|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
Braj Mahotsav |
The Brij Festival takes
place a few days before Holi,
(the festival of colours) in
the month of March. Held in
honour of Lord Krishna, this
festival is marked by verve
and zest. Villagers, in gay,
multihued attire, can be
seen singing and performing
the Raslila dance (dance
depicting the immortal
love-story of Radha and
Krishna).
All of Bharatpur echoes the
sound of folk melodies on
this festival held on the
eve of Holi. Men and women,
young and old, rich and
poor-all are touched by the
spirit of this festival.
Boisterous revellers spare
no one during this festival
and delight in splashing
colour on everyone around.
Bharatpur is situated on the
Delhi - Mumbai main railway
line and also on National
Highway no. 11 (Bikaner -
Agra). Agra being the
nearest Airport (56 kms.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHAMBAL ADVENTURE
FESTIVAL - KOTA |
Has begun an annual Chambal
Adventure-sports Festival in
month of February each year
at Kota. The Festival
attracts crowds which gaze
in awe at the feats of
professional sportmen and
army personnel. The events
of power parasailing,
rafting, wind surfing, water
skiing, kayaking keep the
audience spellbound.
The boating facility in
Chambal river between Kota
and Jawahar Sagar is
available from Chambal
Garden at Kota.
National Dussehra Fair
(Oct.-Nov.)
A Large fair is held during
Oct. – Nov. each year at
Kota, beginning on the day
of Dussehra, when demon King
Ravana was slayed by Lord
Rama. The cultural and folk
Programs are organized each
evening, when thousands of
people throng to the fair
ground.
Handicraft Fair
(Dec.)
A large handicraft fair is
organized at Kota during
December each year. The
handmade articles,
terracotta figurines, Khadi,
tribal artifacts, fabric and
paintings may be purchased
at most reasonable prices.
Industrial Fair
(Feb.)
Normally held in February
every year, the fair
provides an opportunity to
local industries, small
scale and cottage industries
to display their ware, It is
very popular with the masses
as well. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHANDRABHAGA FAIR,
JHALRAPATAN |
The Chandrabhaga fair is
held every year at
Jhalrapatan (6kms from
Jhalawar) in the month of
Kartik (Oct-Nov).
The River Chadrabhaga runs
here and is considered holy
by the people residing in
this part of Rajasthan. On
the Full moon night of 'Kartik
purnima', thousands of
pilgrims take a holy dip in
the river. The fair, held on
the last day of Kartik,
attracts devotees who bathe
in the holy waters at this
spot which is known as
Chandravati.
A big cattle fair which
blends religion with
commerce is held here.
Livestock like Cows, horses,
buffaloes, camels and
bullocks are brought from
distant parts for sale.
Traders from various parts
of Madhya-Pradesh and
Maharashtra converge here
and brisk trading takes
place. The fair provides an
opportunity for the tourists
to acquaint themselves with
the people of this region
and their rituals and
traditions.
Ramganj Mandi is the nearest
Railway Station(25kms).
Jhalawar is well connected
to Kota, Bundi and Jaipur.
National Highway No.12
passes through Jhalawar.
Buses are available from all
major cities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KAJLI TEEJ, BUNDI |
Teej festival, the
celebration of the monsoons
(July-Aug), is celebrated
all over the state with each
region having its own unique
touch. Kajli Teej of Bundi
is different in several
ways-while Teej is
celebrated on the third day
of the month of Shravana, in
Bundi it is celebrated on
the third day of the month
of Bhadra. The festival
starts with the procession
of goddess Teej in a
decorated palanquin from the
beautiful Naval Sagar. It
passes through the main
bazaars and terminates at
Azad Park. The procession
has decorated elephants,
camels, bands, performing
artists and colourfully
dressed people.
This is the time to renew
the ties of fidelity for
married couples in
Rajasthan, and special
sweetmeats, and swing rides
are characteristic of it.
