7. Fairs and Festivals — Full Notes

CORE Key Points at a Glance

1. 1

   Fair Types in Rajasthan

   • Rajasthan hosts over 1,000 annual fairs
   • Classified into four types: religious, tribal, cattle/livestock, and seasonal
2. 2

   **Pushkar Fair **

   • World's largest camel fair, held annually for 5 days in Kartik (Oct–Nov), Ajmer district
   • Cattle traded exceeded 20,000 in 2019; camels are the primary draw
   • UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage contender
3. 3

   **Gangaur **

   • Rajasthan's premier women's festival, celebrated for 18 days from Holi to Chaitra Shukla Tritiya
   • Marks Parvati's reunion with Shiva; prayed for by married and unmarried women alike
   • This form of the festival is absent from all other Indian states
4. 4

   **Beneshwar Fair **

   • Largest tribal fair in Rajasthan, held at the Mahi-Som-Jakham confluence in Dungarpur, in Magh (Jan–Feb)
   • Called the "Kumbh of Tribals"
   • Attended by 4–5 lakh Bhil tribals from Rajasthan, MP, and Gujarat
5. 5

   **Ramdevra Fair **

   • Held at Ramdevji's samadhi sthan in Jaisalmer, during Bhadra Shukla 2–11
   • A composite Hindu-Muslim fair: Ramapir (Hindu) and Ramsa Pir (Muslim) are names for the same deity
   • One of Rajasthan's best examples of communal harmony in folk worship
6. 6

   **Nagaur Fair **

   • Asia's second-largest cattle fair, held in Magh (Jan–Feb) for 4 days
   • Famous for bullocks, horses, and camels; also renowned for brass utensil and textile trades
   • Government officially designates it a state-level fair
7. 7

   **Urs at Ajmer **

   • Annual commemoration of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (died 1236 CE), held in Rajab for 6 days
   • The 810th Urs (2026) draws 3–4 lakh visitors including international Sufi devotees
   • Prime Minister sends a national chaadar as a symbol of state respect
8. 8

   **Teej **

   • Marks the monsoon onset; celebrated on Shravan Shukla Tritiya
   • The Teej procession in Jaipur was started by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1778 CE
   • A state-sponsored heritage event managed by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
9. 9

   **Gogamedi Fair **

   • Held at Goga Jahar Vir's cenotaph in Hanumangarh district, on Bhadra Shukla Navami
   • Largest fair in northern Rajasthan with 5–6 lakh pilgrims annually
   • Goga Jahar Vir is Rajasthan's most revered folk deity after Ramdevji
10. 10

    **Kaila Devi Fair **

    • Held at the Trikuta hills along the Kalisil River, Karauli district, in Chaitra
    • Draws 15–20 lakh pilgrims from Rajasthan, MP, and UP
    • Rajasthan's largest fair by total attendance
11. 11

    **Makar Sankranti **

    • Celebrated on 14 January as Rajasthan's kite festival
    • Jaipur hosts the International Kite Festival, inaugurated in 1989
    • Rajasthan accounts for roughly 25–30% of India's kite production
12. 12

    **Tilwara Fair **

    • Held on the Luni River bank at Tilwara, Barmer district, in Magh
    • Rajasthan's third-largest cattle fair; famous for the Mallinath breed of cattle
    • Shares its name with a Mesolithic archaeological site at the same location (See Topic #1)
13. 13

    Rajasthan Fairs and Festivals Policy 2015

    • Classifies fairs as National, State, District, and Local levels
    • Tourism Department organises 5 "signature events" for international promotion
    • Signature events include Pushkar Fair and Jaipur Literature Festival