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Fairs & Festivals TourRajasthan Tour Packages
Rajasthan Fairs
& Festivals Tour
Festivals of Rajasthan are a must visit travel events. Travel to Rajasthan and
see some of the most exclusive festivals of the world. Enjoy the festivals in
the desert land with vibrant colours, compelling dance and melodious music.
Rrajasthan is a vibrant exotic state in India where tradition and royal glory
meet in a riot of colors against the vast backdrop of sand and desert. Referred
to as the Desert Jewel of India, Rajasthan shimmers with even more vibrancy
during the time of its colourful fairs and festivals. The desert glitters with
the colors of joyous celebration and gay abandon with every fair and festival
of Rajasthan. There is a celebration for every religious occasion, every change
of season and every harvest, all invariably a reflection of the genius of their
arts and crafts and their ascetic refinement.
In fact, celebrations occur almost round the year and are a splendid opportunity
for tourists to gain an insight into the life of the Rajasthan during their
travel. Other than the traditional fairs, recently established festivals which
involve elephants, camel races, dance and music have been specially organised
for tourists. Among the better known fairs and festivals of Rajasthan are:
Mewar Festival, Udaipur
The
Mewar Festival is celebrated to welcome the advent of spring. It coincides with
the festival of Gangaur in Udaipur, and has a unique charm about it.The Marwar
Festival is held every year in memory of the heroes of Rajasthan. The festival
is held in the month of Ashwin (Sept-Oct) in Jodhpur, for two days during the
full moon of Sharad Poornima. Originally known as the Maand Festival, this festival
features folk music centred on the romantic lifestyle of Rajasthan's rulers.
This festival is devoted to the music and dance of the Marwar region and offers
a good opportunity to see the folk dancers carrying pots on their heads and
singers who assemble here and provide hours of lively entertainment. These folk
artistes provide a glimpse of the days of yore, of battles and valiant heroes
who still live on in their songs.
Elephant
Festival, Jaipur
The
Elephant Festival is an inimitable event held annually in Jaipur. Groomed flawlessly,
rows of elephants do a catwalk before an enthralled audience liked best fashion
models to make this festival an amazing one. The elephants move with poise in
pageant, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in
the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time with elephants typically celebrated
one day before the Holi, Indian festival of colours.
Urs Ajmer Sharif
The
lakeside city of Ajmer is located in central Rajasthan, and is held in great
reverence by devotees of all communities who call it 'Ajmer Sharif' (Holy Ajmer).
It is here that the mortal remains of the highly respected Sufi saint Khwaja
Moin-ud-din Chishti lie buried. The Khwaja came from Persia and established
the Chishtia order of fakirs in India. He is popularly known as Gharib Nawaz
(protector of the poor) because he dedicated his entire life to the service
of mankind. His spartan life spanned almost a hundred years and he embraced
death in solitude while he had withdrawn to his cell for six days, asking not
to be disturbed. The Dargah Sharif in Ajmer is the place where the Saint's mortal
remains lie buried and is the site of the largest Muslim fair in India. 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)
during the first six days of Rajab (seventh month of the Islamic calendar.)
Summer Festival
Hill Station of the Rajasthan in a festive mood with the Summer Festival, held
every year in the month of June. The steep rocks, tranquil lakes, picturesque
locations and the pleasant climate of Mount Abu make it an ideal location for
the festival. The three-day festival is a feast of folk and classical music
and a window to the tribal life and culture of Rajasthan. The festival begins
with the singing of a ballad which is followed by folk dances which enthral
the spectators. Sporting events such as the boat race on the Nakki lake add
variety to the festival.
Nagaur Fair, Nagaur
This
eight days fair held every year during the month of Jan-Feb, is popularly known
as the Cattle fair and is the second largest in Rajasthan. Nagaur Town is the
most picturesque of Rajput townships. Nagaur is a sea of animals, trading over
70,000 bullocks, camels and horses every year. The bullocks are known for their
fleetness. Not only are the animals lavishly decorated, even their owners flaunt
wearing colourful turbans and long moustaches. Sports like tug-of-war, camel
races, bullock races and cock fights; jugglers; puppeteers, story-tellers; and
exciting campfire evenings are held to entertain the tourists. Folk music of
the Jodhpur variation echoes the tranquil desert sand. Nagaur is well connected
to the major cities by road and rail. Nearest airport is Jodhpur, some 135kms
away.
Baneshwar Fair, Dungarpur
The
name Baneshwar is derived from the revered Shiva Linga which is kept in the
Mahadev temple in Dungarpur. "Baneshwar" means the 'master of the delta' in
the local Vagdi language and this name was given to Shiva Linga.The Baneshwar
fair is held at a small delta formed by the river Som and Mahi, from Magh Shukla
Ekadashi to Magh Shukla Poornima during Shivratri. (Jan-Feb). The Baneshwar
fair, in its present form is actually a merger of two fairs: one which used
to be held in honour of Baneshwar Mahadev (Lord Shiva) and another fair which
started after the construction of the Vishnu temple by Jankunwari, daughter-in-law
of Mavji, a highly revered saint considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Gangaur
Festival, Jaipur
The
Gangaur Festival is the colourful and most important local festival of Rajasthan
and is observed throughout the State with great fervour and devotion by womenfolk
who worship Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva during July-Aug. It is the celebration
of monsoon, harvest and marital fidelity in Jaipur. Gan is a synonym for Shiva
and Gaur which stands for Gauri or Parvati who symbolises saubhagya (marital
bliss). Gauri is the embodiment of perfection and conjugal love which is why
the unmarried women worship her for being blessed with good husbands, while
married women do so for the welfare, health and long life of their spouses and
a happy married life.
Pushkar Fair
The
famous Pushkar Fair is a great tourist attraction. People from around the globe
come to the ancient religious town of Pushkar which is transformed into a spectacular
fair ground in the month of Kartik. People bathe, worship and delight in the
dazzling wares of roadside stalls. Camels are bought, sold, beautified, raced
and parade. Most unusual are the small groups of men and women seen busy tattooing
their hands and other parts of the body. The fair is predominantly a rural gathering.
Villagers come from different parts of the state and bring their cattle with
them. On spectacular sanddunes camel, horse and bullock races are great crowd
pullers. All roads lead to the lake, which is flooded with pilgrims. The movement
of the crowd is like a tide of colour with currents of crimson, yellow and turquoise.
