Fairs & Festivals - Merriment Mix with Colour of Royalty

Fair and Festive Celebrations an Exhilarating Charisma
Rajasthani life is full of celebrations. Countless fairs and festivals packed with fun, frolic, excitement and rituals are observed twelve months of the year across this sprawling State.

The name Rajasthan is derived from a Sanskrit word 'Rajah' and 'Sthana' which literally signifies kings home. Rajasthan had enjoyed a ferocious tales of valour, it was merely a home to number of kings, who ruled from the north India for many centuries. Same like its rich culture and ferocious territory, the kings and queens of the states were very much concerned about the fairs and festivals, which are celebrated with great fun and frolic, revolving around the ceremonies of harvest, birth, seasons, carnivals and religious occasions.

The fairs and festivals are marked with excitement and rituals, which is observed throughout the year across this sprawling State. The festivities are usually tagged with folk dances accompanied by music played on a variety of locally made instruments. The Participants are dressed up in their traditional colourful finery whole heartedly partaking in these events is a visual delight. The colour, rhythm and melody of the festivals place Rajasthan into the world tourist map. These Vigorous and animated festivals afford people with the chance to decorate their homes, buy new clothes, visit relatives and friends and take out some time from their busy life to unite together in the pomp and show of festivities.

The Festive Mood Gets Exhilarated By Symptoms Festive Cuisine !!!
As soon as festival arrives in the erstwhile princely state, special delicacies are on high agenda, keeping in mind the various occasion, a wedding , a festival , a celebration to mark the birth of a male child or a good harvest , even good monsoons , are reason enough to celebrate. Women of the neighbourhood gather and prepare sweets like mawa kachori, til ke laddo, gonth ke laddu, piste ke launj, moti pak, pheeni, sohan papdi, besan barfi, jalebi and shakarpare.

One can even try out non vegetarian in Rajasthan, especially cooked by the Rajput men, who excel in preparing exotic mutton and chicken dishes for festive table liver (kaleja), curry, keema kofta (mince dumplings), handi butha (mutton cooked in earthern pot), soyata (mutton cooked with millet). The festivities assuredly extend on opportunity to mingle with local folks and acquaint with various aspects of their cultural life. It will be indeed an irresistible and captivating experience that will tempt everyone to make repeated visits to this resplendent state.

The Merriment continues with Traditional Dances !!!
The colourful fairs and festivals has always been the precious wealth of Royal Rajasthan, celebrated with proper pomp and show at each corner of the desert. The sand, the full moon and the dark sky add vibrant colours to its beauty. Other celebrations in the soil of desert is Gair dance, which is performed by men in western Rajasthan at the time of Holi. A series of half swirls make up a simpler version, depending upon the dancers proficiency, it can build up to a series of intricate patters. Even the striking of sticks add vigorous character to the dance. Next you visit the Summer Festival, held in the month of June in Mount Abu. This beautiful festivals is organised 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 in the chilly air storms. Another is Baneshwar Fair, held in the month of January February. It a religious festival with simple and traditional Indian rituals. Thousands of peoples from the neighboring border of Madhya Pradesh and Gujrat converge at the time of Baneshwar Fair to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. Last but not least is the Nagaur Fair, held in the month of January February in Nagaur. It is basically a animal fair, that allow opportunities to number of visitors to participate in some of the local area sports.

Fairs That Dominate the Land of Rajas
Festive Merriment Rajasthan, the land bestowed with natural and man made wonders have been also famous for the overwhelming enjoyment of fairs and festivals throughout the year. The artistic nature of the Rajasthani people have come out in various forms of culture. The most important and probably the most famous of all is the folk music and dance performance that have been fascinating the people of the entire world for quite long time.

The charm of the rustic Rajasthan comes alive with the excellent performance of mesmerizing folk songs along with a balmy tune of Sarangi. An accompaniment of enthralling folk dance performance adds some more hues to the cultural even under the clear sky and on the ripples of golden sands. Puppet show is another jewel of Rajasthan culture, that have been surprising the visitors and localities equally with its excellence and unique form of story telling. But no festival in Rajasthan is complete without Mawa, Ghevar and Malpaus, the mouth watering sweet delicacies, that have been alluring the people of Rajasthan since time immortal.

Pushkar Camel Fair
Pushkar Camel Fair, held in the month of November every year, also known as Pushkar Fair. It is one of the largest camel fair across the world. Various competitions are organised as soon as the arrival of fair heard in the town. Contest like camel races, matka phod, moustache and bridal are some of the brilliant attractions for travelers across the world. One can also take the charm of unique auctions, live music, exhibitions, clothes, textiles, stalls and fabrics, which are the main highlights of this event. The Pushkar fair is much renowned as the global livestock market, where you can buy and sell animals like camels, horses, sheep and goats.

