Fairs in India

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 A Fair is a temporary gathering of people for a variety of activities which may be religious, entertainment or commercial.

Kumbh Mela
  • Largest religious gathering in the world.
  • People come to take a dip in the holy river.
  • Places where the Kumbh is held:
    1. Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) - At the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.
    2. Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Ganga.
    3. Nashik-Trimbak - (Maharashtra) - Godavari.
    4. Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) - Shipra.
  • According to Hindu mythology, during the ‘Samudra Manthan’, i.e. churning of the ocean, ‘Amrit’, i.e. drink of immortality was produced and stored in a ‘Kumbh’ (pot). In the battle of the Devas and the Asuras, Lord Vishnu dropped drops of Amrit while transporting the Kumbh.
  • The exact dates are determined according to the zodiac positions of the Sun, Moon and the planet Jupiter.
  • At Nashik and Ujjain, if the mela is held when a planet is in Leo (Simha in Hindu astrology), it is called Simhastha Kumbh.
  • In 2017, Kumbh Mela was declared by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
Sonepur Mela
  • It is one of the largest cattle fairs in Asia.
  • Held in Sonepur, Bihar at the confluence of the River Ganga and the Gandak.
  • It usually takes place in November on Kartik Poornima.
  • Only fair where large numbers of elephants are sold and legend says Chandragupta Maurya used to buy elephants and horses during this fair.
Pushkar Fair
  • One of the largest camel and cattle fairs in the world.
  • It is an annual fair in Pushkar, Rajasthan starting on the day of ‘Kartik Poornima’ and lasts for about a week.
  • When the festival actually begins, events like camel races, moustache competitions, turban tying competitions, dancing and camel riding, etc. take centre stage.
  • Popular among the foreign tourists.
Desert Festival
  • This three-day extravaganza takes place in Jaisalmer generally in the month of February.
  • It gives the tourists a local flavour and showcases different facets of the Rajasthani culture. Tourists can enjoy colourful folk dances, trips to the sand dunes, tying competitions, camel rides, etc.
  • The festival ends with a musical performance by the folk singers under the moonlit sky.
Surajkund Crafts Fair
  • It is an international craft fair held annually for a fortnight in February near Faridabad, Haryana.
  • It showcases the regional as well as international crafts and cultural heritage.
  • Traditional cultural programs are held and regional cuisines are served.
Gangasagar Mela
  • It is conducted in the month of January-February at the mouth of the river Hooghly in West Bengal.
  • A holy dip in the Ganges especially on the day of Makar Sankranti is considered very auspicious by the Hindus.
  • The presence of Naga Sadhus lends a unique identity to the fair.
Goa Carnival
  • Introduced by the Portuguese.
  • It takes place 40 days before the Lent, a period of abstinence and spirituality.
  • People wear masks and come onto the streets to party.
  • The Goan streets are decorated with colourful floats and parades, live bands and dances mark the event.

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