Top Famous Fairs In India

 

A fair is a gathering of people for a variety of entertainment or commercial activities. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary with scheduled times lasting from an afternoon to several weeks. Below are some famous fairs that take place in India.

Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is a faith of Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather to bathe in a sacred river. It is considered to be the largest peaceful gathering in the world. It is held every third year at one of the four places by rotation Haridwar, Allahabad, Nashik and Ujjain. Kumbha means a pitcher and Mela means fair in Sanskrit.

The rivers at these four places are: the Ganges (Ganga) at Haridwar, the confluence (Sangam) of the Ganges and the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad, the Godawari at Nashik, and the Shipra at Ujjain. Pepole think that bathing in these rivers is to cleanse one of all sins. Darshan or respectful visual exchange, is an important part of the Kumbh Mela. Two major groups that participate in the Kumbh Mela include the Sadhus and pilgrims.
https://taxidiguru.blogspot.com/p/kumbh-mela-india.html 

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2. Sonepur Cattle Mela

The Sonepur Cattle Fair is held on Kartik Poornima in the month of November in Sonepur, Bihar. It is held on the confluence of river Ganges and Gandak. Till date, it is the biggest cattle fair of Asia and stretches on from fifteen days to one month. Many farm animals can be bought at the Sonepur mela from all breeds of dogs, buffaloes, donkeys, ponies, horses, rabbits, goats and even the occasional camel. Many varieties of birds and poultry are also available.

Major attraction of Sonepur Cattle Fair is the Haathi Bazaar where elephants are lined up for sale. You will find a wide variety of goods in these stalls, ranging from garments, to weapons and furniture, toys and agricultural implements, jewelry and handicrafts.

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3. Pushkar Fair

The Pushkar Fair or locally called Pushkar ka Mela, it is the annual five-day camel and livestock fair. It is held in the town of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is one of the world’s largest camel fairs and apart from buying and selling of livestock.

It has become an important tourist attraction and its highlights have become competitions such as the “matka phod”, “longest moustache” and “bridal competition” are the main draws for this fair which attracts thousands of tourists.

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4. Tarnetar Fair

The venkatareddy Tarnetar Fair is one of the most happening events in Gujarat and it is held at the Temple of Shiva. Popular belief associates the village with the Swayamwar (marriage) of Draupadi after Arjun performed the Mastsyavedh, an unparalleled feat of archery.

Villagers from all over the state, dressed in their brilliant traditional costumes and exquisite jewellery, flock to Tarnetar. A veritable feast for the eyes is the Rasada, a captivating folk dance performed by hundreds of women moving gracefully in a single circle, dancing gaily to the accompaniment of four drums and jodja pava (double flutes).

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5. Goa Carnival

In India, Carnival is celebrated on a grand scale in the state of Goa and the largest celebration takes place in the city of Panaji. The Carnival is unique to Goa in India and it was introduced by the Portuguese who ruled over Goa for over four centuries.

The Carnival is celebrated for three days and nights when the legendary King Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with music and color. Huge parades are organized throughout the state with bands, dances and floats out all night on the streets and grand balls held in the evenings.

NORTH INDIA:

Plan a trip to Rajasthan to experience beautiful festivals and culture of India

Rajasthan is all about royalty, culture, color, camel and celebration. Rajasthan is also famous for mesmerising lakes, dessert,  historical places & forts. A Rajasthan festival includes interesting rituals,ethnicity, tradition festivals and celebrations.

HERE ARE THE TOP FESTIVALS AND FAIRS OF RAJASTHAN THAT YOU OUGHT TO BE A PART OF IT.

RAJASTHAN INTERNATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL

Rajasthan International Folk Festival

Celebrated in Jodhpur, this festival is a celebration that focuses on traditional dance, music and art. The festival is celebrated in Mehrangarh fort. More than 200 artists of different genre visit this venue to exhibit their talents. You can find many fairs, exhibition and shows of different styles during this festival.

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JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Jaipur Literature Festival: Several literary fests take place in and around India. However, the Jaipur Literary Festival scheduled from January 24-29, 2018 at the Pink City of India is the world's largest event of its kind that will see renowned personalities including historians, politicians, humanitarians and business leaders grace attendees with their presence. The literary fest, with its stimulating conversations held in the backdrop of the famous Diggi Palace will offer a unique cultural and intellectual experience.

DESERT FESTIVAL

Desert Festival

Celebrated in the Sam sand dunes of Jaisalmer, this festival focuses entirely on the desert. People drive to the desert in 4WD or camels to enjoy interesting events like camel races, belly dance, turban tying festival, moustache competition, gymnastic stunts and so on. The festival takes place for three days and people prefer night camping in the desert & camel desert safari to enjoy the evening activities. You can find many stalls find with unique handicrafts and souvenirs.

