Rajasthan, an arid desert land, becomes resplendent with the colors of joyous celebration and gay abandon of its fairs and festivals. It is not fair to all religious occasion, every season and every harvest, all invariably a reflection of the genius of their arts and crafts and their ascetic refinement. Rajasthan has all the usual Hindu and Muslim festivals, some celebrated with special local fervor as well as a number of festivals of himself. The exact dates determined by the lunar calendar have specific religious significance.
Rajasthan, a barren desert land, becomes resplendent with the colors of joyous celebration and gay abandon of its fairs and festivals. There is a fair for every religious event, every change of season and every crop, all invariably an indication of the genius of their arts and crafts and their ascetic refinement.
Rajasthan has all the usual Hindu and Muslim festivals, a few celebrated with special local excitement as well as a number of festivals of its own. The precise dates, ascertained by the lunar calendar have specific religious consequence.
Camel Festival - Bikaner
The year was unfolds with the Bikaner Camel Festival in January. The enchanting desert city comes alive with lively music, lilting rhythms and gay festivities. There are camel races and camel dances, and viewers are fascinated by the charm and languid grace of the decorated boats in the desert.
Nagaur Fair - Nagaur
The famous Nagaur Fair essentially an animal fair is held annually between late January and early February. Located half way between Bikaner and Jodhpur, Nagaur awakens with the mob of cattle, horses and camels accompanied by their own colorful turban. It is not serious negotiations between owners and buyers, and a lot of fun and celebration. Games, tug of war contests, camel races and strains of ballads create a joyful atmosphere with the sunset in the background.
Desert Festival - Jaisalmer
One of the most well-liked festivals, the Desert Festival of Jaisalmer coincides with the full moon of February. A three-day trip in the heart of the Thar Desert and the golden city of Jaisalmer is a great sight in the sand. The desert pulsates with a variety of dances from Rajasthan: Ghoomar, Gangaur, Gair Dhap, Moria, Chari and Tehratal. The famous Gair dancers and fire dances are the special highlights of the festival. Popular artists like musicians, ballad singers, snake charmers, and puppeteers all exhibit their traditional skills.
There are exciting camel dances, camel acrobatics, camel races and camel polo, competitions for best decorated camel, tug of war between muscular turban a link competition and Mr. Desert competition. The culmination is a sound and light show in the sand dunes in the middle of the moonlit night.
Elephant Festival - Jaipur
Also celebrated in March around Holi (festival of colors) is the Elephant Festival in the capital, Jaipur, a delight for tourists. Mammals to claim center stage and stalked parade decorated their trunks and tusks. The festival begins with a procession of elephants, camels and horses, followed by folk dancers at their best entertainment. The God worshiped on the occasion, Ganesh or Ganapati, the elephant is the son of Shiva and Parvati.
Gangaur - All over Rajasthan
One of the most important local festival of Rajasthan is the spring festival of Gangaur held in March-April. Dedicated to Gauri, a manifestation of the goddess Parvati and the consort of Lord Shiva, symbolizing marital bliss and marital happiness. A festival of maidens and married women, which begins the day after Holi, and is celebrated for 18 days. While married women pray for the welfare of their husbands, the girls pray for a boyfriend of your choice.
One of Rajasthan's most significant local festivals is the outflow festival of Gangaur celebrated in March-April. Committed to Gauri, a manifestation of goddess Parvati and the wife of Lord Shiva, it represents conjugal bliss and marital cheerfulness. A festival of maidens and married women, it begins on the day following Holi, and is celebrated for 18 days. While married women pray for the well being of their husbands, young girls pray for a groom of their variety.
Wooden image of Gauri are ornamented with colorful clothes and jewelry. Offerings are made in every house accompanied by singing and dancing women.
The festival is celebrated with great pomp in Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Nathdwara. About Bundi, Kota and Jhalawar the fields are covered with poppy flowers in bloom at this time. Maidens gather these flowers and make wreaths for the goddess.
In Jaipur at 17 days after Holi a grand procession is taken out of the City Palace and the goddess Gauri is carried in a palanquin borne by developing colorful dress elephants, camels and horses. Dancers, musicians, drum beaters, bandsman, battle dress and accompany the procession cars.
Mewar Festival - Udaipur Mewar Festival of Udaipur welcomes spring by offering the best overview of Rajasthani culture through songs, dances, processions, religious music and fireworks.
Urs Ajmer Sharif - Ajmer
Location: according to the lunar calendar, in memory of the saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, helper of the poor, Urs Ajmer Sharif - held in Ajmer - is one of the largest Muslim fair in India. The six days that the saint is said to have entered prison under cover of his mortal body and the price of his soul, is dedicated to his memory and pilgrims converge here from within India and other parts of the globe.
Teej Festival
Teej is the festival of changes. This marks the advent of the monsoon month of Shravan (August). The monsoon rains in the dry land and the pleasant smell of wet earth rises into the air. Swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Girls and women dressed in green clothes sing songs in celebration of the arrival of the monsoon.
This festival is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, commemorating her union with Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati is worshiped by seekers of conjugal bliss and happiness. A complicated procession is taken out in Jaipur for two consecutive days on the festive event, seen by people in large numbers. The Teej idol is covered with an awning, while the Gangaur idol is open
Marwar Festival
The Marwar Festival was originally known as the Maand Festival. Maand is a classical way of folk music centered on the romantic life style of Rajasthan's rulers, and Maand Raag renovates the old world magic and elegant dances of the desert. Held for 2 days during the full moon, Sharad Purnima, in October it is celebrated mostly in Jodhpur. Folk artists bring to life the inhaling mythologies, folk stories, tales and legends of battles, war victories and heroism.