The people who gather here
from surrounding areas also
get to watch and participate
in the cultural programmes
that are organised in the
evenings. It provides a very
good chance to see
performances by local
artists from Hadoti region.
Though the main function of
Teej is held only on two
days, the celebrations
continue upto Janmashtami,
which marks the birth of
Lord Krishna. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KARNI MATA FAIR, DESHNOK |
Karni Mata Fair is held
twice a year at Deshnok, a
small town near Nokha in
Bikaner district. The first
and larger fair is held in
March-April during the
Navratras from Chaitra
Shukla Ekam to Chaitra
Shukla Dashmi. The second
fair is held in
September-October, also
during the Navratras, from
Ashvin Shukla to Ashwin
Shukla Dashmi.
Karni Mata was an ascetic
who led a righteous life
dedicated to the service and
uplifting of the poor and
downtrodden of all
communities. It is believed
that she possessed
supernatural powers. The
foundation of Deshnok was
laid by her and she has been
worshipped as a goddess by
her principal followers,
Charans, as well as the
rulers of Bikaner, who
regarded her as the patron
deity. The Karni Mata Fair
is held in her honour.
The Karni Mata temple at
Deshnok is a stone and
marble structure and is also
known as Madh. Inside the
shrine, a 75 cms. image of
Kami Mata adorned with a
mukut (tiara) and garlands
is installed. Her image is
accompanied by the images of
her sisters and the sisters
of Avad Mata. The Rajputs
bring their children on
Jadula (their first hair
cut) and place them at the
deity's feet for blessing.
The temple is thrown open to
the public early in the
morning at 4.00 a.m. Charan
priests perform
Mangla-Ki-Aarti and offer
bhog (special food) as
worship. A peculiar
characteristic of the temple
is the legion of brown cats
roaming about in large
numbers in the temple. They
are considered auspicious
and the devotees make
offerings. Two kinds of
offerings, the 'dwar-bhent'
is attributed to the priests
and the workers. The 'kalash-bhent'
is utilised for the temple
maintenance and development. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KHATU SHYAMJI FAIR |
Khatu Shyamji is famous for
its Shyamji temple. There is
a steady stream of devotees
the year round, but lakh of
them gather at the annual
fair from Phalgun Sudi
Dashmi to Dwadashi. Apart
from being a place of
pilgrimage, a large number
of people come for the
Jadula ceremony (the first
time all hair is shaved off
the head) of their children.
Legend connects the place to
the epic Mahabharata war.
Krishna, it is believed took
the form of a Brahmin and
asked for the head of
Babhruvahan (Barbrik). He
then placed the head on a
hillock so that it could
watch the war. Pleased with
the sacrifice, Krishna,
then, blessed Babhruvahan to
be worshipped as Shyam
himself in Kaliyug.
Khatu Shyamji is 48 kms.
from the District
headquarters, Sikar which is
itself about 115 kms. from
Jaipur on National Highway
No. 11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KHETLAJI FAIR |
The famous shrine of Shri
Sonana Khetlaji in the
village Sonana of district
Pali is the site of the two
day Khetlaji fair, held
every year during May-Jun.
The fair attracts a large
number of devotees who
congregate here during the
fair held in honour of the
deity, Khetlaji. It is
believed by many devotees
that the deity has powers to
grant wishes. Many devotees
arrive to pray for
fulfilment of their wishes
or for thanksgiving, after
their wishes have been
granted.
The fair is a grand occasion
for the local people from
the adjoining area, who pour
in, dressed in their best,
right from day-break. It is
also a gala occasion for
shopping.. Body tattooing
shops are also the hot-spots
of activity and troupes of
Gair dancers add colour to
the festive spirits.
However, it is the hundreds
of horses at the fair that
steal the show. Thoroughbred
and well trained 'Marwari'
horses perform many a trick
and even dance to the
rhythms of local drums, much
to the amazement of the
onlookers.
Sonana is 65 kms. from Pali.
