Fairs & Festivals in North India

Gangaur Festival, Jaipur

Gangaur Festivals holds a special significance for the Rajasthanis. It is celebrated in honour of Gauri, the goddess of abundance. Young girls adorned in their best clothes pray for a spouse of their choice. The married ladies pray for the welfare of their husbands. This spring festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal all over Rajasthan. The celebrations at Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nathdwara and Jaisalmer are full of pomp and are a must-see.

Activities
At an auspicious hour in the afternoon, a procession is taken out to a garden, tank or a well with the images of Isar and Gauri, placed on the heads of married women. Songs are sung about the departure of Gauri to her husband's house. The procession comes back after offering water to the image of Gauri, which faces backwards on the first two days. On the final day, she faces in the same direction as Isar and the procession concludes with the consignment of all the images in the waters of a tank or a well. The women bid farewell to Gauri and turn their steps homewards with tears in their eyes and the Festival comes to an end.

History
Parvati or gauri is the consort of Shiva, the destroyer. The festival is held in her honour as she is the symbol of virtue and fidelity and as such is the mythological role model of married women.

Gangaur is the most important local festival in Rajasthan. It is believed that if unmarried girls observe the rituals of this festival they will get married to the spouses of their choice and married women observe the same for the happiness and long life of their husbands. The celebrations in Jaipur and Udaipur have a unique charm and attraction.

The festivities begin almost a fortnight before the actual day. Girls worship the goddess throughout the preceding fortnight. Colorful images of Gauri are taken out in procession accompanied by the town band. Thousands of people from the countryside come to take part in the procession of the image from village to village.

Another unique thing about this festival is that on this occasion, tribal men and women have an opportunity to meet and interact freely and during this time, they select partners and marry by eloping.

Places to see
Jaipur is famous for Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar and many more.
Jaipur city guide and travel information.

Getting there
By Air
Indian airlines, Jet airways and Sahara airlines have regular service to Jaipur. All the major cities are connected to Jaipur.
By Road
Rajasthan Roadways have regular bus services from New Delhi, running deluxe and air conditioned coaches from Bikaner house, Delhi. Jaipur is also well connected with the other cities of Rajasthan.
With good road conditions you can also travel by private car/taxi.
By Train
Shatabdi and Intercity connects Jaipur to Delhi. Shatabdi is fully air conditioned train starts from Delhi (5.55 AM) to Jaipur (10.35 AM), you can also try Intercity Exp starts from Delhi at (4.55 PM) reaches Jaipur (10.35 PM). There are other trains also to Jaipur from other metro cities, to know more click here.

Hotels
For your accommodation and hotel requirement, you can visit our Exclusive Rajasthan Hotel Directory.

URS Fair, Ajmer

Location: Dargah Sharif at Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Significance: Death anniversary (Urs) of Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti.
Time of Celebration First six days of Rajab (seventh month of the Islamic calendar).

The remains of Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti lie buried in 'Dargah Sharif' in Ajmer and are held in held in great reverence by devotees of all communities. Khwaja had come from Persia and established Chishtia order of 'fakirs' in India.

The site has the distinction of holding the largest Muslim fair in India, where more than five lakh devotees from different communities come to pay homage to the Khwaja on his Urs (death anniversary). The pilgrims make rich offerings called 'nazrana' at the sacred spot where the saint has been entombed that include rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense that put in to the fragrance that floats in the air inside the shrine. Cash offerings are also made. Also offered by devotees are the 'chaadar', 'ghilaph' and 'neema', which are votive offerings for the tomb. Outside the holy place of the Dargah, professional singers called 'qawwals' sit in groups and sing hymns in the praises of the saint in a characteristic high-pitched voice. One can also see 'fakirs' on the main gate begging for alms in the name of the Khwaja.

There are colorful and fragrant markets near the dargah, which sells rosaries, textiles, flowers, prayer mats, and general merchandise as well. On the last day of the sixth month, the 'Jannati-Darwaza' (gateway of heaven) is flung open early in the morning and it is believed that crossing this gate seven times will reserve their safe passage to heaven. There is an interesting ritual of looting 'kheer' (milk- pudding), which is cooked in two large cauldrons called 'degs' and distributed to the devotees as 'tabarruk' (blessed food), which is quite a spectacle to behold.