Pushkar Fair Festival
Pushkar is a sacred city for Hindus, situated 11 kms. north-west of Ajmer. About 400 temples and shrines are in Pushkar around its holy lake, which finds a mention in the Padma Purana. Legend has it that Lord Brahma in search of a place to celebrate his 'yagna' (religious ritual), dropped the lotus from his hand, the three spots touched by this flower were turned into lakes.
These are today known as the 'Jyestha Pushkar' (main Pushkar), the 'Madhyam Pushkar' (medium Pushkar) and the "Kanishtha Pushkar '(little Pushkar). A temple dedicated to Lord Brahma is in Pushkar, Temples important are the Gayatri, Savitri, Shiv and Badri Narayan.
Parikrama
Most pilgrims make offerings at the Pushkar Jyestha while few opt to visit Pushkar all 3 and this is called the Panch-Kosi-Parikrama. Several pilgrims visit all the shrines at Pushkar in 7 days and this is called the Chaubis-Kosi-Parikrama.
Floating lamps
It is customary to float lighted lamps ground after putting in 'pattals' (leaf plates) in the waters of the lake. This creates a spectacular view of the night, when the sacred lake takes on a mystical hue dotted with bright spots of light. 'Aarti' is offered in the lake in the morning and evening.
Cattle Fair
In relation to religious fair, a cattle fair is also organized in the month of Kartik to Pushkar breeders bring a huge number of cattle of different breeds popular Nagauri, Haryanvi, Mewati, etc Kankrej the exhibition for sale to rural people who appreciate and race. The cattle are decorated by their owners in Pushkar fair and also participate in races and paraded on the sand dunes.
The Holy Dips
People consider the water of Pushkar lake is very sacred and ritual bathing in the holy water is believed to provide salvation. The holy dip is most auspicious on Kartik Purnima. Even before sunrise, people descend the ghats, aided by the "panda" (Brahmin priests) to take the holy dip. Offerings of coconut, flowers and cash held in the lake and the priests.
Visiting the Temple
After bathing at the lake, people continue to pay worship to the creator of the Universe, Lord Brahma, at the Brahma Temple.
Pushkar Fair
The ancient city of Pushkar is transformed into a spectacular fairground in the month of Kartik. The fair attracts a large number of tourists from everywhere. The fair-grounds reverberate with the celebration, as rows of make shift stalls display a bewildering array of items that compete for the attention of visitors.
But the foreground of Pushkar fair is the trading of camels. Camels are bought, sold, decked and paraded on the sand dunes, presenting a charming sight. Camel racing, horses and donkeys are occasions that attract a big attendance. Body tattoos is still the horse race. Pushkar further favorite activity that attracts a huge number of enthusiasts.
The Pushkar fair brings together a huge number of villagers from dissimilar regions of the state. Several come here to sell. Various come here to purchase and few come here on a pilgrimage. Still others come here just to enjoy the festivities. The days are filled with fun and activity. The evenings are filled with music and dance.
Come dusk, and the rich strains of haunting music are carried across the desert sands as the merrymaking continues deep into the night. The abundance of colours that run riot in the desert sands, the glee and the contagious enthusiasm of the village folk are a singular experience for every visitor.
On this special event, the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) puts up a tourist village. The tourist village is self-sufficient and particularly designed to accompaniment the natural attractiveness of the site. It has a Coffee Shop and Dining Hall, which can cater to 1500 guests at a time.
The village is set up in blocks of tents, each with its own individuality, named after the well-known dances of Rajasthan. The village also has huts with affiliated western style toilets and running water. One can also stay at Sarovar Hotel, Pushkar or in Ajmer at the RTDC Tourist Bungalow-Khadim.
Significance
Religious
The Pushkar Lake is surrounded by fifty-two flights of steps, called 'ghats', lots of having special legendary significance. Lord Vishnu is said to have looked at the Varah Ghat in the form of a boar. Brahma took a bath here and performed Yajna at the Brahma Ghat, came with by Vishnu and Mahadev. Guru Govind Singh chose this place for reciting the sacred Guru Granth Sahib. The ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were absorbed at the Gandhi Ghat, which was formerly called Gau Ghat.
General Information
Timings
There is a steady flow of pilgrims throughout the year to Pushkar, which is among the five principal places of Hindu pilgrimage. It is, however transformed into a bustling fair-ground in the month of Kartik (October-November) when the annual Pushkar Fair and a cattle fair are held at the same time.
The fair begins from Kartik Shukla Ekadashi and goes on for twelve days, till Kartik Purnima. Both the religious fair and the cattle fair are now internationally famous tourist attractions. A little fair is held in the month of Baisakh, which is primarily a local occasion.
Other Fairs and Festivals
There is an unending process of Rajasthan's fairs and festivals on the Indian calendar; the Chandrabhaga Fair in Jhalawar, Summer Festival at Mount Abu, Kapil Muni Fair along the Kolayat lake, Sri Mahavirji Fair of the Jains, Shitala Ashtami held at Chaksu near Jaipur, Ramdeoji Fair near Pokhran in Jaisalmer; al these in addition to the main Hindu festivals of Holi, Dussehra, Diwali and Raksha Bandhan.