PUSHKAR CAMEL FAIR

Pushkar Camel Fair

Based on the banks of Puskhar Lake, this camel fair attracts tourists and merchants alike. This festival takes place for five days and it is five days of just camels. You can enjoy interesting events like camel race, camel beauty contest, puppet shows, camel trading, music and dance performances. In the morning the ground turns to be a trading center and by the evening people join together to celebrate with music and dance. This is the right place to buy camel souvenirs like camel leather articles, camel hair accessories and others. You can enjoy many local delicacies during this fair.

TEEJ FESTIVAL

Teej Festival

This festival is celebrated throughout the state. However, this festival is commercialized in Jaipur. You can find many celebrations that involve the women of native. You can find interesting rituals in the temples. Street procession of the goddess with thousands of devotees dancing around with chariot bands, music, antique palanquins and much more is the iconic element of this festival.

Date: 13th August 2018

NAGAUR FAIR

Nagaur Fair

This is another fair that focuses on camels, oxen, cows and other animals. This fair takes place in Nagaur and is famous for animal races, cock fighting and much more. As the evening approaches, the ground turns into an open-air theatre where people exhibit their talents in local dance and music forms. Although not as famous as the Pushkar Camel Fair, it is a delight to watch and enjoy.

SUMMER AND WINTER FESTIVAL

Summer and Winter Festival

These are two different festivals, which take place in Summer (May) and Winter (December) in Mount Abu. These festivals focus on the local dance and music forms. You can enjoy fireworks at the night. Many people prefer camping near hot spots to enjoy many interesting activities in the night. The festival takes place for three days.

Date: 29th – 30th April 2018

KITE FESTIVAL

Kite Festival

This is the iconic festival of Jodhpur, which takes place during January as a part of harvest festival. This three-day festival is all about flying and floating. You can enjoy kite competitions, helicopters releasing kites, balloon releasing and much more. This three-day festival is filled with fairs, exhibitions, stalls and much more. It is a very colorful festival to watch.

MEWAR FESTIVAL

Mewar Festival

This is an ancient festival of Mewar region (now today’s celebrated in Udaipur). This festival marks the welcome of spring. The town will be colorfully lit with bright lights and decorations. You can find traditional processions, cultural events, exhibitions, stalls and much more. Each region celebrates this festival in a different manner and if you love to enjoy the culture of the land, this is the best festival to enjoy. Many stalls will be set up for selling souvenirs and handicrafts during this festival.

BRIJ HOLI

Brij Holi

This is one of the grandest festivals of Rajasthan. It is celebrated in the Brij region of Bharatpur as a pre-festival of Holi, the festival of colors. You can find interesting rituals in the temples and people sing and dance during this festival. You can find fancy dress competition, unique religious dance forms and much more. The people enjoy by throwing color powders at each other. This is a colorful religious celebration of Rajasthan.

KOTA ADVENTURE FESTIVAL

Kota Adventure Festival

Celebrated in the month of October in Kota, this festival attracts all adventure lovers. You can find numerous adventure activities like rafting, rock climbing, parasailing, trekking, angling, excursion, climbing and much more. Name an adventure activity and you will find it in this festival. This festival is completely about adventure and adrenaline pumping. If you are looking for a pulsating festival, this is the right festival to engage and enjoy.

Apart from these, you can enjoy Elephant festival of Jaipur, Jhalawar’s Chandrabhaga fair, Urs festival of Ajmer, World Sufi spirit festival of Jodhpur and much more here. Rajasthan is all about celebration and no matter when you visit, there will always be festival round the corner.

Heritage Palace on Wheels from Delhi to Jaipur

The first maiden voyage of Heritage Palace on Wheels (HPOW) reached Jaipur on Saturday from Delhi with 28 tourists on board.

The HPOW, on its first tour, has 27 domestic tourists and 1 foreign (from South Africa).

This train will be running in two itineraries - 3 Nights on the "Golden Tringle" - Delhi-Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur-Agra-Delhi and 4 nights on the "Desert Triangle" - Delhi-Churu-Bikaner-Jaipur-Agra-Dholpur-Delhi.

General Manager, HPOW, Pradeep Bohra, who was accompanying the tourists, said that the train arrived at Jaipur's Gandhinagar Station on the last leg of its 'olden Triangle Circuit Tour'.

The passengers were given a warm reception, being welcomed by a music band and traditional garlands in a gala celebration by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) and Department of Tourism, on their arrival.

This is the third luxury train in Rajasthan which is being run by RTDC.

According to railway officials, the HPOW is meant for those who want luxury but may not have much time or don't want to spend too much, especially weekend holidayers, corporate executives etc.

The train can also be booked for conferences, board meetings and even pre-wedding ceremonies. The tariff is now USD 300 or Rs 19,000 per night per person.

9 Indian winter festivals you just shouldn't miss out on

As we all know, India is a rich country with diverse culture and traditions. Every festival stands out for its unique celebrations, grandeur, food and customs.

In these winter months, plan an extraordinary journey to witness the finest culture of the country. Goomo, an Omni channel trevel tech company, has curated a special list of these lovely mainstream festivals that you must put in your itinerary this holiday season.