Pali is well connected by
road and rail to major
cities of the state. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KITE FESTIVAL, JAIPUR |
From royal splendour to
riotous egalitarianism , 14
January is celebrated in
India as Makar Sankranti -
heralding the transition of
the sun into the Northern
hemisphere.
In Jaipur Kites virtually
blot out the sky. Everyone
joins in this riotous
celebration and shouts of "
Woh Kata Hai !" reverberate
from rooftops to the
accompaniment of drums as
adversary's kites are cut
down. And everyone's an
adversary! Any kite in the
sky is fair game !
Its been five years that
this Desert Kite Festival is
held. Kite makers flaunt
kites sized as big as 1.5km
of various shapes and
Designs. Some carrying
messages, some depicting
social issues, some as
caricatures of politicians.
Its been the most popular
event recently, even
tourists can take part in
various kite flying
competitions. The colours
that flaunt in the blue sky
mesmerises the viewers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PUSHKAR FAIR |
The Pushkar Camel Fair is
one of the largest in India
and the only one of its kind
in the entire world. During
the fair, Lakhs of people
from rural India flock to
Pushkar, along with Camel
and Cattle for several days
of live stock trading, horse
dealing, pilgrimage and
religious festival.
This small town, becomes a
cultural phenomenon when
colourfully dressed
devotees, musicians,
acrobats, folk dancers,
traders, comedians, sadhus
and tourists reach here
during Pushkar fair.
According to Hindu
chronology, it takes place
in the month of Kartika
(October or November)
beginning on ashtmi 8th day
of Lunar Calendar and
continues till full moon (Poornima).
The Camel and Cattle trading
is at its peak during the
first half of festival
period. During the later
half, religious activities
dominate the scenario.
Devotees take dips in the
holy "Sarovar" lake, as the
sacred water is known to
bestow salvation.
This small town is
transformed into a
spectacular fair ground, as
rows of make shift stalls
display an entire range of
objects of art to daily
utility stuff. Decoration
items for Cattle, Camel and
women, everything is sold
together. Small handicraft
items are the best bargain
for buying souvenir. The
Camel and Horse races have
crowds to cheer. Camel
judging competitions are
Quite popular with animal
lovers. Each evening brings
different folk dances and
music of Rajasthan,
performers delivering live
shows to the roaring and
applauding crowds.
Pushkar fair has its own
magic and it's a lifetime
experience for travellers.
It has featured in numbers
of travel shows, films and
magazine. According to
lonely planet -"Its truly a
feast for the eyes.
If you are any where within
striking distance at the
time, Its an event not to be
missed." Foot print India
handbook 200 I writes- "The
huge mela is Pushkar's
biggest draw an
unforgettable experience."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RAMDEVRA FAIR |
Situated about 12 Kms to the
north of Pokhran, the
village of Ramdevra known
after Baba Ramdev, a Tanwar
Rajput and a saint who took
Samadhi (conscious exit from
the mortal body) in 1458 A.
D.
Near the village, there is a
tank known as Ramsar tank
which is believed to have
been constructed by Baba
Ramdev himself. A large step
well, the Parcha Baori is
also situated nearby.
Baba Ram Dev believed in the
equality of all human
beings, both high and low,
rich and poor. He helped the
down-trodden by granting
them their wishes.
Maharaja Ganga Singh of
Bikaner constructed a temple
around the Samadhi in 1931
A.D. Rice, coconuts, churma
and wooden horses (toys) are
offered to Ramdevji by the
devotees.
A large fair is held here
from Bhadon Sudi 2 to Bhadon
Sudi 11 (Aug - Sept) which
is attended by lakh of
devotees who come in large
groups from far and wide.
Irrespective of their caste,
creed or religious
affiliations, these devotees
throng the shrine dedicated
to the saint. These groups
organise night long singing
of bhajans and kirtans to
pay homage to Baba.
Ramdevra village lies about
12 kms. from Pokhran in
Jaisalmer district. Pokhran
is connected to Jodhpur by a
metalled road as well as by
Rail. Ramdevra can be
reached from Jodhpur and
Pokhran by bus. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