Ajmer Annual Urs Fair
Ajmer Annual Urs Fair, held in the month of July August in the memory of the great Sufi Saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti, it is an occasion for millions of believers to assembled at the shrine and offer special prayers. At the time of festival complete Ajmer town seems to be an abode of Allah with countless pilgrims, Kazi's and Maulana's, who especially converge at the times of final Urs. A tourist can also take the charm of several programmes, which are organised to mark the festivals with immense popularity.

Jaisalmer Desert Fair
Jaisalmer Desert Fair, held in the month of January February, It is one of the most popular of all festivals in Rajasthan, as it allows a journey into the heart of the desert, which hold its beauty for three days, hordes of travellers specially converge on Jaisalmer at the time of festival to get the glimpse of events, which are very much earsplitting and is celebrated with completions like the famous Gair dance, camel ride, traditional fire dance, turban tying, Mr desert contest, Here one can also see tall Rajasthani mens and beautiful women dressed in their brightly costumes to dance and sing lingering ballads of valor, romance and tragedy.

Baneshwar Fair
Baneshwar Fair (Jan- Feb) is religious fair celebrated with simple and traditional rituals. This fair is the centre of attraction of a large number of tribal folk from the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat who visit this small town of Baneshwar and offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.

Nagaur Cattle Fair, Nagaur
The sleepy town of Nagaur stirs to life at its annual cattle fair ( January/ February)

One of the largest in the country. Thousands of camels, bullocks and horses are offered for sale and purchase.

Camel Fair Bikaner
Camel Fair Baking comes in the month of January, this is the time when this beautiful desert city comes alive with the echoes of music and rhythms of traditional dances performed by the rural folks. The fair is fast coming into limelight and gaining huge popularity among the western world as the tourist across the sub-continent gets an opportunity to experience some of the unusual folk performances, camel races, camel dance and ethnic shopping arcade.

Fervours of Rajasthan Festivals !!!
Jaipur Gangaur Festival
Jaipur Gangaur Festival, held in the month of March-April. This much awaited festival is purely devoted to Goddess Parvati,the consort of Lord Shiva. At the time of festival, young girls pray to Goddess Parvati for the grooms of their choice and married women's pray for the well being of their husbands. On the day of festivals, one can see beautiful womens in their best clothing. Gangaur festival is believed to be a sanctified festivals for every women, that last for nearly 18 days and on the last day, a colourful procession takes place in Jaipur and at other places in Rajasthan.

Jaipur Teej Festival
Jaipur Teej Festival, held in the month of July-August. Its a fasting festival for many Indian women. This It is celebrated for marital bliss, well being of spouse and children and purification of own body and soul. The festival is a three-day long celebration, during which number of sweets are made to break the fasts. On the eve of festival, tourists can feast their eyes with the beautiful womens, dressed in a bright colours, it is interesting to watch them enjoying in groups. After offering prayers and seeking the blessings, the decorated idol of goddess Parvati is taken into procession on the streets followed by singing, music, and dancing.

Udaipur Mewar Festival
Udaipur Mewar Festival, held in the month of March April every year. Its a colourful festival to welcome the spring season that falls after the end of chilly winters. At the time of festivals, the localities of Rajasthan, mainly the Udaipur people and the Marwar region, celebrate it with a huge procession, followed by devotional songs, live dances, hazardous firework, where almost everybody participate. This is a festival that allows the visitor to understand and enjoy the folk traditions of Marwari people.

Jaipur Elephant Festival
Jaipur Elephant Festival, held in the month of March April to celebrate Holi, its a grand occasion for the tourists to watch scores of elephant at one place. One can please his eyes with the bright play of colours, elephant races and several other sports.

Summer Festival, Mt.Abu
Organized in the only hill station of Rajasthan, Summer Festival, Mt.Abu arrives in the month of June. Folk dances and an atmosphere of merriment prevail in this tiny hill resort, where tourist have enough time to relax and enjoy the festival.

Raksha Bandhan
The chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister is one of the deepest and noblest of human emotions. 'Raksha Bandhan' or 'Rakhi' is a special occasion to celebrate this emotional bonding by tying a holy thread around the wrist. This thread, which pulsates with sisterly love and sublime sentiments, is rightly called the Rakhi. It means 'a bond of protection', and Raksha Bandhan signifies that the strong must protect the weak from all thats evil. The ritual is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan, on which sisters tie the sacred Rakhi string on their brothers' right wrists, and pray for their long life. Rakhis are ideally made of silk with gold and silver threads, beautifully crafted embroidered sequins, and studded with semi precious stones.

The Social Binding this ritual not only strengthens the bond of love between brothers and sisters, but also transcends the confines of the family. When a Rakhi is tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbors, it underscores the need for a harmonious social life, where every individual co-exist peacefully as brothers and sisters.