- Rajasthan

1. Camel Fair: Winter brings out the best in some places, and, Rajasthan is one such royal destination that gets prettier with the onset of winter. Apart from visiting the majestic havelis and breathtaking forts of the state, visit the desert land to revel in art, culture and festivals. Catch a glimpse of the spectacular camel performances, intriguing local folklores, extravagant firework display and more at the Camel Fair in Bikaner. The two-day affair scheduled from January 13-14, 2018 is sure to mesmerize you with its splendor and make for a perfect getaway during the winter.

2. Jaipur Literary Festival: Several literary fests take place in and around India. However, the Jaipur Literary Festival scheduled from January 24-29, 2018 at the Pink City of India is the world's largest free event of its kind that will see renowned personalities including historians, politicians, humanitarians and business leaders grace attendees with their presence. The literary fest, with its stimulating conversations held in the backdrop of the famous Diggi Palace will offer a unique cultural and intellectual experience.

3. Desert Festival: Witness the Thar Desert come to life at the three-day extravaganza of Jaisalmer Desert festival. Scheduled from January 29-31, 2018, this is the time when the celebrations of the festival lighten up the desert with colour, enthusiasm, and happiness. The traditional and bright costumes, the folk music recitals, competitions like camel races, tug-of-war, moustache competition, gymnastic stunts along with mouth-watering food and artifacts make it an absolute must-visit destination during the winter.

4. Sufi Spirit Festival: Rajasthan is definitely much more than its historic forts and palaces. The Sufi Spirit Festival at Nagaur with soothing music, dance and poetry and good food is sure to offer an unforgettable experience. Touted to be one of the most exhilarating music spectacles in the country, the Sufi Festival brings together brilliant artists from across India and around the world in a stunning royal setting. Scheduled from February 12-15, 2018 at the Nagaur fort and from February 16-18 at the Mehrangarh fort, Jodhpur, this event is sure to transport you to a different world altogether.

- Kerala

5. Theyyam: While Kerala is an epitome of tranquility and oozes picturesque beauty, its festivals, too, stand out for their grandeur and uniqueness. One offbeat festival of Kerala is Theyyam that originated in North Kerala. Scheduled to take place from February 23-26, 2018 in the Kasargod district of Kerala, the popular ritual dance, Theyyam represents a host of Gods and Goddesses dancing to the sounds of musical instruments like chenda, elathalam, kurumkuzal and veekkuchenda. The big and bright red headgear, heavy make-up, huge masks and flamboyant costumes make it one of the best visual art forms to be discovered in God's Own Country.

Theyyam, a Keralan fest. Picture courtesy: Instagram/ankitbhat92

- Gujarat

6. Rann Utsav: With its ancient temples and wildlife sanctuaries, Gujarat definitely is a treasure trove of architecture and history. Well, give them a miss and head to the desert of Kutch to experience a grand cultural fiesta. The ongoing India Rann Utsav is a melange of music, dance and craft. The white sands and full bloom moon make for picture-perfect scenery, especially in the winter months. Therefore, treat yourself to the cultural performances of traditional dancers, Kutch food, camel-back safari and more at the Gujarat's Rann Utsav that ends on February 20, 2018.

7. Kite festival: From stunt kites, rokkakus, deltas, miniature kites and inflatables, scan the skies during the renowned Ahmedabad International Kite Festival scheduled from the of January 7-15, 2018. Every nook and cranny of Ahmedabad's streets and lanes will be full of makeshift shops selling kites of different colours and hues, sizes, and shapes. Come, witness the marvelous kite flying skills and incredibly artistic kites take to the skies during the festival. Do not forget to shop for beautiful handicrafts, knick-knacks, clothes, and spices sold at the time of the festival. Also, enjoy the local delicacies on offer for visitors, tourists, and locals alike.

Also Read: Puppy Puja: This festival in Nepal is dedicated to worshipping dogs

- Sikkim

8. Losar: The Northeast states have a medley of fascinating festivals full of colours and that are rich in cultural history. When it comes to Sikkim, a visit to the Tibetan areas in the tiny Indian hill state is a must. In February, the Tibetans celebrate the Tibetan New Year, also known as Losar, with much gaiety and fervor. At the Pemayangste Monastery, tourists can witness the New Year celebrations, where certain special rituals are performed along with traditional dance forms. Catch all the action live at Gangtok for two days, from February 16-18, 2018.

Losar is celebrated in Sikkim. Picture courtesy: Instagram/ibnbattutah

- Nagaland

9. Hornbill festival: If you are taking a tour of the Northeast in the winter months, then Nagaland can be an ideal spot. Do not miss out on the 10-day Hornbill festival held in Kisama heritage village of Nagaland. Scheduled from December 1-10, 2017, the village plays host to a series of arts and crafts exhibitions and events such as a Naga wrestling competition, Naga chilli-eating contest, cooking competition, greased bamboo pole climbing event and much more. Enjoy the rock music festival held at the same time featuring some of the best contemporary bands from Northeast India. Food aficionados will have the opportunity to dig into the best of Naga culinary delights offered on every day at the festival.