists suffering from extreme heat. As Mount Abu is only the cool hill station in the state. The folk dances presented during this festival fascinates tourists and make them relax.
Teej: Teej is a major event in Jaipur. The festival is celebrated during the months of July/August and dedicated to goddess Parvati. The festival celebrates the beginning of the monsoon.
Click here to know more… Marwar Festival, Jodhpur (October): Originally known as Maand festival, the Marwar festival is celebrated to exhibit the folk music and dance of marwar region. Celebrated under the auspice of Tourism Department of Government of Rajasthan this festival gives foreigners a chance to get closer to the Rajasthani culture and tradition and understand the fold music. Maand infact is traditional format of singing which depicts the old taste of excellent dances of desert.
Puskar MelaThis fair is held at Pushkar town, 11 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan for twelve days annually. This cultural and trade cum religious fair is an attractive and lively spectacle with Rajasthani men and women in their colourful traditional attire, saffron-robed and ash smeared Sadhus (holy men) and thousands of bulls, cows, sheep, goats, horses and camels in richly decorated saddles.
Click here to know more… All these fairs and festivals are organized and celebrated with full joy and courage and present the cultural glimpses of Rajasthan.